What's New!

We are pleased to announce the 2023 book for All Pikes Peak Reads, our annual community reads program. This year’s title is The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II by Mari K. Eder. Anyone interested in joining us for this engaging book can stop by any Library location any time starting Wed., July 19 to pick up a copy or access it with our eLibrary resources Libby and Freading (it is always available on Freading).

Several of our library book clubs are also reading the book in September. Find your nearest book club that is reading the All Pikes Peak Reads book together on our book clubs page. 

All Pikes Peak Reads improves community connection through literature and fosters dialogue across social, cultural, and generational lines. Every year, we select books that center around timely topics, and we pair the community read with related programming. Enjoy craft kits and coloring pages throughout the month, and join us for an author talk with Eder on Sat., Oct. 7 at Library 21c. Keep an eye on our website for information about additional programs coming soon. 

This year’s title, which focuses on the women who served, fought, and took action against devastating odds during WWII, compliments a traveling exhibit coming to the Library this fall. From Sept. 5 – Oct. 11, East Library will host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibit from the American Library Association exploring social, financial, and political factors impacting life in the U.S. during the 1930s and 1940s and how these factors influenced the way Americans reacted to the Holocaust.

Detailed information about this year’s All Pikes Peak Reads program is available on our All Pikes Peak Reads webpage. 

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libaries beginning July 14, 2023.

A thaumatrope is an optical toy that teaches persistence of vision.” The name thaumatrope means “wonder turner."

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
cardstock templates
straws

Materials you need to provide:
Pencils, crayons, markers
tape

We have provided two options for this activity.

Option One:
Cut out the circles with the printed templates.

Option Two:
Cut out the blank circles. With one on top of the other, draw an image on the top circle. If youpress firmly with your pencil as you draw, you will be able to see the image on the bottom circle to better align your images. Draw a complimentary image on the second circle.
Both options:
Tape the end of a straw to the back of one circle. Carefully align and tape the other circle back-to-back with the first one.
Here are some ideas:
Bird in a cage (bird on one side, cage on the other)
Emojis (face on one side, yellow circle on the other)
Butterflies in a jar (butterflies on one side, jar on the other)
Giraffe with spots (solid giraffe on one side, giraffe outline with spots on the other)
Spider in a web (spider on one side and web on the other)
Fish in a bowl (fish on one side and bowl on the other)
Rocket on the moon (rocket on one side, moon on the other)
Dueling lightsabers (one lightsaber on each side)

Spin the Spin the straw between your hands. As it spins, the two pictures will appear to blend into one.

This summer the lawn and landscaping around Library 21c will undergo a turf conversion. This involves replacing non-native, manicured turf (lawn) with grasses native to our region. This is part of an initiative to be better stewards of our water and budget resources.

The landscaped areas of Library 21c currently consist of more than 1.5 acres of Kentucky Bluegrass turf which is a high-maintenance, high-resource using plant material. The cost to irrigate and provide routine maintenance to the lawn continues to increase each year. According to the Library’s water use monitoring, costs to irrigate the existing lawn areas at Library 21c exceed $20,000 annually. Converting the lawn to native grasses could save the Library as much as 60 – 70% of this cost and it will also greatly reduce water consumption. This conversion project will free up future financial resources that may be put to better use helping the community with other programs and services.

Over the next several months the Library will be working with Fisk Landscaping on the turf conversion. In general, the conversion includes adapting the irrigation system to serve the new grasses; killing the existing lawn; planting seeds for the new native “prairie”; watering for establishment and weed control; and installing sod where needed. The whole process is anticipated to take two growing seasons. This summer we will work on getting new native grass seeds germinated and growing, while next summer will focus on promoting healthy growth and establishing the native grass stand.

During the conversion process the Library asks patrons to please heed the warning signs to stay off of the lawn. This will help the conversion proceed as planned without unnecessary disturbance or damage to the new landscaping as it develops. We appreciate your cooperation.