For almost two years we have endured an ongoing pandemic, in addition to other upheaval in our lives and communities. Yet, during such trying times, I’m reminded again and again how much community matters – and how public libraries play such an important role in connecting people with what they need, when they need it.
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has been a staple in our community for many years, and we welcome everyone to visit and use our 16 physical locations, three mobile libraries, and ever-expanding online hub (with many resources accessible anywhere and anytime). Whether it’s to succeed at school or work, explore new ideas, connect with others, enjoy some entertainment, or do something else not mentioned here, you can most likely find it through your Library.
But PPLD wouldn’t be able to offer all of these spaces, resources, services, and opportunities without your continued support. It is because of taxpayers like you that we’re able to reinvest your dollars back into the community. Your investment in the Library District bolsters innovation and progress, improves academic success and childhood development, strengthens our workforce and local economy, and reinforces a healthy, thriving community.
With your help, we have been able to do so much for the community this past year. The Library District added equity, diversity, and inclusion as a new public service area to ensure every resident in El Paso County feels that the Library has something for them. The Manitou Springs Library and Manitou Art Center joined forces with a new co-location partnership, giving Library cardholders access to tools and resources unlike anything that we have been able to offer before. We also expanded our offerings in Adult Education, which now include a career navigator on staff as well as use of a new Library kitchen that hosts our food industry training program. Plus, the Library’s annual summer reading program for kids and teens was immensely popular, and we continued to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones to better serve the many residents in our growing community.
In looking ahead, our Library team is ready to do even more for our community this year. For example, we plan to continue expanding our PowerPass partnership to more school districts across El Paso County, so even more students can access Library resources and services that further their success in and out of the classroom. The Pikes Peak Culture Pass will add more museums and attractions, meaning more passes will be available for checkout for individuals and families. And the Palmer Lake Library will soon reopen to the public.
All of this would not be possible without the community’s continued support for PPLD and investment in improving the Pikes Peak region for everyone. We are grateful for your trust and help in fulfilling our mission of “providing resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community.” The Library team looks forward to serving you throughout this new year!
A newly-forged partnership with Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will enhance Calhan School District (Calhan) students’ access to needed digital resources.
Starting Wed, Jan. 12, every student in the Calhan School District will have a PowerPass, a digital PPLD card just for students. Calhan is the fourth school district in El Paso County to provide this access to each of their students, joining Colorado Springs School District 11, Harrison School District 2, and Academy School District 20.
PowerPass grants access to PPLD’s digital resources, like databases, eBooks, and song and movie downloads, all available at ppld.org. Each PowerPass holder can also check out five physical items at a time from any of the 15 PPLD locations or mobile library services.
“PowerPass will provide Calhan students with unprecedented access to information, literature, art, and educational support, as well as an enhanced ability to explore and prepare for the future they envision for themselves,” said David Slothower, Calhan School District Superintendent.
Students can also use PowerPass for online access to live tutors and foreign language courses, to get help with homework and projects, and to access audiobooks and digital education resources. High school and middle school students can also prepare for their future with practice driving and SAT tests.
“Pikes Peak Library District is excited to add Calhan School District to PowerPass,” said Joanna Nelson Rendon, PPLD’s Director of Young Adult Services. “This is the first partnership with one of the more rural school districts beyond the city of Colorado Springs and is giving us [PPLD] the opportunity to expand PowerPass and serve even more students throughout El Paso County.”
Shirley Martinez’s Road to Becoming PPLD’s First Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
When I was a kid, I used to be a "library girl." I used to sit in the library for days during the summer. I would pick out 10 books to read there and then 10 more to take home! Today, my job is making sure PPLD is a welcoming place for everyone.
I was born in my father’s hometown of Waycross, Georgia. My dad joined the Air Force after I was born and through my father’s service, we were afforded the opportunity to see the world. We were stationed in Japan, Hawaii, Delaware, and upstate New York.
My family returned to Georgia in 1967 and this is where I was first made aware of the civil rights movement and racial inequality. I remember there were still restrooms that read “colored” and “white,” and people were marching. Through these experiences, I really got an eye-opening, front-seat lesson in the different racial disparities and the civil rights.
