Join Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) as we honor Colorado Springs classical and jazz music legend and philanthropist Peggy Shivers with a portrait unveiling and appreciation reception.  

The reception will be the grand unveiling of her portrait, painted by Kevin Johnson, at its permanent home at Library 21c. Register here.

Tue., June 20 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. 

Peggy Shivers and the late Clarence Shivers created the Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District, which supports the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection at PPLD. The fund creates educational and cultural opportunities for young people through scholarships and programming. It also provides opportunities for our community to celebrate culture, history, and the arts.

Classical Music Live for kids is coming to East Library on Wed., June 14 at 9:30 a.m.! Families with children ages 2 – 12 will enjoy live music and opportunities to learn about classical music from professionals. Colorado College Summer Music Festival Fellows, pre-professional musicians from around the world will perform classical music pieces from their current study. There will be time to ask questions and visit with the fellows.

The musicians will also give a preview of the free Children’s Concert, Sergei Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf, which will take place in the Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College on Thu., June 15 at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For kids ages 2 – 12 with their families.

The concerts at Colorado College on Thu., June 15 are free, but tickets are required. Visit their website to reserve tickets. 

Pikes Peak Children's Museum Discount Day is cancelled

The Pikes Peak Children's Museum has let us know that they won't be able to be open on Fri., June 30 for the planned discount day. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

Library card holders can enjoy discounted admission at several local attractions this summer thanks to the Pikes Peak Culture Pass program. Grab your PPLD library card and take advantage of special discounted admission to several cultural attractions in the Pikes Peak region!

During Culture Pass Discount Days, between June 14 and August 4, library cardholders can visit a different Culture Pass partner for special discounted admission by simply showing their library card or card number.

Our mobile library will be at each Discount Days event in the morning. Join us for a special craft activity, a game, or story time. You can also sign up for a library card for discounted admission and check out materials while you’re there.

We are excited to team up with our Culture Pass partners so families can experience many of the great cultural attractions that are right in our backyard. With a new place to visit each week there’s something for everyone, and it can even count towards an activity for Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado. 

Weekly Culture Pass Discount Days Schedule 

Be sure to check Culture Pass partner websites for hours of operation and to plan your visit. 

The Culture Pass Program recently added two new local attractions, the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum and US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, and now offers 10 local attractions in El Paso County and Denver for library cardholders to visit by checking out a no-cost pass. Learn more and get started at ppld.org/culturepass. 

Juneteenth, occurring annually on June 19, honors the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. On that date, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and freed enslaved people who had not been liberated following President Abraham Lincoln’s ruling. Celebrate this important history with the Library!  

Programs 

• Hand fans for Juneteenth  
  Celebrate Juneteenth with the Library by picking up a hand fan to keep you cool and commemorate this celebratory American holiday.
• Juneteenth Family Storytime
  Sat., June 17 from 2pm – 2:30 p.m. – Cheyenne Mountain Library
• Take and Make: Juneteenth Recipe Postcards  
  Celebrate Juneteenth by picking up recipe cards at your favorite PPLD location! Recipes come from books in our collection and from the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
• Rocky Mountain Wa Shonaji Quilt Guild Trunk Show 
  Join the Rocky Mountain Wa Shonaji Quilt Guild for an informative program on the traditions of African American quilting. Registration required. Intended for ages 18+. – Sat., June 24 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Penrose Library

Booklists

• Children’s booklist

Resources

• Basic Search - Gale In Context: U.S. History
  Use the search word “Juneteenth” to explore the history of this holiday. 
• Basic Search: EBSCOhost  (available for in-library use, or sign in with your library card if the card number starts with a 4)
  Use the search word “Juneteenth” to find articles about Juneteenth.   
• Gale in Context Elementary for kids
  Elementary students and homeschoolers can use the search term “Juneteenth” to learn more about this historic holiday.

Websites

• Lifetime Biography of Opal Lee for adults
  Watch this Lifetime video and learn about Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth.
• Kids activities for Juneteenth
  Discover free activities and lesson plans for kids exploring different elements of Juneteenth.
• Happy Toddler Playtime
  Enjoy a selection of fun, easy crafts and activities for kids.
• Juneteenth for Kids video
  Kids will enjoy this video from Seed of Melanin Kids! exploring history in an accessible, fun way. 

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) recognizes the LGBTQIA+ community with Pride Month in June. Join us in celebrating individuality, diversity, and inclusion throughout the Pikes Peak region with programming and resources on this page. Explore booklists, LGBTQIA+ history, Library programming, and more.

