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Constitution Day on September 17 commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave people in 1787 and recognizes those who have become U.S. citizens through coming of age or naturalization. Celebrate this historic day with resources available at the Library!
- We the People U.S. Pocket Constitutions
Celebrate the penning of the U.S. Constitution by picking up a pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution from your local library beginning Wed., Sept 13, while supplies last.
Recommended Resources
Use your library card to check out books and eBooks exploring the Constitution and its history through different lenses.
- A Young Reader's Edition of Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story by McClay, Wilfred M.
- Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution by Mystal, Elie
- OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?: A Non-boring Guide to How Our Democracy is Supposed to Work by Sheehan, ben
- Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women and Queer People Who Shaped the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment by Kelly, Kat; art by LaRue, Nicole
- For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why it Matters by Foster, Jeff
- eBooks available with your library card through OverDrive or by using the Libby app:
- Two Revolutions and the Constitution by D.R. Philips, James
- The United States Constitution (this title is always available)
- The Great Debate – Advocates and Opponents of the American Constitution by Thomas Pangle, The Great Courses
Enjoy a selection of documentaries with your library card on Kanopy, including:
- An American (1775 – 1790)
- Books That Matter: The Federalist Papers, Episode 12: The Future of the United States Constitution
- History of the United States, Episode 14: Creating the Constitution
Take an in-depth look at the history of the U.S. Constitution with these web resources:
- Britannica Kids: United States Constitution
Spark young learners’ curiosity about the U.S. Constitution. - History.com: This Day in History: U.S. Constitution Signed
Enjoy an overview of the efforts that went into the creation of the U.S. Constitution. - National Archives: Constitution of the United States – A History
Dive into this in-depth look at the Constitutional Convention and the process of creating the U.S. Constitution. - National Archives: The First Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Discover some of the first changes made to the U.S. Constitution and learn about the development of the Bill of Rights. - U.S. History in Context database: Constitution and the Bill of Rights (you must be in a Pikes Peak Library District location or have a library card starting with the number 4 to access).
Explore the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the cultural pressures involved in its development.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Fri., Sept. 15 - Sun., Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The Library offers several opportunities to learn and celebrate. Scroll down to explore resources celebrating Hispanic heritage.
Hispanic Heritage Month Recipe Cards
Learn about favorite foods and make recipes from some of the cultures celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month. Available at all locations starting Fri., Sept. 15.
Resources
- Adults:
- Hoopla
- Kanopy films
- Colorado Experience
Justicia Y Libertad (27 min., NR) 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.
- Regional History & Genealogy
- Archival Collections
- Heidi Vazquez Guy Records (MSS 0408)
The Heidi Vazquez Guy Records consist of two series: Biographical Files and VHS Tapes. Biographical information provided in each file includes: birthdate, parents names, names and number of children, education, careers, and Colorado memories. Most files also include a photograph. The VHS tapes contain oral history interviews of people in the Biographical Files conducted by Heidi Vazquez Guy. See staff in Regional History & Genealogy if you want to find out more about this collection. - De Donde Eres oral histories
Conducted between the years 2003 -2005, ¿De Donde Eres? was an oral history project organized by Pikes Peak Library District’s Special Collections in an effort to document and promote understanding of the region’s Hispanic community and their many contributions to Colorado Springs. The collection is comprised of 25 individual videotaped interviews which have been digitized into audio-only format. A complete listing of the project interviews is available at the Regional History & Genealogy reference desk and transcripts are available for a few of the oral histories.
- Heidi Vazquez Guy Records (MSS 0408)
- Young Adults:
- Families and Children:
- Enjoy some incredibly colorful costumes and dance from Ballet Folklórico México Danza to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! The music is so energetic you might want to get up and dance with your family! Click here to view the video.
- Children's Materials in Spanish at PPLD
- Color in Colorado Children's Booklist
- PBS Children's Booklist
- eBooks from Libby/Overdrive
- Children’s Booklist from ¡Colorín Colorado!
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- 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 Special Collections or search our catalog! Books are from the Carnegie Library - Special Collections. (Some titles are available for checkout from other library locations.)
- 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 Pioneer Museum.
- National Archives – Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Today – Hispanic Heritage Month
- History.com Provides an overview of Hispanic Heritage Month.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and it’s a perfect time to sign up for your Pikes Peak Library District library card! Throughout September, anyone who signs up for a new library card will be entered to win a $200 SCHEELS gift card (PPLD employees and their immediate family are not eligible). A library card unlocks a world of potential, giving you access to resources for entertainment, learning, research, productivity, and more. Your toolkit isn’t complete without a library card if you’re thinking about starting a podcast, looking for meeting spaces for your small business, interested in 3D printing pieces for your games, testing out video games before adding them to your collection, or just feeding your reading habit.
Now is also the perfect time to share the joy of a child’s first library card. Having a library card gives children a sense of pride and responsibility and fosters their curiosity for learning and reading. A library card also unlocks access to books, homework help resources, live tutoring, research databases for schoolwork, learning kits and activities like robotics, and more! As an added bonus, anyone under age 18 signing up for a new library card in September will be entered to win a $200 SCHEELS gift card and will receive a commemorative pin and a gift certificate for a free children’s ice cream cone and Ferris wheel ride at SCHEELS.
To sign up for a library card, bring 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. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian having the above listed information. You can also sign up on our website.
Library Card Sign-up Month New Cardholder Bonus
Adults age 18 and older signing up for a new library card in September will be automatically entered to win a $200 SCHEELS gift card.
Children and teens under 18 signing up for a new library card will:
- Receive a coupon for a free children’s ice cream cone and Ferris wheel rides for the whole family at SCHEELS (while supplies last)
- Receive a commemorative pin celebrating their new library card (while supplies last)
- Be automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $200 SCHEEELS gift card
There will be drawings for two separate $200 SCHEELS gift cards, one drawing for adults age 18 and older, and a second drawing for children and teens under age 18.