Are you a homeschool family or interested in getting started in homeschooling?

Our annual Homeschool Resource Fair features a wide variety of local exhibitors offering educational and extracurricular opportunities for homeschooling families. Stop by and chat with representatives from organizations and businesses that offer homeschooling services and support, including arts and science activities, sports groups, enrichment programs, tutoring, support groups, and more. There will be fun hands-on activities for kids throughout the building!

• Library 21c: Fri., April 10 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Download the 2026 Homeschool Resource Fair vendor information.

On Wed., April 1, patrons have the opportunity to come together to help bring Libraries to neighborhoods, increase literacy offerings, and help create a sustainable Library system. 

It’s the eighth annual Library Giving Day!

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD)’s library card is your ticket to unlimited classes, programs, books, magazines, information, and resources. Through PPLD, patrons can receive job assistance, find opportunities to improve literacy, give their children the gift of learning and reading, and so much more! You can enjoy Storytime with your child, receive tutoring for students, and find entertainment through books, music, and movies.  

Support PPLD today with a donation — and help us expand services to more people. 

Donate Today! 

Support your Local library by making a donation

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) hosts Virtual Author Visits with our partners, the Library Speakers Consortium.

Each month, viewers can hear from best-selling authors and national thought leaders as they discuss their writing process, from fiction and nonfiction to current events and lands only imagined on the pages of a book. 

These author talks are great for readers of all ages and are both educational and engaging. Attend these great virtual events from any computer at no cost. 

April’s Author Visits include conversations about the history of women astronauts in the United States, popular spy craft novels, and writing the final installment of a beloved series.  

At noon on Thu., April 2, former Smithsonian Curator Valerie Neal will take us through an extensive history of the women of the U.S. space program. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, but other women have made space exploration part of their legacy. On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts spans 45 years and 61 astronauts to share the epic journeys of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field. Register for the Virtual Author Visit with Valerie Neal.

At 5 p.m. on Tue., April 14, spy novel fans can hear from Brad Taylor, a former member of U.S. Special Forces and author of the bestselling Pike Logan series. Taylor will discuss his latest work in the series, Shadow Strike. One of 20 books, the novel details the work of a rogue group of Iranian regime officials who create a “brazen plot to strike back at their hated enemies.”  Register for the Virtual Author Visit with Brad Taylor.

At 5 p.m. on Thu., April 30, Jason Reynolds will speak about writing beloved characters and portraying resilience in the final novel of his highly popular Track series. Coach tells the story of the inspiring leader who played a role in the first four novels. In this book, Reynolds shares Coach’s story, following earlier novels about the other four characters: Ghost, Lu, Patina, and Sunny. Register for the Virtual Author Visit with Jason Reynolds.

Upcoming author visits in May:

• Thu., May 7 at 5 p.m.: On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love with Marjan Kamali
• Tue., May 19 at noon: Reshape Your Beliefs and Unlock Your True Potential with Nir Eyal
• Wed., May 20 at 5 p.m.: Dangerous Magic, Enchanting Romance, and Painting the Future with Elizabeth Lim

Volunteer experience looks good on college applications and can make job applications stand out to potential employers. Pikes Peak region teens looking for volunteer hours won’t want to miss out on one of the most fun volunteer experiences of the year: Summer Adventure!

Our 2026 Summer Adventure Program, presented by Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District, is our annual summer reading program where participants complete reading and activities to earn prizes. The program is packed with a wide variety of special summer events and programs for participants to enjoy as well. 

Teen volunteers are an essential part of our summer program. They help people register for the program, pass out prizes, support programs, and complete other volunteer duties as needed. And yes, volunteers can register for the program as well!

Volunteer applications are open now through Fri., May 1, or until all positions are filled. Learn about our teen volunteer requirements and submit your application on our teen volunteer page. 

It is that time of year again. Taxes are due on Wed., April 15, 2026. Fortunately, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has the information you need to file on time. Although Library staff cannot give tax advice, visit our Tax Information guide for tax forms, information about tax assistance, FAQs for accessing your IRS account information, and other useful information.  

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 are available Feb. 3 through April 15 at four Library locations BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

(open to people of all ages and income levels) 

Library 21c

• Feb. 3 – April 14
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Call (719) 257-3805 beginning Thu., Jan. 15 to make an appointment. 

