PPLD is teaming up with Muse Comics + Games to offer Free Comic Book Day comic issues for teens on Sat., May 3. This annual nationwide initiative strives to put comics into the hands of both long-time and new comic fans alike. Comics are available at all PPLD locations during this one-day event while supplies last. 

Free Comic Book Day is an excellent way for teens to discover new comic series to fall in love with. Comic stores across the U.S. celebrate by giving out special Free Comic Book Day issues of comics, which can range from being the first issue of a comic series or short one-off stories of larger series. As a public library, we know that not all teens have a nearby comic store that they can visit for free comics. We are happy to connect teens in our community with free comic issues to add to their personal libraries.  

Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest engages 4th and 5th grade writers. Join us for the Awards Ceremony celebrating this year’s winners on Sat., April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Penrose Library.

Poetry creates opportunities for children to explore a variety of topics and emotions through writing. The 2025 contest theme is Poems of Belonging: Home, Community, and Origins. This contest continues Jean Ciavonne’s legacy of connecting children with poetry and writing.

From Dec. 2, 2024 through March 1, 2025, local 4th and 5th grade students submitted their poems exploring the many elements of what home is to them. Each winner will receive a book and a $50 cash prize.  

Congratulations to our 2025 winners!

• Violet Avenarius, 4th Grade, School in the Woods - “Neighborhood Friends"
• Eliana Bellairs, 5th Grade, Ranch Creek Elementary School - “My Beachside Place”
• Dabi Chang, 4th Grade, Woodmen Roberts Elementary School - “These Places, These People”
• Danika Harms, 4th Grade, Howbert Elementary School - “Where I'm From”
• Keri Wouden, 5th Grade, Ranch Creek Elementary School - “Me"
• Aspen Yager, 5th Grade, Homeschool - “Where do I come from?”

Jean Ciavonne Remembered from PPLD TV on Vimeo.

Due to weather conditions, the Homeschool Science Fair will be postponed to Fri., Feb 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Library 21c.

Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Homeschool Science Fair is open to grades K – 12, and the community can come and browse their experiments!  

Homeschool students are invited to demonstrate a science project for other families. There are no rules or guidelines for this non-competitive event, and planning is left up to individual families. Registration is required for students who want to present. Registration for the 2025 science fair opens on Thu., Jan. 2 and closes on Fri., Feb. 14. 

• When: Fri., Feb. 21 from 10 - 11:30 a.m.
• Where: The Venue at Library 21c
• Registration: Jan. 2 – Feb. 14 

Students will arrive by 9:15 a.m., and the event will be open to the public from 10 - 11:30 a.m. 

Are you interested in seeing some amazing experiments from up-and-coming scientists? Everyone is welcome to attend the science fair and learn amazing science from these promising students. Kids can fill out a "What I learned" and receive a prize! Come and discover something new or be inspired for next year! 

Need help planning your project? Download our Science Fair How-Tos Document!

Take a spooky stroll in Old Colorado City and read Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin by Rick Walten. Pick up a map at Old Colorado City Library, or print one here. Find a page at each location featured on the map, and head inside - there may be a special treat waiting for you! The story will be available Oct. 1 - 31. 

Old Colorado City October Strolls

Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin by Rick Walten - Download the map!

1. Old Colorado City Library
2. Jives Coffee Lounge
3. Carnelian Coffee Co.
4. Jen’s Place Boutique
5. Stella & Beau
6. Eclectic OCC
7. Simple Body
8. The Holly Leaf
9. Squash Blossom
10. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
11. Dice Guys
12. Old Colorado City History Center 

December is packed with festive celebrations, including Hannukah, winter solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and others. It’s a busy time when you may find yourself decorating, planning or prepping meals and treats, making or shopping for gifts, visiting friends and family, and attending community celebrations. Pikes Peak Library District has all the programs, tools, and resources you need to make the best of the holiday season, including cookbooks and classes, DIY gifts, holiday book lists, and more!

Resources

• New recipes from a vast array of new-to-you cookbooks for all occasions 
• Movies, music, books, and even a collection of Hallmark movies on Hoopla
• Audio and video studio equipment for DIY memories 
• CultureGrams to learn about holiday celebrations from around the world (must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside the Library) 
• Reviews, shopping guides, and more for your holiday shopping experience with Consumer Reports (must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside the Library)
• A wide assortment of holiday films and documentaries on Kanopy
• Christmas music on Freegal

DIY Gifts

• Don’t miss our Makerspace Holiday Open Houses at East Library, Sand Creek Library, and Library 21c this month to learn how you can use makerspace equipment to create DIY gifts and decorations.
• Find craft inspiration or delve into new hobbies with the Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center. (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside the Library)
• Join us for makerspace classes and use your new knowledge to make custom gifts for your loved ones.
• Discover DIY gift ideas with our array of creative books.

Websites

• December 2024 Holidays
  Explore national, religious, and just for fun holidays that take place in December. 
• National Geographic: Winter Celebrations
  Fill your December with festive fun facts, folklore, and holiday information. 
   

