What's New!

In an historic election on November 6, 2012, Manitou Springs residents voted to have their local library become part of Pikes Peak Library District. The approved Issue 2B will raise property taxes by up to 4 mills in Manitou Springs, generating $240,000 in 2013 and allowing Manitou Springs Public Library to join PPLD and its 14 other facilities serving El Paso County.

“The positive election results for the Manitou Springs Public Library to join Pikes Peak Library District means that we are combining over a hundred years of service in each of our two library systems together,” said PPLD Executive Director Paula Miller. “With the passage of this issue, we have literally made history together. We are excited to welcome Manitou Springs into the Pikes Peak Library District. This will provide better and more consistent library service for all residents within both of our service areas.”

The Manitou Library was among proposed budget cuts in Manitou Springs before citizens petitioned to place Issue 2B on the ballot. MSPL was excited to hear that library service to Manitou Springs residents would not only continue, but be expanded.

“This is an exciting time in the life of our library and we’re thrilled to become a part of Pikes Peak Library District,” said MSPL Executive Director Margaret Morris. “This merger into such a progressive, nationally-recognized library district allows us to not only provide an abundance of additional library services to the Manitou Springs community, but to keep those services in place for many years to come. This ballot initiative always has been about sustainable library services in Manitou Springs, and the citizens recognized and showed their support with a favorable outcome.”

While the transition will not be officially effective until 2013, PPLD will soon begin issuing cards to all Manitou Springs library patrons who wish to begin using PPLD services immediately. Manitou patrons will still need their MSPL card to check out materials from the Manitou Library until the end of the year.

A celebration of this historic transition will occur at MSPL in January.

The American Library Association's (ALA) Virtual Read-Out is a great opportunity for people to share their favorite banned book. During Banned Books Week (Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, 2012) we had a few of our teens read for us! Check it out!

High School

• First Place - Cecilia Lee for "Flooding Gifts"
• Second Place - Helen Stritzel for "Sisters and the Scent of Cloves"
• Third Place - Kristen Hernandez for "Trapped"

Middle School

• First Place - Mariah Mayhugh for "Blind Friendship"
• Second Place - Emily Ford for "The Attic's Secret"
• Third Place - Hannah Kaupp for "I Love Him, Not You"