Eventually, my family settled in rural Washington. My dad spent a lot of time overseas as a B-52 mechanic. In high school I had worked to become the head cheerleader and captain of the track team. I had dreams of becoming a nurse. However, I quickly made up my mind that particular career wasn’t for me after a harrowing experience at a military hospital. Instead, I enlisted into the armed forces myself by joining the Navy.
The Navy afforded me the opportunity to see the world, try my hand at several different jobs, and is where I met my husband, Paul. After Paul left the Marines, I decided to join the Army and was a journeyman welder for five years, including two summers spent at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. I did maintenance, I could change your transmission for you. I could cut off the top of your vehicle and replace it. I did body repair and supervised a platoon at the age of 24 and was the only female out of 300 people in my Combat Support Group.
Eventually, the Army brought us back to Washington where we were stationed at Fort Lewis. Here, while pregnant with my fourth child, I joined Judge Advocate General (JAG), the legal branch of the military. I loved working with the JAG department, but once my kid was born, I had to report back to my unit.
Later, my unit was ready to deploy for Desert Storm. I'd gotten all my shots, I was packed up, and then I was pulled out of ranks two days before we were supposed to leave. I had orders to go to court-reporting school. They needed top secret court reporters. So, I had to go tell my husband, “I'm not going to Afghanistan. I’m now going to Newport, Rhode Island!” Just a slight difference…
My work as a court reporter, and also as chief legal noncommissioned officer, took me to Germany, then Fort Irwin, California, and finally to Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs area. Upon leaving the military, I went to work with Colorado Springs Utilities and got involved with the Colorado Springs Diversity Council.
My diverse set of life experiences and time serving our country in the military made me uniquely qualified to become Pikes Peak Library District’s first-ever Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). In a lot of ways, I feel like serving in this role at PPLD has brought my life full circle beginning with those former days of reading at the library!
Click here for more People of the Pikes Peak Region stories!
All you need is your library. But your library needs you, too! Support Pikes Peak Library District by making a charitable gift to the PPLD Foundation. Click here to make your donation today. Thank you!
Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations, find additional locations, and more!
Or call the vaccine call center at 877-268-2926.
CDC: What to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
Learn more about COVID-19 and the Library's response.
Additional Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
- English
- Spanish
- COVID-19 Emergency Aid and Resources
- COVID-19 Nonprofit Resources
Congratulations to our last year's winners.
Check out the anthology of last year's winners of Pikes Peak Writes.
Pikes Peak Library District is excited to announce the call for submissions for All Pikes Peak Writes! All Pikes Peak Writes is PPLD’s annual fiction writing contest for ages 12+, and seeks to highlight writers in our community through one contest. This year’s contest will have three categories: Middle School and High School (ages 12 - 18), Young Adult (ages 19 - 24), and Adult (ages 25+). Please see the guidelines, rules for entry, and submission form for each category below.
Submissions will be accepted Mon., June 12, through 9 p.m. on Sun., July 23.
Middle School and High School Entry (ages 12 - 18)
Young Adults Entry (ages 19 - 24)
Adults Entry (ages 25+)
Eligibility:
All Pikes Peak Writes is open to El Paso County residents ages 12+.
Judging:
Entries will be judged on quality of writing, use of language, plot development and resolution, believable characters, and correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
Awards:
Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place entries in each category. Winners will be announced in late August.
Please contact hbuljung@ppld.org or lpowers@ppld.org for questions or more information.
Middle School and High School (ages 12 - 18)
The Challenge:
Write a story, up to 2,500 words, starting with the opening line: “The train screeched to a halt.”
Submit your story
Guidelines:
- Must be ages 12 to 18.
- Must be an El Paso County resident.
- Word count must not exceed 2,500 words. Word count will be established by using Microsoft Word. Points will be automatically deducted from the total score of the piece if the word count exceeds 2,500 words.
- Pieces must include a title page with the title and author’s name. The author’s name should not appear anywhere else on the document.
- Pieces must be double-spaced and in 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri font with the title and page number in the upper right-hand corner.
- Only one entry per person.
- Participants must fill out the form and submit your story below by Sun., July 23 at 9 p.m. The file format should be PDF, .doc, or.docx. If you need to convert a file, please visit a library location.
- Failure to follow the guidelines will result in disqualification.
FAQs
When will I know if I have won?
- We will notify participants in late August if they have won an award.
Are you publishing the anthology again?
- Yes! We will be publishing the top three stories in all categories (Middle School/High School, 19 - 24, and 25+).
