What's New!

Take and Makes for this project will be available at area PPLD Libraries beginning this Friday, Dec. 18, 2020

Supplies:

Provided in your Take and Make bag:

• paper plate
• ribbon
• beans

You will need to provide:

• glue/stapler/tape
• scissors
• markers
• more decorative materials (opt.)

Directions:

1. Turn your plate upside down and decorate it however you like.
2. Fold your plate in half so the art shows.
3. Cut each ribbon into smaller pieces (not too small, around 2-3 per ribbon length; they shrink when they are curled!) and curl with scissors. You will now have some curly ribbons. You might need to ask a parent for help with this step.
4. Tape your curled ribbons to the edge of one half of your paper plate.
5. Put your beans in your folded plate and staple along the edges to keep it secure.
6. Make some music! With your art, the curled ribbons, and the noisy beans, you have a colorful and creative music shaker!

Take and Make kits for this project will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning this Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.

Materials in Take and Make:

• Penguin copied on cardstock
• Pipette
• Printed penguins
• Sand
• Plastic egg

Materials from home:

• Crayons
• Water
• Cookie sheet
• Baking pan
• Ice cubes
• Tape

Penguin facts:

• Penguins can’t fly. They use their flippers to help them swim and to propel themselves as they glide on the ice.
• The torpedo shape of a penguin’s body helps it zip through the water at up to 25 mph.
• When it’s in the water, a penguin is usually searching for food. It can hold its breath for about 6 minutes.
• To move quickly across the ice, a penguin glides on its tummy.
• Penguins are warm-blooded. Like whales, they have a layer of blubber (fat) under their skin. Their bodies are covered with a layer of feathers that seal in the warmth.
• Penguins secrete oil from a gland that they rub over their bodies to make them water and windproof. They also huddle together to stay warm.

Experiment 1 – How do penguins stay dry?

Color the large penguin with crayons, pressing firmly. Use the pipette to drop water on it. See how the water rolls off the waxy coating. This works the same way with penguins when they rub oil over their bodies to make them waterproof.

Experiment 2 – How do penguins slide on the ice?

Tape a small penguin to an ice cube. Slide it down a slope. Add sand and see how it changes. Friction changes a penguin’s ability to glide quickly.

Activity – Egg transfer game

See if you can use your feet to transfer an egg to another person. This activity mimics the way that penguins transfer an egg from one parent to the other. Keep your egg safe while you do it!

For more information about penguins, look in the library’s non-fiction section (call number 598.47) or visit PPLD Kids Homework section.

Explore some spooky science activities and surprisingly strange science facts for ages 5 - 12.

Check out the video on our youtube channel here.

Download the attached document for activity instructions.

Take and Makes for this project will be available at area PPLD Libraries starting Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

Watch this project here: https://youtu.be/v8AGvL83YRc

Supplies:

• 1 T-shirt from home or Take and Make
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Lay out the t-shirt on a flat surface.
2. Measure 1 inch up from the bottom hem and cut in a straight line all the way across. You will have a loop of fabric when you’re finished.
3. Continue cutting 1 inch strips from the t-shirt. Stop when you reach the sleeves. When you finish, you should have a pile of loops.
4. Stretch the loops out as far as you can by pulling at both ends.
5. Once you’ve stretched all the loops, set one aside and line the rest up with one another. You will end up with one big loop made up of many strands.
6. The next step is to tie them in place so that they stay together. Start by creating the tie. Take the loop that you set aside earlier. Now, cut the loop so that instead you have one long strand of fabric. Cut it in half so that you have 2 long strands.
7. Optional: if you want to attach a braid to your scarf, cut three strips of fabric from what’s left of the t-shirt. Stretch them, tie a knot at the top, and braid them. You will tie the braid to the scarf in the next step.
8. Now you will use one of the strips you cut in step 6 to tie the loops of the scarf together. Take one of the strips you cut and tie a square knot (right over left, then left over right) around all the loops (and one end of the braid if you made one). This will hold your scarf together.
9. Now wrap the rest of the strip of fabric around the knot, covering it up, and continue wrapping until you’ve used up almost all the fabric. Once you have just an inch or two left, tie another knot and tuck it under the wrap to hide it.
10. If you added a braid, take the second strip of fabric you cut and repeat steps 8 and 9 with the other end of the braid to secure it to the scarf. The scarf will be knotted in two places. Otherwise, you can either discard the 2nd strip of fabric or tie another section if you like how it looks.
11. Loop it around your neck. You have a scarf!

