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PPLD's Maker in Residence for January/February 2018 was Charlie Mussi, an award-winning retired photojournalist whose work has appeared in national newspapers, international magazines, and table-top books. In 2001, he was recognized as one of the world's 125 finest photographers and set out on a unique global photographic essay to record "A Day in the Life of the U.S. Armed Forces." Since retiring, Charlie has rediscovered the fun of photography and enjoys teaching, coaching, and conducting photography workshops. In 2015, Charlie started the PPLD Community Photography Contest to recognize the amazing photography talent in the region.
Charlie taught Digital Photography as Art & Play classes throughout the Library District, as well as hosted studio hours at Library 21c, where patrons could talk to him about his work.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
Page published: Dec., 8, 2017
Pikes Peak Library District and Urban Peak Colorado Springs have launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the state. Aimed at helping teen runaways and youth experiencing homelessness to find help sooner, the project makes libraries in the District part of the National Safe Place Network. “Local libraries are already hot spots for young people who seek a safe place,” says Shawna Kemppainen, executive director of Urban Peak Colorado Springs. “When the Library approached us, we knew this collaboration could mean more runaway and homeless youth get help before falling into the crisis of street life.” That help could include safe, temporary shelter, basic needs such as food or clothing, and potentially entering Urban Peak’s full range of services including counseling, healthcare, employment and housing services. “Becoming sites for the National Safe Place Network was an easy choice for the Library. We already provide services and resources to help the residents of El Paso County and welcome all through our doors,” says Antonia Krupicka-Smith, Adult/Teen Services Manager at Library 21c. “Extending the reach of the crucial services provided by Urban Peak Colorado Springs to our youth is yet another way that we support the community that we are all a part of.” How Safe Place Works:
- A young person enters the library and asks for help.
- The library staff finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while calling Urban Peak’s Safe Place Line: (719) 339-0509.
- Urban Peak dispatches a Safe Place trained volunteer to the library within 30 minutes. The volunteer will speak with the youth and then provide transportation to Urban Peak’s facility.
- Once at Urban Peak, counselors meet with the youth and provide support to see what’s needed. That could mean shelter, or getting the teen connected to next safe steps.
Information about Safe Place will go out to local middle schools and high schools and other youth-serving organizations.
At an awards ceremony on Mon., Nov. 27, 2017 at the Antlers hotel, Pikes Peak Library District was named Best Workplace by The Gazette in the Extra Large Company (300+ employees) category.
According to The Gazette, PPLD "ranked high among its employees in social responsibility, providing meaningful work, confidence in leadership, being a place workers would recommend to others for employment and operating with strong values and ethics."
Here is a video The Gazette created, which was shown at the ceremony.
East Children's has a new giant magnet wall for kids! Come see if you can put the skeleton together and add accessories too.
PPLD's Makers in Residence for November/December 2017 were Charles and Tauni Orndorff. The Colorado Springs natives have been making costumes and props for over 15 years. Their skills include sewing, fabrication, 3D design, and much more. They are currently instructors at the Pikes Peak Makerspace where they teach resin casting, silicone molding, and vac-forming.
They taught classes about creating silicone molds throughout the Library District, as well as hosting studio hours at Library 21c.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
Congratulations to the winners of our first All Pikes Peak Writes, PPLD's adult fiction writing contest. You can read the winning entries by clicking here.
1st Place
"I Don't Blame Him for Dying" bu Andrew Beasley
2nd Place
"Puddle" by Andrea Malcom
3rd Place
"The Photograph" by Jacqueline Peveto
Honorable Mention
"Apostrophe" by Ariane Peveto
Honorable Mention
"Dr. Luckwood" by Jill Long
September 24 - 30 is Banned Book Week! Pick up a children's book that someone has tried to ban. In other words, the complaint was meant to rid the library of that particular title...forever! Go to http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensb… for a list of banned books and get reading!
Study Buddies has begun for the school year! Teens have been specially trained to help elementary kids with their homework. This program is held at the East Library every Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. It's a drop-in program, so you'll be asked to sign your child in at our children's information desk. A volunteer will spend 20-30 minutes helping your child. Come check it out!
Ravi Suryanarayanan calls himself “fresh off the boat”, in other words, he and his family have just moved to New Jersey from India. Ravi is starting 5th grade and is excited to show off his mastery of many skills, English and Math, to name two. EVERYTHING goes wrong for Ravi those first days in 5th grade. Meanwhile, Joe who sits behind Ravi, has his own set of problems that are just as mountain-sized as Ravi’s. The two boys move through their struggles as if moving up the opposite sides of the same circle. They meet at the top. Save Me A Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan is a powerful portrayal of overcoming bullies and cultural misunderstandings. In the end, acceptance wins out.
