Test results show minimal meth contamination affecting the Library

Colorado Springs (Feb. 28, 2023) -- This past weekend, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) and its Board of Trustees received the results of the methamphetamine contamination testing that took place at Penrose Library the week of February 19. 

Samples taken from the walk-up pathways to the restrooms and in adjacent public spaces did not produce any actionable levels of contamination. The results were at or below the minimum level established by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) as acceptable. Simply put, the public areas of Penrose Library are not meth-affected.

During the initial testing two weeks ago, state certified consultant KEMWest identified several restrooms in Penrose Library that had been meth-affected. Additional tests in those rooms were conducted to determine exactly which surfaces are contaminated and at what levels the contamination exists.

The results from the restroom tests revealed that the only areas with actionable meth contamination above the acceptable limits are the exhaust system ductwork, fans, and vents in those spaces. Samples from all other surfaces in the restrooms did not result in any actionable contamination. 

Based on the results, KEMWest made the recommendation that Penrose Library and Mobile Library Services can reopen to staff and public. This decision was made in close coordination with El Paso County Public Health and PPLD, who support KEMWest's recommendation. As such, Penrose Library and PPLD's Mobile Library Services will resume operation on Wed., March 1 at their regularly scheduled times. 

“The safety of all Library patrons and staff is always a priority. I am grateful for Chief Librarian and CEO Teona Shainidze Krebs and her dedicated team that worked around the clock to ensure all the testing was completed and proper precautions were in place,” said Board of Trustees President Aaron Salt. “PPLD leadership worked closely with El Paso County Public Health and KEMWest to understand the impact of the results and create a safe, thoughtful reopening strategy for Penrose [Library]. We are pleased to learn that Penrose is safe. Library leadership is executing a plan that will ensure our libraries maintain safe conditions for all, so this will not be an issue in the future. The Board of Trustees thanks you for your understanding during this time and we look forward to seeing you at the Library soon.” 

Penrose Library will reopen its restrooms as well. “Since airflow is moving away from occupied areas of the Library, the potential for people in the building to be exposed to meth from this contamination is very low,” said KEMWest President James DeValois, CIH. 

In the coming weeks, PPLD will be contracting vendors to handle the cleaning or replacement of the contaminated equipment in the affected exhaust vents.

To mitigate future contamination, PPLD will install environmental sensors in all its public restrooms throughout the Library District. These sensors can detect changes in air quality and will alert PPLD’s Safety and Security team of a deviation. Trained team members will be dispatched to manage any issues as they occur. PPLD will begin the process of installing the sensors within the next several weeks.

For more information, please contact Denise M. Abbott at Dabbott@ppld.org or (719) 930-0225.

For more information, please refer to our FAQ page about meth contamination testing

Feb. 18, 2023

On Wed., Feb. 8, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) started working with state certified vendor KEMWest Inc. to conduct initial screenings for methamphetamine contamination of the restrooms in the three most highly trafficked libraries throughout the District – East Library, Library 21c, Penrose Library (including the Special Collections Carnegie Library). The results of those screenings were presented to PPLD on Friday evening, Feb. 17.
 
Samples taken from East Library and the Special Collections Carnegie Library showed that one restroom in each location contained contamination at levels measuring above the minimum limit that the state has set for residential buildings of 0.25 micrograms per 100 centimeters, but below the maximum threshold of 0.5 micrograms per 100 centimeters. Results at this level trigger the need to proceed to the next level of testing, the preliminary assessment level. This level of tests narrows the results to the specific locations within the restroom that have been affected and determines to what extent they are affected. To allow further examination to be conducted, only these specific restrooms will be closed for use starting Sat., Feb. 18. East Library will be open to the public.
 
Screening samples of several restrooms in Penrose Library showed that they had been contaminated at levels above 0.5 micrograms per 100 centimeters, prompting the need for extensive preliminary assessment level testing for those restrooms and a few of the immediately adjacent areas. KEMWest Inc. recommended that PPLD close Penrose Library and the Mobile Library Services, which is housed at this location, while these tests are taking place. El Paso County Public Health supports the consultant’s recommendation. Penrose Library is likely to remain closed through the coming week, beginning Sat., Feb. 18.
 
When the results of preliminary assessment level of tests become available, they will be shared.
 
All other PPLD locations remain open.
 
As always, the safety and well-being of our staff and patrons are PPLD’s top priority. The Library will continue to work closely with KEMWest Inc. and El Paso County Public Health on this matter as we navigate our next steps.

Feb. 8, 2023

Out of a commitment to the safety of our staff and patrons, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) decided to proactively screen public restrooms for methamphetamine contamination after the recent reports from other affected libraries in Colorado.

Initially, we thought and reported that it would be necessary to conduct screening tests inside 53 public restrooms across the Library District. However, state authorities currently do not have standards or guidelines for assessing contamination levels in public restrooms. We also consulted with a state-certified vendor, El Paso County Public Health, and other Colorado libraries that recently conducted preliminary assessments.

With more information and guidance, Library leadership re-evaluated options and decided to screen public restrooms at PPLD locations with the highest number of patron visits, which are East Library, Library 21c, and Penrose Library. KEMWest Inc., a state-certified vendor, collected samples from those three Library facilities in early February, and results are expected by mid-February.

PPLD is working closely with El Paso County Public Health and KEMWest on this matter. All Library locations remain open and safe to visit at this time.

The safety and wellbeing of its patrons and staff remain a top priority for the Library District. PPLD will share more information and updates as they become available.

