Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at PPLD’s new Digital Collections platform and NoveList Plus.
You will need a library card that starts with a 4 to access some of the resources on this page outside of a Library location.
We are excited to announce that we recently changed over to a new platform to host our digital history materials. Step into the past. Our Digital Collections makes it easier than ever to explore the history of the Pikes Peak region, whether you are looking to satisfy your casual curiosity or delving deeper into a project.
The collection highlights our region’s rich history with thousands of materials, including historic photos, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, oral history interviews, films, and more. Easily search by key word and material type, or peruse the collections and topics featured on the Digital Collections home page to discover something new!
See what you discover with this historic photographs scavenger hunt (hit the search button in Digital Collections and type your key word. On the left side of the screen, set the Item Type to “Photograph.”):
An aerial photo showing development along I-25
Utes spending time in The Garden of the Gods
A winter scene
A person for whom a local landmark or street is named
Whether you are an avid or casual reader, it’s good to know where you can find quality book recommendations that suit your tastes. NoveList Plus offers exactly that.
Start by choosing what age range you want books for. After that, let your book mood lead the way.
Browse interesting book lists to find books that are “cinematic and world-building" or “seasonal reads.” You can also explore books by genre such as fantasy or historical fiction, or look at lists based on theme, mood, awards won, and more.
Click on any book to read reviews, information about the book, and lists and articles to enhance your reading experience. You will also see helpful details about the book’s themes, mood, style, and author. For added convenience, NoveList Plus tells you whether PPLD has a copy of the book for you to read and if we do, it will take you right to our online catalog where you can check if the item is available, where it is located, and place a hold.
If you have books that you absolutely love, search for them and look at the Read-alikes column on the right side of the page. You might find your next favorite among these books that have something in common with the one you already love.
Art displayed throughout April in East Library Children's Area Homeschoolers can submit one artwork (drawing, painting, sculpture, needlework, etc.) for this non-juried exhibit. For Grades K - 12. Drop off your entry at the East Library Children's Area from Mon., March 17 – Thurs., March 27. You do not need register.
Artwork will be displayed throughout the month of April in the East Library Children's Area. Questions? Contact jfleishhacker@ppld.org.
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is excited to open author applications for the 2025 Mountain of Authors Local Author Showcase! Local authors can apply to be part of this year’s in-person or virtual author showcase. The event will be held on Sat., May 17 at Library 21c. This is an exciting afternoon of networking and connecting with other authors and the public.
Applications will be open from Feb. 10 – March 3. (applications are now closed)
A limited number of applicants will be invited to be part of the in-person author showcase. In-person authors will have a table at the event for networking opportunities and book sales. Authors will be responsible for their own book sales and transactions. Authors not selected for the in-person showcase can be part of our Virtual Author Showcase, where authors will create videos promoting their books to be part of the virtual event.
Learn more about this annual celebration of writing and local literature on our Mountain of Authors page.
Have you ever wondered why East Library isn’t in the eastern part of Colorado Springs? Join us at East Library on Sat., Feb. 1 at 11:30 a.m. for the unveiling of the new When East Was East exhibit and find out! Enjoy an interactive presentation that delves deeper into the exhibit’s stories and introduces Regional History & Genealogy’s new Digital Collections platform.
The exhibit also has an online component as well.
The exhibit uses historic aerial photos from the Steward Commercial Photographs collection to tell the story of the development of northeastern Colorado Springs from the 1950s through the 1980s, when East Library was built. These materials, whose digitization was funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, highlight how East Library once stood at the city's eastern edge — a position that has since shifted.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the region’s history and see how Pikes Peak Library District is preserving the story of our evolving community.
The much-anticipated Grand Reopening for Manitou Springs Library will take place on Fri., Feb. 7 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) staff have been hard at work preparing to move back into the historic Carnegie Library building that had been their original PPLD home since January 2013. Thanks to a colocation agreement, for the past three years the Library resided in the Manitou Arts Center due to accessibility limitations at its original location. A recent renovation project made the building more accessible and ADA compliant so now everyone can visit and enjoy the Library.
Join us for opening remarks starting at 4:30 p.m. followed by an open house with live music, refreshments, and activities from 5 – 6:30 p.m. where you can come in and see the updates.
Manitou Springs Library temporarily closing to prepare for move to newly renovated Carnegie Library building
Published on Fri., Oct. 18, 2024
In preparation for its early 2025 move back to its original location, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will close Manitou Springs Library on Fri., Nov. 1.
Manitou Springs Library moved to its current location in March 2021, after vacating the Carnegie Library building it inhabited due to ADA compliance issues with the historic building. Since then, the Library has been colocated with the Manitou Art Center (MAC).