Join Britt & Christa for this interactive program that will teach youth to build a holiday card of their choice in Scratch using block coding! This is a great introduction to coding for total beginners, or folks just starting to code.

The program will require a password to log on, so please make sure to register and to provide the correct email address.

• When: Tue., Dec. 8 at 4 p.m.
• Where: Virtual - Click here to register.

Check out more coding videos!

Coming Soon: Raspberry Pi

Last updated April 7, 2021

Vaccines are now available to all Colorado residents 16 years and older!

El Paso County Public Health encourages you to get vaccinated. It’s free, safe, and effective in protecting you against COVID-19; no ID or insurance required. Learn more and find a local provider to book your appointment. You also can call 2-1-1 or text “vaccine” to 667873.

More Services & Spaces Available Inside Our Libraries!

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is here to serve you, regardless of the circumstances!

You’re welcome inside all of our libraries, now with more services and spaces available for you! PPLD continues to prioritize the health and safety of our patrons, staff, and greater community during the ongoing pandemic -- and will follow public health orders and guidance to make our resources and services safely accessible to everyone.

Open hours and specific services may vary by library location, so please check in advance. The first hour is still reserved for people at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19.

You can visit the Library when it’s convenient for you during open hours to browse the collection and check out items, use a computer, or copy, fax, and scan documents. We also now offer the following at select locations with safety precautions in place:

• Make a reservation to use a meeting room! There are a select number of meeting spaces available for public use, with plans to reopen more in the near future.
• Take advantage of 3D print drop-off services, or check out Studio equipment with a reservation.
• Reserve time to use one of our makerspaces with laser engravers, sewing machines, and die cutters, or use one of our studios for video and audio recordings.
• Make a reservation to use the Educational Resource Center at East Library.

In addition to services offered inside our libraries, we also offer:

• Make a reservation to use one of our creative spaces! Makerspaces have reopened for use of laser engravers, sewing machines, and die cutters, along with Studio21c and Studio916 for on-site sound recording or video and photography needs. Spaces are open for select hours at East Library (makerspace only), Library 21c, and Sand Creek Library. Reservations are required for use of these spaces, plus all visitors must adhere to PPLD’s safety protocols.
• Limited meeting rooms are now available for public use with a reservation! We have reopened a select number of meeting spaces, with one room available at East, Rockrimmon, and Sand Creek libraries, two rooms at Penrose Library, and three rooms at Library 21c. One public reservation is allowed per day, per location, for a maximum of two hours. Use the link above or below to view your options and what else to expect; there are strict capacity limits per room, and all visitors must adhere to PPLD’s safety protocols. Make your reservation online, by phone at (719) 884-9827, or by email at meetingrooms@ppld.org.

In addition to services offered inside our libraries, we also offer:

• Curbside services allow you to pick up Library materials, wireless print jobs, and take and make kits without having to go inside any location. Many libraries now offer a park and text option, making it even easier! You also can use our 24/7 book drops to return Library materials at any time.
• Have a question? Ask a librarian! You can connect with PPLD staff by phone, live chat, or email. Or, book an appointment with one of our specialized librarians.
• Take advantage of our large digital collection, extensive hub of online resources, and many virtual programs available for all ages and interests. Browse our online Catalog, conduct research, or participate in a Library event from almost anywhere, anytime. Get started using our Library remotely!
• Need WiFi? It should be accessible outside most library facilities for anyone to use, day or night.

What can I expect when visiting the Library inside?

During your Library visit, you can do the following:

• Browse the physical collection of books, movies, and more.
• Use self-checkout machines and service desks.
• Use a computer for one, 55-minute session per day. (Reservations encouraged! Call 719-389-8968 to make your reservation with your Library card.)
• Fax, scan, and/or copy documents without staff assistance.
• Charge your devices.
• Use a makerspace at one of three libraries.
• Check out Studio equipment from one of two libraries.
• Use Studio21c or Studio916 by reservation, available at two locations.
• Take advantage of 3D print drop-off services, available at three locations.
• Use a meeting room by reservation; a select number of rooms available for public use at libraries
• Use the Educational Resource Center at East Library by reservation.
• Access Special Collections in the 1905 Carnegie Library during a 55-minute session.