Fountain Library

• Feb. 4 – April 8
  • Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
     
• Sat., Feb. 14 from 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.
• Sat., Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Sat., March 14 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Sat., March 28 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Sat., April 11 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Wed., April 15 from 9 a.m. – noon

Call (719) 357-5450 or email  61051102@aarpfoundation.org beginning Mon., Jan. 5 to make an appointment.  

Sand Creek Library

• Feb. 5 - April 9,
  • Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Call (719) 203-1205 beginning Thu., Jan. 15 to make an appointment.

VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program – Pikes Peak United Way

(individuals who earned less than $69,000 in 2025) 

High Prairie Library

• Sat., Feb. 21, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Sat., March 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Sat., March 21, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Sat., April 4, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Call 2-1-1 after Mon., Jan. 19 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. 

Our theme for this year’s Teen Art Contest is “Wild Colorado.”

Colorado turns 150 this year! Help celebrate by creating a piece of art inspired by your interpretation of “Wild Colorado.” Does your inspiration come from the majestic mountains and picturesque streams? The wildlife that enters your backyard? Extreme sports? Eccentric figures from the past or present? Gold rush towns that turned into ghost towns? Enter your piece to win a prize!

Entries are judged by fellow teens, along with one award that is judged by Library staff.

Important Dates

• Sign up online between Mon., Dec. 1, 2025 – Tue., Feb. 10, 2026
• Drop off your artwork from Fri., Feb. 6 – Tue., Feb. 10
• Awards Ceremony will be on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library  
• Art will be on display throughout April
• Pick up your art the first week of May

How to enter: 

Make sure you qualify: 

• Must be ages 13 - 19 at time of submission
• Must be an El Paso County resident 

Create your art following these guidelines:

• Create something that is a 2D form of art
  • Artwork can be any type of two-dimensional art form, as long as it can safely hang on the wall.
    • Including but not limited to: photography, digital art, painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, prints, crochet, etc.
  • There are no formal size requirements, but it needs to be something we can hang on the wall and transport in a regular passenger vehicle. 

Prepare your art:

• We highly recommend paper artwork be mounted on mattes or foamboard. This helps protect it during transportation and helps with hanging.
  • An exception is for art intended to be displayed at Library 21c, which is only able to accommodate a limited number of unframed art on paper.
  • For display at East and Penrose libraries, submitting art with or without a frame is fine, but not preferred.
  • Pieces on canvas don’t need additional protection.
• Your submission should be able to support being hung using our galley hanging wire system.
  • Ideally, this means there is a hanging wire on your piece or a spot we can attach a hanging wire to.
  • There are several free or low-cost ways to attach a hook or D-Ring.  
  • PPLD will supply hanging wire and attach hooks upon receiving submissions if needed.
  • PPLD may mount plain paper artwork on black posterboard or foam core to accommodate hanging if needed (for display at East and Penrose libraries). 

Complete the entry forms:

• Sign up online between Mon., Dec. 1, 2025 – Tue., Feb. 10, 2026

Drop off your submission: 

• Bring in your art between Fri., Feb. 6 - Tue., Feb. 10 to a drop-off location. A completed Art Agreement Form is required and will be provided for you to sign at the time of submission.
• Drop-off locations:
  • East Library
  • Library 21c
  • Penrose Library
  • Calhan Library
  • Cheyenne Mountain Library
  • Fountain Library
  • High Prairie Library
  • Manitou Springs Library
  • Ruth Holley Library
  • Sand Creek Library
  • Ute Pass Library

Other Entry Guidelines:

• Only one entry per person
• Library Staff reserve the right to decline inappropriate entries 

Award Categories

• Best in Show
• 7th - 9th Grade Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice  
• 10th - 12th Grade Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice

Winning participants will be notified via letter in mid-March, with specific awards announced at the awards ceremony on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library. All entries accepted into the show will be on display in April at East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c.

FAQs

Can I submit a photograph/digital art/other type of 2D art?
Any type of 2D art piece is accepted as long as we can hang it on the wall and it can be transported between Libraries. We have had digital pieces, photography, crochet, paintings, drawings, photographs of sculptures, collage, charcoal, and more! 

Do you have size requirements for pieces?
We have to be able to transport pieces between Libraries, so submissions should be small enough to fit in a regular passenger vehicle and be hung on a wall. 

