Join us for the 2023 Winter Adult Reading Program!  

Log 30 days of activities from Wed., Feb. 1 - Fri., March 31 to earn prizes! Activities include attending any PPLD activities listed below and reading for 30 minutes or more a day. 
To register, sign up for Beanstack or stop by the Library to register in-person (curbside services available). When you register in-person or at curbside, you will receive a Winter Adult Reading Program tote bag (while supplies last). 

Winter Adult Reading Program Registration Kick-Off!

• When: Wed., Feb. 1
• Where: All Locations

Join us as we kick off the 2023 Winter Adult Reading Program! Register in person or at curbside and receive a tote bag that has everything you need to help you participate in the reading program. Bags will be available on a first come, first served basis, and available only while supplies last. 

Prizes

Log 30 days of activities from February 1 – March 31 to earn the annual Winter Adult Reading Program mug, chocolate bar from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and an entry into the grand prize drawing. Activities include reading for 30 minutes or more a day, attending a PPLD program, or any of the activities listed below. You can complete the program through a combination of activities and reading. 

Handwashing is recommended for the mug to preserve the logo. 

Grand Prize Drawing.

You can earn extra entries into the Grand Prize Drawing! For every additional 5 days of reading or activities you log, you will receive one additional entry into the Grand Prize Drawing for a total of up to 5 additional entries.  

PPLD employees are not eligible for the grand prize. 

In-Person Programs

Card Making Class 

Join Shannon from Stampin' Up to create winter themed greeting cards! Part of the Winter Adult Reading Program. 

• Ruth Holley Library, Sat., Feb. 4, 10 a.m.
• Fountain Library, Sat., Feb. 4, 1 p.m.
• Sand Creek Library, Sat., Mar. 11, 10 a.m.

Willson and McKee: Echo in Winter's Heart 

Join Wilson and McKee for stories and songs of winter! The scent of peat smoke, the sound of popping fire, the sight of dancing shadows. These are the gifts of winter. Come closer to the fire and settle in for an evening of traditional songs and stories from Ireland and Scotland. "The hardening of stream and breath, the stiffening of the bones… The silence of the farmer's field, the empty finch’s home...All echo in a winter's heart... The hollow frozen sound... And only in the flickering hearth... Warm dreams and hopes are found." 

• Palmer Lake Library, Sat., Feb. 4,12:30 p.m.
• Fountain Library, Thu., Feb. 16, 4 p.m.
• Library 21c, Tue., Feb. 28, 6 p.m.
• Manitou Library, Sat. Mar. 25, 1 p.m.

String Art

Get into the Winter Adult Reading Program spirit with this thematic art project. Use embroidery floss and pins to make a string art version of classic winter symbols.  

• Fountain Library, Fri., Feb. 3, 1 p.m.
• Manitou Library, Sat., Feb. 4, 1 p.m.
• Penrose Library, Sat., Feb. 4, 1 p.m.
• Ruth Holley Library, Tue., Feb. 7, 2 p.m.
• Rockrimmon Library, Fri., Feb. 10, 1 p.m.
• Old Colorado City Library, Sat., Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m.
• Cheyenne Mountain Library, Mon., Feb. 20, 10:30 a.m.
• Ute Pass Library, Sat., Feb. 25, 1 p.m.
• High Prairie Library, Mon., Feb. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Conversation Heart Handwarmers 

Give the gift of warmth to a loved one this winter. Tell that special someone "U r cute" and make sure they don't have cold hands. Part of the Winter Adult Reading Program. 

• Ruth Holley Library, Thu., Feb. 2, 2 p.m.
• Library 21c, Thu., Feb. 9, 2 p.m.
• Penrose Library, Sat., Feb. 11, 1 p.m.
• High Prairie Library, Mon., Feb. 13, 2:30 p.m.
• Sand Creek Library, Wed., Feb. 15, 4 p.m.
• Monument Library, Mon., Feb. 20, 4:30 p.m.
• Calhan Library, Mon., Feb. 27, 2 p.m.