Will I get feedback for my work?
- Yes! You will receive a copy of the judges’ comments after the contest concludes.
Do I have to turn in my story online?
- Yes. To better facilitate the process, we are requiring all stories be turned in digitally. You can stop by any PPLD location to use one of our computers for this purpose.
Young Adult (ages 19 - 24)
The Challenge:
Write a story, up to 3,500 words, starting with the opening line: “The train screeched to a halt.”
Submit your story
Guidelines:
- Must be ages 19 - 24.
- Must be an El Paso County resident.
- Word count must not exceed 3,500 words. Word count will be established by using Microsoft Word 2016. Points will be automatically deducted from the total score of the piece if the word count exceeds 3,500 words.
- Pieces must include a title page with title and author’s name. The author’s name should not appear anywhere else on the document.
- Pieces must be double-spaced and in 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri font with the title and page number in the upper right-hand corner.
- Only one entry per person.
- Participants must fill out the form and submit your story below by Sun., July 23 at 9 p.m. The file format should be PDF, .doc, or.docx. If you need to convert a file, please visit a library location.
- Failure to follow the guidelines will result in disqualification.
FAQs
When will I know if I have won?
- We will notify participants in late August if they have won an award.
Are you publishing the anthology again?
- Yes! We will be publishing the top three stories in all categories (Middle School/High School, 19 - 24, and 25+).
Will I get feedback for my work?
- Yes! You will receive a copy of the judges’ comments after the contest concludes.
Do I have to turn in my story online?
- Yes. To better facilitate the process, we are requiring all stories be turned in digitally. You can stop by any PPLD location to use one of our computers for this purpose.
Adults (ages 25+)
The Challenge:
Write an original fiction story of up to 3,500 words.
Submit your story
Guidelines for entry:
- Must be ages 25+.
- Must be an El Paso County resident.
- One story may be submitted per entrant.
- Qualifying stories are: original, previously unpublished, and no longer than 3,500 words.
- Word count will be established by using Microsoft Word 2016.
- Stories must be double-spaced and typed in 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri font.
- Submission must include title page with title and author’s name. The author’s name should not appear anywhere else on the document.
- The title of the story should appear on the upper right-hand corner of each page followed by the page number.
- Entries must be received by Sun., July 23 at 9 p.m.
- The file format should be PDF, .doc, or.docx. If you need to convert a file, please visit a library location.
- Failure to follow the guidelines will result in disqualification.
FAQs
When will I know if I have won?
- We will notify participants in August if they have won an award.
Are you publishing the anthology again?
- Yes! We will be publishing the top three stories in all categories (Middle School/High School, 19 - 24, and 25+).
Will I get feedback for my work?
- Yes! You will receive a copy of the judges’ comments after the awards ceremony.
Do I have to turn in my story online?
- Yes. To better facilitate the process, we are requiring all stories be turned in digitally. You can stop by any PPLD location to use one of our computers for this purpose.
The HIRE Vets Medallion Program has awarded Pikes Peak Library District the 2022 Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award in honor of our investment in employing and retaining Veterans. This national program is part of the 2017 Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act, which established rules for recognizing employers who hire Veterans. In order to be eligible for the gold medallion, an employer of PPLD’s size must have at least 7% of their workforce be Veterans, and retain more than 75% of their newly hired Veterans over 12 months. We are proud to have achieved this in 2021.
Our Library district achieved this in 2021 by having 28 Veteran employees, and hiring 3 Veterans in 2021 with a 100% retention rate. We are the only Colorado library district to receive this distinction in 2022. We are proud to work alongside these honored individuals as they continue to serve the community.
Don't miss the opportunity to come together as a community for "share-worthy" recipes, tips and more in these fun, interactive virtual classes from the kitchen presented by Elayne Prechtel, award winning author, photographer, and creator of the soul-filled mission, Sharing Life, Love and Food.
Holiday Classes
- Homemade Chai Tea
- Stovetop Potpourri
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Best Turkey Ever
- Orange Spiced Cinnamon Rolls
- Holiday Roast and Tablescape Idea
- Holiday Wreath
Download the recipes below!
Click here for more Share Classes
Follow Elayne on Social Media
Celebrate the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 with a special booklist. Books penned by Olympians, Paralympians, and about the journey to success!
