Explore heritage and culture this September with Pikes Peak Library District. On this page, discover resources, web links, and booklists for some of the nationally recognized holidays and heritage months. Explore Patriot Day, Suicide Prevention Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Patriot Day 

On September 11, 2001, the United States was changed forever when terrorist attacks targeting the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the White House took the lives of 2,977 people. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has compiled a list of books and other resources about the anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.  

Booklist:

• First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA mission to Avenge 9/11 by Toby Harden
• On That Day: The Definitive Timeline of 9/11 by William Arkin
• 9/11: One Day in America by National Geographic (DVD)
• America after 9/11 (DVD)    
• Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 by Joseph Pfeifer  
• Countdown Bin Laden: The Untold Story of the 247-day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice by Chris Wallace  
• The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral history of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff  
• Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 by Mitchell Zuckoff

PPLD Resources:

Freegal  

• Patriot Day – Remember 9/11 (Music playlist)

Hoopla 

• 9/11: Inside Air Force One (Documentary)  
• 9/11: The Pentagon (Documentary)  
• 9/11: The Attack That Shook the World (eBook)  
• 9/11: I Was There (Documentary)

Kanopy

• Generation 9/11 (Documentary)  
• Failing to Connect the Dots (Documentary)  
• What Happened on September 11 (Documentary)  
• The Second Day (Documentary)

Website Links:

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities for students, teachers, families, and the public.  

Library of Congress

In this collection from the Library of Congress, you will find historic articles, photos, book suggestions, archived websites, and more showing how people across the nation responded to the devastation of 9/11.  

September 11 Digital Archive 

The September 11 Digital Archive uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath. The Archive contains more than 150,000 digital items, including emails and other electronic communications, first-hand stories, and digital images.

National Archives – Remembering 9/11

Discover individual moments telling the story of 9/11 through speeches, articles and blogs, a calendar of events, and more, curated by the National Archives. 

Suicide Prevention Month 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Below, find a curated list of websites, Library resources, and books to raise awareness and for support.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for support. 

If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can use a live text chat option with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org. 

Booklists:

• Resources for Parents & Children booklist
• Adult eBook list on OverDrive/Libby 

PPLD Resources: 

Tough Topics guide for teens – Mental Health and Suicide 
The resources in the Tough Topics guide are organized into a page for youth seeking support, as well as for parents and caregivers.

Community Resources at PPLD
If you find yourself in a difficult situation and aren’t sure where to turn, you are not alone. Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources information across the Library District. Our Community Resources Specialists are here to help you navigate and connect with services by providing referrals and information to get the help you need for your specific situation. Please note that these are not mental health services. 

Psychology & Behavioral Sciences database
This database contains full text information from more than 560 journals. It covers topics on emotional and behavioral characteristics, psychiatry and psychology, mental processes, anthropology, and observational and experimental methods. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.) 

Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources
Discover our subject guide filled with mental and behavioral health resources available in El Paso County. 

Websites

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention
The mission of Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership is to unite the community in addressing suicide in the Pikes Peak region through education, intervention, and postvention.

Colorado Crisis Services
Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential, and immediate support from trained professionals and peer specialists, available 24/7/365 by calling (844)493-8255 or texting TALK to 38255

Colorado Department of Public Health Resource Page 
Find Colorado mental health support information, how suicide impacts people in Colorado, suicide prevention, and resources to support you or your loved ones.

Weekends of Hope 
Throughout September, mental health advocates, organizations and community members nationwide come together to promote suicide prevention awareness. On this page, you will discover events from El Paso County Public Health and organizations across the community happening in September. 

Children’s Hospital Colorado: Why you should talk to kids about suicide, from the Children’s Hospital Colorado
This article from Children’s Hospital Colorado provides a parent and caregiver guide for identifying depression and talking to teens about mental health and suicide.

Children’s Hospital Colorado: Teen Suicide Prevention: Teaching Kids to Ask
Information provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado for parents and caregivers advising on warning signs for suicide among teens and discussing ways to empower teens with their mental health.

Child Mind Institute: Suicide and Self-Harm
Information about suicide prevention from the Child Mind Institute for parents and caregivers. 