When will I know if I have won?
We will notify award winners by mid-March. All participants and their friends and family are invited to the Awards Ceremony on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library regardless of winning an award. 

Will my artwork be displayed?
Yes! You can choose from one of three locations to have your artwork displayed during the month of April. Locations include East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c.

When and where can I pick up my artwork?
You can pick up your artwork the first week of May at the Library where you selected to have it displayed. An email will be sent in April with specific details. 

What are the prizes?
In the past, winners received a drawing mannequin and gift card to Meininger’s Art Supply store. 

What can I do to improve my chances of winning?
Work with the theme—It doesn’t have to be a literal interpretation, but we do look for pieces that have been inspired by the theme in some way. Your paragraph describing your piece can have a big impact on this.

Stand out! Whether through subject matter or having an unusual take on the theme, we notice unique entries more. For example, we tend to get a lot of close-ups of eyes, so they tend to not stand out as much. 

Have fun! Don’t view it as an assignment or chore. We can tell when someone submits a piece that they are passionate about—so do something that you love! 

Do I have to have a matte?
No, but we highly encourage it. Pieces are not judged on having a matte or not, but mattes help protect your artwork during storage and transportation and make it easier to hang your piece. Frames are also accepted, but mattes are preferred. 

I'm a teacher with an amazing class, can I enter them?
Yes! If you are a teacher that would like to enter a class of students who want to participate, you can fill out the 2026 Teen Art Contest Submission Form – Teachers form linked above to complete one entry form for all of your students. You will be responsible for communicating with participants about the award ceremony and art pick-up.

My question wasn’t answered here.
Email Jordan Romero at jromero@ppld.org

From a small reading room established 136 years ago, PPLD continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our sprawling community. Our service area covers 2,070 square miles of El Paso County with a population of nearly 700,000 – people of all ages and backgrounds with varying views and interests.

Thanks to taxpayer funding, we can continue to provide residents with access to 15 facilities, three mobile libraries, and a large online hub of resources and services, all of which are inclusive and welcoming to everyone. The Library team strives to make its physical and digital spaces safe and respectful for diverse voices, perspectives, and pursuits; to foster community dialogue and connections; and to help people achieve their goals and dreams in life.

Overview and Process

In the winter and spring of 2022, our Board of Trustees and staff revisited PPLD’s mission statement and developed a vision statement and organizational values that best reflect our public library system and growing community in El Paso County.

This became our starting point to develop our new strategic plan for 2023 - 2025. After months of input from the public through surveys and in-person meetings, PPLD staff, Library patrons, and other community members and government officials, PPLD used the rich qualitative data it received from more than 1,600 responses to develop a new strategic plan for 2023 - 2025.

This plan was publicly released on Dec. 6, 2022. In December 2025, the Board of Trustees voted to extend the plan through 2026 with minor revisions.

Below are the plan's six areas of focus and related strategies.

Access 

PPLD is an access point for everyone to engage with resources, services, and spaces as they choose. 

• Protect the right of all Library patrons to exercise intellectual freedom.
• Protect the right of individuals to create and consume content without censorship.
• Offer services and resources that meet the needs and wants of the community.
• Provide spaces and hours of operation that meet the needs and wants of the community. 

Accountability

PPLD is accountable to all stakeholders through fiscal responsibility, continuous evaluation, and by sharing findings with the public.

• Evaluate and share the impact of Library resources, services, and spaces.
• Evaluate and share the internal and external impacts within each area of focus.
• Gather, evaluate, and share public input.
• Maintain, track, and share practices of fiscal responsibility.
• Conduct evaluations of what is offered in the community, where and when, to ensure the Library is not duplicating efforts. 

Communications

PPLD invests in and elevates community awareness of its resources, services, and spaces. 

• Improve the digital experience and interface for Library patrons, including functionality, usability, and accessibility.
• Enhance the in-person patron experience at Library locations and through community outreach.
• Support staff in serving as Library ambassadors.
• Develop and implement a public relations and marketing plan that demonstrates the Library’s value and showcases what is offered in its physical and digital spaces.  
• Enhance internal communications to ensure all staff are aware, knowledgeable, and using provided 
  tools about the Library’s value and what is offered to the community.
• Provide patrons with a consistent brand experience across all PPLD channels, including brand identity and messaging. 

Community Connections

PPLD builds community through relationships and partnerships to connect people to relevant resources, services, and spaces.