Over the last three years the City of Manitou Springs and a dedicated local task force have worked diligently to raise the money needed to update the Carnegie Library to comply with today’s accessibility requirements. Funding included support from the Library District and led to the city breaking ground on the renovation project in January 2024. The project is currently expected to be completed in November 2024.
Library users with items checked out at Manitou Springs Library can check for extended due dates through My Account or by calling (719) 531-6333 and selecting 0 for staff assistance.
The book drop will be closed at 5 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 1 and Library users will not be able to return materials to Manitou Springs Library during the closure.
All holds designated for pickup at Manitou Springs Library will be suspended beginning Wed., Oct. 23 and will remain suspended until the Library reopens. Library users can select a different pick-up location and unsuspend holds through My Account or by calling (719) 531-6333 and selecting 0 for staff assistance.
Makerspace equipment will no longer be available at Manitou Springs Library after Thu., Oct. 31. Equipment is available for reservation at our three makerspace locations.
Library users will have access to the Manitou Art Center with their PPLD library card until Fri., Nov. 15.
PPLD will vacate the shared space with the MAC in mid-November. While the Library District’s partnership with the MAC is ending, PPLD is grateful the partnership allowed us to continue to serve the community while the Carnegie building was being renovated to be accessible to all.
The Library District and the City of Manitou Springs are working closely together to organize grand opening activities in early 2025 to celebrate its return to the Library’s historic home in the community.
Library users are encouraged to use this opportunity to visit and explore other Library locations while this relocation is completed.
Manitou Springs Library has Relocated
Published on Sun., Feb. 21, 2021
Uniting Manitou Springs’ library and art center to enrich community
The community of Manitou Springs now can find art, literature, creative studios, meeting spaces, and the vast resources and services of the public library all one place! Thanks to a new co-location partnership, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has relocated Manitou Springs Library to the Manitou Art Center (MAC). Building upon a decade of trust and cooperation, PPLD and the MAC transformed the historic building at 515 Manitou Avenue to become a shared space that extends more benefits to local artists, Library cardholders, and the greater community. PPLD can offer more than traditional library resources and services – and in a way that’s accessible – to all in Manitou Springs. The MAC will join us in welcoming more residents to learn, connect, create, and tinker with their already extensive offering of equipment and creative spaces. Manitou Springs Library officially opened inside of the MAC on Fri., March 5, 2021. Patrons can now safely browse the collection, speak with a librarian, book a computer session, or use the fax, scan, and copier machine. Curbside services are also available at the new co-location.
Get your limited-edition library card while supplies last!
Congratulations to artist Susan Odiam of Manitou Springs! Her original creation will be featured on our limited-edition card to celebrate the relocation of Manitou Springs Library to the MAC.
“We’re thrilled to pair our physical collection and other library services with an organization so focused on serving residents of Manitou Springs,” said PPLD Chief Librarian and CEO John Spears. “Their facilities will immeasurably enhance what we can provide to the local community.” As the shared spaces expand in the future, Manitou Springs Library and the MAC will offer broader access to on-site meeting rooms, computer labs, makerspaces, art studios, and workforce development opportunities. The new co-location partners look forward to a future with more synergy, right in the heart of Manitou Springs, to support people’s aspirations, foster creativity and innovation, and boost prosperity. “We’re excited to see what other long-term benefits arise from this venture, like increasing access to the MAC and expanding PPLD opportunities in Manitou Springs,” said MAC Executive Director Natalie Johnson. “We will leverage each other’s strengths of service.” PPLD’s departure from the historic Carnegie building provides the City of Manitou Springs with necessary time to plan for its future, while still allowing the Library to adequately serve the public right now. PPLD’s leadership welcomes the opportunity to work with the City and return to the historic Carnegie building – if an expansion or facility improvements allow the Library to serve residents of all abilities, and everyone also has the opportunity to take advantage of other common services across El Paso County like access to meeting and study rooms, makerspaces, and more. In the meantime, PPLD and the MAC looks forward to a strong co-location partnership so both can best serve the community now and into the foreseeable future. It’s beneficial for PPLD cardholders, MAC members, local artists, community partners, taxpayers, and the local economy. “This is what can happen when we unite to find ways to better serve our community regardless of the circumstances,” shared Andy Vick, Executive Director for the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region. “I applaud Pikes Peak Library District and the Manitou Art Center for their collaboration, and I hope other organizations are inspired to move beyond traditional community partnerships and consider embracing the shared-space model that capitalizes on existing resources and plays to each other’s strengths.” “Such alliances can lead to more people and businesses flourishing, which is what we need to strengthen the fabric of our communities for years to come.”
