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Learn about heritage and culture this November with Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD).  Discover resources, web links, and booklists nationally recognized holidays and heritage months on this page. In November, Explore Native American & Alaska Native Heritage Month and Veteran’s Day.

Native American & Alaska Native Heritage Month

Native American & Alaska Native Heritage Month in November recognizes the vibrant and diverse tapestry of American Indian and Alaska Native heritage, history, and culture. Experience a world of traditions, stories, and knowledge through the array of resources on this page. 

Booklists

• Picture booklist
• Chapter booklist

Library Resources

Gale eBooks
Search this database using key words like “Native American” for further reading and information. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location)

Hoopla
Find eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, videos, and more by searching “Native American” on the Hoopla app.

Kanopy
Discover videos and documentaries diving deeper into Native American culture and exploring the lives of individuals throughout history.

The Horace S. Poley Photographs Collection
Our Digital Collections contain historic photos by Horace S. Poley, many of which are photographs of American Indians in the southwestern United States. Included are images of the Fiesta of San Geronimo at Taos, the Snake Dance of the Hopi, Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, and the Dedication of the Ute Pass Indian Trail in 1912.

PPLD Digital Collections
Search our Digital Collections for more photographs! We recommend using search terms like, “Native American,” “American Indian,” “Indian,” and “Ute.”

Reference and Special Collections Materials (Catalog)
Explore American Indian heritage in reference and historical texts found in our physical and digital collections.

Website Links

American Indians in Children's Literature
Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books.

Native American Heritage Month
Find information from The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum discussing Native American & Alaska Native Heritage.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day recognizes veterans from all branches of the U.S. armed forces and their families. Below are veteran resources, booklists, and websites you can explore. 

Booklists

• Resources for Veterans (Overdrive and Libby)

Library Resources

Freegal

• Veterans Day Collection: 50 Patriotic Songs
• Veterans Day (radio broadcast)

Gale Ebooks
Search this database using the keyword “Veterans” for further reading and information. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location)

PPLD Digital Collections
Discover historic photos, postcards, news articles, and other Pikes Peak region history items. Use key search terms like ‘veteran,’ ‘military,’ ‘air force,’ and ‘war.’ Look up ‘Chappie’ to find information about the first African American to be promoted to four-star General rank in the U.S. military, or ‘Little Zeb’ to learn about a unique publicity stunt that happened right here in the Pikes Peak region.

Websites

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Learn more about VA resources, the PACT Act, healthcare for veterans, life insurance, memorials, and other crucial information for veterans.

Veterans Day 2024
Familiarize yourself with Veterans Day history, including why Veterans Day moved from October to November, what Armistice Day was, and why schools close in recognition of this federal holiday.

Veterans Day
Read about the history and traditions of Veterans Day.

Family websites for active military and veterans

Sesame Street for Military Families
Find bilingual (Spanish and English) information and multimedia resources on the topics of military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression.

Babies on the Homefront
Military and veteran parents will find ideas for enhancing everyday moments with their baby or toddler.

Parenting for Veterans
Discover parenting help when you need it, on any device that has access to the internet.

Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at our Gale Legal Forms and Data Axle databases.

You will need a library card that starts with a 4 to access these resources outside of a Library location.

Gale Legal Forms 

If you need legal forms and information pertaining to Colorado, Gale Legal Forms is a good place to start.

Browse a wide selection of categories to find the documents you need. Find forms related to employment, landlord and tenant topics, powers of attorney, name changes, bankruptcy, and other topics. Each form is accompanied by a description to help you determine if it is the correct form for your needs. You can also find free tax forms to help you file your taxes. In addition to forms, this database includes sample letters as reference materials.

The Attorney Directory provides valuable information to help you learn more about attorneys around the U.S. Narrow your search to Colorado to find information about attorneys closer to home and browse based on area of expertise.

If you have legal questions, check out the Legal Q&A section. This section contains both general and specific questions answered by legal professionals. Search through the list of topics to find your area of interest and see if any of the questions answered relate to your own inquiry.

Under the Law Digest and Legal Definitions sections, you can get an overview of specific laws, find the definition and use of common law language, and read up on other current and historical topics. Find the definition of ‘null,’ learn about the Fair Labor Standards Act, find out how ‘affray’ is used in law, read up on historic Justices, and explore other topics from U.S. history.

Please note that PPLD and its employees cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice. For more law resources available at the Library, visit our Law & Legal Forms or Law & Legal Resources Subject Guides.

Data Axle 

Is that pet store you visited a local company or a national chain? How are your business competitors faring? Who is hiring in your industry? If you are looking for business and consumer information for personal or business inquiries, Data Axle (formerly ReferenceUSA) offers up-to-date information on millions of businesses in the U.S. and Canada. This comprehensive database also offers support for job seekers, who will find millions of job and internship postings.

Use this database to search for information about companies, including your own. Each listing includes basic information like contact details, address, hours of operation, company news, other nearby businesses, other locations (if the business has more than one), and who the owners and managers are. You will also find helpful information to support your marketing research, such as square footage, business expenditures, history of the business, and links to information about business competitors.

Other collections include healthcare, consumer and lifestyle information, new movers and homeowners data, and U.S. and Canada white pages. There is even a collection of historical business listings where you can find information on businesses dating back to 1997.

For job seekers, use this database to search for the perfect job or browse its career resources to improve your job search skills. Explore college and career options, take skills, interests, and self-assessments, explore job search and interview tips, find resume writing help, estimate your potential salary, and more. You can also register for webinars to learn job search skills from professionals.  

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!