• Build, maintain, and strengthen community-based relationships that benefit local and regional communities. 
• Build, maintain, and strengthen strategic partnerships to maximize areas of alignment that benefit local and regional communities.
• Expand existing partnerships and explore new opportunities for innovation.
• Maintain an ongoing presence in the community.
• Be responsive to current events and multi-cultural celebrations within our communities, serving as a hub and connector for residents and community groups.
• Participate and engage with local, regional, national, and international entities with staff serving as PPLD representatives.

Physical and Virtual Spaces

PPLD provides equal access to physical and virtual spaces in safe and inclusive environments. 

• Identify and address current and future facility, safety, and accessibility needs across the District.
• Update the technology and equipment master plan to identify and address current and future information technology needs across the Library District. 

Staff

PPLD values, trusts, and invests in staff.

• Support staff in their educational goals and growth.
• Build digital literacy skills among staff to best support the community’s needs.
• Train staff to provide awareness of Library and community resources.
• Provide excellence in internal and external customer service.
• Align individual staff talents to meet the community’s needs.
• Apply current Human Resources (HR) best practices in hiring and retention.
• Strengthen relationships within and among PPLD staff.
• Offer salary and benefits that are on par with local, state, and national standards and in compliance with legal requirements to recruit and retain an excellent workforce.
• Increase the skills, capabilities, and confidence of PPLD’s direct supervisors and managers. 

Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest engages 4th and 5th grade writers in El Paso County.  

Poetry creates opportunities for children to explore a variety of topics and emotions through writing. The 2026 contest theme is Remembering Our Past to Inform Our Future. Students in 4th and 5th grade can write a poem and submit it for a chance to win a prize.

This contest continues local educator Jean Ciavonne’s legacy of connecting children with poetry and writing.  

Submissions for the 2026 contest are currently closed. Please check back soon for our winner announcement! 

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.

Libraries are a vital lifeline for the whole community. The PPLD Foundation’s End of Year Giving Campaign is back to raise funds to support the essential resources Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) provides to people throughout the Pikes Peak region. 

Job seekers can find resume writing and interview preparation help, career search navigation, and educational opportunities for job skills. Parents and caregivers of young children can find early literacy and education opportunities, hands-on programs, a Toy Library with toys for motor skill development, homework help, learning programs for homeschoolers, and a wide range of other resources to support their children’s growth and development. Teenagers can enjoy resources and services like safe spaces to hang out with friends, gaming consoles, reliable research resources, test and college prep help, and tutoring. And anyone can enjoy our vast collection of books and other media, genealogy resources, no-cost passes to local attractions, classes and community activities, and other services and resources we provide.

What all of those amazing services and programs have in common are the need for physical spaces. In 2025, the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation stepped up in a huge way to ensure these programs will have a home. In August, the Foundation Board agreed to fulfill a request from the District to commit $1 million to help purchase Ruth Holley Library. The purchase helps ensure this location will be available for years to come.

Donations are a vital part of Library funding and help in sustainability and vitality. We invite you to make a difference in your community with a meaningful contribution through the PPLD Foundation during the Year-End-Giving Campaign. We thank you for your support and generosity!

Donate today

Celebrate all of the reading, creating, exploring, and learning you did during Summer Adventure with three outdoor Summer Adventure Celebrations! Get outside with us and have a blast at these family fun events.

• Fri., July 11 from 10 a.m. - noon in Aga Park (Fountain) – Step into Wishing Star Farm’s petting zoo, see community helper vehicles like fire trucks, build with large foam blocks and magnetic tiles, enjoy a sweet treat from Culver's, discover vendor booths like Bricks & Minifigs, and more.
• Fri., July 18 from 10 a.m. - noon in George Fellows Park (behind East Library) – Discover activities and booths for kids of all ages, dive into a FOAM-TASTIC party, explore Wishing Star Farm’s petting zoo, see a real helicopter from Children’s Hospital Colorado, slip down a giant inflatable waterslide, meet Switchbacks mascot Ziggy, visit vendor booths like Raisin' Cain's Chicken Fingers, enjoy free frozen treats from Shake Shack, wind through a children’s obstacle course, and more.
• Thu., July 31 from 6 – 7 p.m. in Limbach Park (Monument) – Enjoy an interactive concert full of humor, dancing, and games with national family music performer Steve Weeks.