January 19, 2023

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is aware of the recent incidents at three other public libraries in Colorado involving methamphetamine contamination inside one of their public restrooms. Though there is no known exposure at any PPLD facility, Library leadership is taking proactive action to ensure the safety and well-being of patrons and staff. All Library locations remain open to the public and are safe to visit.

As a precautionary measure, PPLD will contract a local vendor that’s certified by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to conduct screening tests inside all public restrooms at 15 locations across the Library District. This testing will determine if there are any hazardous levels that need to be addressed. It could take up to 3 - 4 weeks to collect the samples at Library locations across El Paso County, complete the testing, and receive results. 

PPLD will share information and updates as they become available.  

Join us for National Craft Month. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, National Craft Month is the perfect time to explore your artistic side, learn new skills, and connect with others who share your love of crafting. From knitting to woodworking to jewelry-making and beyond, the possibilities for creative expression are endless. Join us as we celebrate the excitement of making something by hand and the joy of crafting!

Programs

Drop-In Watercolor Painting

Come to East Library to experiment with watercolors at this fun and informal drop-in session! No registration necessary and all skill levels welcome. We'll supply the brushes, paint, and paper; just bring yourself! A volunteer will be on hand to help and inspire. Ages 9 and up. Ages 9-11 must be accompanied by an adult. 

• Tue., March 7 at 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., East Library - Community Room. Ages 9+. No registration required
• Tue., March 21 at 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., East Library - Community Room. Ages 9+. No registration required
   

Yarnettes Fiber Group

Join this fun group of fiber friends for a couple of hours of working on your own projects.

• Fri., March 10 at 10 a.m. – noon, Library 21c – Make. Adults, Seniors. No registration required.
• Fri., March 24 at 10 a.m. – noon, Library 21c – Make. Adults, Seniors. No registration required.
   

Bleach Textile Art

Get into the Winter Adult Reading Program spirit with this thematic art project. Using bleach on either a 100% cotton fabric you bring or one of our small cotton washcloths, we will learn how to make a unique work of art. For ages 18+. Registration required. 

• See our full list of events on our calendar
   

Whimsical Faerie House

Get ready for spring by making a whimsical faerie house. You'll leave with a decorated pot that can be filled with soil and seed later. For ages 18+. Registration required. 

• See our full list of events on our Calendar
   

STEAM Take & Make: Rainbow Gravity Spinner (ages 5-12 at all locations) 

Explore Newton’s Third Law of Motion by creating a spinner and letting it fly! For ages 5-12. 

• Fri., March 10 a.m. – All day event, going on at all Library locations
   

Resources

• Try It! –  A regularly updated collection of fun crafts and activities to try out! – Ages 5-12 
• Creative Projects at Home LibGuide
  Browse through this guide to find information about how you can get started on creative projects from the comfort of home.
• PPLD’s Makerspace LibGuides
  PPLD’s makerspaces offer access to tools, materials, and machines to help bring your creative vision to life. Offerings include die cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines, and more. Click on a guide's title to discover a comprehensive overview of that topic and start crafting today.

Recommended Websites

• CraftLab – A collection of unique crafts and activities! – Ages 0-12 
• Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center
  This database offers detailed "how-to" instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast. Full text is provided from leading hobby and craft magazines.

Materials for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries, beginning Feb. 10, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

For additional pictures of this project, click on the pdf file link below.)

Jumbo craft sticks (2)

A wide rubberband

Two smaller rubber bands

A straw

You provide the scissors.

1. Cut two pieces of straw that are 1 – 1 .5 inches long.

2. Stretch the thick rubber band around one of the craft sticks.  Place one of the straws under the rubber band.
3. Put the other craft stick on top and attach them with one of the small rubberband on the same end as the straw.

4. Stick the other piece of straw at the other end of the harmonica, but this time place it on top of the wide rubber band.  Secure the end with the second small rubber band.

5. To play the harmonica, all you have to do is blow.  Our younger kids were wanting to hum into it at first, but then they got the hang of it.

It makes a really cool noise!  When you blow, the wide rubber band vibrates and makes a sound.
To change the pitch, slide the straws closer together or farther apart.  When you slide them closer together, the section of rubber band that is vibrating is shorter, so it makes a higher sound. Slide the straws all the way to the edges to get the lowest possible sound (which is still pretty high, but lower).

Make it an experiment!

Does the thickness or the tension of the wide rubber band affect the pitch?  Try different ones.

Can you change the pitch by blowing harder or softer?  Does the shape of your mouth affect the pitch? (Yes, it does! One of my boys figured out how to play a song by blowing different ways.)

We are excited to announce the relaunch of our Discovery Kits this month! These interactive kits allow you to explore new hobbies and interests from home. We have kits for all ages. Explore robotics and wiring, weaving on a loom, Lego Mindstorm builds, blanket forts, and more.   

Children will have a fun introduction to coding basics using the Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set, which comes with a programmable robot mouse. Using plastic track pieces, they can build a maze the mouse must travel through for a piece of cheese at the end. They can also lay out directional cards to help visualize what they need to program into the mouse so it can reach the goal.  

Get hands-on science learning with the Survive the Quake Engineering Kit. Use interlocking blocks resembling buildings to experiment with different architectural designs on a plate that simulates seismic activity. Turn it on to see how your facility would fair in an earthquake.  