Programs

• Pride Flag Painting
  Show your LGBTQIA+ Pride! During this program you will paint a flag of Colorado with your choice of Pride flag colors on a canvas board. We'll include images of Pride flags you can reference!
  • Sat., June 3, 2 p.m. – Fountain Library
  • Wed., June 7,    2:30 p.m. – Rockrimmon Library
  • Fri., June 9, 2 p.m. – Ruth Holley Library
  • Tue., June 13,    2 p.m. – Penrose Library
  • Mon., June 26, 10:30 a.m. – Cheyenne Mountain Library
  • Wed., June 28, 5 p.m. – Sand Creek Library
     
• Rainbow Storytime            
  Join us in celebrating inclusion, diversity, and positivity at this interactive storytime for Pride Month. All ages are welcome; stories are geared towards preschool-aged children and older. Registration required.
  • Thu., June 8 from 10 – 10:30 a.m. – Library 21c 
  • Fri., June 9 from 10:30 – 11 a.m. – Ruth Holley Library 
  • Sat., June 10 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Manitou Springs Library
  • Mon., June 12 from 2 – 2:30 p.m. – Monument Library
  • Fri., June 16 from 10:30 - 11 a.m. – Penrose Library
  • Sat., June 24 from 2 – 2:30 p.m. – Cheyenne Mountain Library
  • Sat., June 24 from 11 a.m. - noon – East Library
  • Fri., June 30 from 10:30 - 11 a.m. – Penrose Library
     
• Patrons of Influence: El Paso County’s Diverse Voices 
  The Library and Citizen-Powered Media celebrate local leaders who are providing positive influences in the areas of culture, business, and leadership in El Paso County. Panelists will discuss their shared interest and experiences on how organizations and communities are strengthened by diverse voices. 
  
  There will be a Question and Answer session following the panel discussion.           
  
  This is an in-person event. Registration is not required but strongly recommended. There is a Livestream option for this event (registration required).
  • In-person at Penrose Library: Wed., June 14 from 10 – 11 a.m.
  • Register here for the livestream option. 

Virtual Teen Programs 

• Teen Tech: Ziggy Stardust 3D Designed Earrings - Learn basic 3D modeling and celebrate bisexual icon David Bowie with a 3D-modeled Ziggy Stardust earring. 
  

   
   

• Teens Read: Books for Pride  
  Discover books centered around Pride in this video.   
  

Booklists 

• Young adult books on the Libby app and Overdrive website 
• Picture books for kids 

Regional History and Genealogy Resources 

• The Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival Records (archival collection MSS 0342) 

  Colorado Springs has a fascinating and often tumultuous history with the LGBTQIA+ community. When the Lavender Film Festival began in 2000, it was the only LGBTQIA+ film festival in the state of Colorado. The material in this collection provides valuable insight into this groundbreaking event.

  The collection includes VHS tapes and DVDs of the films shown at the festival. Newspaper clippings provide a glimpse at how the event was promoted and, in turn, viewed by the local community. The opening remarks of the event give us an understanding about why the organizers felt the festival would help bring awareness and educate people about LGBTQIA+ issues and filmmaking. Various budgets and meeting minutes provide a detailed look into the work involved in bringing this innovative event to the community. 

• Colorado Springs Pride Center Records (archival collection MSS 0461) 

  The Colorado Springs Pride Center was one of the oldest LGBTQIA+ community centers in the United States. Founded in 1978, the Center offered assistance and support programs to people across the Pikes Peak region. In 2014 alone, more than 8,400 people contacted the Center for help. Topics covered in this collection include – but are not limited to – Amendment 2, marriage, hate crimes, local news, and legal cases. News releases, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks show the highs and lows of what was happening in the community. This nonprofit organization served as a much-needed medium for marginalized voices in the Pikes Peak region.

The Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has selected the 2023 recipients of the Frank Waters Award and the Golden Quill Award. These literary awards will be presented at a luncheon on Sat., June 3 at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. The luncheon is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased through the Friends of the PPLD website.  

The 2023 Frank Waters Award will be presented to a husband-and-wife duo who have authored dozens of books together, W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear. The award recognizes excellence in writing that explores the spirit of the West through people, culture, and landscape.  

Author Barbara Nickless, known for writing best-selling crime novels, will be presented with the 2023 Golden Quill Award. This literary award honors local authors who exhibit excellence in writing and storytelling. 

For the first time, the Friends will also give the Best Friend Award to music legend and philanthropist Peggy Shivers, who has been a longtime, dedicated supporter of the Library District, including donating a large collection of books by Black authors and about Black history to its collection.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends, which supports Library programming and needs.  

Join Pikes Peak Library District as we welcome UCCS Theatreworks for Free-For-All PERICLES, directed by Max Shulman. 

In May, June, and July of 2023, Free-For-All shares a 75-minute PERICLES, a fast-paced journey of heroes, villains, shipwrecks, pirates, jousting, and more in a sweeping adventure that was Shakespeare's most popular play for over 100 years!

• Fri., May 19 at 6:30 p.m. | Black Forest Community Church »
• Fri., June 2 at 5 p.m. | Bancroft Park »
• Sat., June 10 at 2 p.m. | Meadows Park » 
• Sat., June 17 at 11 a.m. | The Hall at PPLD »
• Fri., June 23 at 5 p.m. | Manitou Springs Memorial Park » 
• Sat., July 1 at 10:30 a.m. | George Fellows Park »

After a unanimous vote during a special public board session on Tuesday afternoon, April 4, Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) Board of Trustees appointed Chief Librarian and CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs as the permanent head of the Library District. Shainidze-Krebs officially assumes the role of chief librarian and CEO on Mon., April 24.

