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Together, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM) and Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) offer a unique and inspiring experience through the Pikes Peak Culture Pass program. This partnership allows library cardholders to check out no-cost entry passes to the museum, enhancing the community's connection to national sports, culture, and history in a meaningful way.
The USOPM is a world-class venue that celebrates America’s greatest athletes and inspires future generations through its 12 interactive galleries and cutting-edge storytelling. When you visit, you get a hands-on experience that highlights the values of perseverance, dedication, and excellence driven by the museum’s commitment to education and community engagement.
Use your library card to check out a no-cost entry pass and engage with inspiring stories of athletes, participate in unique encounters like sports demonstrations, and gain a deeper connection to Colorado Springs Olympic City USA. The museum also hosts meet-and-greets with real Olympians and Paralympians, many of whom live in the Pikes Peak region. In addition to these encounters, the museum showcases many historic artifacts, including a complete collection of Olympic torches and medals spanning more than 100 years!
PPLD has enjoyed various collaborations with the museum that have enhanced Library offerings. To celebrate both the 50th Anniversary of Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Paris 2024 Games, we teamed up with the museum to create a limited-edition branded library card featuring the work of renowned artist LeRoy Neiman, who captured the energy and spirit in paintings for five Olympic Games. The card, adorned with Neiman’s vibrant and dynamic Olympic art, was a tribute to the intersection of sports and culture, which made it a much sought-after item.
Other past collaborations include discounted museum days and, during the American Library Association's Traveling Holocaust exhibit visit at East Library, the USOPM screened a documentary about the 1939 Olympic Games in Nazi Germany and showcased related artifacts.
Pikes Peak Culture Pass offers no-cost entry passes to this and a variety of other attractions spanning Colorado Springs, Denver and the Pikes Peak region. Get your pass to culture today!
Explore heritage and culture this September with Pikes Peak Library District. On this page, discover resources, web links, and booklists for some of the nationally recognized holidays and heritage months. Explore Patriot Day, Suicide Prevention Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Patriot Day
On September 11, 2001, the United States was changed forever when terrorist attacks targeting the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the White House took the lives of 2,977 people. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has compiled a list of books and other resources about the anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Booklist:
- First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA mission to Avenge 9/11 by Toby Harden
- On That Day: The Definitive Timeline of 9/11 by William Arkin
- 9/11: One Day in America by National Geographic (DVD)
- America after 9/11 (DVD)
- Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 by Joseph Pfeifer
- Countdown Bin Laden: The Untold Story of the 247-day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice by Chris Wallace
- The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral history of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
- Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 by Mitchell Zuckoff
PPLD Resources:
Freegal
- Patriot Day – Remember 9/11 (Music playlist)
Hoopla
- 9/11: Inside Air Force One (Documentary)
- 9/11: The Pentagon (Documentary)
- 9/11: The Attack That Shook the World (eBook)
- 9/11: I Was There (Documentary)
Kanopy
- Generation 9/11 (Documentary)
- Failing to Connect the Dots (Documentary)
- What Happened on September 11 (Documentary)
- The Second Day (Documentary)
Website Links:
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities for students, teachers, families, and the public.
In this collection from the Library of Congress, you will find historic articles, photos, book suggestions, archived websites, and more showing how people across the nation responded to the devastation of 9/11.
The September 11 Digital Archive uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath. The Archive contains more than 150,000 digital items, including emails and other electronic communications, first-hand stories, and digital images.
National Archives – Remembering 9/11
Discover individual moments telling the story of 9/11 through speeches, articles and blogs, a calendar of events, and more, curated by the National Archives.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Below, find a curated list of websites, Library resources, and books to raise awareness and for support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for support.
If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can use a live text chat option with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
Booklists:
PPLD Resources:
Tough Topics guide for teens – Mental Health and Suicide
The resources in the Tough Topics guide are organized into a page for youth seeking support, as well as for parents and caregivers.
Community Resources at PPLD
If you find yourself in a difficult situation and aren’t sure where to turn, you are not alone. Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources information across the Library District. Our Community Resources Specialists are here to help you navigate and connect with services by providing referrals and information to get the help you need for your specific situation. Please note that these are not mental health services.
Psychology & Behavioral Sciences database
This database contains full text information from more than 560 journals. It covers topics on emotional and behavioral characteristics, psychiatry and psychology, mental processes, anthropology, and observational and experimental methods. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.)
Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources
Discover our subject guide filled with mental and behavioral health resources available in El Paso County.
Websites
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention
The mission of Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership is to unite the community in addressing suicide in the Pikes Peak region through education, intervention, and postvention.
Colorado Crisis Services
Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential, and immediate support from trained professionals and peer specialists, available 24/7/365 by calling (844)493-8255 or texting TALK to 38255
Colorado Department of Public Health Resource Page
Find Colorado mental health support information, how suicide impacts people in Colorado, suicide prevention, and resources to support you or your loved ones.
Weekends of Hope
Throughout September, mental health advocates, organizations and community members nationwide come together to promote suicide prevention awareness. On this page, you will discover events from El Paso County Public Health and organizations across the community happening in September.
Children’s Hospital Colorado: Why you should talk to kids about suicide, from the Children’s Hospital Colorado
This article from Children’s Hospital Colorado provides a parent and caregiver guide for identifying depression and talking to teens about mental health and suicide.
Children’s Hospital Colorado: Teen Suicide Prevention: Teaching Kids to Ask
Information provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado for parents and caregivers advising on warning signs for suicide among teens and discussing ways to empower teens with their mental health.
