What's New!

Think staying home means you can’t volunteer for the library? Well it doesn’t! You can volunteer from wherever life takes you as a member of Pikes Peak Library District’s Review Crew.

All you need to do to start earning volunteer hours is apply at ppld.org/teens/volunteer (be sure to select Review Crew at the top of the application), and start reading! Once we’ve confirmed that we received your application and you’re ready to submit a review, just go to the form we provide and tell us your thoughts!

Here’s a list of things to considering when leaving a book review:

• Be sure your review is at least 5 sentences long. Anything shorter won’t qualify for volunteer hours.
• Go in depth about what you did or didn’t like about the book. Consider questions like “why did you choose this book?” “did the book surprise you, or was it predictable?” “could you relate to any of the characters in the book?”
• Include your grade in school at the end of your book review.

Each qualifying book review you submit will earn you one volunteer hour for a maximum of five hours per month. Have fun, and happy reading!

Supplies:

• Empty tissue box
• White scrap paper
• Markers
• Glue
• Old catalogues or magazines
• Colorful paper (wrapping, scrap booking, or construction paper work well)

Directions:

1. Decorate your tissue box with markers or colorful paper. Stickers can also be fun!
2. Cut your white scrap paper into 2 or 3 inch squares to make little cards.
3. Draw one person, place, or thing on one side of each card. Leave the other side blank. You can also choose to cut out images from old catalogs and magazines and glue them to the cards.
4. Place all finished cards (once they are dry) inside your decorated box.
5. To play, draw three cards from the box and use them to tell a story. Play with others by taking turns drawing a card from the box and adding to a group story.

Watch the project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwflHOAeCSo

Updated July 8, 2020

While our physical locations remain temporarily closed until further notice, you can still use the Library remotely, anywhere and anytime. You can also ask a librarian questions by phone, live chat, and email. Plus, our librarians are bringing their services to you!

Visit our virtual calendar of events for all scheduled programs and activities. Can’t participate live? No worries! Many of the videos are featured on our YouTube channel and playlists, so you can watch whenever it’s convenient for you.

Here are some of the current virtual opportunities that our team created for you to experience, wherever you might be during this pandemic.

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FOR ADULTS:

• Maker in Residence: Textile Art project!
  To close out the Spring Maker in Residence program, Textiles West is extending the Textile Art project into the summer!

  If you are interested in participating in the Textile Art project, but don’t have supplies such as needle, thread, or fabric readily available at home, we’ve got you covered.

  To participate, select a Library location from the list on the webpage. The link will take you to that Library’s event calendar listing. After you register, PPLD staff will send a supply packet with project instructions to the Library location that you picked. Then, Library staff will contact you when your supply packet is available for pickup, which you can access through our Curbside Services. Once you have your supply packet, you can get started on the project!




• Library Crafts
  Missing your Library's programs? Exhausted your home crafting ideas? PPLD has you covered! Presenting.. Take and Make programs! Your Library will now have crafts available to TAKE home and either follow a virtual class or included instructions to MAKE!
  
  
• Virtual Mindful Movement and Meditation
  Wednesdays from 1 - 2 p.m.
  Join instructor Ambrie Sward for this virtual mindful movement class that will include meditation and stretches to build the mind/body connection. All skill levels welcome.




• Virtual Yoga
  Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 - 10 a.m.
  Local instructor Svetlana Nudelman guides practitioners through beginner and intermediate-level yoga poses.




• Interactive Reader’s Advisory
  Mondays from 7 - 8 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 - 2 p.m.
  Looking for new books, authors, movies, and TV shows? Our librarians have plenty of recommendations and can give you real-time suggestions!




• Virtual Book Club
  Missing your Library's book club? Some have gone virtual!




• Coffee Talk
  Grab your favorite beverage and join us for a virtual current events discussion moderated by PPLD staff. Topics of discussion can range from current events to pop culture to gardening to a favorite book you are reading. Space in each discussion is limited, so register ahead of time to insure your spot!




• Share your stories and experiences during the pandemic!
  Working in collaboration with the Colorado Springs Gazette, we are helping document this historic event in the Pikes Peak region. Anyone can share written responses to COVID-19 and its impact on their lives. Use this link to submit photographs or videos directly to PPLD.

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FOR KIDS, TEENS, & FAMILIES:

• Browse our Virtual Art Show!
  Anyone in grades K-12 artists across El Paso County submitted images of their artwork!





• Reassuring Reads for Kids
  This always-available list presents reading options (available in electronic formats) that can provide comfort during tough times for kids and parents. The recommended books cover themes of encouragement, hope, and love while offering tools for emotional awareness and ways to deal with anxiety.