National Alliance on Mental Health: Navigating through a mental health crisis guide
Learn about navigating mental health crisis in this informative guide by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Hispanic Heritage Month 

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latin Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Below are resources where you can learn about and explore this heritage. 

Booklists

OverDrive and Libby
Use the Libby app or visit OverDrive’s website to browse this Hispanic Heritage booklist filled with eBooks and eAudiobooks for all ages. 

PPLD Resources

Hoopla
Discover music albums and eBooks for all ages by Hispanic creators or celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture on Hoopla. Download the app or use it in your web browser.

Kanopy films
Explore a variety of films and documentaries celebrating Hispanic heritage, culture, and creators in this curated Kanopy collection. You must set up a free Kanopy account to view. 

Spanish Language Materials

• Children's Materials in Spanish at PPLD
• OverDrive and Libby 

Reference Books and Magazines

• 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 our Regional History & Genealogy department (located at Penrose Library) or search our catalog! Note that many of the above titles are only available at our Regional History & Genealogy department.

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 Pioneers Museum.  

National Archives – Hispanic Heritage Month
Explore Hispanic Heritage Month with articles, online exhibits and resources, Presidential Libraries, and other resources from the National Archives.

National Today – Hispanic Heritage Month
Read the history of Hispanic Heritage Month as a nationally recognized celebration, find information about traditions across the U.S., and find fun highlights.

History.com
This overview of Hispanic Heritage Month includes the history of this national celebration, and offers supplemental videos, articles, and images for you to explore.

Colorado Experience 
Watch Justicia Y Libertad from Rocky Mountain PBS. 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.

¡Colorín Colorado! Young Adult Booklists
Discover young adult booklists curated by ¡Colorín Colorado! featuring books on topics like immigration, growing up, and personal life stories, as well as booklists by genre.

¡Colorín Colorado! Children’s Booklists
Discover children’s booklists curated by ¡Colorín Colorado! featuring books about growing up Latino, histories and biographies, family stories, cultural traditions and holidays, and other topics.

Ballet Folklórico México Danza – Jalisco (San Franscisco Ethnic Dance Festival 2016
Watch as Ballet Folklórico México Danza brings Hispanic dances from Mexico to life in this festive video. 

PBS Kids Children’s Booklist
Find a list of picture books for children exploring Hispanic and Latinx heritage and culture curated by PBS Kids. 

Excitement is in the air as Space Foundation Discovery Center welcomes back visitors through the Pikes Peak Library District's (PPLD) Culture Pass program. After a highly anticipated $3.5 million expansion and renovation, this hands-on, interactive space and science center is now more captivating than ever. With new exhibits and engaging activities, the Discovery Center is poised to inspire and prepare the next generation of explorers and innovators right here in Colorado Springs. It is one of the great local attractions that PPLD library cardholders can check out no-cost entry passes for through the Pikes Peak Culture Pass program.

During its grand reopening in June, the Discovery Center unveiled eight new exhibits designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Highlights include the Drone Zone and the Boeing Additive Manufacturing Space Laboratory, where visitors can explore cutting-edge technologies. The Lockheed Martin Mars Robotics Laboratory has been redesigned to offer a fresh perspective on Mars exploration, and the Northrop Grumman Science Center now features the remarkable Science On a Sphere® display system, providing a dynamic view of our planet and beyond. 

Space Foundation remains dedicated to advancing science, technology, engineering, art, and math (also known as STEAM) education and fostering innovation. Now in its 12th year, their Discovery Center continues to be a hub where students, educators, and the broader community can celebrate the wonders of space, science, and technology. This commitment aligns perfectly with PPLD’s mission to enrich lives through learning and discovery. 

The collaboration between the Library District and Space Foundation has flourished, particularly through homeschool science programs. Last winter and spring, the Discovery Center hosted two well-received programs at East Library. These programs, offered at no cost to the Library, featured hands-on activities and knowledgeable educators and left a lasting impression on homeschool families. 

In addition to these programs, Space Foundation Discovery Center provided the Library District with a limited collection of Family Stargazing backpacks, available for checkout. These interactive kits include a family pass to Space Foundation Discovery Center, making it easier for families to explore space concepts together. The backpacks have been incredibly popular, further cementing the Library's role in supporting space education in El Paso County. 