It has been over a decade since Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) website launched. Since then, the site has been updated as needed within the constraints of its build. We are excited to announce that on Mon., Jan. 13, we will launch a newly designed website! The new website offers access to the same great services and resources you currently enjoy, now with an improved user experience and an updated look. Don’t worry, our URL is not changing, so you will still find us at PPLD.org.
When you visit the new homepage, you will find your Library essentials. Find information about highlighted programs and services in the improved What’s New section. Below that, find links to our catalog, library card information, Library locations, and room reservations.
Easily find information on accessibility, Library hours and locations, the catalog, and your Library account with new links at the top of every web page. We are also thrilled to roll out an all-new accessibility and translation tool (under Translate) at the top of the page that allows you to:
Translate each page into the language of your choosing
Change the background or font color
Have text read to you
Increase text size
Enable a magnifying glass or reading ruler
Change the website font
...and more
We reimagined the menu at the top of the page as well. Each tab now includes a link where you can get help from a librarian, a link to our library card page, and curated links to pages related to the tab name. Here’s a preview!
Under Books & More, you will find things like:
Information about borrowing books, games, music, movies, and other materials
Access to print and digital newspapers
Details about makerspace and studio equipment
Pikes Peak Culture Pass information
Upcoming Book Groups at the Library
Check Events & Happenings for:
Our program calendar (with a new search experience to help you find the programs you want)
A list of major annual programs
Explore Research & Learn to discover:
All of PPLD’s databases (which include both academic sources and useful tools for career searching, hobbies, book recommendations, and more)
Pages of resources organized by topic (from art and art history to Colorado to college and business, and beyond)
Our Regional History & Genealogy collection (which includes awesome historic photos from our region)
Online learning
In-person classes at the Library
Educational resources for children
Homeschool resources
Adult learning opportunities
Click the Using the Library tab to find:
Information grouped by age group (kids, tweens, teens, adults, seniors)
Library location information
Our Mobile Library Services schedule and information
Room reservations
Details on using computers, printers, makerspaces, and studios
Interlibrary loan and borrowing materials
Community resources
PowerPass
Our dedicated web team has been hard at work building and testing the website over the past year and can’t wait for you to start using it.
Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at CultureGrams and Peterson’s Test Prep.
You will need a library card that starts with a 4 to access some of the resources on this page outside of a Library location.
CultureGrams Online
What holidays do people celebrate in Nigeria? What recipes are very Colorado? What famous person came from Saskatchewan? Satisfy your cultural curiosity or explore the world from home with CultureGrams Online. This colorful database includes in-depth information about states, provinces, and countries. The database is user-friendly and laid out in a way that makes it easy to enjoy on your own or with any curious young people in your life.
On the map, click the place you want to learn about, and off you go! Each entry includes basic information such as climate, wildlife, geography, and economics, or you can read up on famous people, significant history, and other interesting cultural notes.
Country pages include infographics and audio clips of national anthems or other cultural sounds. You will also find helpful information on cultural gestures, basic greetings (which you can listen to), and other details.
As a fun bonus, U.S. state and Canadian province entries include recipes!
Did we mention that there is a kids’ section? Kids will enjoy additional information about schools, holidays, what games and sports people play, what life is like for children, and other details they can relate to.
Peterson’s Test Prep
You might be aware that Peterson’s Test Prep supports students, but do you know about its uses outside of academics? This resource helps you achieve both your academic and career goals.
Learn key skills in bookkeeping and cosmetology, or find the study guides you need for vocational tests in postal work, teaching, real estate, the food industry, emergency services, law enforcement, and other careers. Additionally, there are courses where you can brush up on your foundational computer, science, math, reading, and writing skills for work. If your employer uses ACT Workkeys tests, you can also find study guides for those here.
English language learners and people preparing for the U.S. Citizenship test will also find helpful study guides.
If you are on a job hunt, check out the career advice, online resume, and job searching tools
For students, Peterson’s Test Prep offers study guides for a variety of school subjects (including Advanced Placement), college test prep guides, and graduate school test guides (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and others). Other handy tools include school search, scholarship search, and financial aid information.
With taxes due on Tue., April 15, 2025, tax time is right around the corner. Save yourself a headache – don't wait until the last minute! Your Library has everything you need to file on time, including live tax preparation help (by appointment only) provided through our partners.
Tax Assistance at PPLD
Get help preparing and filing your tax returns! AARP Foundation Tax-Aide & VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) (geared towards low- to moderate-income taxpayers) offer free tax preparation services on-site at four Library locations, thanks to a team of IRS-certified volunteers.