Tinker with the Electronic Playground and have fun experimenting with circuitry and electronics. Find out what happens when you connect wires to transformers, resistors, switches, and other parts of the switchboard. 

Discovery Kits can be reserved for checkout for a maximum of seven days. Learn more about the kits we have available here.  

Our community made excellent use of their library cards in 2022. You spent the year getting creative in the makerspaces and studios, using computers, enjoying eLibrary resources, researching, crafting, and opening worlds of possibility. You also spent the year reading thousands of books from the Library’s physical collection. To celebrate your year of reading, we made lists of the top 20 juvenile, teen, and adult books borrowed from our physical collection across Pikes Peak Library District. (These numbers do not account for digital checkouts from our eLibrary resources.) 

Top 20 Juvenile Checkouts 

1. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor (part of All Pikes Peak Reads in 2022, checked out 1,076 times) 

2. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (checked out 965 times) 

3. The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (checked out 739 times) 

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney (checked out 683 times) 

5. A Long Walk to Water: A Novel by Linda Sue Park (checked out 650 times) 

6. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (checked out 597 times) 

7. Sunlight on the Snow Leopard by Mary Pope Osborne (checked out 595 times) 

8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot by Jeff Kinney (checked out 593 times) 

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End by Jeff Kinney (checked out 583 times) 

10. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (checked out 569 times) 

11. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (checked out 553 times) 

12. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin (checked out 542 times) 

13. Camp Time in California by Mary Pope Osborne (checked out 533 times) 

14. Narwhal on a Sunny Night by Mary Pope Osborne (checked out 503 times) 

15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney (checked out 488 times) 

16. Rowley Jefferson's awesome friendly adventure by Jeff Kinney (checked out 478 times) 

17. Front Desk by Kelly Yang (checked out 469 times) 

18. Late lunch with llamas by Mary Pope Osborne (checked out 458 times) 

19. Rowley Jefferson's awesome friendly spooky stories by Jeff Kinney (checked out 429 times) 

20. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (checked out 413 times) 

Top 20 Teen Checkouts 

1. Scythe by Neal Shusterman (part of All Pikes Peak Reads in 2022, checked out 982 times) 

2. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (checked out 490 times) 

3. Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan (checked out 318 times) 

4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling (checked out 305 times) 

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (checked out 234 times) 

6. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer (checked out 233 times) 

7. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (checked out 197 times) 

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (checked out 183 times) 

9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (checked out 177 times) 

10. All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey (checked out 171 times) 

11. The Giver by Lois Lowry (checked out 170 times) 

12. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (checked out 166 times) 

13. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (checked out 156 times) 

14. Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh (checked out 152 times) 

15. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (checked out 148 times) 

16. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (checked out 145 times) 

17. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas (checked out 145 times) 

18. Eldest by Christopher Paolini (checked out 143 times) 

19. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (checked out 130 times) 

20. North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (checked out 128 times) 

Top 20 Adult Checkouts 

1. The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel by Laura Dave (checked out 1,206 times) 

2. Shadows Reel by C. J. Box (checked out 1,070 times) 

3. Sparring Partners by John Grisham (checked out 1,007 times) 

4. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (checked out 979 times) 

5. Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton (checked out 964 times) 

6. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (checked out 900 times) 

7. The Judge’s List by John Grisham (checked out 888 times) 

8. The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (checked out 838 times) 

9. The Library Book by Susan Orlean (part of All Pikes Peak Reads in 2022, checked out 824 times) 

10. Steal by James Patterson (checked out 780 times) 

11. Wish You Were Here: A Novel by Jodi Picoult (checked out 775 times) 

12. Better Off Dead by Lee Child (checked out 731 times) 

13. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (checked out 717 times) 

14. The Match by Harlan Coben (checked out 656 times) 

15. Dream Town by David Baldacci (checked out 656 times) 

16. Game On: Tempting Twenty-eight by Janet Evanovich (checked out 642 times) 

17. The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly (checked out 624 times) 

18. Escape by James Patterson (checked out 622 times) 

19. The Paris Apartment: A Novel by Lucy Foley (checked out 604 times) 

20. The It Girl by Ruth Ware (checked out 603 times) 

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways!

Celebrate Library Lovers Month and send PPLD a Valentine!  Tell us what you love about your Library and be entered to win prizes – tickets to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, dinner for two at The Summit at The Broadmoor, and more!

Registration is now closed, thank you for participating!

Feb. 1 - Feb. 28
All locations

No purchase necessary.  One entry per person. All entries must be received on or before February 28, 2023. By entering this contest, you agree to abide by the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) rules and decisions. PPLD reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify an entry at our sole discretion. Winners will be selected by random draw. PPLD employees and their immediate families are not eligible to win. You grant PPLD permission to publish the content of your entry for promotional purposes. Fulfillment of prizes offered by third-parties are the sole responsibility of that entity. 

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at PPLD locations beginning Friday, January 13, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Colored Cardstock

Stickers

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Alexander Calder was an American sculpture known for his colorful giant sculptures . See some examples of Calder's work in the pdf link below.
Directions:
1. Take a cardstock rectangle. Decorate it with markers, crayons, or colored pencils if desired.

2. Fold it in half.

3. Make cuts similar to those in the picture that almost reach the fold.

4. Unfold.

5. If desired, use colored stickers to decorate.

6. Fold, alternating folding one toward the back and the next toward the front. Alternate this way to allow your sculpture to stand. (For example, the right side would be back, front, back, front, etc. and the left side would be front, back, front, back, etc.)