On Wednesday, August 30, the Library Express facility at the First and Main Town Center will be permanently closed. The library material return drops will remain at that location indefinitely. Library Express items may be returned to any PPLD location, including the drops at First and Main.
The decision to close Library Express was made because the limited usage it receives no longer justifies the cost and time of maintaining the facility.
Library Express opened in in February 2011 to provide our patrons an access point on the busy Power Corridor. PPLD will continue to explore options for providing Library service to that area.
The 2017 Teen Fiction Writing Contest Anthology is here! Compiled are the Honorable Mentions and Winners from the 2017 Teen Fiction Writing Contest. Click on the link to download and view!
PPLD's Maker in Residence in August/September 2017 was Deb Bartos, who has always been fascinated with new discoveries in the natural world and has been hiking and exploring for as long as she can remember. Rediscovering creative expression in painting as an adult has enhanced her learning to see even more in nature. Her work is best categorized as realistic impressionism, as she captures light and color often on location in oil. To see some of her work, visit DebBartos.com.
She will be taught Painting in Water-soluble Oils classes throughout the Library District, as well as hosting studio hours at Library 21c, when she discussed her work.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
A big thank you to all our participants, and congratulations to our winners!
Middle School Division:
1st: "Unexpected" by Claire Deeds
2nd: "After Dusk" by Jessana Crouse
3rd: "Copperstar’s Nine Lives" by Shanleigh Glide
Honorable Mention: "Fox and Wolf" by Brinley Ruesch
High School Division:
1st: "Mayhem in Paradise" by Kristen Kater
2nd: "The Monster’s Come Out at Night" by Sariah Smith
3rd: "Fugitive" by Nicole Eiland
Honorable Mention: "Aiko’s Blue Moon" by Sapphire Esquibel
The winners were announced at the Award Ceremony on Thursday, July 27, after remarks from Evangeline Denmark. Winners were chosen by staff judges who read without knowing who wrote the pieces.
The stories by the winners listed above will be compiled into a digital anthology that will be posted on the blog by the end of the month. Please let rphilipsen@ppld.org know if you have any questions!
PPLD Kids built incredible towers, bridges, and mazes! We designed our own marble mazes with paper plates. Next, using only 20 binder clips, 20 paper clips and 30 tongue depressors, we tested our mettle building the tallest tower and the strongest bridge. Our tallest tower was 13 inches and our strongest bridge held 16 books! This is definitely something you’ll want to try at home. Do you think you can beat Palmer Lake Library’s record?
Build a Bird A Better World: Get crafty with stuff around the house to build a bird home or feeder for your back yard. Check out these cool creations made by High Prairie Library kids.
On the first Wednesday of every month, you can find "Messy Art" happening at the Manitou Springs Library. Messy Art is designed to provide children opportunities to experience open-ended, creative exploration of art away from home. We encourage children to get messy and focus on the process of creation rather than the final product. Please contact Manitou Springs Library for more information.
Space to Thrive, by the Community, for the Community
- The Hall at PPLD mission statement
Address:
20 W. Pikes Peak Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone:
(719) 531-6333, x6142
Contact:
dbooth@ppld.org
Hours:
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Holiday Hours and Closures
The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall) offers a large public space in Downtown Colorado Springs for community members to hold meetings, performances, classes, as well as anything in between or beyond. There is no cost to use HA.
Click here to reserve a room at The Hall at PPLD
The entrance to The Hall at PPLD is located in the Northwest corner of the Penrose Library Campus Parking lot.
The Hall at PPLD Programs
The Hall at PPLD hosts a variety of PPLD programs that are designed to provide community members with resources, from entertainment to small business resources, to food security and housing assistance.
- Community Exchange: Every Friday from 1 - 4 p.m.
- Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Project
- Artist of the Knight
If you have questions or would like further information on The Hall at PPLD, email dbooth@ppld.org.
PPLD's Maker in Residence for June/July 2017 was Deb Prewitt, a Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT) and a Mixed Media Artist. She has been making art and creating all of her life, finding most of her inspiration from Mother Nature (living in Colorado makes it easy to find that inspiration on a daily basis). She has developed numerous classes around the Zentangle practice and has also incorporated it into other aspects of her art. Deb believes in curiosity, creativity, and playfulness. She knows that bringing art and creativity into our everyday lives will make us happier and healthier. Deb also owns Blue Twig Studio, where she teaches classes, hosts art groups, and sells mixed media and Zentangle art supplies.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
We are enjoying all the creative submissions from our Summer Adventurers. Check out Ember's Taco Stand.
"Here is a picture of the Taco Stand that I built with Legos. (My mom helped, too!)
My favorite thing about the Taco Stand is the jail cells for bad guys and a disco floor!"
Ember completed this as part of his Summer Adventure "Make" badge for ages 8-11.
Other "Make" activity options for 8-11 include:1. Attend a PPLD 7UP Program at your library.