Free Tax preparation services will be at the following Library locations from Jan. 29 through April 12 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
(open to people of all ages and income levels)
Library 21c – Feb. 4 - April 10
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Call (719) 235-6757 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt beginning Wed., Jan. 15 to make an appointment.
Fountain Library – Jan. 29 - April 12
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 1, 15, and 22
March 1, 15, 29
April 5 and 12
Call (719) 508-2629 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt beginning Sun., Jan. 12 to make an appointment.
Sand Creek Library – Feb. 6 - April 10
Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Call (719) 203-1205 or visit cotaxaide.org/appt starting Wed., Jan.15 to make an appointment.
VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program – Pikes Peak United Way
(for individuals who earned less than $67,000 in 2024)
High Prairie Library
Sat., Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sat., March 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sat., April 5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call 2-1-1 on or after Wed., Jan. 22 to make an appointment.
Tax Documents and Resources
Although Library staff cannot give tax advice, our Tax Resources Subject Guide is here to help you file on time. Find federal, Colorado, and other state tax forms, tax assistance, FAQs for accessing your IRS account information, and other useful information. Please note that our libraries do not stock federal or state tax forms or booklets, but you can print your forms using Library computers.
Where can you see world-class athletes train for their sport? At the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (CSOPTC), of course! The center, located right here in El Paso County, is the flagship training center for over 10,000 Team USA athletes each year. The center provides elite facilities for multiple sports, housing, dining, and cutting-edge sports medicine and sports science facilities.
Pikes Peak Library District offers library cardholders an inside look into this exceptional facility. Check out a Pikes Peak Culture Pass and get a first-hand look at where Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls in various sports train to be selected to represent the United States as a part of Team USA. Take a guided tour of the facility, where you will see the strength and conditioning gym, aquatics center, wrestling gym, multi-purpose sport centers, and more. You may even catch some resident athletes training during your visit!
The center trains athletes in cycling, figure skating, swimming, shooting, track and field, boxing, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, and other competitive sports. With so many Team USA athletes living, training, and working in Colorado Springs, the training center’s participation in the Culture Pass program offers a great opportunity to see elite-level training facilities filled with athletes preparing for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is exciting to know that some of the world’s greatest have trained at the CSOPTC. From Michael Phelps to one Team USA’s newest gold medalists, Freestyle Wrestler Amit Elor, the OPTC is your front row seat to the Olympic & Paralympic Movement.
Visit ppld.org/culturepass to get your no-cost pass to witness our nation’s best athletes aspire to take the world stage. For more information about visiting the CSOPTC visit teamusa.com.
Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at Mango Languages and CustomGuide.
You will need a library card that starts with a 4 to access some of the resources on this page outside of a Library location.
Mango Languages
If you plan to travel out of country, are studying a language on your own or as a class, or want stronger English language skills, give yourself a boost with lessons from Mango Languages. This handy tool offers a selection of 70 languages to choose from, including English as a Second Language options for speakers of 21 different languages.
Work your way through micro lessons where you can hear and practice new vocabulary and grammar patterns. Lessons also include notes on grammar and culture in between vocabulary exercises to help you learn your new language.
With daily reviews, lesson recaps, and reading and listening challenges, this platform is designed to help you retain more of what you learn.
CustomGuide
Choose from a wide selection of online courses to help you further develop your professional skills. CustomGuide (formerly Learn on Demand) takes a more active approach to your skills development through interactive lessons instead of training videos for stronger learning results.
If you are a first-time user, you will need to create an account to get started. From there, you can complete short online courses related to:
Business Skills (accounts and financing, communication, and professional development)
Career Development (job hunting, personal branding, career coaching, and more)
Compliance & Safety (drugs and alcohol, Human Resources compliance, cybersecurity, and more)
Customer Service
Diversity & Inclusion (bias awareness, diversity basics, and diversity leadership)
Google (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Meet, and more)
Human Resources
Leadership & Management
Microsoft (Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and more)
Sales & Marketing
Technology (computer basics, Mac, and software)
Training (authoring software, instructional design, and training trainers)
Wellness (mental health, personal growth, work-life balance, and more)
Before you start a course, you can view how long it will take to complete. Do not be put off if it says it will take an hour or more to finish. Each course is broken down into a series of short lessons that you can start and stop at any time. Do a quick lesson while you wait for your toast to pop up in the morning or any time you find a few minutes of downtime.
When you click on a course, you will see a preview of what you will learn in each lesson. Each has a pre-assessment where you can test yourself on what you already know, an interactive lesson, and a post-assessment for you to test what you learned. With no time limits and the flexibility to start and stop whenever you want, you will learn at your own pace.