Get creative with your cutting to create additional amazing sculptures!

Join Pikes Peak Library District in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and welcome Carlotta Walls LaNier as she takes us through her journey as one of the Little Rock Nine. In 1957, at age 14, Mrs. LaNier and eight other students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This act of courage became the catalyst for change in the American educational system. The Little Rock Nine, as they would eventually be called, became ‘foot soldiers’ for freedom. In 1999, members of Congress and former President Bill Clinton bestowed upon Mrs. LaNier and the other members of the Little Rock Nine the nation’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, for their sacrifice and contribution to the cause of equality. 

Mrs. LaNier will share her story with us at the upcoming presentation, A Mighty Long Way, and introduce her new book A Mighty Long Way, My Journey to Justice, at Little Rock Central High. Please join us in-person or on the livestream. Registration is encouraged.  

When: 

Library 21c: Tue., Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. - noon 

Chilly winter days are perfect for curling up with a good book or entertaining yourself with new experiences. Join Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) for this year’s Winter Adult Reading Program! Participants log 30 days of activities from Wed., Feb. 1 - Fri., March 31 to earn prizes. To participate, you can log 30 minutes or more of reading time each day or do activities like join a PPLD Book Group, stop by a Little Free Library in your area, read a new author or genre, explore the NOAA website, and more. You can also choose to attend selected PPLD events, which include fun activities like handmade hand warmers, bleach textile art, and card making.

Participants who log 30 days of activities during the challenge will earn the annual Winter Adult Reading Program mug, a chocolate bar from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and an entry into the grand prize drawing.

Registration opens on Wed., Feb. 1. Register in person or at curbside and receive a tote bag with everything you need to help you participate in the reading program. Bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

To learn more and to find out how to register, click here

Reflecting on 2022 and looking ahead

As we welcome 2023 and what’s to come, I want to take a moment and reflect on the past year for Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD).  

The Library has been a staple in our community for more than 130 years, evolving to become a public institution that offers physical and digital spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities. Thanks to the investment from El Paso County taxpayers, we can provide residents like you with access to 16 facilities, three mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources and services that are inclusive and welcoming to all.

Because of you, we were able to do so much for the community this past year. PPLD connected hundreds of thousands of people with services, resources, and spaces to help them achieve their goals. Many patrons visited one of our libraries, whether to browse our collection and check out an item, attend a program, use a meeting or study room, create something in a makerspace or recording studio, or use a computer, copier, scanner, or something else they needed. Library cardholders checked out more than 4 million physical items, and we surpassed more than 2 million digital checkouts via OverDrive and Libby by the end of September 2022.

We hosted another year of successful programs that strive to improve literacy like the Winter Adult Reading Program, Summer Adventure for kids and teens, and All Pikes Peak Reads this past fall. PPLD expanded the PowerPass partnership program to include Calhan School District and Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, providing more students with access to Library resources and services to help further their success in and out of the classroom. And we also added a few new museums and attractions to the Pikes Peak Culture Pass, meaning individuals and families can check out even more cultural experiences right here in our community and beyond.

In the spring of 2022, PPLD also announced its new vision, mission, and values. This became the starting point to develop a three-year strategic plan, which was publicly released in December and officially kicks off this month.

The plan for 2023 - 2025 was informed by staff and public input. Last summer, our team hosted multiple opportunities for Library patrons and other community members to engage with us as part of the planning process, and nearly 1,200 participated, whether online or in-person at one of our libraries. With rich qualitative data from the public and 400-plus staff, we uncovered several common themes – and those helped guide a strategic planning committee of staff, Board, and community representatives in identifying PPLD’s six areas of focus. If you want to find out more and see where, why, and how the Library District will reinvest taxpayer dollars back into the community through 2025, please visit ppld.org/strategicplan.  

It's because of the community’s continued support for PPLD that we have been able to do all of this in 2022 and what we’re planning for 2023. Your investment, trust, and patronage truly are an investment into improving the Pikes Peak region for everyone.  

We look forward to serving you throughout this new year – and using our new strategic plan to fulfill our mission, uphold our values, and aim to achieve our vision for this great community!

Teona Shainidze Krebs 
Chief Librarian & CEO 
Pikes Peak Library District 

Get ready for a weekend of epic sports history! PPLD and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum have teamed up to offer a discount weekend at the museum for library cardholders. Share your library card (or card number) to enjoy interactive exhibits and an immersive and accessible look into the journey of Team USA’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes.   

When:  

• Sat., Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.  
• Sun., Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m

Present your library card at the museum for $10 admission. The PPLD Bookmobile will be on-site for library card registration and will also put on a special Storytime Saturday morning at 9 a.m. 

Bookmobile on-site: 

• Sat., Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. – noon  
• Sun., Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. – noon 

From a small reading room established 136 years ago, PPLD continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our sprawling community. Our service area covers 2,070 square miles of El Paso County with a population of nearly 700,000 – people of all ages and backgrounds with varying views and interests.

Thanks to taxpayer funding, we can continue to provide residents with access to 16 facilities, three mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources and services, all of which are inclusive and welcoming to everyone. The Library team strives to make its physical and digital spaces safe and respectful for diverse voices, perspectives, and pursuits; to foster community dialogue and connections; and to help people achieve their goals and dreams in life.

Overview and Process

In the winter and spring of 2022, our Board of Trustees and staff revisited PPLD’s mission statement and developed a vision statement and organizational values that best reflect our public library system and growing community in El Paso County.

