Library to open 15th facility

Pikes Peak Library District seeks community input for new library in Calhan

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Colorado’s second-largest library system just became a bit bigger.

Pikes Peak Library District purchased an existing building in Calhan, Colo., which will become the district’s fifteenth library facility. The building is slated to open in early fall of 2019.

“We are excited for this much-needed, permanent expansion into an area previously only served by PPLD’s bookmobiles,” said PPLD Chief Librarian and CEO John Spears. “We are constantly evaluating our services to ensure we’re fostering community and access to resources for all our patrons across El Paso County. Our team saw a large need for expansion in this growing and important part of our service area.”

The new-to-the-library facility provides 2,400 square feet of existing space. Located at 600 Bank Street in Calhan, the building’s existing infrastructure and features will allow for an affordable conversion into a library facility.

“We’re thrilled to have found a building that will make it possible for us to renovate and open the Calhan Library very efficiently,” said Calhan Library’s future manager, Liz Willhoff. “As we move forward, we’re excited to hear from residents of Calhan and the surrounding area about what they would like to see in their new library.”

PPLD will host a community conversation on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m., allowing residents to share input on what resources and programs would be most valued in the new space, as well as the community’s preferred days and hours of service. The public meeting will take place at Calhan Town Hall, 556 Colorado Ave.

For those who cannot attend the meeting but would still like to provide their input, PPLD is accepting online feedback from local residents through an online survey. Another community conversation will be scheduled in the coming weeks. More information is also available at www.ppld.org/calhan.

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Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) seeks to engage and transform people’s lives by providing equitable access to information, enrichment opportunities, and community connections via 14 facilities, online resources, and mobile library services. It is a nationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of more than 650,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colo.