Bleach Textile Art 

Get into the Winter Adult Reading Program spirit with this thematic art project. Using bleach on either fabric you bring or on one of our small handkerchiefs, we will learn how to make a unique work of art. 

• Sand Creek Library, Wed., Mar. 1, 4 p.m.
• Ute Pass Library, Sat., Mar. 4, 1 p.m.
• Palmer Lake Library, Wed., Mar. 8, 1:30 p.m.
• High Prairie Library, Mon., Mar. 13, 2:30 p.m.
• Ruth Holley Library, Tue., Mar. 28, 2 p.m.
• Cheyenne Mountain Library, Mon., Mar. 27, 10:30 a.m.
• Calhan Library, Mon., Mar. 27, 2 p.m.

Activities

Need some suggestions for activities? We’re here to help! 

• Join a PPLD Book Group 
• Read a new genre or author
• Write a book review for ppld.org 
• Read a book set in the winter 
• OverDrive 
• Watch the movie version of a book you read 
• Watch a movie or documentary about winter using Hoopla or Kanopy
• Visit a Little Free Library in your neighborhood 
• Join the Peak Readers Group 
• Watch the Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Digital Earth Series: Ice 
• Watch the Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Digital Earth Series: Changing Colorado  
• Explore Cold Weather Safety Tips from the National Weather Service 
• Explore the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Reading Resources 

• Browse our Catalog
• Get eBooks on OverDrive
• Get eAudiobooks on Audio Book Cloud

Video Resources

Pick up your copy of District Discovery: Winter Adult Reading Edition to track your progress, read stories, and more! 

• Sneaky winter road hazards 
• Severe Winter Weather 101: Detecting Winter Weather 
• Severe Winter Weather 101: Winter Weather Basics 
• Severe Winter Weather 101: Winter Weather Types 
• Nine Cool, and Useful Facts about Snow

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:

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

Food industry careers are rewarding and challenging but can be difficult to break into without prior experience or training. Pikes Peak Library District offers Food Industry Training that is perfect for anyone wanting to enter the food industry or advance their career. We offer this training multiple times per year. Registration is currently open for the next session that runs from Mon., Feb. 13 - Fri., March 17.  

The Food Industry Training is a five-week training program at the Library that teaches participants the entry-level skills they need to find or advance in employment as a qualified prep cook or line cook. The program helps them learn basic culinary fundamentals, practice professionalism, explore career opportunities in the culinary industry, and earn their ServSafe Food Handler certification.  

Participants learn proper food handling, recipe reading, product identification, team building in a food industry setting, cooking methods and techniques, and other essential skills.  

No prior experience is necessary, and there is no cost to participate. Participants must be eligible to work in the U.S., be able to attend the scheduled classes, be pursuing a career in the culinary industry, and be age 17 or older. Applications for this session close on Sun., Jan. 29.  

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

Access

PPLD is an access point for everyone to engage with resources, services, and spaces as they choose.

Accountability

PPLD is accountable to all stakeholders through fiscal responsibility, continuous evaluation, and by sharing findings with the public.

Communications

PPLD invests in and elevates community awareness of its resources, services, and spaces.

Community Connections

PPLD builds community through relationships and partnerships to connect people to relevant resources, services, and spaces.

Physical and Virtual Spaces

PPLD provides equitable access to physical and virtual spaces in safe and inclusive environments.

Staff

PPLD values, trusts, and invests in staff.

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:

Pikes Peak Library District is excited to bring you Virtual Author Visits in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Join us and hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders on a range of topics, from puzzling science to epic fantasy to decluttering your home. Whether you are an avid or occasional reader, there is nothing quite like listening to insightful talks by authors you have read or plan to read soon. You never know what will catch your interest. Attend these events at no cost from the comfort of home.

In January join us for an action-packed online conversation with Namina Forna, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones Series in a discussion about her second installment in the series, The Merciless Ones.