This became our starting point to develop our new strategic plan for 2023 - 2025. After months of input from the public through surveys and in-person meetings, PPLD staff, Library patrons, and other community members and government officials, PPLD used the rich qualitative data it received from more than 1,600 responses to develop a new strategic plan for 2023 - 2025. Below are the six areas of focus the team identified that became the foundation of the plan.

Strategic Plan: Areas of Focus

PPLD publicly released this plan in detail on Dec. 6, 2022, so everyone could see where, why, and how PPLD will reinvest taxpayer dollars back into the community through 2025. We look forward to using our new strategic plan to fulfill our mission, uphold our values, and aim to achieve our vision for this great community.

View the complete plan here:

Free materials for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning Dec. 9, 2023.

Materials provided:
Spool
Washer
Rubber Band
Toothpicks
Materials you provide:
Scissors
Tape
Markers, if desired
Directions: (see additional pictures in the pdf link below)
1. Use markers to decorate the spool, if desired.
2. Push the rubber band through the center of the spool. Use a toothpick to help poke it through if needed.
3. Break a toothpick, slide it through one rubber band loop, and secure it to the spool with tape.
4. Slide the washer onto the rubber band loop at the other end of the spool.
5. Insert a toothpick through the loop.
6. Wind the toothpick.
7. Set it down on a smooth surface and let go. Watch it race or spin!
8. Experiment with how you can adjust it to make it go straighter or farther. You can also race your friends.

How does your brain understand how far away something is? This experiment shows how your eyes work together to perceive distance.

Our eyes both face the same direction. Because they do, they produce slightly different views of the same object. Our brains are able to use this overlapping information (retinal disparity) to figure out how far away an object is. (If our eyes were on the sides of our heads like some animals, we would have poor depth perception.)

Try this: Close one eye and focus on a nearby object. Switch which eye is open and focus on the object again. You should see the object shift. Try it again with a faraway object. When you use just one eye, your brain can’t use feedback from both eyes to discern depth perception.

Materials needed:
Pipe cleaners – use half for each
Clay
Scissors
Pencils

Instructions:
1. Cut your full pipe cleaner in half. Use ½ pipe cleaner for each.
2. Bend the end of a pipe cleaner so you have a circle that’s slightly bigger than a pencil. Twist it to secure.
3. Use a bit of clay to make a stand for the pipe cleaner.
4. Make 2 more pipe cleaner stands with slightly bigger circles. You should have 3 pipe cleaners on stands.
5. Test your depth perception – Place the pipe cleaner with the largest opening on a table in front of you so you cannot see the opening. Close one eye and try to put the pencil through the hole. Try it again with both eyes open. Which is easier? Try it with each sized hole and see the difference.
6. If this is too easy, try getting a needle and thread and threading the needle with one eye closed!

Based on: https://www.kiwico.com/diy/stem/anatomy-biology/seeing-depth-perception

The shooting at Club Q on Sat., Nov. 19 was a senseless act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community that claimed the lives of 5 individuals, physically injured 18 others, and impacted many more. Our hearts go out to those lost and injured in the shooting, as well as those of our community who have lost friends and family. Our community, like others across the nation, is hurting following this tragedy.

Our mission is to cultivate spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities, and our values include bringing people together. We understand that diversity, inclusivity, and equity are pillars of a strong and thriving community and we strive to support our entire community. PPLD joins the efforts of all whose interests are focused on building a strong community free of hatred and intolerance.

Below are resources you can access for more information and support.

Resources

Colorado is fortunate to have many talented published authors that are willing to share their stories and provide insight into their lives. Every quarter, the Friends are pleased to bring one of those authors to East Library.

This family friendly event is sure to dazzle all who attend - from the young to the young-at-heart! Light snacks will be provided.

Free for all Friends of the Library Members and only $5 for non-members. Children 17 and under are free. Ms. Regan will have a selection of her books for purchase and to autograph; she is kindly donating 100% of the proceeds to the Friends.

What does our city look like through the lens of someone experiencing homelessness? Come find out at the "We Have a Story" exhibit.

We Have a Story

“We Have a Story: Homeless in Colorado Springs” is a documentary project completed in 2022 by people experiencing homelessness. This project captures the unique experiences of these individuals through photos and stories. The four individuals who participated in the project present their distinctive perspectives of this complex and diverse community, which is not easy to define.

Participants took pictures over the course of a month in the spring of 2022. They met as a group with a professional photographer to discuss and critique their photographs. Participants also sat with a historian to conduct an oral history interview. At the end of the project, they each selected three images and wrote an accompanying artist story. The photos and narratives will be displayed throughout Pikes Peak Library District.

The photos, narratives, and oral histories will also be accessible online through Special Collections at Penrose Library, which preserves the stories and records of the Pikes Peak region. “We Have a Story: Homeless in Colorado Springs” contributes to the region’s history by documenting the stories of contemporary residents who are typically overlooked in a community’s historical record.

Exhibit Schedule:

• 2022
• November - Penrose Library
• December - Manitou Springs Library/Manitou Arts Center
• 2023
• January - Cheyenne Mountain Library and Rockrimmon Library
• February - Library 21c
• March - East Library

Join Pikes Peak Library District’s Regional History and Genealogy (RH&G) department as they release the latest book in their Regional History Series: Military Matters: Defense, Development, & Dissent in the Pikes Peak Region.
There will be a presentation by the RH&G staff members about the multitude of ways the military has shaped, contributed to, and transformed the Pikes Peak region.