Since April 1, 2022, Shainidze-Krebs has operated as the chief librarian and chief executive officer for the Library District after the departure of John Spears, who held the title for six years. Prior to her appointment, Shainidze-Krebs was the deputy chief librarian and chief public services officer where she led library services before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. She started her career with PPLD in 2007 in the adult education department as a part-time ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor. Years later, she became the director of adult education where she expanded public services for those seeking education and job opportunities to improve their lives.  

“Teona Shainidze-Krebs has been a staunch leader over the past year while serving as the Chief Librarian,” said Aaron Salt, president of PPLD’s Board of Trustees. “She has upheld our core values and gone beyond previous administrations to promote neutrality, while ensuring all patrons are welcome. Mrs. Shainidze-Krebs has worked diligently to build community partnerships and engage our civic leaders. The PPLD Board of Trustees is excited to appoint Teona to lead our organization for years to come.”

“The Library gives me a profound sense of pride in this country. Not every community in the world has the same tools and resources to help people better their lives and adjust to the circumstances thrown their way,” said Shainidze-Krebs. “However, our local libraries are that space where people can choose resources and tools to connect them to opportunities that allow them to thrive. I am honored to lead the PPLD staff toward the betterment of our community.”  

Shainidze-Krebs is currently pursuing her master's degree in library science from Emporia State University and is expected to graduate later this year.  She already holds a B.A. in foreign language (English), along with two master’s degrees – one in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and another in communication. Shainidze-Krebs speaks Georgian, Russian, and English. 

Since the end of April 2023, the OverDrive company has discontinued their OverDrive app and has transitioned to the Libby app. Everyone who uses the OverDrive app on mobile devices will need to transition to Libby in order to continue accessing eBooks, eMagazines, and eAudiobooks. Don't worry, switching is easy (and you'll even be able to keep your book wish lists from OverDrive)! 

Click here to learn more about the transition to Libby

What will be the same:

• The OverDrive website will still be available
• Most of the content in Libby is the same as in OverDrive
• Your loans and holds will transfer to Libby
• Your wish list can be imported to Libby
• Loan periods are the same in Libby as in OverDrive
• You will still get hold notifications in Libby

What to be aware of:

• Your reading history from the OverDrive app will not transfer to Libby
• Reading progress for your current loans will not transfer to Libby
• You can search for titles not yet in PPLD's collection and indicate your interest using the Notify Me feature.
• At the end of April, OverDrive discontinued the "Recommend to Library" feature. This was the method that allowed users one purchase request to the library each month. 
  This feature has been replaced with Notify Me tags in Libby. Users may tag any items of interest, to be notified if the library purchases the title. When notified, users may place a hold on the item.

Libby for Kindle

• Learn how to install Libby on a Kindle Fire here.

Download Libby App

• Libby, by OverDrive - on Google Play for Android
• Libby, by OverDrive - on the App Store for Iphones/Ipads

Anime Fan Fest 2023 will highlight programs happening at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) to celebrate the anime and manga fandom! Check out our social media for recommendations and resource highlights, or look below for more information about in-person programs at different Library locations. Scroll to the bottom of this page for some featured videos from PPLD's YouTube channel.

Origami Bookmark

All locations will have a special Anime Fan Fest Take and Make available for teens. The Take and Make is a simple Origami Bookmark. Available while supplies last.

• link to instructions PDF - T&M - origami.pdf

Anime Fan Fest Programs

Celebrate Anime Fan Fest at your local library! Activities vary by location; see links below for more information.

Light-Up Cosplay Bracelet Cuffs

• Tues., April 4 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. at Rockrimmon Library
• Wed., April 12 from 4 - 5:00 p.m. at Manitou Springs Library
• Fri., April 28 from 2 - 4:00 p.m. at Fountain Library

Manga/Comic Gift Bags and Button Making 

• Fri., April 7 from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Cheyenne Mountain Library
• Sat., April 22 from 2 - 3 p.m. at Sand Creek Library

Teen Anime Club

• Mon., April 10 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Library 21c
• Thur., April 20 from 4 - 5 p.m. at Rockrimmon Library

Anime Fan Fest: Microwave Mochi

Have you ever wanted to try making mochi but been intimidated by the long process? Today, we're testing out a microwave daifuku mochi recipe from Namiko Chen's Just One Cookbook! You can find her written instructions here.

Learn To Draw Miyazaki Sidekicks

Learn to draw your favorite Miyazaki sidekicks with the help of Penrose Library's very own Young Adult Librarian, Mikaela!

Note: The characters in this lesson are all the intellectual property of Studio Ghibli.

Make Your Own Sailor Moon Tiara

Find out how to make your own budget-friendly Sailor Moon Tiara with Annie!
Note: The costume designs in this video are all intellectual property of Naoko Takeuchi.