Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at cookbooks at the Library and the PowerPass program which connects students with Library resources through their schools.
Cookbook Collection
If you have ever scoured the internet for a quality recipe or purchased a cookbook you never use, you know that it takes trial and error to find the right recipes. Save time, money, and ingredients with your library card to unlock a collection of physical and digital cookbooks to explore.
First, let’s take a look at the basics: food type. PPLD’s cookbook collection offers a wide range of books with a variety of different foods for the well-rounded table. This includes specialty books focused on desserts, barbecue, sugar-free, slow cooker, cast iron, cake decorating, yogurt, pickles, allergy-free, bread, and other specialized topics. If fast and easy is on the menu, you can also find books on simple microwave recipes, budget-friendly options, easy gourmet choices, and other topics. There are cookbooks for most occasions as well, from holidays and birthdays to seasonal changes and even camping.
Explore the rich culinary landscape of cultures around the world - your own or someone else’s. Journey through Italy, Germany, North Africa, and Malaysia, discover the world of Mexican keto cooking, find yourself at home on the range, or travel back to medieval Europe. Or take a staycation right here in Colorado.
If you enjoy watching TV or reading, you might enjoy pop culture, parody (yes, there are cookbooks for that), and celebrity cookbooks. Dive into the worlds of your favorites from Game of Thrones and The Nightmare Before Christmas to Marvel’s Black Panther, and beyond. Or you can geek out with celebrity cookbooks by Gordon Ramsey, Stanley Tucci, Betty Crocker, and others.
No look into PPLD’s cookbook collection would be complete without a shoutout to cookbooks for kids! Parents and caregivers can find recipe books to help them come up with playful, nutritious recipes that their children will love. Or feed kids’ creativity and help them build kitchen skills of their own with cookbooks designed for children to use. Help them develop confidence in the kitchen with books on general cooking, desserts, vegan recipes, and international favorites. There are also fun cookbooks from popular titles such as Bluey, Pokémon, and National Geographic Kids.
One more place where you can find intriguing recipes is the Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World, available online with your PPLD library card.
History fun-fact:
The Library's Regional History & Genealogy collection includes historic cookbooks from the Pikes Peak region. These include Cooking with the Colorado Springs Art Guild (1995-99), Falcon Favorite Recipes (1965-69), Prize Recipes of Colorado Springs (1972), Appetizer Recipes (1978), and others. These historic books are reference copies only and not available for checkout, but you can visit the Regional History & Genealogy Department at Penrose Library to view them.
PowerPass
Pikes Peak Library District strives to provide access to resources and opportunities to help people thrive and keep communities connected. We partner with local schools through the PowerPass program to provide students with access to tools for academic success. PowerPass is a just-for-students library card that grants access to PPLD’s online resources like databases, homework help tools, eBooks, music streaming, and more.
We currently partner with six school districts in our community to provide reliable resources for students, including D2, D11, D20, D49, Calhan School District, and Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8. Students in these districts can access trusted homework help and educational resources, build lifelong healthy reading habits to support brain health and positive learning outcomes, and find quality research resources for school projects.
Having access to curated homework tools and databases helps students move through the school year with confidence. Whether they are learning how to conduct online research or need homework or test prep help, they can use their PowerPass to access reliable information and study guides.
These tools can help students take deeper dives into their school subjects as well. Using eLibrary resources like Hoopla and Kanopy, students can find documentaries on subjects they are studying in school. They can also check out eBooks and eAudiobooks to explore a wide range of topics, to continue building on their reading skills, or for book projects. It’s not all work all the time, though. Students can check out books to relax with throughout the semester using eLibrary resources like Libby, TumbleBook Library, and Hoopla as studies have linked reading with stress reduction. With PowerPass, students can unlock their potential and thrive throughout the school year.
Parents and caregivers can customize their students’ experiences by using parental control options in their students’ Libby, OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy accounts.