Space Foundation Discovery Center also hosts Summer of Discovery continuing every Saturday through Aug. 31, featuring special programs, workshops, and events that explore the mysteries beyond our solar system. Pikes Peak Library District was thrilled to participate in one of the Saturday sessions to help connect visitors with the wonders of space. 

PPLD connects library cardholders with this local attraction through the Pikes Peak Culture Pass program.  

Dr. Terry Bramschreiber, Director of Space Foundation Discovery Center & Accreditation, emphasized the importance of the Culture Pass program: “The partnership with Pikes Peak Library District's Cultural Pass program is important as it provides broader community access and inspires a passion for STEAM learning. This collaboration ensures that more individuals can engage with innovative educational experiences at Space Foundation Discovery Center.” 

Space Foundation Discovery Center is one of 12 Culture Pass partners in the Pikes Peak region and the Denver area that you can explore using your PPLD library card. Check out a no-cost Culture Pass and enjoy your time exploring this newly renovated and expanded cultural attraction today! 

Short stories and poems contain layers of depth and meaning. Casual readers may enjoy the emotions and concepts explored, while literary scholars and enthusiasts can take deeper dives into themes, academic interpretations, and even examinations of writers’ bodies of work. No matter which type of reader you are, there is a lot to explore in the Literary Reference Center and the Poetry & Short Story Reference Center. Use your PPLD library card to access these databases to explore full text poems and stories, articles, and author information for thousands of classic and contemporary writers. Students will also find these databases useful.  

The Literary Reference Center offers thousands of synopses, critical essays, book reviews, literary journals, and author biographies covering work from all genres and time periods. For high school and college students, the Research Guide tab on the Literary Reference Center home page is a useful tool where you can find handouts and guides to assist with research steps, essay organization, developing thesis statements, and more. You will also find full-text classical novels, short stories, and poems that you can read.  

In the Poetry & Short Story Reference Center, you will find thousands of full-text classic and contemporary poems and short stories. Each poem or short story includes information such as author details, poetic form, themes, techniques used, literary genre and movement, subject, and other key information. Essays, reviews, analyses, and author biographies in this database allow you to explore these and other works more in-depth. Additionally, you can discover high-quality videos and audio recordings from the Academy of American Poets. For educators, there is an extensive selection of lesson plans to help bring these literary works into your classroom.  

Access these databases at any Pikes Peak Library District location, or El Paso County residents can access remotely from anywhere (must have a resident library card, which starts with a 4).  

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have fallen in service to our country. It was originally called Decoration Day from the tradition of decorating graves of the fallen with flowers, wreaths, and flags. While it was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the service of Civil War soldiers, after World War I it was expanded to honor those who had died serving the U.S. in any war. Congress designated the last Monday of May as Memorial Day as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1971.

Booklists

• Honoring Our Military booklist (Overdrive/Libby)

PPLD Resources

Books

Books about the military can be found in our nonfiction and juvenile nonfiction sections. Look for these call numbers to find where these books are located:

• 355 – Military Science
• 623 – Military Engineering
• 973 – U.S. History
• Gale In Context: Elementary: Memorial Day
  Explore facts and history about Memorial Day with the kids in your life. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.)
• Gale In Context: U.S. History: Memorial Day
  Experience Memorial Day in new ways through videos, articles, biographies, images, and more in this history database. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.)

Websites

• Memorial Day (Visit Colorado Springs)
  Find out about Memorial Day events and activities coming up in Colorado Springs and the surrounding area.
• 9 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day (History Channel)
  What do modern Memorial Day celebrations have in common with ancient traditions? Who organized one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations? What town was the real birthplace of Memorial Day? Read this article to learn more! 
• Celebrating America’s Freedoms (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
  Explore the origins of Memorial Day and find out how different states celebrate.
• The History of Memorial Day (PBS)
  Learn about the origins of Memorial Day, and visit the Wall of Remembrance to share memories about service members in your life or view memories left by others. 
• Memorial Day: A Commemoration (National Archives)
  View videos, articles and blogs, and more about Memorial Day from the National Archives.
• The WWI Origins of the Poppy as a Remembrance Symbol (History Channel)
  The poppy hasn’t always been a symbol of remembrance. Learn the WWI origins of this well-recognized symbol.  