Young Adult
- A Chance for Rain: A Novel by Tricia Downing
- Cycle of Hope: A Journey from Paralysis to Possibility by Tricia Downing
- Beneath the Surface by Michael Phelps (Author), Brian Cazeneuve, Bob Costas
- No Limits: The Will to Succeed by Michael Phelps
- Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles
- Letters to a Young Athlete by Chris Bosh
Adult
- Wheels of Courage by David Davis
- Limitless: The Power of Hope and Resilience to Overcome Circumstances by Mallory Weggemann
- Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons From America's Miracle Team by Jim Craig
- Greater Than Gold: From Olympic Heartbreak to Ultimate Redemption by David Boudia
- Catch a Star: Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion by Tamika Catchings
- Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith and Raising the Bar by Gabby Douglas and Michelle Burford
- Modern Eventing With Phillip Dutton: The Complete Resource — Training, Conditioning, and Competing in All Three Phases by Phillip Dutton
- Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian by Anthony Ervin
- Run Fast. Eat Slow.: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes; a cookbook by Shalane Flanagan and chef Elyse Kopecky
- Relentless Spirit: The Unconventional Raising of a Champion by Missy Franklin
- In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court by Brittney Griner
- I Got This: To Gold and Beyond by Laurie Hernandez
- Meb For Mortals: How to Run, Think, and Eat like a Champion Marathoner by Meb Keflezighi
- When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World by Carli Lloyd
- Family Power: The True Story of How ‘The First Family of Taekwondo’ Made Olympic History by Steven Lopez
- Ya Sama! Moments from My Life by Tatyana McFadden
- Fire in My Eyes: An American Warrior’s Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory by Brad Snyder
- Solo: A Memoir of Hope by Hope Solo
- My Life: Queen of the Court by Serena Williams
- On the Line by Serena Williams with Daniel Paisner
- Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession by Venus Williams
- Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu with Paul and Teri Williams
- In the Water They Can’t See You Cry: A Memoir by Amanda Beard with Rebecca Paley
- Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas with Michelle Burford
- Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach
Children
- How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals by Michael Phelps (For ages 4 - 8)
- She’s Got This! by Laurie Hernandez (For ages 4 - 8)
- Carmelo Anthony: It’s Just the Beginning by Carmela Anthony (For ages 9+)
- Sue Bird: Be Yourself by Sue Bird (For ages 4+)
- All Heart: My Dedication and Determination to Become One of Soccer’s Best by Carli Lloyd (For ages 10+)
- Breakaway: Beyond the Goal by Alex Morgan (For ages 7+)
- Hope Solo: My Story by Hope Solo (For ages 8+)
About the Olympics/Paralympics/Athletes
- After the Race by Alec Sokolow and Arthur Lubow (children)
- Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends (Kid Legends) by David Stabler (children)
- Olympig! by Victoria Jamieson (youth)
- The Golden Girls of Rio by Nikkolas Smith (children)
- Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman, Olympic High-Jump Champion by Heather Lang (children)
- The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Olympic Athlete by Tim Collins (children)
- What Are the Paralympic Games? by Gail Herman & Who HQ (children)
- Paralympic Power by Paul Mason (children)
- Lucas at the Paralympics by Igor Plohl (children)
- Lucas Makes a Comeback by Igor Plohl (children)
- Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide To living Your Best Life by Vernon Brundage Jr. (young adult/adult)
- Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family Kindle Edition by Lisa Fern (young adult/adult)
- A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team by Arshay Cooper (adult)
Join us for an evening of experimental musical performances by local artists. These artists will perform original works with a conceptual approach to tonality, structure, and performance.
- Where: The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall)
- When: Fri., Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
Artists
- Ricky Sweum and Sean Schafer Hennessy
These composers share their representation of Knights of Columbus Hall through time; an original performance of sound, music and imagery.
- Michael Doherty
Steeped in the traditional repertoire and techniques of a shakuhachi lineage that reaches into the Edo Period of Japan (1603-1867), Michael’s lineage also includes radical innovators like the controversial Zen Priest, Watazumi Doso Roshi. In this performance of traditional and new solo ritual pieces called honkyoku, micro-tonality (traditional tuning) and Japanese aesthetics like ma and wabi-sabi will be explored- at times taken to extremes. Space and silence will be investigated in a similar sense ad that germane to the Wandelweiser group of composers and performers where rather than durations of notes being mapped, music becomes a space to occupy.
