What's New!

From a small reading room established 136 years ago, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of our sprawling community. Our service area covers 2,070 square miles of El Paso County with population of about 700,000 – people of all ages and backgrounds with varying views and interests. Thanks to taxpayer funding, we provide residents with access to 16 facilities, three mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources and services that are inclusive and welcoming to all. We strive to make our physical and digital spaces safe and respectful for diverse voices, perspectives, and pursuit; to foster community dialogue and connections; and to help people achieve their goals and dreams in life.

Beginning in January 2022, we initiated a process to revisit PPLD’s mission statement and develop a vision statement and organizational values that reflect our public library system and growing community. Having such clearly defined statements and values also will allow us to prepare for the next stage – working on a new strategic plan that we hope to release later this fall.

In partnership with a local third-party vendor, Library leadership engaged all staff in a design thinking process to gather individual input and collectively see which themes emerged – and it resulted in much alignment from frontline staff to management. With such rich qualitative data, PPLD’s Board of Trustees and leadership team were able to craft new statements and values that capture our core purpose and aspirations for a public institution that’s here for everyone.

We are excited to share them with you, our Library cardholders and patrons.

VISION

Access to resources and opportunities leads to thriving people and connected communities.

MISSION

Cultivate spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities.

VALUES

• Access: We ensure all people feel safe to connect with services, resources, and experiences.
• Service: We remove barriers to provide access for all to pursue their interests, needs, and goals.
• Freedom: We ensure the right of community members to interact with and experience library services as they choose.
• Accountability: We responsibly steward resources with integrity and transparent practices.
• Creativity: We foster imagination and resolve problems in new ways.
• Community: We bring people together.

You will see these new statements in many places going forward, and they are already featured on our About Us page. We look forward to fulfilling our new mission, upholding our new values, and aiming to achieve our vision for this great community.

The new partnership between Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) and the fastest growing school district in El Paso County, District 49 now places the Library’s numerous digital resources at the fingertips of more than 77,300 El Paso County students.

As of Mon., April 25, each of the 12,899 students in D49 will have a PowerPass, a digital PPLD library card just for students. D49 is the fifth school district in El Paso County to provide this access to its students, joining Colorado Springs School District 11, Harrison School District 2, Academy School District 20, and Calhan School District.

PowerPass grants access to PPLD’s digital resources, like databases, eBooks, and song and movie downloads, all available at ppld.org. Each PowerPass holder can also check out five physical items at a time from any of the 16 PPLD locations or mobile library services.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with PPLD to provide access to Library resources with PowerPass for all D49 students. As a district, we are committed to engaging with parents and the community in literacy improvement efforts. This access will broaden opportunities and eliminate barriers for student learning,” said Stacey Franklin, Coordinator of Literacy Performance for District 49.

Students can also use PowerPass for online access to live tutors and foreign language courses, get help with homework and projects, and to access audiobooks and digital education resources. High school and middle school students can also prepare for their future with practice driving and SAT tests.

“With the addition of D49 to PowerPass, PPLD is now serving more than 10 percent of El Paso County’s population with PowerPass,” said Joanna Nelson Rendon, PPLD’s Director of Young Adult Services. “Our goal is to serve as many students as we can with this program. We look forward to partnering with more public, charter, and private schools over the next few years as PowerPass is an effective way to lay the foundation for a lifelong relationship with the people in our communities.”

Learn more at ppld.org/PowerPass.

PPLD's “Show Your Library Love” bumper sticker campaign and contest welcomes all library lovers to participate. Just stop by one of the 17 PPLD locations (including Mobile Library Services), and ask for your favorite of the three stickers at the Service desk. (Only one sticker per person while supplies last.)

We hope to see stickers throughout El Paso County and to encourage others to seek out PPLD and discover the “Library Love” for themselves!

We’d love for you to post it where everyone can see it: your car, your window, your water bottle, wherever! Take a photo of where you put it, then either share that photo on social media with the hashtag #ILOVEPPLD or email it to Communications@ppld.org to win one of 10 engraved water bottles. One winner will be selected each week.