Free Comic Book Day on Sat., May 4 wasn’t the only way for you to enjoy comics at no cost. Use your library card to access hundreds of comics, graphic novels, and manga on Hoopla! From superheroes and literary adaptations to kid favorites, both new and long-time comic and manga readers can find something to enjoy in this digital collection. Check out what’s available from anywhere using the Hoopla app or by visiting Hoopla using your internet browser. 

Hoopla’s digital comics collection is always growing. They added manga in 2023 and continue to add new content each month. The collection offers comic issues, comic volumes, graphic novels, manga, and audiobook adaptations of some graphic novels.  

Hoopla’s digital comics collection is always growing. They added manga in 2023 and continue to add new content each month. The collection offers comic issues, comic volumes, graphic novels, manga, and audiobook adaptations of some graphic novels.

Whether you’re new to comics or a longtime fan, Hoopla’s comics section is easy to navigate. You can search for a comic by title or enjoy browsing a wide variety of categories to help you find what you like to read. If you aren’t sure what you want to read, browse through categories like Popular Comics, Featured, Media Tie-In, Fantasy, Historical, and other categories. There’s something for everyone.  

Help celebrate the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Team USA with a limited-edition U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM) library card! This beautiful commemorative card will be available starting Fri., May 31 just in time for Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) 2024 Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado reading program.

The card features artwork by LeRoy Neiman, the official painter for five Olympic Games, and now PPLD cardholders can enjoy his artwork on their library card.

As a special bonus, the limited-edition library card can be used this summer for free children’s admissions at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. From May 31 – July 31, Library cardholders may present the limited-edition card upon entry at the museum for free admission for a child 12 years of age and younger with a paying adult. The card will be available on a first-come basis, while supplies last.

Don't miss this special library card that will help get you in the spirit of the games this summer! 

The Shivers Concert Series has been raising funds to support local culture and arts for 31 years. These concerts benefit the Shivers Fund started by Peggy and Clarence Shivers, which contributes to the African-American collection at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), awards grants and scholarships to students, and encourages young people to pursue their interests in the arts. 

The Spring Concert, the first of three concerts this year, features baritone Shyheim Hinnant, mezzo soprano Stephanie Brink, and violist Solomon Leonard, as well as a Tuskegee Airman reenactment by John Thomas. Join us for this celebration of the arts and support the Shivers Fund in providing opportunities for our community to celebrate diversity in history, culture, and the arts. This concert takes place on Fri., May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. 

Durthy Washington will be selling and signing her books at the event. 

Thank you to the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College for hosting this event. Also, at the Fine Arts Center right now is the Clarence Shivers: Experiments with Form exhibit, showcasing more than 30 works of paintings, prints, and sculpture that offer an expansive view of Clarence Shivers’ prolific career. 

Purchase your tickets today!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to learn more about and recognize the importance of taking care of our mental health and well-being. With so much focus on physical health, it’s easy to forget that our minds require love and attention, too. This month also serves as an important reminder for everyone to check in with friends and family who may need additional support. 

Booklists

• Mental Health Awareness Adult Nonfiction Titles
• Mental Health books on Overdrive and Libby 

PPLD Resources

• Tough Topics guide for teens: Mental Health and Suicide
  The resources in the Tough Topics guide are organized into a page for youth seeking support, as well as parents and caregivers.
• Tough Topics Bookmark
  A printed resource for teens available at Library locations. These bookmarks have book call numbers that can help anyone find books on the shelves dealing with mental health-related topics. Phone numbers for local resources are also listed. 
• Community Resources at PPLD
  We have all found ourselves in a difficult situation and we aren’t always sure where to turn. Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources information across the District. Our Community Resources Specialists are here to help you navigate and connect with services by providing referrals and information to get the help you need for your specific situation. Please note that these are not mental health services.
• Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources 
  Discover mental and behavioral health resources available in El Paso County.
• Psychology & Behavioral Sciences database 
  This database contains full text information from more than 560 journals. It covers topics on emotional and behavioral characteristics, psychiatry and psychology, mental processes, anthropology, and observational and experimental methods. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.)