• Review Crew
  Anyone from 13 - 18 years old can write an original book review and get an hour of volunteer credit! Check out some past book reviews for examples. Those who are interested can apply here.




• Kid-Friendly Music Playlist
  Our staff selected and compiled more than four hours of children's music on Freegal, PPLD’s streaming service for songs, albums, and more. (Pro tip: Browse other playlists, or create your own!)

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Don’t see anything that interests you right now? Bookmark our virtual services page for frequent updates, or visit our calendar of virtual events for new additions each week.

Stay tuned for more updates from PPLD! Our team continues to explore and expand virtual opportunities that we can bring to you, wherever you may be. Right now, we’re creating new virtual experiences that will launch in the coming days and weeks.

Looking for a chapter book to listen to or read aloud with the family? Check out this selection of engaging chapter books in a variety of genres all available in electronic formats. Need help accessing these materials? Go to PPLD’s eLibrary to get started. Click on the pdf below to see the booklist.

Supplies:

• 10 water bottle caps (or any caps)
• Elmer's glue
• Yarn cut into 4 strands about 5" long
• Square of cardboard cut from a cereal box
• Stickers, optional

Directions:

1. Cut a square size piece of cardboard.
2. With glue, make two thin lines of glue vertically, and again, horizontally, keep the lines evenly spaced (see photo).
3. Place one yarn strand on each glue line. Let dry. Trim yarn hanging off the edge of the cardboard.
4. Mark five water bottle caps one way, and five caps another way. (Color the caps or attach the same sticker to five caps and a different sticker to the other five caps.)
5. You are ready to play Tic-Tac-Toe!

You can watch this project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz38AUe91iQ

Supplies:

• cardboard
• pencil
• scissors
• markers
• scotch tape
• white paper
• a parent or caregiver nearby

Directions:

1. Trace any size circle onto a piece of cardboard. Have your parent or caregiver cut out the circle if needed.
2. Trace the round piece of cardboard onto the white paper. Cut out the paper circle.
3. Draw a design onto the round piece of paper. A fun experiment is to use the three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow so you can see green, orange, and purple appear when you spin.
4. Have your parent or caregiver cut a slit into the center of the cardboard circle and also the round paper. Tape your design onto the round piece of cardboard by making tape loops. You may also glue your paper onto the cardboard.
5. Push a penny into the slit and spin!

You can watch this project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL4ZKcEDHkQ

Pikes Peak Library District added a social worker to the organization’s staff to better serve patrons who need assistance learning about and using community resources, or need support in other ways. PPLD's Social Worker, Alicia Kwande, is here to help you connect with resources in our community. She can help you identify programs and opportunities that may be a good fit for you, and help you pursue them. We can help find housing, employment, legal aid, clothing, food, and household items. Note: PPLD’s Social Worker is not a case manager or case worker.

Patrons may utilize in-person social work services at the library by appointment only. Appointments will last 50 minutes and are scheduled on the hour.

• When: Mondays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (4 appointments per day).
  These hours will expand as the need arises.
• Where: Penrose Library
• Appointments can be made with Alicia Kwande directly:
• By phone: (719) 233-3321 OR
• By email: akwande@ppld.org

Reasons that individuals may make appointments:

• VI-SPDAT assessment
• Housing resources and tools to complete and submit housing applications, housing searches (private rentals or community based programs are both acceptable)
• Use of phone to access community resources - must have an appointment with the resource they are calling, or must not be on hold for longer than 5 minutes
• Scanning, printing, faxing, emailing documents for ONLY Social or Legal Services, Housing Programs, Department of Human Services, or to secure schooling or childcare for children
• Use of phone or internet to search for and connect with community resources remotely
• Referrals, lists of any resources: food, clothing, other household essentials, housing, legal, medical, behavioral health, employment, financial assistance, childcare

Requirements for appointment:

• Patrons must enter and exit through the staff entry door located on the north side of Pikes Peak Ave. between the mural and the large garage door.
• All patrons must complete a health screening prior to entering the Library. They must also provide contact information in the event the health department needs to follow up for contact tracing.
• All patrons must wear their own face mask. The Library will not provide masks for patrons.
• Patrons will be accompanied by the social worker for the entire duration of their appointment and patrons may only engage in activities related to specified reasons listed above. Appointments will last for 50 minutes.
• Patrons may schedule only one appointment per day.
• Due to social distancing requirements, appointments are only being offered for individuals, or one adult with one child, at this time.

For more information about additional programs, visit the Adult Education website.