This will be followed by a panel discussion with three retired veterans living in the region:

William Thomas, Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer
Terrance D. McWilliams, Retired 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson Command Sergeant Major
Christine Martinez, Retired U.S. Army Flight Medical Aidman and Air Force Reserves

When and Where

The book release and panel discussion will be on Thu., Nov. 17 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at Penrose Library. Military Matters: Defense, Development & Dissent in the Pikes Peak Region will be for sale to all attendees at a discount.

PPLD is looking for two makers for the 2023 Maker in Residence Program.

What is a maker? A maker can be an artist, a techno-wizard, an inventor, a crafter, and lots more!

But specifically, we seek makers who…

• love their craft and possess skills to teach and share
• are curious about the world around them and enjoy tinkering
• enjoy collaborating with others

The Maker in Residence will teach classes to our patrons and envision, develop, and create a large-scale community project. Since 2014, the Maker in Residence program has hosted over 30 creative individuals, who introduced the El Paso County community to a wide range of projects and ideas including the following:

• bookbinding & papermaking
• drawing and painting (acrylics, watercolors, oils, alcohol ink)
• stop motion / animation
• songwriting and dancing
• polymer clay
• origami
• sewing

Applications will be taken through Mon, Nov. 21.

Click here to apply.

You will also need to complete and attach these two forms to the application linked to above:

• Class Outline Form
• Community Project Proposal Form

You can learn more about the Maker in Residence program here.

Take and Makes for this project will be available at area PPLD libraries on Oct. 14, 2022.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Paper Templates

Cardboard

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Penny

Glue

Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils

Directions:

Color your template. Glue the template to the cardboard. Cut out around your template.

Cut a small slit in the center of the circle to insert the penny. The slit needs to snugly hold the penny.

Spin. As it spins, note what you see.

The Science Behind it: Something in motion stays in motion unless a force acts upon it. In Penny Spinners, the friction between the penny and the surface slows it down and eventually causes it to stop. This project also shows color mixing as the colors combine when the spinner spins.

PPLD is co-sponsoring the 2022 Pathways to Progress Seminar: An Invitation to Inclusivity with speakers from Mariposa Professional Services, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Rework America Alliance, City of Colorado Springs, and The Independence Center.

When: Wed., Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Library 21c and Virtual
Registration required.

PPLD Programs

Calvin Can't Fly: An ASL Event
Join us for this story presented in ASL, voiceover, enhanced text, music, sound effects and animation followed by a fun, interactive ASL lesson!
When: Sat., Oct. 1 from 1 – 2 p.m.
Where: Library 21c
Registration required.

Sensory Storytime
Join us for a fun and interactive Storytime that is specially created for children on the autism spectrum or with sensory integration challenges. For children ages 3 - 7
When: Fri., Oct. 7 from 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Where: Library 21c - Children’s Room
Registration required.

When: Sat., Oct. 8 from 11 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: East Library - Children's Story Room
Registration required.

ASL Storytime & Playgroup
Join Pikes Peak Library District and The Colorado School For The Deaf and The Blind (CSDB) for a bilingual Storytime and Playgroup! Books will be read in American Sign Language and English. An interpreter will be available for English and ASL translation.
When: Wed., Oct. 12 from 10:30 a.m. - noon
Where: East Library - Children's Activity/Story Rooms
Registration required.

Trauma-Informed Yoga and Meditation
Join a certified yoga therapist for a specific low-impact trauma-informed yoga class. This class will lead you through specific postures and practices that will help ease anxiety and tension and cultivate an environment for healing process to begin.
When: Mon., Oct. 17 from 10:15 – 11: 15 a.m.
Where: Rockrimmon Library - Meeting Room
Registration required.

When: Mon., Oct. 24 from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Where: Rockrimmon Library - Meeting Room
Registration required.

When: Sat., Oct. 29 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Cheyenne Mountain Library - Marlene Rook Memorial Community Room
Registration required.

When: Mon., Oct. 31 from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Where: Rockrimmon Library - Meeting Room
Registration required.

Once Upon a Sign: ASL Storytime
Come and join us for a fun Storytime featuring early literacy activities and stories signed in American Sign Language (ASL) by a Deaf role model, and spoken aloud in English!
When: Tue., Oct. 18 from 9:30 – 10 a.m.
Where: Library 21c - Children's Room

When: Tue., Oct. 18 from 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Where: Library 21c - Children's Room

Virtual Once Upon a Sign: ASL Storytime
Come and join us for a fun virtual Storytime featuring early literacy activities and stories signed in American Sign Language (ASL) by a Deaf role model and spoken aloud in English!
When: Tue., Oct. 25 from 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual
Registration required.

Resources

• OverDrive Booklist
• Disability Resources Subject Guide
  A compilation of national, state, and local resources for individuals with disabilities, their families, and friends. Topics include advocacy, assistive technology, caregiver resources, emergency preparedness, employment & housing, recreation, and more.
• Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
  DVR provides services which can include vocational guidance and counseling, short- or long-term training, job seeking skills, job development and job coaching, assistive technology, and needed accommodations to participate with DVR and on the job.
• The Independence Center

The Independence Center provides information, resources, and support to help people with disabilities live, learn, work, play, and participate in civic life as equals.