Here’s what to expect during your Library visit to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Cloth face coverings or masks are required by all patrons and staff to enter all libraries. (If you do not have one, PPLD can provide you with a single-use mask at no cost. Some exemptions do apply, such as for those under the age of 3.)
• There are capacity limits inside every building, along with public-use spaces like makerspaces, studios, and meeting rooms inside of select locations.
• The number of patrons inside are monitored at all times.
• Staff regularly sanitize frequently touched items like handles, counters, copiers, and other equipment. Computers are cleaned between each use. There are also sanitation protocols for equipment checkouts, along with public-use areas like makerspaces, studios, and meeting rooms.
• If you retrieve a book from a shelf but decide you don’t want it, please place it on the designated cart instead of re-shelving it yourself.
• All fax machines, copiers, and computers are self-service only; staff can only offer assistance at services desks, behind a protective shield.
• Some computers will not be available as we encourage patrons and staff to remain six feet apart in our computer labs.
• Other areas and items that remain temporarily unavailable or closed to the public:All water fountains, children’s play area, and study rooms, along with some meeting rooms and furniture.

Please remember that open hours and specific services may vary by Library location, so please check in advance. The first hour will be reserved for people at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19.

We ask that you keep your visits as brief as possible in order to minimize risk for everyone inside our Libraries.

Why is the Library requiring patrons to wear face masks?

PPLD prioritizes the health and safety of Library patrons, staff, and the community-at-large. To provide library services and resources inside of our facilities, our staff must interact directly with patrons in close proximity. We have instituted this requirement, along with other precautionary measures, to minimize potential transmission of COVID-19.

This is in accordance with Governor Polis’ Executive Order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado communities. Effective July 16, everyone in Colorado over the age of 10 is required to wear a face covering inside any public space. Also, after significant discussion and consideration of scientific findings during the May 27 public meeting, PPLD’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the requirement of cloth face coverings by patrons and staff inside all libraries to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in El Paso County and beyond. The Board of Trustees determined that the Library District will largely comply with CDC recommendations requiring masks for those ages THREE and older, rather than the statewide recommendation of 10 and older.

PPLD will continue to adhere to public health guidance that’s grounded in science, especially as El Paso County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment track COVID-19 cases within El Paso County and across the state.

If you do not feel comfortable wearing a mask, PPLD still offers curbside services at all libraries. There are also many ways to use the Library remotely, almost anytime and anywhere.

What else can I expect from PPLD?

Here’s an overview of what is available – and not available – to our Library cardholders and patrons at this time:

• Want to return items and pick-up holds? Curbside services are available at all libraries! Use the link to find out more and access your library’s service hours and pickup instructions.
• There are so many ways to use the Library remotely! Browse our Online Catalog. Stream and download books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, music, and videos. Use our databases to conduct research, access ample resources for kids and teens, and more from your couch.
• Check out our virtual programs! Our librarians are bringing their services to you, anywhere and anytime.
• Have a question? Ask a librarian! Our staff are available to help you by phone, live chat, and email. You also can book an appointment with a specialized librarian.
• Checked out items: Please check your PPLD accounts either through our Catalog or on the PPLD mobile app for return dates, which will be listed by item. (Returns are accepted outside of all libraries as part of curbside services and will no longer be held in quarantine effective Mon., April 5.)
• Fines & fees: We officially went fine-free for most Library materials in early 2019, as long as they are not lost or damaged. (See above regarding checked out items.)
• OverDrive: Since more patrons are using PPLD digital resources online, cardholders can have 20 checkouts for a total of 14 days each; the holds limit remains at a total of 30. PPLD will continue to add copies of digital materials to our collection as our budget allows. Some digital checkouts can be returned early so others have opportunity for access. (Instructions for checking out and returning are available here.)
• Use of meeting & study rooms: Study rooms remain closed, but a limited number of meeting rooms are now available for reservation across the Library District. To find out more, use the link above to see the available spaces, capacity limits per room, and requirements for use. To make a reservation, click the link above, call (719) 884-9827, or email meetingrooms@ppld.org.
• Library programs & events: The Library is currently only hosting programs virtually and in other safe ways such as Dial-a-Story and TeleGram, enjoyed by phone, or Drive-in Storytime, where participants stay inside their own vehicles. In-person activities hosted by PPLD and held inside of our facilities are not happening at this time.
• Use of creative spaces & services: Cardholders can take advantage of 3D print drop-off services, plus reserve and check out Studio equipment. Our makerspaces and studios have reopened by reservation, with strict capacity limits. They are only available at select libraries and hours may vary by location.
• Use of family & children’s spaces: The Educational Resource Center at East Library reopened for public reservation on Wed., April 7. Other children’s areas at libraries remain closed at this time.
• Library card signup: Register online and start using your card immediately! If you sign up online during this time, your temporary account will be available for 90 days (instead of the usual 12-day limit), giving you immediate access to OverDrive and other digital resources from home. Bring your ID and proof of address to your nearest Library and they can activate your full privilege account inside or via curbside!
• Account expirations & renewals: Library card/account expirations will be extended, including accounts that expired in the past 24 months.
• Interlibrary loans: Due to staffing restrictions based on guidance from local public health officials, maintaining the current number of requests is not feasible. Therefore, we are decreasing the number of Interlibrary Loans requests to three per library card. We expect requests to take longer to fulfill (borrowing or purchasing), with a potential wait time of four to eight weeks.
• WiFi access: All Library facilities continue to provide open WiFi access, which should be also available outside of most PPLD buildings.
• Friends of PPLD and book donations: PPLD Friends Bookstores have reopened their bookstores inside of our libraries.
  Online sales continue with curbside pickup at East Library. Shop our collection now!
  Have donations for us? Complete the form here to request an appointment to donate your materials.

