What's New!

All you need is your Library. But your Library needs you, too! 

Libraries are a vital lifeline for the whole community. It’s difficult to capture everything that Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) offers to support people throughout El Paso County in a single, brief statement. We will highlight a few: 

• Job seekers can find resume writing and interview preparation help, career search navigation, and educational opportunities for job skills.
• Parents and caregivers of young children can find early literacy and education opportunities, hands-on programs, a Toy Library with toys for motor skill development, homework help, homeschool resources and programs, and a wide range of other resources to support their children’s growth and development. 
• Teenagers can enjoy resources and services like safe spaces to hang out with friends, gaming consoles, research and homework resources, test and college prep help, and tutoring.
• And anyone can enjoy our vast collection of books and other media, genealogy resources, no-cost passes to local attractions, classes and community activities, and many other services and resources we provide.

In addition to these and other resources, the Library supports its community by providing enriching programs and education opportunities for all ages. This year, PPLD enjoyed hosting a wide range of new and returning programs.

• We took on reading and activity challenges with you during the Winter Adult Reading Program. This year, we had 5,070 people register for the program (a 27% increase from 2023).
• Our 2024 Summer Adventure, presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado, opened to adults for the first time. The annual summer reading program had 18,302 people register this year (a 27% increase from 2023). 
• In July, we started reading Go As a River with our community and had the pleasure of hearing from its Colorado-local author, Shelley Read during the All Pikes Peak Reads author program. Due to the high interest, the Library had to add a second author presentation.
• And, local teens submitted outstanding works of art to the annual Teen Art Contest; local 4th and 5th graders submitted thoughtful poems to the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest; and local writers of all ages sent us a wide range of creative stories for the All Pikes Peak Writes program.
• We also hosted art classes, games, book clubs, author talks, and many other programs.

Donations are a vital part of Library funding, and they allow us to purchase materials and plan programs for our community. We invite you to make a difference in your community by making kind contribution through the PPLD Foundation during the Year End Giving Campaign. We thank you for your support and generosity! 

The fall concert in this year’s Shivers Concert Series, From Classics to Jazz, will take place on Fri., Nov. 22 at The Antlers, a Wyndham Hotel (4 S. Cascade Ave.). There will be a social hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the concert at 8 p.m. 

The Shivers Concert Series has been raising funds to support local culture and arts for 31 years. These concerts benefit the Shivers Fund at PPLD started by Peggy and Clarence Shivers, which contributes to the African American collection at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), awards grants and scholarships to students, and encourages young people to pursue their interests in the arts.

The concert features performances by soprano Christina Danaé, baritone Stephen Locke, flutist Sandra Tiemens, guitarist Colin McAllister, and collaborative pianist Susan Grace. Following the concert, author Fran Pilch will sell and sign copies of her book, Applause! Stories from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.   

Purchase your tickets today!

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) wants to celebrate National Library Week, April 6 – 12, with the launch of up to four new library cards – designed by YOU. Help us show the Pikes Peak region that we all belong at the Library by entering your original artwork inspired by the Library and the community to our Library Card Design Contest. All ages are welcome to enter. We are accepting entries of all types, including digital art, children’s art, original photography, or digitized copies of traditional media artwork (paintings, pastels, mixed media, pen drawings, etc.). Entries will be accepted online at ppld.org/library-card-contest. 

Submissions will open in January 2025. 

Rules

Themes: Your submission should be inspired by the Library, the Pikes Peak region, or the community. 

Eligibility: Open to all ages; participants must live within PPLD’s service area (all of El Paso County except for Security-Widefield). Having a library card is not a requirement, but if a participant possesses one, it must be in good standing with the Library District to be eligible for participation. Library staff and their immediate family may not participate. 

Submission File Requirements: 

• Format: All submissions should be in a digital format, whether it is digital art or a quality digital photo or scan of traditional media art (paint, pastels, mixed media, sketches, etc.).
• Size: Designs should be 3.375"W x 2.215"H. No important aspects of the design should be within .125" of all sides. Anything outside of these parameters may be cut off by the printing process.
• File Type: Submissions must be in a high-resolution digital format. The following file types will be accepted: EPS, JPEG, TIFF, or PDF.
• Description: Please include a brief description (1 – 3 sentences) describing the concept behind your submission.

Originality: All designs must be original artwork or photography created by the participant. No AI-generated content or copyrighted materials should be used.

Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 31. Submissions open in January 2025.

Number of Submissions: No more than two submissions per person. Please submit each entry separately if you submit two entries.

Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, overall aesthetic appeal, and relevance to PPLD and surrounding community.

Prizes: Winning entries will be featured long-term on a PPLD library card beginning in April 2025. Thanks to our prize sponsor, winners will also receive a gift card from HR Meininger Company.

Rights: By entering the contest, participants grant Pikes Peak Library District the right to use their winning design(s) as a library card and for promotional purposes. The winner agrees to freely assign unlimited copyright usage of their submitted design for as long as Pikes Peak Library District wishes to use the design(s). The selected artist further agrees to abstain from using the design for their own business or marketing purposes for as long as the District continues to use it. The design(s) may be modified (size, color, enhancements, etc.) as needed by the Library and will only be used in the context of the library card that they are featured on, but that library card may appear in Library promotions now and in perpetuity.

Contest Timeline

• Thu., Jan. 2 – Submissions period opens
• Fri., Jan. 31 – Submission period closes
• Fri., Feb. 14 – Winners notified
• Mon., Apr. 7 – Library cards begin circulating

Additional Considerations

• Participants should consider the size and functionality of cards when submitting their design. Please create a design that will fit within the provided dimensions (2.25"W x 3.5"H) or use the provided template.  
• Designs can be either landscape or portrait orientation.
• Do not use the PPLD logo in your design.  
• The Library’s logo will be placed in one corner, depending on where it looks best. Consider creating a design where the logo being placed in one corner will not disrupt the look of your artwork.

How to submit – Submissions open in January 2025. Check back to this page in January to submit your artwork.

Thanks to HR Meininger Company for sponsoring great prizes for our library card design winners!