- Zandrew
Zandrew, an anomaly in space and time, delivers an intricate array of realtime unheard sounds and binaural interferences. Presenting in an auditory and visual bath of new existence with the assistance of Megacorp.
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) announced today that it reached a record-breaking two million digital book checkouts in October 2021. This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of eBooks and audiobooks. PPLD is one of 54 public library systems worldwide that has surpassed one million checkouts at this point in the year.
PPLD provides readers 24/7 access to eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive and its award-winning Libby reading app. Reader interest and usage has grown constantly over the years; 2020 ended with 2,430,575 digital checkouts.
The highest-circulating digital title borrowed by PPLD readers thus far in 2021 has been The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, checked out as an eBook or audiobook more than 2,600 times. The top-circulating genres include fiction with more than one million circulations, nonfiction at over 450,000 circulations, and literature nearing almost 450,000 circulations.
The top 5 eBook titles borrowed through PPLD’s digital collection in 2021:
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
- A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
- Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
The top 5 eAudiobook titles borrowed through the Library’s digital collection in 2021:
- Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Duke and I by July Quinn
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Readers in El Paso County only need a valid library card to access digital books from PPLD’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including Apple(R), Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle(R) (US only). Visit ppld.org/eLibrary or download the Libby app to get started and borrow eBooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.
Welcome the Pikes Peak Region's new Poet Laureate!
Please join us in welcoming the Pikes Peak Region's new Poet Laureate! This hour long event will feature poetry readings from a variety of local poets, including past Pikes Peak Poet Laureates.
- When:Sat., Oct. 23 from 6 - 7 p.m.
- Where: The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall): MacLaren Hall
- Click here for more.
The evenings activities will be emceed by former Pikes Peak Poet Laureate, Susan Peiffer.
The program will feature:
- Opening remarks by Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) Chief Librarian & CEO, John Spears
- Performances by local poets (TBD)
- Past Poet Laureate Performances by Price Strobridge, Aaron Anstett (invited), and Susan Peiffer
- Installation Ceremony, and performance by Poet Laureate, Ashley Cornelius
El Pomar Foundation honors Peggy Shivers with Inaugural Excellence in Arts and Culture Trustee Award
Award Presented as part of El Pomar’s Annual Awards for Excellence
On Friday October 1, 2021 Peggy Houston Shivers was recognized by El Pomar Foundation Trustees as the recipient of the inaugural Excellence in Arts and Culture Trustee Award, which honors an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of arts and culture in Colorado. In a ceremony with other Awards for Excellence honorees at The Broadmoor Hotel, Shivers was introduced by El Pomar Trustee Colonel Gail Colvin, US Air Force (Retired), before delivering her own remarks. As a part of the award, a $10,000 grant was given to the Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District.
From a young age, Peggy Houston Shivers studied voice. She was selected by Duke Ellington to be the featured soloist in his Sacred Concert II at Grace Cathedral and was the featured artist for the Bicentennial Celebration sponsored by the United States Embassy in Spain. Peggy also worked in the public school system in the United States, helped develop a program for dyslexic children of American families living in Spain and a crisis line program for Torrejon Air Force Base. She moved with her husband to Colorado Springs in 1979.
Peggy Shivers helped create the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection at the Pikes Peak Library District to address the lack of information about African American history in Colorado Springs. The Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District has also been established to ensure that funds will be available to maintain the collection for years to come. The Shivers Fund sponsors a concert series which allows young artists the opportunity to perform in a professional setting, awards grants, scholarships and financial support to students and provides educational activities to encourage young people to participate in and enjoy the classical arts. A choral group, the Celebration Multicultural Ensemble, has also been organized as an extension of the Shivers Fund. In addition, she has served on many boards including NAACP, Urban League, United Way, Colorado Springs Symphony, Colorado Springs Dance Theatre, Colorado Opera Festival -- where she served as president -- and the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation.
About El Pomar Foundation’s Awards for Excellence Program
El Pomar Foundation’s Board of Trustees developed the Awards for Excellence program to honor the commitment of Spencer and Julie Penrose to excellence in the nonprofit sector. The program recognizes individuals and organizations from across Colorado who serve their communities with distinction. Honorees are selected by a committee of community leaders, council members from El Pomar’s Regional Partnerships program and El Pomar Fellowship Alumni. Since its inception in 1989, Awards for Excellence has provided more than $6.5 million in grant support to more than 500 nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado.