2. Make a pet rock. Tell us what you named it!
3. Make or bake something to eat. What did you make?
4. If you are 9 or older, visit a Makerspace with an adult. If you are under 9, attend any library program
where you get to make something! Find library
5. Paint or draw a picture.
6. Build something with cardboard, Legos, or straws. Optional: Send a picture to
summeradventure@ppld.org for us to post on Facebook.
7. Make a gift for a friend.
8. Make your own journal or book.
9. Make a musical instrument. Click here for some ideas.
10. Make something of your own choosing with whatever materials you wish! Tell us about it.
Login to https://ppld.beanstack.org to see more Make challenges for other age groups. Keep adventuring! And, don't forget we also offer weekly Lego Build programs at our libraries, another opportunity for kids to complete their "Make" badges. Check our program calendar.
PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence for May/June 2017 was Barbara Dimond. She considers herself a mixed media artist working in out of the box processes in collage, as well as paper mache. Originally from New York City, she has been living in Colorado Springs and New Mexico for her adult life. Trained as a handmade paper artist, she collects papers and fibers found, bought, and prepared. Barbara teaches art around the region and has been on the faculty of the Fine Arts Center Bemis School of Art for well over 20 years. She loves to share her artistic ideas and processes with her students. Barbara went to the City University of New York, getting a degree in art and art education. She then did her graduate work in Southwest Studies at the Colorado College.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
The Teen Art Contest is for teens and by teens. Teens create the art, and teens determine the winners.
The theme for our 2017 Teen Art Show & Contest was Transformation Teens were encouraged to show us how art impacts your life, or how it transforms the world around you.
All of the artwork will be displayed at either Penrose Library, East Library, or Library 21c during the month of April. Questions? Contact Becca Phillipsen at (719) 531-6333, x6336 or rphillipsen@ppld.org.
Here are the winners!
Best in Show
"Mirror Reflection" by Aleyah B.
High School
1st Place: "My Fantasy" by Elizabeth W.
2nd Place: "Summer Sunsets" by Kaylee T.
Coordinator’s Choice: "Hands of Time" by Mary R.
Middle School
1st Place: "Transportation through Time" by Liberty H.
2nd Place: "Evolution" by Mikayla R.
Coordinator’s Choice: "Coy Fish Pond" by Kristine B.
You can view the winning works here:
Reserve your free State Parks Pass and Backpack today by clicking here! This program is a partnership with the Colorado Department of Education, State Library, local library systems, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It is meant to encourage Coloradans to visit our State Parks and experience all of the great outdoor recreation that this state has to offer. Each backpack, which checks out for one week, includes:
- State park pass
- Leave No Trace card (learn more about Leave No Trace)
- Activity idea list
- Colorado trees and wildflower guide
- Colorado Wildlife guide
- Guide to Colorado's 41 State Parks (en español)
- Fishing Basics Sheet
- Binoculars
- The Night Sky Guide
- About the "Checkout Colorado" Backpack Laminated Handout
- Evaluation/Survey
PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence for March /April 2017 was Linda Smith, an artist and art educator who started a non-profit while living in Kigali, Rwanda, called the “TEOH Project”, which provides cameras and art classes to children in Rwanda, Ghana and Bronx NY. She has been commissioned by the UN to provide photographic classes to survivors and former perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. She earned her BA from Syracuse University an MA in Communications at Goldsmith College at the University of London and an MFA from the University of Connecticut. Her work has been exhibited in the United Nations, embassies, and universities.
Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.
PPLD now has Sorenson videophones and Video Relay Service-equipped laptops available for patron use. VRS allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired to communicate using American Sign Language through video equipment. It replaces TTY or Text Telephone.
Videophones are now available at the East Library and Library 21c.
VRS-equipped laptops are available at the following PPLD locations: Cheyenne Mountain, High Prairie, Manitou Springs, Monument, Old Colorado City, Ruth Holley, and Sand Creek libraries.
Beginning Jan. 9, 2017, PPLD will no longer charge fines on overdue children and teen items. Removing overdue fines will provide greater opportunity for children and teens to use the full range of library services. Currently, 15% of children and teen cardholders are blocked from checking out items at the library due to overdue fines.
Also, overdue fines on DVDs and games will be reduced from 25 cents per day to 10 cents per day.
PPLD seeks to foster literacy and life-long learning for children and teens. The Library regularly evaluates policies to see what barriers for service exist and evaluates how to eliminate such barriers. The Library’s Board of Trustees approved the new policy at their December meeting.
Items that will not accrue overdue fines must be designated as “juvenile” or “teen” in the Library catalog. The policy will take effect for any items checked out January 9 or after. Lost item and damage fees will still apply.
Overdue notices will still be sent as reminders to return Library items. Items not returned within 21 days of the due date will be considered lost, and the full cost of the item will be charged to the patron’s account.