Over the last several months, Pikes Peak Library District’s Strategy & Innovation team has been compiling data about the Library District’s circulation, how visitors use the Libraries, the programs offered and their attendance, and how Pikes Peak Library District compares to other library districts in Colorado.
Here are links to those reports for you to peruse.
Programming by Location
How Visitors Use the Library
2024 Circulation Stats
Circulation - Physical vs. Overdrive
How PPLD Stacks Up
Additionally, since April 2025, PPLD hosted several premier events, regularly interacting with the community and our patrons. Highlighted below are a few of these programs along with their results and impact.
PPLD hosted the annual Homeschool Art Show in April 2025. An amazing 103 homeschool students throughout the District displayed their art. The artists were recognized at an art reception where 222 patrons attended and enjoyed viewing the art on display.
The annual Homeschool Resource Fair took place on April 11 and grew even bigger this year at Library 21c, occupying the Venue and both floors of the Library with 103 vendors and 1550 visitors. This event connects both current and interested homeschool families with resources and information from a wide variety of local vendors and exhibitors, offering educational and extracurricular opportunities for homeschool families.
PPLD’s highly anticipated All Pikes Peak Makes event was held at Library 21c in May, showcasing 35 vendors and 1,105 visitors. The event is an opportunity for makers – anyone who creates – to display and introduce their creations to everyone. PPLD also offered three arts and crafts stations, makerspace and studio open houses, two children’s activities, as well as tables with information about Repair Cafe, Discovery Kits, and outreach resources at this event.
The 19th annual Mountain of Authors program occurred at Library 21c on May 17, providing an opportunity for public and local authors to network and learn more about their craft and trends in publishing. More than 30 local authors attended to display and sell their books while connecting with other authors and readers. The two featured speakers were Michael Covington from Cook Communication (speaking on publishing topics), and photographer and author Pete McBride, who spoke of his experiences while making his books and documentaries. Attendance was 295.
In June, PPLD held its annual Regional History Symposium. The event occurred over the first two Saturdays of June and was a significant success. The program hosted a total of 240 patrons, an increase of 35% over last year’s attendance numbers, with 107 attending the Film Festival and 133 attending the lecture/presentation format. This year 13 different authors/presenters/filmmakers treated audiences to a variety of interesting topics based on the theme of “Beyond the Written Word: Non-textual history.” The group included both high school History Day film winners and a master’s student from the UCCS history department, as well as a record number of first-time History Symposium presenters.
In June and July, the annual Summer Adventure presented by Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District reading program took place, once again including adults to encourage families to read together over the summer. This year’s numbers continue to show growth with 18,833 individuals registered for the program, an increase of 529 individuals over 2024. A total of 7,921 people completed the 30-day reading, creating, and exploring challenge, which was a 6% increase over 2024.
Patron Comment:
“My son refused to join the summer program. One staff member (Shannon) talked him into trying it out. He is dyslexic, easily defeated, and scared to fail. Shannon went out of her way to find something age appropriate and entertaining. We landed on a few books and begrudgingly read. But it worked! His confidence grew! He even took a book with him to run errands. He asks to read out loud, and I find him reading independently! My heart is so full! Thank you!!!”
– Adult survey response
In July, PPLD hosted a Naturalization Ceremony during which 34 individuals representing 21 countries became new Americans at Library 21c for the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Also in July, the Library District released its Annual Report, a summary of key financial findings and highlights for the previous year.
It is provided here for your convenience. Access the Annual Report
Formerly Latina Voices, Rising Voices is a series of programs that celebrate the accomplishments, successes, and cultural riches of the people of the Pikes Peak region, sharing the varied voices and experiences of our community. In August, two events took place – a Panel Discussion and a Festival Celebration. Luisa Graff, owner of Luisa Graff Jewelers, and Peter Choi, a reporter for KOAA were two of the individuals involved in the Panel Discussion. The events welcomed 216 individuals.
Purchase of Ruth Holley and Ute Pass Libraries
With the help of a generous donation from the PPLD Foundation of $1 million and a patron donation of $200,000, the PPLD Board of Trustees voted to purchase both Ruth Holley and Ute Pass libraries at the August Board meeting. This commitment by the Board and Library District will provide long-term, sustainable access for these communities to library resources, materials, and services for years to come.
Guide to the PPLD Budget
The PPLD budget is a complex document based on elements that are unique to the Library District as a separate, independent, legal government entity that is tax-exempt and not considered a component unit of any other government entity or municipality. To explain the budget to our patrons and the community in an accessible manner, we prepared a Guide to the PPLD Budget that was released in early October. Here is a link to the document for your convenience: Guide to the PPLD Budget | Pikes Peak Library District.
Thank you for your time,
Teona Shainidze-Krebs
PPLD CEO
Browse past reports: CEO Report - January through March