Next, you are invited to start your new year calm and collected by learning how to become better organized and clutter-free with Dana K. White, creator of the popular podcast and blog, A Slob Comes Clean, as she imparts tips from her books Organizing for the Rest of Us and Decluttering at the Speed of Life.

At the end of January, please join us for what is sure to be the most fun-filled hour of your day as we chat online with Randall Munroe about his new book What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions.

Learn more and see upcoming authors at libraryc.org/ppld

Upcoming author visits

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

Interested in seeing some amazing experiments from up-and-coming scientists? Visit our annual Homeschool Science Fair to browse and chat with project creators. Kids can fill out a "What I learned" and receive a prize! Come and discover something new, or be inspired for next year!

• When: Fri., Feb. 17 at 10 a.m
• Where: The Venue at Library 21c
• Registration: Open from Thu., Dec. 15 at midnight to Mon., Feb. 13 at 10 p.m.

Our annual Homeschool Science Fair is open to grades K-12! Homeschool students are invited to demonstrate a science project for other families. There are no rules or guidelines for this non-competitive event, and planning is left up to individual families.

Registration required. Students will arrive by 9:15 a.m., and the event will be open to the public from 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Need help planning your project? Download our Science Fair How-Tos Document!

Be the Hero: Empowered and Impactful

Congratulations to our 2023 winners!

• Justin Beasley, 5^th grade, Bear Creek Elementary School - "The Ultimate Cure"
• Emma Briggeman, 4^th Grade, The Classical Academy Central - "The World Needs"
• Piper Gaulke, 4^th grade, Mountain Song Community School - “My Gift”
• Taylor Hannan, The Classical Academy Central, 5^th Grade - “Would you do it for the world”
• Clara Pavri, Colorado International Language Academy, 4^th Grade  - “Marble”  
• Megan Thorn, 5^th grade, Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning - “The Sender Defender” 

Jean Ciavonne Remembered from PPLD TV on Vimeo.

Our 16th Annual Teen Art Contest is currently closed.  
Please visit the teen art contest winner page for winner information. 

We'll be announcing the theme and entry details for our 17th Annual Teen Art Contest in the fall on this page.

Few institutions are charged with serving people of all ages and walks of life with relevant and entertaining programs, community spaces, and materials as is your public library. We are a lifeline to technology, online resources for employment, and continuing education for everyone in the Pikes Peak region. Throughout December, make a difference in our community by donating to the PPLD Foundation through the Give! Campaign. Your contributions will help us continue to serve the unique needs of our growing community in 2023.

The PPLD Foundation has supported Pikes Peak Library District since 2004, helping to fund programs, projects, equipment, and materials for our community through charitable donations. As they participate in the year-end Give! campaign, they invite you to show your continued support of the Library and thank you for your kind donation. 

Donate

To make a charitable contribution, please visit the Foundation’s Donate page.

December is packed with festive celebrations, including Hannukah, winter solstice, Christmas, Kwanza, and others. It’s a busy time for many, with decorating, meal prep, purchasing gifts, visiting family, and attending community celebrations. Pikes Peak Library District has all the programs, tools, and resources you need to make the best of the holiday season, including cookbooks and classes, DIY gifts, holiday book lists, and more!  

Resources

• Cookbooks
• Holiday movies, music, and books on Hoopla
• Makerspace classes: use your new knowledge to make custom gifts
• Audio and video studio equipment for DIY memories

Websites

• December 2022 Holidays: Discover national, religious, and playful holidays you might not know happen in December!

Friends of PPLD Bookstore

Get gifts for your family while supporting your Library! The Friends sponsors and supports numerous programs and events to further the enjoyment of reading and love for books for all individuals. The Friends of PPLD are best known for their volunteerism, their bookstores in each Library (you never know what you will find in the ever-changing inventory of previously-read books and magazines) and, of course, the bi-annual Friends Book Sales.