What’s happening behind the scenes at the Library?

Library staff are required to follow public health guidance like wearing face coverings, washing hands thoroughly and frequently, and maintaining proper distance during any in-person interactions. In addition to helping patrons inside of our libarires, they are working curbside services, shelving books, pulling holds, and helping circulate thousands of books, movies, and other items from PPLD’s large collection between our libraries.

what’s available inside and outside of our libraries, our librarians are still here for you virtually! Staff continue to take your questions by phone, live chat, and email. They’re also providing and expanding virtual services and programs, along with our digital collection. And, we’re working with community organizations, school districts, and other partners to support El Paso County residents with many different needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Information About COVID-19

Have questions about the novel coronavirus?
We understand that people may be concerned about COVID-19 and how it may affect them. Please check out the following public resources for more information:

• Pikes Peak Library District: COVID-19 Emergency Aid and Resources Guide and Health & Medicine Guide
• El Paso County Public Health: COVID-19 web page and fact sheet
• State of Colorado: Stay at Home Colorado Guide
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: COVID-19 web page
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on COVID-19
• Colorado Health Emergency Line for the Public (CO HELP): Get answers in English, Spanish (Español), Mandarin, and more at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911, or email COHELP@RMPDC.org.

What should I do?
To help stop the spread of germs and any contagious illness, local and national public health experts recommend that everyone should take everyday preventive actions and practice good hygiene. Here are some tips specific to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Put distance between yourself and other people; at least 6 feet apart.


• Stay home if you’re sick.


• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover whenever in public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, hiking trails, etc.


• Frequently and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if you cannot wash your hands.


• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth; avoid touching with unwashed hands.


• Cover your mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then properly wash your hands.


• Clean surfaces and personal items, such as cell phones, using household disinfecting products.

What is COVID-19?
There is a global pandemic situation involving a respiratory illness named COVID-19, which is caused by a new coronavirus that spreads through coughing or sneezing, much like influenza (also known as the flu). Vaccines have been approved and are being distributed.

Vaccines are now available to all Colorado residents 16 years and older! El Paso County Public Health encourages you to get vaccinated. It’s free, safe, and effective in protecting you against COVID-19; no ID or insurance required. Learn more and find a local provider to book your appointment. You also can call 2-1-1 or text “vaccine” to 667873.

For current information and updates on the pandemic:

• State: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
• National: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

In these unprecedented times, Pikes Peak Library District is a constant. This year, the need for PPLD’s resources has been greater than ever.

A couple months ago, I was visiting the Old Colorado City Library and met a man named Charlie. The building was still closed to the public at that time due to COVID-19 public health restrictions, but curbside service was available and Charlie was waiting to collect items he had checked out. We got to talking and Charlie told me he was there to check out a WIFI hotspot. Like so many others, Charlie lost his job during the pandemic and without internet he couldn’t apply for jobs. “I don’t have internet at home and everything is online these days. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t get internet through the library.”

As the second largest library system in Colorado, PPLD operates 16 facilities and serves a population of more than 660,000 residents in El Paso County. In 2019, patrons made 3.1 million visits to the library and checked out nearly 8.3 million items. There were more than one million uses of our paid and locally developed databases. We received 50,000+ online meeting room requests and 250,000 people attended a library program.