We have added new figurines to our Educational Resource Center collection. We have beautiful horse figurines from around the world and creatures from Greek mythology. Soon we will have a booklet with a little information about each kind of horse. Come to the Educational Resource Center at East Library to check them out!

The 2020 Census is here and it’s not too late to complete it! It is important to fill it out so that local agencies (PPLD included!) have accurate information to use when designing community services. It's safe, easy, and required for all citizens to fill out.

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COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS NOW.

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In March, homes across the country received invitations to complete the 2020 Census with instructions for responding to the census online, in the mail, or over the phone.

Remember that April 1 is a reference date, not a deadline to respond. When you respond online, by phone, or by mail, count everyone living in your home as of April 1, 2020.

Beginning in August 2020, households that haven't responded yet may receive an in-person visit or call from a Census Bureau employee to help make sure everyone is counted.

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As of June 11, El Paso County’s self-response rate, is now at 68.6%, which is higher than Colorado’s self-response rate of 63.4%! We are ranked number 18 in response rates by state, and higher than the national self-response rate of 60.8%!

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Here’s a quick refresher of what it is and why it’s essential that everyone is counted.

• Everyone counts: The census counts every person living in the United States once, only once, and in the right place.
• It’s about fair representation: Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
• It’s in the Constitution: The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The first census was in 1790.
• It’s about $675 billion: The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties, and communities are based on census data. That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other vital programs (like libraries!).
• It’s about redistricting: After each decade’s census, state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts.
• Taking part is your civic duty: Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say “I COUNT!”

Census data are being used all around you:

• Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.
• Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices, and stores, which create jobs.
• Local governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness.
• Real estate developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.

Your privacy is protected.
It’s against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.

The Census Bureau uses a different method to count people in group living situations, called “group quarters,” such as college student housing, prisons, military barracks, and nursing homes. People experiencing homelessness (and who are not staying in a household) will be counted at the places where they receive services, such as shelters and soup kitchens.

2020 will be easier than ever.
In 2020, you will be able to respond to the census online. The online questionnaire will be available in 13 languages.

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Click here to learn more!

It’s a good idea to start very early with tooth cleaning. To make the job more fun, here are some picture books about your teeth: dental visits, tooth fairies and taking care of your “pearly whites”! Click on the pdf link below:

With a determined posture and a set look on her face, Kim Seaborn takes a deep breath to begin another take.

After singing a few lines, she stops, looking satisfied.

“I think we got it,” says Keagan Kellogg, sound engineer for Studio916.

Seaborn relaxes her shoulders and smiles before stepping away from the microphone to celebrate with the rest of the team. Her full-length album: officially a wrap.

Seaborn worked for weeks alongside Kellogg and Studio916 producer TerryJosiah Sharpe to record her second full-length album without incurring any expenses, inside a facility of Pikes Peak Library District.

“Here, I got to work with professionals,” Seaborn says. “I found the team here was so easy to work with and just really let me be myself, and they helped me flourish creatively.”

Seaborn started performing in front of her church’s congregation when she was just a sixth grader, and remembers the intensely overwhelming feeling of impacting the crowd.

“I saw people crying,” Seaborn remembers. “Seeing that emotion from the crowd… that was something I liked. If I can get a person to be transformed with my singing, that’s what makes it worthwhile to me.”

But standing up in front of large groups wasn’t something that came naturally to her.

“I’m a very shy person,” Seaborn says. “When I was growing up, I tried to do things that would take me out of that shyness. I felt singing was one of the things I could do to get me out of my shell.”

Her first album, His Glory, was completed in 2014. She was ready to record another one soon after but wanted to break away from the traditional feel of her first full-length album.

Plus, the sheer cost of recording an album was another hurdle.

“These hours in the recording studio can cost thousands of dollars,” Seaborn remembers.

But then she learned of a studio she could use at no cost at Sand Creek Library: Studio916. She attended a studio orientation to learn more about using the space. Then, she checked every day for open studio sessions because they were so frequently booked.

As she got into the studio more and more, Seaborn found that she had a team of experts at her disposal in Kellogg and Sharpe. “It helped me break out of my shell,” she remembers. “When you have people who know what they’re doing, it just gels.”

Now, Seaborn has a vision for her future as a musician, hoping to record more music as well as further market herself as a singer/songwriter and get her music out into the world.

She hopes other aspiring artists in the Pikes Peak region will take advantage of Studio916.

“To these young people with a dream, I say go for it,” Seaborn says. “If music is something that is a part of your purpose and you’re willing to put in some work, do it. It is thousands of dollars to do elsewhere what you can do at the Library for free.”

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