About El Pomar Foundation
El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in Colorado. El Pomar contributes approximately $25 million annually through grants and Community Stewardship programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations involved in health, human services, education, arts and humanities and civic and community initiatives. Spencer and Julie Penrose founded El Pomar in 1937 with the mission to enhance, encourage and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.
There are so many great stories about how Pikes Peak Library District has helped individuals in our community connect to resources and opportunities that enrich their lives. We want to collect and share these stories with our community through PPLD’s social media channels! If you have a great story that you’d like to share about the Library District, please complete the form below.
If your story is selected, you will be interviewed, and photos and video may be taken of you. Then you and the story will be featured on our website, PPLD’s social media platforms, and possibly in promotion of the program.
Featured Story
Commemorating the start of Arts Month in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is pleased to announce the region’s first Pikes Peak Poet Laureate since 2017. Ashley Cornelius is a nationally recognized and award-winning spoken word poet in Colorado. Her poetry has been featured at TEDx Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College, the Colorado Springs Women's March, Denver Public Library, Colorado Nonprofit Association, as well as on many stages. Additionally, she was the 2018 Women of the World Poetry Slam Colorado Springs representative and competed nationally. A winner of multiple poetry Slams in Colorado Springs, Cornelius was also the Colorado Springs Independent Best of Artist in 2019 and was recognized by the Colorado Springs Business Journal as a Rising Star in 2021. She is sought after across the nation for speaking engagements and workshop facilitation utilizing poetry.
“It is an honor to select Ashley Cornelius to serve as the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate,” said Dustin Booth, project chair and PPLD Manager for The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall). “She will be an incredible ambassador for the arts in the Pikes Peak region and her poetry inspires those who witness her work to think deeper about the roles we all play in our community.” Cornelius was selected through a competitive Poet Laureate application and interview process. The Poet Laureate committee contributed to the selection process and included Molly Wingate, Juan J. Morales, Andy Vick, Michael Ferguson, and Susan Peiffer. Cornelius’s four-year term will begin late October. As Poet Laureate she will work closely with the Library District to build a literary arts community through poetry by developing an appreciation of written and performance poetry, as well as inspiring and celebrating poetry and poets in the Pikes Peak region with dynamic programs of engagement, advocacy, and education. “This is an incredible honor, and I am excited to serve as the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate,” said Cornelius. “My intentions are to reach as many people as we can through poetry and storytelling and to be a champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion in our local creative spaces.” PPLD will host an official inauguration ceremony appointing Cornelius as the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate at a celebration on Sat., Oct. 23 at The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall), part of the Penrose Library campus in downtown Colorado Springs. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will feature presentations by a few rising stars in the Colorado Springs poetry community, pieces by previous poet laureates, and a keynote presentation by Cornelius.
Celebrate dinosaurs this DINOvember with PPLD! Check out a Dinosaur Storytime and be on the lookout for dinosaurs in your Library! Find the dinosaur at your Library and go to the desk for a prize!
DINO Programs
Dinosaur Resource Center
- When: Sat., Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. - noon
- When: Sat., Nov. 20 from 1 - 2 p.m.
- Where: Library 21c Venue
Celebrate DINOvember with Pikes Peak Library District by attending the Dinosaur Resource Center program for kids ages 3 - 12! Come and learn about these amazing creatures that roamed the earth thousands of years ago.
- When: Fri., Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Where: All Library Locations
Make a habitat for a tiny dinosaur and decorate it with all kinds of fun supplies! Name your little dino and make sure to read it your favorite stories! For ages 5 - 12, while supplies last.
Virtual Puppet Show: Dinosaurs!
- When: Mon., Nov. 1 - Thu., Dec. 30
- Where: Virtual
ROAR! Do you want to be a dinosaur? Go back in time and discover the pre-historic steps of the gentle giants, primeval predators and leaping lizards that once stalked the earth. Fascinating dino-facts are revealed as erupting volcanoes, catchy tunes, and life-like puppets make this colossal creation come to life! Presented by the Center for Puppetry Arts. Duration 45 min.
DINOsources
PPLD is excited to announce that patrons will be able to use a certain number of supplies for free when they visit a Library
makerspace. Whether you want to engrave a family photo on the laser cutter, 3D print a replacement part for your vacuum cleaner, or just learn how to use an embroidery machine, there will be materials available for you to use to test out your designs and explore the space.