When COVID-19 hit El Paso County in March of this year the impact library closures had on our community was felt immediately. Hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the library for critical resources and services suddenly found PPLD’s doors closed. During the course of weeks and months following the library’s initial closure, PPLD quickly adapted to a new reality, and the accomplishments we have realized while successfully pivoting around a “new normal” have become a model for libraries throughout the country.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PPLD expanded its remote and virtual offerings in a myriad of ways. Our librarians are bringing their services to you, anywhere and anytime. Library patrons can watch a virtual story time with their kids, participate in a virtual book club, or join us for a community movie discussion. Patrons can ask one of our reference librarians questions by phone, live chat, and email. For parents who have suddenly found themselves teachers, we have ample resources for children and teenagers, including homework help, reading help, planning for the future, and more. Patrons can stream and download eBooks, music, and videos from almost anywhere!

All 15 Libraries and three mobile Libraries continue to offer curbside service, making it easy for you to return materials and safely pick up items without having any direct contact with Library staff or other patrons. And, on July 1, Library facilities have re-opened to the public in accordance with public health and safety guidelines.

PPLD participated in several initiatives to address unique community challenges brought about by this pandemic. We have been a part of the statewide Make4Covid movement and worked with makers throughout our region to help in the production of personal protective equipment for the medical community, first responders, and those who need it most. PPLD staff installed public water stations at Penrose Library so any and all can fill containers whenever needed. Staff members also boxed up thousands of books and handed them out at free lunch distribution sites throughout Colorado Springs. So, when people came for a meal, they got a book, too.

For nearly 60 years, Pikes Peak Library District has stood as a pillar of the community, and we will continue to serve the community in every way we can during this pandemic and beyond. But, none of this is possible without the public’s investment and donors like you. PPLD has felt the economic impacts of the pandemic, and we are now facing a budget shortfall of at least $500,000. Will you support PPLD, and people like Charlie, by donating today? Your charitable gift of $30, $50, $100 or $1,000* will help PPLD be stronger and more prepared to accommodate the changing times and the growing need for our many critical services.

July 31, 2021 marks the 150-year anniversary of the founding of Colorado Springs by William Jackson Palmer. The city, founded at the base of Pikes Peak, experienced many changes over the last 150 years as it has grown to the 39^th largest city in the United States.

Sesquicentennial - noun
ses·​qui·​cen·​ten·​ni·​al | \ ˌse-skwi-sen-ˈte-nē-əl \
A 150^th anniversary or its celebration.

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) and other community organizations are planning an extensive series of programming and events throughout the year. Many programs focus on providing a historic background to better understand our city today, both for people new to the community and for folks just starting to learn about the region’s history. Other programs are designed to critically examine and appraise the complexities of Colorado Springs’ past. The history of our city is important to all of us; there is something for everyone.

CoS History Book Club

The past is the window to the present. Using the published works of local historians as inspiration, this program will highlight specific themes of Colorado Springs and the region. It is offered in concert with the books referenced, which provide additional background. However, attendees should not feel obligated to read the books in advance of the discussion. The series will provide high-quality information about the community to a broad and diverse audience.

April Topic: Invisible People

• When: Thu., April 15 at 7 p.m.
• Where: Virtual. Click here for more information.

Join editors Takiyah Jemison and Heather Jordan in a panel discussion of the newest release of the Pikes Peak Library District’s Regional History Series: an updated edition of The Invisible People of the Pikes Peak Region by John Stokes Holley. Originally published in 1990 by the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District and the Friends of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, this book presents a comprehensive history dedicated to the local African American community. The reprint includes the original publication in its entirety, along with new chapters, an index, and additional images.

A copy of the book may be checked out from the Library (via our Catalog) or purchased from PPLD Special Collections (20 N. Cascade Avenue), the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum (215 S. Tejon St.), or clausenbooks.com. A recommended chapter will be emailed to all registrants.

Previous Topics

March Topic: Doctors, Disease & Dying

Join Katie Rudolph, Denver Public Library archivist, and Matt Mayberry, director of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, as they present on their chapters from our Regional History book series title, Doctors, Disease & Dying. Katie will outline the events leading up to and surrounding the 1918 influenza pandemic in Denver, mirroring her chapter, "The influenza pandemic of 1918 : a Colorado Springs timeline." Matt Mayberry will speak with us about the local tuberculosis industry in, "On a cough & a prayer : the Modern Woodmen Sanatorium & the tuberculosis industry in the Pikes Peak Region."

For more information about the pioneers, traders, and military personnel who were both the purveyors and the recipients of needed care in the Pikes Peak Region, Doctors, Disease & Dying can be checked out from library locations.

January Topic: Visible People

Downtown Colorado Springs contains visible monuments to multiple significant local historic figures. Regional History and Genealogy Director, Brett Lobello, will discuss how these monuments offer a window, not just into William Jackson Palmer, Winfield Scott Stratton, and Spencer Penrose, but also the people and community that chose to commemorate their life and actions.

