What's New!

We are partnering with two more Colorado attractions, expanding the Pikes Peak Culture Pass program to 12 local attractions for patrons to explore! Enjoy even more local art and regional history through the Library. Use your library card to reserve passes for no-cost entry into the Michael Garman Museum & Gallery in Old Colorado City, and the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum in Victor. Check below for more information about these exciting attractions and reserve your pass today.

Michael Garman Museum & Gallery

Visit the Michael Garman Museum & Gallery and explore the works of sculptor Michael Garman. His large-scale Cityscape Street Scenes will capture the imaginations of all ages. The gallery features his largest creation, Magic Town, which is a 1/6th scale miniaturized urban neighborhood, complete with dozens of handcrafted buildings, alleyways, and sidewalk scenes. What especially brings these detailed creations to life are the “Magical Elements” that transform the miniature scenes in rooms before your eyes, make alleyways appear to go on forever, and show off other immersive visual and sound effects that bring the town’s stories to life.

Victor Lowell Thomas Museum

At the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, learn about the colorful history of exploration, ranching, gold mining, and railroading from the legendary Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Rush. You will be transported into the past as you explore the lives and relics of the gold mining era in the Pikes Peak region through artifacts, books, photos, and exhibits depicting life in Victor during its gold mining heyday. Immerse yourself in regional history with hands-on gold panning activities, walking tours, and guided bus tours.

“The train screeched to a halt.” What comes next? That’s up to you.  

Grab your favorite writing tool and get ready for All Pikes Peak Writes, Pikes Peak Library District’s annual fiction writing contest. Submissions are open now to all El Paso County writers (ages 12+) with a passion for the craft. If you have ever wondered how your writing holds up or want a unique external motivator to get your creative juices flowing, this is the contest for you. Settle in with this year’s writing prompt (in quotation marks above) and have fun!  

Writers are separated into three categories by age group this year: Middle School and High School (ages 12 – 18), Young Adult (ages 19 – 24), and Adult (ages 25+). We are accepting submissions from Mon., June 12, through 9 p.m. on Sun., July 23.

Judges will evaluate entries based on their quality of writing, use of language, plot development and resolution, believable characters, and correct mechanics in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. We will announce the first, second, and third place winners in each age category in late August. All participants receive a copy of the judges’ comments after the awards ceremony is complete. 

Read the full contest details here.

Whether you’re submitting a story yourself or want to enjoy work by local writers, check back for the collected anthology showcasing the top three contestants in each category. Take a look at last year’s anthology in the meantime! 

Supplies for this Take and Make, for ages 5-12, will be available at no cost at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, June 9, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

Lemonade Slushies are a great way to beat the summer heat! There’s little to no mess. They’re fun for all ages. And you get slushy goodness!

Supplies:

Materials provided: 1-gallon ziploc, 1-sandwich or quart ziploc, lemonade packet

Materials you provide: water, salt, ice, spoon, cup (optional), towel (optional)

Directions:

Place ice cubes and salt in the gallon sized ziploc bag. Start with 15-20 ice cubes and 1-2 tablespoons salt.

Mix HALF of a lemonade powder packet and 8 – 10 ounces of water in the smaller ziploc. Remove as much excess air as possible and seal the bag.

Place the bag with lemonade into the bag of ice and salt. Seal the large ziploc.

Shake or knead the bags for about 5 minutes until your lemonade has become a slushie. If the bags get too cold, wrap them in a towel.

Carefully remove the lemonade bag from the larger bag. You don’t want to get salt in your lemonade. Pour it into a cup to eat it or eat it right out of the bag.

Tips:

If it seems to be taking too long, add more salt and ice.

Other beverages also work, so experiment to find your favorite.