In every session, you will have access to:
- $1 worth (20 grams) of 3D printing.*
- 1 piece of wood for the laser cutter (6”x12”).
- 5 buttons for the button maker.
- 1 piece of wood for the CNC.
- 2 sheets of embroidery backing for the embroidery machine.
- 1 sheet of vinyl for the Silhouette Cameo or Curio die cutters.
*This amount is calculated from the standard $0.05 per gram rate for printing. Anything over that amount will be charged at the usual $0.05 per gram rate.
PPLD’s makerspaces can be found at:
- Library 21c: Make and Make II
- East Library: Make at East
- Sand Creek Library: Make at Sand Creek
- Manitou Springs Library: Make at Manitou Springs (Note: This does not apply to the Manitou Art Center’s makerspace.)
We hope to see you soon!
Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us. “I’m offended”….”How can I explain this to my kid?”….”This isn’t what I believe”….The idea that books that present these challenges should be taken off of the shelves, and the opposing assertion that all knowledge should be available to everyone, is the foundation of librarians’ favorite holiday week: Banned Books Week, Sat., Sept. 26 - Sat., Oct. 2.
Programs and PPLD Resources
Teens Eat: Book-tasting Get ready to sample books and snacks! You will be introduced to four different Banned Books that will each be paired with a related snack. Child and Young Adult Reading List
Banned Books
When you read a book or watch a movie, ever think to yourself “I’m offended” or ”How can I explain this to my kid?” or ”This isn’t what I believe”? Those thoughts are common and every library has something that offends someone. Banned Books Week is about keeping materials available for all – even if they offend someone. The American Library Association honors this tradition by taking the time to educate us all on intellectual freedom. Banned Books Week launched in the 1980s after a rise in challenging and banning controversial materials (including Hop on Pop, by Dr. Seuss).), In short, this is your right to read whatever you want, whether someone else agrees with it or not. So this Banned Books Week, go out and explore without limitations! Read the books that you want to read and find the information that you want to know whether it’s offensive, different, scary, magical, or anywhere in between!
The Top 10 National List The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- George by Alex Gino
- Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
- Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
- Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
- Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
- Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message
Check out challenged titles at PPLD.
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) believes in freedom of information for all and does not practice censorship. The selection of Library materials is predicated on the patron's right to read and freedom from censorship by others. Library materials may be controversial and any given item may offend some person. Selections for the Library are made solely on the merits of the material, in relation to the development of a collection that serves the needs and interests of a diverse population. Community members are always welcome to submit a reconsideration request form for Library materials. Please see our Challenge Materials Policy for more information.
Come dance under the sea with us! Twirl, jump, and jam out with family and friends as we celebrate our underwater friends - you might even see an octopus!
Costumes and dressing up are encouraged.
- When: Wed., Sep. 8 from 9:30 - 11 a.m.
- Where: Community Room
- Click here to register.
- When: Sat., Sep. 11 from 10 - 11 a.m.
- Where: Switchback Coffee Roasters Hillside, 917 E. Moreno St., 80903
- Click here for more information.
- When: Sat., Sep. 18 from 4 - 4:45 p.m.
- Where: Venue
- Click here for information.
- When: Wed., Sep. 29 from 11 - 11:30 a.m.
- Where: Columbine Meeting Room
- Click here for more information.
- When: Sat., Oct. 2 from 11 - 11:30 a.m
- Where: Banning Lewis Ranch, 8833 Vista Del Pico Blvd, 80927
- Click here for more information.
- When: Sat., Oct. 9 from 9:30 - 10 a.m.
- Click here for more information.
- When: Tue., Oct. 19 from 9 - 9:30 a.m.
- Click here for more information.
- When: Sat., Oct 30 from 10:30 - 11 a.m.
- Click here for more information.
*Registration required.
Starting on Thu., July 1, 3D printers will be available for use during Open Hours through walk-ins and reservations at East Library, Library 21c, Sand Creek Library, and Manitou Springs Library! Learn about all equipment available here.
PPLD Makerspace Equipment is also available now at Manitou Springs Library. Learn more about what's available here.
Visit our 3D Printing LibGuide for more information.
On Sat., Aug. 14, free comic books will be given away at all PPLD locations (while supplies last)!