150 years after the founding of Colorado Springs, historians are still learning from the words and deeds of General William Jackson Palmer. Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museums will explore manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, and memories of those who knew him best – General Palmer is more valuable and relevant than ever.

For more information about the history of Colorado Springs, Newport in the Rockies can be found in the catalog and checked out from library locations.

November Topic: Extraordinary Women

Inspired by the Pikes Peak Library Districts’ Regional History Book Series book, Extraordinary Women of the Pikes Peak Region, the first program will introduce women important to Colorado Springs history.

Chris Nicholl, PPLD Regional History and Genealogy staff member, will share the story of three Colorado Springs women whose political demonstrations at the gates of the White House landed them in prison and helped win the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting American women the right to vote. Susan Fletcher, Glen Eyrie Navigators Historian and Archivist, will explore the lives of Queen Palmer, wife of General William Jackson Palmer, and their three daughters, Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.

For more information about women of the Pikes Peak Region, Extraordinary Women of the Pikes Peak Region highlights these stories as well as the stories of 18 other women. Susan Fletcher's chapter is published in Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.

Coming Soon: Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium

Nice, Naughty, & Notable: Colorado Springs at 150
In a year marking the 150-year anniversary of the founding of Colorado Springs by William Jackson Palmer, Pikes Peak Library District is pleased to offer our 2021 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium virtually! This year's program has been divided into four separate virtual events. We are excited to celebrate our city's sesquicentennial with you!

• Sat., May 22
  • Kathy Sturdevant: “Instant Civilization”: The Engineer of “Progress” and the Magic Early Years of Colorado Springs
  • Steve Plutt: The Lake George Ice & Power Company
  • Doreen E. Martinez: Historicizing Indigenous Presence: Footprints, Artifacts, Ways of Being and Knowing
• Sat., June 26
  • Susan Fletcher: Glen Eyrie at 150 (Give or Take Several Millennia)
  • Tom Noel: The Broadmoor Hotel’s Beginnings: From Count James Pourtales to Spencer Penrose
  • Eric Swab: Three Trails That Ring Cheyenne Mountain, Three Tales of Infidelity, Bribery, and Provocation
• Sat., July 24
  • Leah Davis Witherow: CC Professor Edith Bramhall, teacher, mentor, city council member, & activist
  • Eric Metzger: The McAllister House and its Place in 150 years of Colorado Springs History
  • Greg Atkins: City Business: Colorado Springs and the Libertarian Party
• Sat., Aug. 28
  • Rick Sturdevant: Air and Space Forces in Colorado Springs: Their Bases and Memorable Characters
  • Mark James: Dr. James, Moral Reformer, Scientist, Pikes Peak
  • Kathy Sturdevant: The Quaker Trail: Moral Infiltration, Disintegration, and Revival in the Pikes Peak Region

Previous Events

Streaming History: Fannie Mae Duncan

To celebrate Black History Month, PPLD Special Collections will host a live chat while streaming the Rocky Mountain PBS documentary, Fannie Mae Duncan. While watching the documentary, you can chat with PPLD staff and the documentary's producer, Kate Perdoni.

Meet the inspiring Fannie Mae Duncan, an African American nightclub owner who brought the motto “Everybody Welcome” to true meaning at her Colorado Springs Cotton Club despite the volatile Civil Rights Movement of her day. The granddaughter of slaves and the daughter of tenant farmers, Fannie Mae stood up against disharmony and heartbreak to maintain the first racially integrated club in the city. Premiered on Rocky Mountain PBS November 8, 2018.

Invisible People Book Release

Join the Pikes Peak Library District and the Special Collections team for a virtual book release of The Invisible People of the Pikes Peak Region by John Stokes Holley. To help celebrate the book’s release, we will hear presentations from two Colorado Springs natives. PPLD Senior Adult Services Librarian Melissa Mitchell will present “Growing up with Greatness” and Colorado Springs native Sharon Tunson will present “Unsettled Settler.” Also speaking at the event will be PPLD Chief Librarian John Spears and the book’s editors, Takiyah Jemison and Heather Jordan of the Pikes Peak Library District. Registration is required for this zoom event.

Take and Makes for these projects will be available at area PPLD Libraries starting this Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.

