LIBRARY HAPPENINGS IN JANUARY 

Manitou Springs Grand Reopening, Library Card Design Contest, Tax Filing Help and Resources, and Local Children’s Author Donna Guthrie to Speak at Annual Friends of PPLD Meeting 

  
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) presents many options to engage people of all ages and interests across El Paso County. Here are some upcoming opportunities this month: 

 

 

Manitou Springs Library Grand Reopening Coming Soon 

Community interest; Accessibility 

Fri., Feb. 7 

Manitou Springs Library (701 Manitou Ave.) 

More info: Contact Denise Abbott at (310) 430-0496 or Dabbott@ppld.org 

Pikes Peak Library District and the City of Manitou Springs have set the date for the grand reopening of Manitou Springs Library with a ribbon cutting on Fri., Feb. 7. More details about festivities surrounding the grand reopening will be announced soon.  

Manitou Springs Library closed on Fri., Nov. 1 in preparation for a move back into its original home in the historic Carnegie Library building at 701 Manitou Ave. Since 2021, this Library has collocated with the Manitou Arts Center due to the Carnegie Library requiring in order to become ADA compliant. An updates project to make the building more accessible started in January 2024 and was completed in December 2024.  

El Paso County Residents of All Ages are Invited to Submit Original Art to the Library Card Design Contest 

Art contest; Community interest 

Entries open Jan. 2 – Jan. 31 

Open to residents within PPLD’s service area (all of El Paso County, except for Security-Widefield) 

More info: ppld.org/library-card-contest  

 

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is running a Library Card Design Contest for residents of all ages living in PPLD’s service area (all of El Paso County, except for Security-Widefield). Winning designs will be announced and featured on new library cards launching during National Library Week (April 6 – 12). Winners will also receive gift cards to Meininger Art Supply. Participants can submit digital art, original photography, or digitized copies of traditional media artwork (paintings, pastels, mixed media, drawings, etc.) inspired by the Library, the Pikes Peak region, or the community. Entries are open through Fri., Jan. 31. Visit Pikes Peak Library District’s Library Card Design Contest page for full details and to submit artwork.  

 

 

 

The Library Teams Up With AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and VITA to Provide Tax Preparation Services 

Community resources; tax services; economic impact 

Starting mid-January through early April 

Fountain Library, High Prairie Library, Library 21c, and Sand Creek Library 

More info: ppld.org/taxes  

 

The Library is partnering with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) again this year to offer no-cost tax preparation services to help El Paso County residents prepare and file their 2024 tax returns. These services are available by appointment only. Starting mid-January, patrons can reserve a no-cost appointment with IRS-certified volunteers for services. Appointments are available at Fountain, High Prairie, and Sand Creek libraries, as well as Library 21c. Information to make an appointment is available on the Library’s website at ppld.org/taxes. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide services (open to all ages and income levels) will be at: 

  • Library 21c – Feb. 4 - April 10 
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
  • Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

 

Call (719) 235-6757 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt beginning Wed., Jan. 15 to make an appointment. 

 

  • Fountain Library – Jan. 29 - April 12 
  • Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
  • Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.  
  • 1st, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays in Feb. and March 
  • 1st and 2nd Saturdays in April 

 

Call (719) 508-2629 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt/ beginning Sun., Jan. 12 to make an appointment. 

 

  • Sand Creek Library – Feb. 6 - April 10 
  • Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

 

Call (719) 203-1205 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt starting Wed., Jan. 15 to make an appointment. 

 

 

VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program – Pikes Peak United Way (for individuals who earned less than $67,000 in 2024) will be at: 

 

  • High Prairie Library 
  • Sat., Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
  • Sat., March 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
  • Sat., April 5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

 

Call 2-1-1 on or after Wed., Jan. 22 to make an appointment. 

 

 

Local Children’s Author Donna Guthrie to Speak at Friends of PPLD Annual Meeting 

Annual meeting, Friends of PPLD 

Sat., Jan. 25 from 10: 30 a.m. - noon 

Library 21c (1175 Chapel Hills Drive) 

More info: call (719) 531-6333, x 1461 

 

The annual meeting of the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sat., Jan. 25 at Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive. 

Local children’s book author and the 2024 Golden Quill Award recipient Donna Guthrie will be the keynote speaker. Guthrie, an award-winning author of 23 children’s books and producer of 60 educational videos, also is a playwright, documentary filmmaker, and podcaster.  

She co-founded the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, the longest-running event of its kind in the nation. She also lectures on the history of country music. Her books will be available for sale and signing. 

In addition, there will be a short business meeting when The Friends of PPLD announces total financial support for the Library District in 2024. The Frank Waters and Golden Quill Awards recipients for 2025 also will be announced.   

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call (719) 531-6333, x1461.