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
  The Job Accommodation Network is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues.
• Pikes Peak Workforce Center – Accessibility to Services
  The Pikes Peak Workforce Center connects businesses with work-ready job seekers and employer-driven services. We help residents of El Paso & Teller Counties with career transition, whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or employed.
• Rocky Mountain ADA Center

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tailored to meet the needs of individuals and organizations in our region.

• Special Kids Special Families
  SKSF was founded in 1998 to provide respite and care for children and adults with disabilities. Programs offer community support services to families that are designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities throughout their life span.

This October, arts and culture takes center stage across the Pikes Peak region as our community celebrates Arts Month! And you’re encouraged to have one new cultural experience with family or friends sometime this month.

Art is for everyone, and we’re offering opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels! To kick off the month, we will be offering Take and Make kits at participating Library locations that you can pick up and enjoy doing at home (while supplies last).

There are also several Library programs happening throughout October like workshops and open paint nights. Come celebrate Arts Month with us this October.

Here are a few options:

Bad Art Night – For Adults 
Multiple dates starting Wed., Oct. 5

All of the fun of making art with none of the pressure! Join us to create the most ridiculous pieces of art you can think of - from painting to collage to sculpture - while enjoying snacks and refreshments. At the end of the night, there will be awards for the most over-the-top bad artwork! All supplies will be provided. Come celebrate Arts Month with us in a judgment-free and glitter-heavy zone!

Mini Pumpkin Decorating – For Tweens 
Multiple dates starting Thu., Oct. 6

Transform a mini pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece! We will have everything you need to decorate a pumpkin for fall. For ages 9 - 12. Registration required.

Pikes Peak Live! – For Teens and Adults 
Sat., Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall)

Pikes Peak Live! is an all-day event that consists of performing art workshops that will conclude with a talent show by the participants for the public. The day will start with a series of workshops where participants can choose to attend either poetry, music, or comedy workshops. Participants then will come together to present their works (panel style) where they’ll learn some tips and tricks on performing on stage. The day will conclude with a talent showcase where participants can take part and test the water by performing in front of an audience. The showcase is open to public viewing.

View all Library programs and activities during Arts Month.

To find out what else is happening around the region, check out the calendar of events at ArtsOctober.com.

We partner with the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region throughout the year to encourage residents of El Paso County to engage with their community through arts, culture, and other programs and experiences. PPLD is a proud partner of #ArtsOctober and PeakRadar.com.

An inside look at the 2022 All Pikes Peak Reads' Adult Selection
- Interview by Heidi Buljung and Anthony Carlson

The adult selection for this year’s All Pikes Peak Reads program is The Library Book written by acclaimed author, Susan Orlean. PPLD Senior Librarian Heidi Buljung recently had the opportunity to chat with Susan about her latest book, the value of libraries to communities, how it felt to be portrayed by Meryl Streep in a movie, and what Susan learned about libraries while writing The Library Book.

Heidi: The Library Book has been chosen as Pikes Peak Library District's All Pikes Peak Reads' adult selection this year. Every year, the program has a theme, and this year’s theme is “reinvention.” In what ways do you think libraries are places of invention and reinvention for people and patrons who visit them?

Susan: I think I can answer the question in two ways. To begin with, libraries have always adapted to the moment. For many centuries, they were primarily repositories of books. They were really in the vanguard of seeing other forms of media as being appropriate for being in their collections. So, the library of today is different from the library of 20 years ago, and that was different from the library 20 years before that. It's been a constant and ongoing process of reinvention. I think libraries have been remarkable in that regard. They have really never seen themselves as museums of books, but rather, these living, breathing information centers, and whatever form information comes in, libraries have embraced it. I think that's why they've remained vital.

I think another way of looking at this, though, is that libraries are also tools of reinvention. And in their earliest iteration, one of the main missions of a library was to educate people, and to give them the tools to reinvent themselves. In a sense, they were sort of an open university, and that has really remained a constant. We see this now with libraries offering GED programs and citizenship courses. There are all these different ways that a library makes itself available for an individual to say, ‘I want to learn about something new,’ or ‘I want to expose myself to a new set of information.’ You know, libraries, at their core, have always been about that transformational property.

Heidi: On a little personal note, I'm a librarian because my mom took me to the library when I was a kid. Getting to the book, you talked about going on those trips with your mom to the library; those memories were stirred for you when you took your son to visit the Studio City Library. Can you share a little bit about why those childhood visits to the library were so important, and how they helped to shape who you are today?

Susan: There is a way that they figured in my memory and my emotions as a kid that just defies explanation. There was something magical about going to the library. Even as a little kid, I had the kind of freedom to pick what I wanted and make my own choices. The actual act of going with my mom just felt full of mystery. I can't explain it other than to say that books have some magic and libraries have some transformational quality that, even as a kid, you sense. It made me an avid reader. And there's no doubt in my mind that being an avid reader led to me being a writer. I have no doubt that that's where the seeds were sown.

I think going to the library and seeing this incredible array of books is quite different from going to a bookstore or going on Amazon and ordering the book you want. And, you know, browsing a library has different qualities. I think it's even different from browsing a bookstore, because you've got old books, you have books that have long since been out of print, and you have obscure oddball books that might not appear in a bookstore. In a library you really dive in and see the extraordinary range of curiosity. I think that really inspired me. That changed the way I looked at the world and made me appreciative of the range of stories and interests that a library presents.

Heidi: The Library Book has been described as a love letter to libraries. How does that make you feel to hear that?