Websites

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
• Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention
  The mission of Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership is to unite the community in addressing suicide in the Pikes Peak region through education, intervention, and postvention.
• Colorado Crisis Services
  Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential, and immediate support from trained professionals and peer specialists, available 24/7/364 by calling 844-493-8255 or texting TALK to 38255.
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month (American Hospital Association)
  As Mental Health Awareness Month, May is a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlighting the ways that mental illness and addiction can affect all of us – patients, providers, families, and our society at large. 
• National Alliance on Mental Health 
  The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
• Mental Health America 
  Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. Visit their Taking Good Care of Yourself page for tools to aid you in your mental health journey.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
• National Institute of Mental Health
  The National Institute of Mental Health is dedicated to transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses. Visit their Caring for your Mental Health page for helpful tips and tools for caring for your mental health. 

In 1890 and 1891, prospectors in the Pikes Peak region discovered the rich gold ore that touched off the legendary Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Rush. With the modern comforts we enjoy today, it can be difficult to imagine what the gold rush was like for people living it. For an authentic gold rush experience of your own, visit our Pikes Peak Culture Pass partner Victor Thomas Lowell Museum in Victor, Colorado. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) cardholders can check out a no-cost entry pass to this piece of regional history through the Culture Pass program.

Located in the heart of the town of Victor, the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum features displays exploring the historic gold mining days, as well as the miners and pioneers, some of them millionaires, who made the town famous. Victor’s history is one of exploration, ranching, gold mining, and railroading. The museum showcases two floors of artifacts, books, exhibits, and photographs depicting life in Victor from its beginnings to the heyday of gold mining. Among the exhibits you will find a diamond dust mirror, a large collection of mining artifacts, themed-rooms, and an old-fashioned doctor's office!  

The 1899 building the museum calls home is a historic experience of its own, boasting its original wood floors, tin ceilings, and many fixtures dating back to the gold rush era.

While you are there, be sure to check out the newly renovated Lowell Thomas room. The exhibit is dedicated to sharing the life of famous journalist, author, and world traveler Lowell Thomas after whom the museum was named.

Victor Thomas Lowell Museum joined our Culture Pass program in June 2023 to increase awareness about the museum, the Town of Victor, and life in the gold rush era among PPLD patrons. What a great opportunity for library cardholders to experience a taste of the gold rush while enjoying a short drive out west!

Patrons can check out a Culture Pass to the Victor Museum in the summer months, and some weekends in the fall, weather permitting. Victor Thomas Lowell Museum will celebrate its 65th anniversary on June 26, 2024. Learn more about the celebration and the museum on their website. 

Announcing an upcoming gallery exhibit at the Library! The exhibit will be at Penrose Library for the month of May, starting on Fri., May 3. 

On the day that the gallery opens, join us for a workshop with Asay from 4 – 5 p.m. at Library 21c. During the workshop, Asay will explore his inspiration, his career as a cartoonist, and the pieces featured in the gallery. Asay, who worked at the Taos News, the Colorado Springs Sun, and briefly for The Denver Post, was the featured political cartoonist for The Gazette for more than 20 years, from 1986 to 2007. He retired from The Gazette in March of 2007.

After his retirement, Asay’s art and commentary lived on in syndication for six more years, reaching audiences worldwide through hundreds of newspapers. In 2013 Asay put aside his pens, pencil, and paper after drawing a final cartoon in his lauded style announcing his full retirement in June of that year. 

Colorado Springs entrepreneur Jon Medved and the Medved Family Charitable Fund approached the Library about bringing Asay’s art to the Pikes Peak region. The exhibit highlights his work, applauds his talent, and fosters discussion about the artist’s commentary as a retrospective on the time nearly 40 years ago.

The exhibit will feature more than 30 of Asay’s cartoons through the end of March in the galleries at both Library 21c and East Library. It will be on display at Penrose Library later in 2024.

Stop by to browse the exhibit, and view much of Asay’s work online in our Digital Collections. Over the last few years, Pikes Peak Library District has worked with The Gazette to digitize more than 10,000 cartoons that Asay drew for the paper, archiving them in our digital photo archive housed by our Regional History & Genealogy department.