Supplies provided:

• Bottle cap
• “I Voted” sticker
• Blank sticker
• Epoxy sticker
• Circle or square magnet
• Blank business card
• Rectangular magnet

Supplies needed (from home):

• Markers or colored pencils

Watch the “how to” video on PPLD TV: https://youtu.be/GPgX1oKgfNE?list=PLMEg2Dd0dSFctLfDQxsL5SmuE8zkwQFmu

Bottle Cap Magnets:

1. Choose if you want to use the “I Voted” sticker or design your own. If you would like to design your own sticker, do so on the blank white sticker (not the clear, thick sticker).
2. Peel off one sticker and stick to the inside of the bottle cap.
3. Peel off the epoxy sticker (the clear, thick sticker) and place on top of the first sticker inside of the bottle cap. Press down to make sure it is stuck tight.(Avoid touching the back of the sticker as it will leave fingerprints.)
4. Peel the adhesive backing off the small round or square magnet. Stick the magnet to the back of the bottle cap.

Fridge Magnets

1. Decorate the blank business card. You can design it however you want. Some ideas include drawing a mini poster for your favorite fictional character or writing out words on the business card to make magnetic poetry.
2. If you decide to make magnetic poetry, start by drawing 4 light pencil lines on your business card. Then write out election day themed words with colored markers. Be sure to include some articles (a,an,the), some descriptive words, overreactions, and some nouns (like people, animals, places, or things). Your imagination is the limit! (Only decorate one side of the business card).
3. Peel off the back of the rectangular magnet and stick it to the back of the decorated business card. You now have a fridge magnet! If you decided to create magnetic poetry, use a pair of scissors to cut out each individual word,then arrange them into funny or meaningful poetry phrases.

Want to share your creations? Tag us on Facebook @ppldteens or @ppldkids.

Note: See pdf file below to print and see pictures of activities.Watch these projects at: https://youtu.be/HXYILnF5914?list=PLMEg2Dd0dSFctLfDQxsL5SmuE8zkwQFmu

I. MAGIC PUMPKIN

Supplies:

• Large bag of Reese’s Pieces
• Measuring cup with hot tap water (works best with freshly boiled water due to Colorado’s high altitude; an adult can place in a measuring cup and pour)
• White plate or platter
• Toothpicks or small straws

Directions:

1. Arrange your Reese’s Pieces in the shape of a pumpkin. We placed the orange candies in a circle to form the sides and used four brown candies to make the stem at the top. You can add a brown mouth and maybe even yellow for the eyes if you like. Do you like theway it looks?
2. What do you predict will happen once we add the water? In science, we call your guess a hypothesis. Tell each other your guesses or write them down. You can even draw what your pumpkin looks like now and what you think it will look like after we add the warm water. This is called the Scientific Method (see below for more information on the Scientific Method).
3. Very slowly add some hot water, pouring along the outside edge of the pumpkin. Add only enough water to cover the plate (adult help may be required).
4. The magic pumpkin will slowly appear! Enjoy a couple nibbles of candy and watch what the water does. You can use your toothpicks or straws to swirl the colors. It’s magical!

Project adapted from: https://www.playdoughtoplato.com/magic-pumpkin-science/

II. CREEPY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS WITH DRY ICE

SAFETY NOTE: Dry ice can be purchased at the Customer Service counter in the grocery store. Keep it in the heavy plastic bag it comes in! The ice should be purchased the same day you plan to use it; it will gradually sublimate, returning to its gaseous state, if it sits unused for too long. Don’t plan to store the dry ice in your freezer! It is so cold that it will trick your freezer into thinking that it needs to shut off!
Do plan to store it in a Styrofoam chest … unless you are going to use it as soon as you get it
home. An adult should oversee these projects for safety..

Screaming Dry Ice

Supplies:

• Dry ice
• Heavy work gloves
• Stainless-steel tongs

Directions:

1. Using a pair of heavy work gloves (leather is best), hold a piece of dry ice in one hand, and a pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs in the other. Use the tongs to securely grab hold of the chunk of dry ice.
2. As the room temperature tongs bring heat to the surface of the extremely cold dry ice, the ice will begin to sublimate (kind of like “melting” from a solid back to a gas). The process causes the tongs to slightly vibrate, producing a high-pitched scream! So be prepared!
3. Set your dry ice aside for another experiment.