Stop by the Friends store at the Library and find books, CDs, Movies, Magazines, and more from $.25 to $3. Or shop for specialty items online!

Do you love books, reading, and libraries? Have you considered becoming involved in your community? One easy step covers it all! Join the Friends Now!

Programs

• Share Classes with Elayne Prechtel

  Don't miss the opportunity to come together as a community for "share-worthy" recipes, tips, and more in these fun, interactive virtual classes from the kitchen presented by Elayne Prechtel, award winning author, photographer, and creator of the soul-filled mission, Sharing Life, Love, and Food.

  • Hot Cocoa Bombs: an in-person demonstration on mastering the art of hot cocoa bombs. Tasty samples provided. Registration required.
  • Penrose Library: Mon., Dec. 5 from 1 - 2 p.m.

• Makerspace Holiday Open Houses

  Drop by the makerspaces to create some fun holiday crafts and see what these creative spaces have to offer! All ages welcome. All materials provided.

  • East Library: Sat., Dec. 3 from 2 - 5 p.m.
  • Sand Creek Library: Thu., Dec. 8 from 4 - 7 p.m.
  • Library 21c: Fri., Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• Ornament Making

  Learn to make two cute ornaments to have on display in your home for the holidays - a ribbon candy ornament made with ribbon and bells, and a yarn bird ornament.

  • Manitou Springs Library: Sat., Nov. 19 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
  • Library 21c: Sat., Nov. 19 from 2 - 3:30 p.m.
  • High Prairie Library: Mon., Nov. 21 from 2:30 - 4 p.m.
  • Cheyenne Mountain Library: Mon., Nov. 28 from 10:30 a.m. - noon
  • Palmer Lake Library: Wed., Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Forté Handbell Quartet

  Ring in the season with Forté Handbell Quartet! This talented group will perform familiar holiday classics and more.

  • Library 21c: Sat., Dec. 3 from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

• DIY Snow Globes

  Swirling glitter-filled snow globes are a nostalgic holiday decoration you can customize with a laminated photograph, ornament, memento, or your child’s favorite superhero figurine. This 90-minute program will help you make a thoughtful gift, while keeping you on budget for the holidays. All materials provided, including some holiday-themed ornaments to put inside the snow globe. Registration required. Ages 18+.

  • Sand Creek Library: Wed., Dec. 7 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
  • Library 21c: Sat., Dec. 10 from 2 - 3:30 p.m.
  • Cheyenne Mountain Library: Mon., Dec. 19 from 10:30 a.m. - noon

• Holiday Card Making

  Make your own holiday cards under the tutelage of local crafts guru Theresa Pingel to send to your friends and family. All materials will be provided. For beginner and intermediate crafters.

  • Cheyenne Mountain Library: Sat., Dec. 10 from 10:30 a.m. - noon

• Fifth Annual Yule Ball

  Witches, wizards, and all other magical beings are invited to attend the 5th Annual Yule Ball! Get sorted into your Hogwarts House, participate in magical crafts and activities, mingle with fellow fans, and dance the afternoon away. Costumes and cosplay are encouraged. Magical beings (or non-magical) are welcome. Registration required, and space is limited. For kids, tweens, and teens.

  • The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall): Sat., Dec. 10 from 2 - 4:30 p.m.

• Family Holiday Movie Marathon

  Come enjoy some holiday movies at the Library!

  • Penrose Library: Sat., Dec. 10 from 2 - 4:45 p.m.
  • Rockrimmon Library: Tue., Dec. 20 from noon - 6 p.m.

• Wrap & Yap Party

  Get ahead on your gift wrapping at the Wrap & Yap Party! Get gift wrapping tips from the Library and from fellow participants. Enjoy hot cocoa and cider while you work.

  • Sand Creek Library: Wed., Dec. 14 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
  • Monument Library: Mon., Dec. 19 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Gingerbread House Decorating

  Join us for a gingerbread house decorating party and create something festive and delicious! All gingerbread materials will be provided by the Library (while supplies last). Families and groups are encouraged to share gingerbread house kits. Registration required, and space is limited. For kids and tweens.