Friends of PPLD Bookstore

Get gifts for your family while supporting your Library! The Friends of PPLD sponsors and supports numerous programs and events to further the enjoyment of reading and love for books by all individuals. They are best known for their volunteerism, their bookstores in each library (you never know what you will find in the ever-changing inventory of previously-read books and magazines) and, of course, the two Big Book Sales each year. 

Stop by the Friends store at the Library and find books, CDs, movies, magazines, and more from $0.25 to $3. Or shop for specialty items online! Purchases made through the Friends of PPLD support library programming and materials. 

Do you love books, reading, and libraries? Have you considered becoming involved in your community? One easy step covers it all! Get involved with the Friends and support your community, one book at a time. 

In November, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) joins with people and organizations across the nation to draw attention to hunger and homelessness through education, programs, and events.

Pikes Peak Library District Collects to Share is once again putting out the call to collect hand-crafted items for our community shelters. Starting in November, as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, we will be accepting donations every month for a year. If you have knitted items such as hats, scarves, socks, and blankets that you would like to donate, please bring them to the public desk at any Library location and let staff know that they are for PPLD Collects to Share. Through your hard work and creative generosity, we donated over 120 hand-crafted items to those in need in our community since November 2022. Thank you!

Programs

• Community Conversation: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness
  Thu/. Nov. 16, 6 - 8 p.m. at the East Library Community Meeting Room, click here for more information on panelists

Resources

• Helping Hands Community Resource 
  The Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources guide is a list of services available in El Paso County.  
• PPLD Community Resource Officers
  Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources 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.

Website Links

• Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
  Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

Materials for this eclipse Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, October 13, 2023.

Materials and Instructions

Materials Included in Take and Make:
Black paper
Circle template
White, non-toxic chalk
You provide:
Pencil
Scissors
Masking Tape

OPTIONAL: Brightly colored construction paper or foam sheets for cut-out horizon detail.

Instructions: See pdf file below for more pictures and science information.
1. Place the template on a piece of dark paper. Secure with a loop of masking tape or simply hold down with one hand.
2. Draw a thick circle of chalk around the template. Go around 2 or 3 times. It does not need to be neat.
3. Holding the template in place, smudge the chalk away from the center of the circle using a finger to create the corona of the Sun.
4, When you are done smudging, remove the circle template.
5. Add words, pictures, or fun designs.

The free supplies for this September Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning September 8, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
plastic needle, yarn, styrofoam plates
Materials you provide:
pencil, scissors, tape, scrap paper (optional)
Directions:
Here are tutorials (https://tinyurl.com/bdfv82kk) for basic sewing stitches. We recommend running stitch, backstitch, whip stitch, and cross stitch for this project. Also, see additional photos in the pdf file provided.
Running stitch and Backstitch – great for sewing straight lines
Whip Stitch – great for adding a border
Cross Stitch – great for adding details
Step 1:
Use your pencil to create a design on your plate by gently poking the pencil through the plate. The holes should be at least ½" apart. (You may want to draw it on scratch paper first.)
Step 2:
Cut a piece of yarn no longer than your arm. Thread it through the needle. It may help to tie one end of the yarn to the needle so it doesn’t come unthreaded. You should have a long end and a shorter end.
Step 3:
Beginning at the back of the plate, sew in and out of the holes you poked to complete your design. Pull the yarn taut after each stitch, but don’t pull too hard and tear the plate. You may tape the end of the yarn to the back of the plate to hold it. When you run out of yarn you can either continue with the same color or begin a new color.
Use the second plate to create a different design.

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.
• Young Adults:
  • Color in Colorado Young Adult Booklist
• 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!

• 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 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.

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libaries beginning July 14, 2023.

A thaumatrope is an optical toy that teaches persistence of vision.” The name thaumatrope means “wonder turner."

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
cardstock templates
straws

Materials you need to provide:
Pencils, crayons, markers
tape

We have provided two options for this activity.

Option One:
Cut out the circles with the printed templates.

Option Two:
Cut out the blank circles. With one on top of the other, draw an image on the top circle. If youpress firmly with your pencil as you draw, you will be able to see the image on the bottom circle to better align your images. Draw a complimentary image on the second circle.
Both options:
Tape the end of a straw to the back of one circle. Carefully align and tape the other circle back-to-back with the first one.
Here are some ideas:
Bird in a cage (bird on one side, cage on the other)
Emojis (face on one side, yellow circle on the other)
Butterflies in a jar (butterflies on one side, jar on the other)
Giraffe with spots (solid giraffe on one side, giraffe outline with spots on the other)
Spider in a web (spider on one side and web on the other)
Fish in a bowl (fish on one side and bowl on the other)
Rocket on the moon (rocket on one side, moon on the other)
Dueling lightsabers (one lightsaber on each side)

Spin the Spin the straw between your hands. As it spins, the two pictures will appear to blend into one.