Spooky Bubbling Tower

Supplies:

• Dry ice
• Heavy work gloves
• Hammer
• Tall glass container
• Tray or cookie sheet with low sides
• Very warm water
• Food coloring
• Dawn dish soap

Directions:

1. With a gloved hand, place your plastic bag of dry ice on a surface that will allow you to hammer the ice into some smaller chunks (not too tiny) … like a sidewalk or driveway. Leave all the pieces in the bag and return them to the Styrofoam chest until you need them.
2. Place the glass container on a tray or cookie sheet. Fill the container with 2-3” of very warm water.
3. With your gloved hand, pick up a couple of ice chunks and place them in the container. The water will bubble as the ice begins to sublimate, and carbon dioxide gas will be released from the ice in the form of a misty “smoke,” or “fog.” Put your hands in the
   “fog” and blow it around a bit!
4. While the water is rapidly bubbling (you may need to add 2-3 more chunks of ice … don’t forget the leather glove), add a couple drops of food coloring for a spooky potion.
5. Next, drizzle in some Dawn dish soap. This will produce a bubbling tower! The movement of the water, caused by the sublimating ice, will cause soap bubbles to form, bubbles that are filled with carbon dioxide. Go ahead … POP a handful of bubbles. Then watch to find out how long it takes for the ice to completely sublimate and escape in the form of a gas in the soap bubbles.

Crystal "Bubble" Ball

Supplies:

• Dry ice
• Heavy work gloves
• Glass mixing bowl with rounded rim (less than 12” in diameter)
• Tray or cookie sheet
• Very warm water
• Dawn dish soap
• Strip of cotton fabric (old t-shirt)
• Small plastic cup

Directions:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons dish soap with 1 tablespoon warm water in the small cup. Submerge the cotton strip in the cup to soak.
2. Fill the glass bowl half full with very warm water. Place on tray or cookie sheet. Add a few chunks of dry ice to the water so that a lot of “fog” is produced.
3. Dip a finger in the soap/water solution and run your finger around the rim of the bowl, wetting the rim surface.
4. Remove the cotton strip from the cup, running your fingers down it to remove excess soap. Stretch the cloth between your hands and slowly pull the soapy cloth across the rim of the bowl. Your goal is to create a soap film that stretches across the entire bowl.
   *It might take a little practice to master the technique! The thin layer of soap stretched across the rim of the bowl traps the expanding cloud of carbon dioxide gas to create a giant bubble … a kind of crystal ball perfect for looking into the future!

III. FROG EYES (Edible Water Beads):

Supplies:

• Tapioca pearls
• Food coloring (if desired)
• Pot for boiling water
• Colander
• Container for bead play

Directions:

1. Follow instructions on package for boiling Tapioca.
2. Once boiled, rinse Tapioca under cool water.
3. If desired, divide pearls into separate containers, add food coloring, let sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse.
4. Place beads into container and have fun!

Pick up your Cupcake Liner Monster Take and Make at area PPLD Libraries beginning this Friday, Oct. 23, 2020

Supplies:

• Construction paper
• 1 cupcake liner
• Googly eyes
• 1 craft stick
• Glue (not in Take and Make)
• Scissors (not in Take and Make)
• Markers (optional)

Directions:

1. Start by flattening your cupcake liner and glue it onto the piece of construction paper to give it more weight. Cut out the cupcake liner.
2. Cut out a mouth, arms, legs, horns, and teeth (or whatever you want on your monster) from your construction paper and glue them onto your cupcake liner. Glue the googly eyes onto your puppet. Make it scary or silly!
3. Add some glue to the top of your craft stick and glue your cupcake liner onto it. Once it has dried completely, you can have fun putting on a puppet show with your monster puppet!

For video instructions, check out last Tuesday, October 20's video for detailed instructions with one of our librarians here: https://youtu.be/e60Ig4x0XXQ?list=PLMEg2Dd0dSFctLfDQxsL5SmuE8zkwQFmu

TAKE AND MAKE: Tween Twist: Dragon Eggs
Pick up your Take and Make supplies at area PPLD Libraries starting this Fri., Oct. 9, 2020

Supplies:

• Styrofoam egg
• Box of thumbtacks
• glue
• toothpick
• Optional supplies: Sharpie markers, nail polish, or rhinestones

Watch the “how to” video on PPLD TV https://youtu.be/YyPNAoIxy3w

Directions:

1. Start the dragon egg at the very bottom of the Styrofoam egg. You can glue this “starter” tack in for stability.
2. Insert tacks into the egg so that they overlap the “starter” tack and each other. The tacks overlap like fish scales.
3. Keep adding tacks, overlapping them as you move up the egg and cover it with tacks.
4. You will put a final tack at the very top. You can also glue this tack to help it stay in.
5. You can add glue to any tacks that feel loose or like they might fall out. Use a toothpick to push the glue in where it needs to go.
6. If desired, you can use colored sharpies, nail polish, and/or rhinestones to further decorate your egg.