  • Ute Pass Library: Sat., Dec. 17 from noon - 1 p.m.
  • Ute Pass Library: Sat., Dec. 17 from 1 - 2 p.m.

Take and Makes

Enjoy a delicious no-bake mug cake - perfect for a snack or dessert. Limit one kit per household, while supplies last.

Fill out a card to send to a loved one. Deposit your card with Library staff so they can put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail for you.

The holidays can be stressful! Take one of our self-care kits and have some Me Time. Each kit will contain a mini-journal, acupressure ring, stress relief tea bag, tissues, breathing exercises, coloring sheet, and mental health resources. Limit one kit per household, while supplies last. Kit may contain supplies not suitable for children.

• Cinnamon Roll Mug Cakes
  • Available Fri., Dec. 2 at all Library locations
• Holiday Cards and Stamps
  • Available Fri., Dec. 2 at all Library locations
• Self-Care Kits
  • Available Fri., Dec. 2 at all Library locations

We can't make all of these events and programs happen without you. Support your Library with a charitable gift today! Click here to make your donation. Thank you.

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.

Tell the world about your favorite book! Prepare a creative book report at home and present it informally to other families. You can make a diorama, design a game based on the plot and characters, or make a poster for the movie version. You can create a book in a bag, make a clothes hanger mobile, or retell the story in comic book format. The possibilities are endless! Projects will be presented in a science fair-type format. For grades K-8*

*Registration required

Please register each student who will participate. Or drop by to browse the projects and discover your next favorite book!

When: Fri., Dec. 9 from 1 - 2 p.m.

Where: East Library

Need ideas to help you get started? Take a look at our idea file

Celebrate Native American Heritage and learn more about Native American culture and history with programs and resources at PPLD!

Programs

Seven Falls Indian Dancers

Seven Falls Indian Dancers are a family dance troupe representing four generations of dancers. They present educational and entertaining Native American dances including the Eagle and Hoop Dances. All ages welcome. 

• When: Sat., Nov. 5
• 10 - 11 a.m. at Penrose Library
• 2 - 3 p.m. at Library 21c

Booklists

• OverDrive Booklist
• Young Adult Booklist

Resources

• Gale eBooks - Native Americans
• Freegal Music
• Hoopla
• Kanopy
• The Horace S. Poley Photographs Collection
  This is a major collection of photographic images of Native Americans 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.
• Digital Collections
  Search our Digital Collections for more photographs! We recommend using search terms like, “Native American,” “Indian,” and “Ute.”
• Reference and Special Collections Materials (Catalog)

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 - Library of Congress (All Ages)
• Native American Heritage Month - National Parks Service (All Ages)
• Celebrate Native American Heritage Month - U.S. Department of the Interior

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) Collects to Share is once again putting out the call to collect crafted items for our community shelters. Starting in November, as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, we will be accepting donations every month for a year. If you have knitted items such as hats, scarves, socks, and blankets that you would like to donate, please bring them to the public desk at any PPLD location and let staff know that they are for PPLD Collects to Share.

Resources

• Helping Hands guide
• This guide provides a list of services available to those in El Paso County. This includes topics such as housing assistance, veteran services, shelters, food, and crisis services that are available in the community.
• National Safe Place Network
• PPLD is a part of the National Safe Place network, working with local youth shelter, The Place, to provide resources to teens in crisis. If you are a teen and need a safe place - for whatever reason - all you need to do is come in to any PPLD library and tell a staff member that you need a safe place. The staff member will take you to a quiet area and contact The Place, who will help you with the next steps. It is safe, confidential, and 100% up to you. The volunteer from The Place won't tell you what to do, but they will get you the help you want and need. Please visit the National Safe Place homepage [nationalsafeplace.org/] for more information about the program.
• National Initiative
• Helping Hands LibGuide

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