What's New!

On behalf of Pikes Peak Library District, we wish to send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends affected by the tragedy that took place this morning on the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs campus. It was senseless, dreadful, and heartbreaking. As we struggle to comprehend this news and the loss of members of our community, please remember that we stand with you.

Below are resources you can access for more information and support.

Websites

• Colorado Crisis Services hotline: Call (844)493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 to speak with a trained counselor or professional. Counselors are also available at walk-in locations or online to chat between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. Colorado Crisis Services is the statewide behavioral health crisis response system offering residents mental health, substance use or emotional crisis help, information and referrals. Its mission is to strengthen Colorado’s mental health system by providing Coloradans with greater access to crisis services wherever they are at 24/7/365 regardless of ability to pay. They offer walk-in, text, and call-in services for people in crisis.
• Colorado State Government Behavioral Health resources: Mental health resources from the Behavioral Health Administration of Colorado.
• Colorado 211: A confidential and multilingual service connecting people to vital resources across the state. No matter where you live in Colorado, you can find information about resources in your local community.
• Diversus Health: Offers a 24/7 walk-in crisis center for crisis services and counseling for all ages, regardless of ability to pay. You can request an appointment online or visit 115 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
• Medicaid support services: Medicaid-insured members have access to behavioral health services or other supports, and we want them to get the care they need during this time. Call (719)598-1540 to contact them directly, or refer to care coordination via the online referral form.
• Peak View Behavioral Health Assessment team: Individualized help for mental health treatment and other services. Visit them online or call (719)444-8484.

The Winter Adult Reading Program kicked off earlier this month, and the Library has many easy-to-use recommendation tools to help you accomplish your 30 days of reading and activities. Stop by your favorite Library location to browse our shelves and talk to our staff, or visit the Find a Good Book page on our website. Another great resource you can tap into is BookBrowse, brought to you by the Friends of PPLD.

BookBrowse offers a variety of ways to explore and discover new books based on your reading preferences and includes engaging content to take you beyond the book.  If you’re ready to find your next great read, the Read-Alikes page is a great place to start. Browse the weekly featured Read-Alikes on that page or search the database for your favorite books and authors. The database has recommendations for more than 4,500 contemporary books and 3,500 authors. If the book or author you search is in the database, you will find custom recommendations to other books with similar writing styles or themes. Many books include in-depth reviews as well.

Did we mention that each book includes a link to our catalog, making it easy to find and check out if we have it in our collection?

You don’t need to have a book in mind to find recommendations through this handy Library resource. Click on the Discover page to explore books by genre, theme, setting, or time period. Under the New page, browse lists of new and upcoming books, or cruise through first impression recommendations from other readers. You might also enjoy poking around in the Book Clubs page where you will find book club recommendations, reading guides, and even book club discussions you can join.

BookBrowse has a lot to offer even if you are not looking for book recommendations. Many books in the database have Beyond the Book materials such as articles to take you deeper into the book’s world or topics. Enjoy book discussions of featured books with other users on the Discussions page, or test your literary knowledge under Quizzes. There’s much to discover. Happy browsing!  

As you arrive at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry (WMMI), you can see right away that they have a strong commitment to preserving and interpreting the rich mining history of Colorado and the American West. Nestled on the far northern edge of Colorado Springs, WMMI features working machinery, a mining tunnel replica, and panning for gold on its 27-acre campus. The Library’s Pikes Peak Culture Pass Program helps you step back in time and experience how things were done more than a century ago with no-cost access passes to the museum that you can check out with your library card. 

History comes to life at the museum. Seeing fluorescent minerals or a working 19th century steam engine in person does a lot to really connect people with the history of our area. Learn how mining contributed to the local economy, explore the historic Reynolds Farmstead, and delve into the historic role this farm played in northern El Paso County. 

Every third Saturday of the month, WMMI hosts Family Fun Days that support science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Come out and say hello to Pikes Peak Library District during Family Fun Day on Sat., April 20 as we join them to celebrate the arts and sciences. Our Mobile Library Service will be there to explore STEAM with a fun craft you can make and take home.

Our Mobile Library Service has enjoyed partnering with the museum with regular stops at the Reynolds Ranch House. During these stops, we bring Storytime and Library services to the surrounding community. Families look forward to our mobile library visits to participate in Storytime or make a craft to commemorate their visit to the museum.

In February 2024, we are partnering with the museum to host one of our public input sessions as well. Our community is invited to join us at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry on Wed., Feb. 14 from 2 – 3 p.m. to share their Library experiences and discuss how our facilities can continue to meet the growing needs of our community. Join us and help shape the future of our libraries together.

Pikes Peak Library District is proud to partner with the Western Museum of Mining & Industry to continue to offer no-cost passes for patrons to experience the history of the American West through our Culture Pass program. The Western Museum of Mining & Industry is one of 12 Culture Pass partners that you can explore. Use your library card to check out a pass today!