Child Mind Institute: Suicide and Self-Harm
Information about suicide prevention from the Child Mind Institute for parents and caregivers.
National Alliance on Mental Health: Navigating through a mental health crisis guide
Learn about navigating mental health crisis in this informative guide by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latin Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Below are resources where you can learn about and explore this heritage.
Booklists
OverDrive and Libby
Use the Libby app or visit OverDrive’s website to browse this Hispanic Heritage booklist filled with eBooks and eAudiobooks for all ages.
PPLD Resources
Hoopla
Discover music albums and eBooks for all ages by Hispanic creators or celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture on Hoopla. Download the app or use it in your web browser.
Kanopy films
Explore a variety of films and documentaries celebrating Hispanic heritage, culture, and creators in this curated Kanopy collection. You must set up a free Kanopy account to view.
Spanish Language Materials
Reference Books and Magazines
- Who's who among Hispanic Americans, by Gale Research Inc.
- Early Hispanic Colorado, 1678-1900, by Joseph P. Sánchez
- On the edge of purgatory: an archaeology of place in Hispanic Colorado, by Bonnie J. Clark
- Hispanics in the U.S. Civil War: a compiled list of men who fought for the Confederacy and the Union, compiled and edited by Ricardo J. Rodríguez
- Hispanic pioneers in Colorado and New Mexico, by Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy
- National Society of Hispanic Genealogy Newsletter, by NSHG
- Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, by Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy
- Colorado Hispanic Leadership Profiles: Who’s Who among Colorado’s Outstanding Leaders by Doug McNair
For more titles and information, visit our Regional History & Genealogy department (located at Penrose Library) or search our catalog! Note that many of the above titles are only available at our Regional History & Genealogy department.
Websites
HispanicHeritageMonth.gov
Hosted by the Library of Congress, this site provides access to curated arts exhibits and collections, audio and video collections, and resources for Hispanic Heritage Month.
La Fiesta Bonita
Read about a historic local heritage celebration from right here in El Paso County posted by our friends at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
National Archives – Hispanic Heritage Month
Explore Hispanic Heritage Month with articles, online exhibits and resources, Presidential Libraries, and other resources from the National Archives.
National Today – Hispanic Heritage Month
Read the history of Hispanic Heritage Month as a nationally recognized celebration, find information about traditions across the U.S., and find fun highlights.
History.com
This overview of Hispanic Heritage Month includes the history of this national celebration, and offers supplemental videos, articles, and images for you to explore.
Colorado Experience
Watch Justicia Y Libertad from Rocky Mountain PBS. 1968 was a pivotal year in American history: The Vietnam War hit its peak, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and riots shook the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At home in Colorado, it marked the birth of the Chicano Movement. These pivotal times brought political activist Corky Gonzalez to the forefront as an early pioneer of equal rights for Mexican Americans.
¡Colorín Colorado! Young Adult Booklists
Discover young adult booklists curated by ¡Colorín Colorado! featuring books on topics like immigration, growing up, and personal life stories, as well as booklists by genre.
¡Colorín Colorado! Children’s Booklists
Discover children’s booklists curated by ¡Colorín Colorado! featuring books about growing up Latino, histories and biographies, family stories, cultural traditions and holidays, and other topics.
Ballet Folklórico México Danza – Jalisco (San Franscisco Ethnic Dance Festival 2016
Watch as Ballet Folklórico México Danza brings Hispanic dances from Mexico to life in this festive video.
PBS Kids Children’s Booklist
Find a list of picture books for children exploring Hispanic and Latinx heritage and culture curated by PBS Kids.
You belong at Pikes Peak Library District! A library card allows you and the important people in your life to do more of what you need or enjoy without overstretching your budget.
With a Library Card You Can:
- Get creative with 3D printers, laser engravers, sewing machines, and more
- Visit 12 exciting local museums and attractions
- Engage kids in new learning experiences with Colorado State Parks Pass and Backpacks, Discovery Kits, Junior Ranger Packs, and Children’s Launch Pads
- Expand your family’s reading possibilities without stressing your budget
- Use in-Library computers for work, school, career searching, and leisure
- Catch up on recent and historic news stories, including access to the New York Times
- Explore extensive databases for academic and personal projects
- Borrow professional photo, video, and audio equipment or use our audio and video studios
- Form a book club with friends, family, or neighbors
- Give the children in your life ages 0 – 5 a strong start in large motor skill development
- Discover your family’s genealogy
- ... and more!
If you already have a library card of your own, tell your friends and family to sign up for their card today!
No Age Restrictions
There are no age restrictions for library cardholders at PPLD. Anyone of any age, even young children, deserve to experience a sense of belonging at the Library with their very own card.
Sign Up Today!
To sign up for a library card and start taking advantage of everything PPLD has to offer, follow these steps:
- Grab your photo ID with current address or bring photo ID and proof of address (such as a utility bill) if your address on your ID is not current.
- Make sure that any children signing up are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with the abovementioned items
- Stop by your nearest Library location
- Talk with one of our friendly staff members at the Service Desk.
OR
- Sign up by filling out an online application for immediate but temporary access to our resources. (You will have 30 days to bring in your address verification.)
Your PPLD library card works at any of our 15 Library locations and mobile libraries throughout El Paso County, as well as giving you access to our online resources from anywhere. We invite you to visit as many of our libraries as you want to discover where you belong.