Thanks to Muse Comics + Games for donating the comic books!
This celebration marks the 20th anniversary of Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), one of the comic book industry’s most beloved and anticipated celebrations, will once again be a single-day event.
PPLD is proud to announce the return of the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Program! We will be accepting applications for the position from Thu., July 15 to Sun., Aug. 15. The Poet Laureate builds a literary arts community through poetry by developing an appreciation of written and performance poetry and inspiring and celebrating poetry and poets in the Pikes Peak Region with dynamic programs of engagement, advocacy, and education.
Click here to apply!
Printed applications can be submitted at any PPLD Location.
We need your help to create art for Panorama Park! The tile art project will include over 7,000 individual tiles made by the community that will come together to create a beautiful statement piece that celebrates the diversity and unity of Southeast Colorado Springs. Please attend a FREE tile art workshop to put your personal touch on the park through the tile art project.
This project is being paid for by the Trust for Public Land and facilitated by Sand Creek Library and local artist Jere Rose (aka Rizzo). Tile-making workshops will be happening throughout 2021 and tiles will be fired at Sand Creek Library. The mural will be installed in Panorama Park once the renovation is finished (goal of late Spring 2022).
The Knob Hill neighborhood is home to an extraordinary amount of street art. Tour the neighborhood and see the murals at the street level with the street artists who created the art. Learn about the community focused organization, Knob Hill Urban Art District, that creates the murals. Talk with the artists. Experience the art up close. Snake your way through the alleys of the district to find hidden gems. Don't forget your walking shoes!
- Where: Knob Hill, meet at 2331 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
- When:
The Pikes Peak Library District Foundation’s sole mission is to raise and manage funds to assure excellence in the Pikes Peak Library District by funding the expansion of programs, services, and facilities beyond what is directly supported by the residents of the District. PPLD received a grant from NextFifty to increase capacity of the Mobile Library Services to better serve our aging population. The Pikes Peak Library District’s Lobby Stop service provides library access to older adults living in Independent, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory care throughout El Paso county. NextFifty Initiative’s grant for a new lift gate on the Lobby Stop will allow the Lobby Stop staff to continue to provide patrons with access to book carts filled with materials to browse. Many patrons describe how browsing materials allows them freedom of choice which can lessen in care facilities, provides a shopping experience, and offers resources they would not otherwise have access to as most no longer drive.
Granted funds will be used for:
- A new lift gate for the Lobby Stop vehicle
- Storage cupboards and desk, installation, electrical for desk lighting: The storage provided by proposed cupboards affords the Lobby Stop staff space for more materials that patrons can access during each stop.
- Williams Sound FM ADA Compliance Kit seed money: FM systems amplify sound in smaller meeting and study room spaces. Up to four patrons who are hard of hearing can use the receiver and headphones included in this kit, or can have sound transmitted directly to their hearing aids via a receiver and neck loop. A lapel microphone is included as well as a table mic. Currently, PPLD is equipped with only one kit to use throughout the entire district. With an additional kit for the district, the Lobby Stop staff will be enabled to bring a kit to the assisted living facilities it serves to use during programs. Furthermore, the library district will have more kits available to offer patrons to use in the Pikes Peak Library District’s meeting room spaces.
- Large print book club collection seed money: Medical research shows that social interaction allows people to enjoy healthier lives. Social isolation increases dementia and cognitive decline after retirement. The Pikes Peak Library District’s Mobile Library Department, which includes the Lobby Stop Van Service, gathers books for thirteen book clubs every month. Most of the patrons participating in these book clubs require large print to participate. Currently, staff comb the catalog to find large print titles with enough copies, place holds on all the copies and monitor the holds which become available at different times. With a book club collection that is strategically developed with large print books already collated into a set that can be checked out all at once (along with book club discussion questions, DVDs, Playaways and/or CD book), wait times are decreased and the library district’s capacity to meet the demand (currently a long wait list) for large print book club collections increases, ultimately increasing number of patrons who benefit from the service.
In a hurry? Need lots of books for your kids? Looking for something new or unexpected to read? Try a PPLD Bundle! PPLD Bundles consist of a mix of titles chosen by staff from the shelves of your local branch based on your selections in the form below. After you submit the form, you will be notified via your current hold notification method (email, text, or phone call) when your PPLD Bundle is ready for pickup.