Susan: It's absolutely wonderful! When I wrote the book, I had begun with the idea that I wanted to write something about libraries. I just felt like they're such interesting institutions and they've endured. Do you know why? When you think about how much society has changed since the first library was founded, it's so interesting that we still make libraries, and we still care so deeply about them. I just instantly thought, well, this is a subject that I'm really curious about.

Then the story of the fire, which was a very dramatic story really interested me. I didn't go into it thinking “I'm going to write a tribute and a love letter.” Yet, of course, the whole reason I did the book is because I love libraries. So, it almost came as a wonderful surprise to me to in retrospect to say “Oh, of course. Of course, it's a love letter!” These are remarkable things that we humans have created and preserved, and the way they function is truly good in this world. But I have to say, not to sound too cynical, there's something really amazing about thinking of a place, particularly a public institution, that you feel like it's just good. It's full of goodness. And that made me really happy.

Heidi: I want to ask about the cynical expression that you have when someone has died, his or her library has burned. And you explain a little bit of that in the book. Can you just explain that, again, for purposes of this interview, why that quote, that expression is so poignant?

Susan: Well, it operates on many levels. On one level, it suggests that we each contain in our minds and hearts, a sort of library of a lifetime of stories, experiences, images, memories that our minds have sort of organized, like libraries. Everything we know, all the knowledge we have, as well as all of the memories and more personal information we have, disappears when we die. But the poignancy also is that libraries themselves exist almost like a communal soul. Everything that a culture knows, values, thinks, and cares about is contained in a library. And, if an actual physical library burns, you've lost this entire sense of a culture.

Heidi: Awesome. And we have one final question. So, Jeremiah, who's in internal communications with the Library District, is a big fan of [the movie] Adaptation. He wanted us to ask you specifically how it felt to have Meryl Streep play you in a movie?

Susan: Well, it's wonderful. I mean, if you're going to have the weird experience of being portrayed in a movie, which is, in itself, a very bizarre life experience… If you're going to have somebody do it, Meryl Streep would be the person you'd want. And you know, it doesn't make it any less weird, but it made me feel that I was having brain surgery by a highly trained surgeon, as opposed to being hit by a truck. And I love the movie. So, you know, my feelings about it are very positive.

Heidi: This was so much fun! I know PPLD is really excited to feature your book as part of All Pikes Peak Reads this year. Thank you so much for the time today, and we really appreciate the opportunity to connect and talk about your book.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2022 edition of District Discovery.

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 joins Colorado Springs School District 11, Harrison School District 2, Academy School District 20, Calhan School District, and District 49 as the sixth and latest school district to join Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) PowerPass program since its initial launch in the fall of 2019.

PowerPass is a digital library card just for students with the goal of providing access to PPLD’s digital resources, like databases, eBooks, and song and movie downloads to students as a supplement to existing school district resources.

Learn more at ppld.org/PowerPass.

Origami has been around for over 1000 years. Let’s look at origami under a different light. The art of paper folding was once considered a child’s activity, but now it attracts mathematicians, designers, engineers and artists all over the world. It only requires paper, but the possibilities are endless. In this workshop participants will learn to fold oversized and standard-size modular origami then use the pieces to build a large-scale community installation to be displayed at the PPLD libraries.

El origami ha existido por mas de mil años. En este workshop me gustaría que el público a vea éste arte bajo una luz diferente. El arte del plegado de papel una vez fue considerado una actividad infantil, pero ahora atrae a matemáticos, diseñadores, ingenieros y artistas de todo el mundo. Solo requiere un pedazo de papel, pero las posibilidades son infinitas. En este taller los participantes aprenderán a plegar el origami modular de gran tamaño y luego utilizarán las piezas para construir una instalación de gran escala.

In this workshop, participants will learn how to fold large modular origami and then use the pieces to build a large-scale installation.

Registration is required; please click on link to sign up.

• Wed., Sept. 21 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Rockrimmon Library
• Sat., Sept. 24 from 2 - 5 p.m. at Sand Creek Library
• Thu., Sept. 29 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Sand Creek Library
• Sat., Oct. 1 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Old Colorado City Library
• Fri., Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Manitou Springs Library
• Tue., Oct. 11 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Library 21c
• Sat., Oct. 15 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Library 21c
• Mon., Oct. 17 from 1 - 4 p.m. at Rockrimmon Library
• Sat., Oct. 22 from 2 - 5 p.m. at Ruth Holley Library
• Sat., Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at East Library

Join Gabrielle Oshiro as she constructs a large-scale modular origami piece to be displayed in Library 21c. Participants may help with a variety of tasks such as folding origami, connecting pieces together into modules, pasting decorative papers, and more. Come learn from one of our community’s incredible makers all while being a part of a large-scale art installation!

This is a drop-in event; registration is not required.

• Thu., Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Library 21c
• Fri., Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Library 21c
• Thu., Nov. 3 from 1 - 5 p.m. at Library 21c
• Mon., Nov. 7 from 1 - 6 p.m. at Library 21c
• Wed., Nov. 9 from 1 - 6 p.m. at Library 21c
• Fri., Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Library 21c

Artist Biography

Gaby Oshiro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and grew up in Treviso, Italy. Gaby got her love for visual arts and music from her parents. After fine arts school in Treviso, Italy, she started her own research through music, painting, and macrophotography and merging it all together in art installations in Italy, South America and the United States. She is always looking for that elusive hidden beauty that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
https://www.instagram.com/oshirogk/
http://goshiro.wixsite.com/goshiro