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.

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is excited to bring you Virtual Author Visits in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Join us and hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders on a range of topics, from puzzling science to epic fantasy to decluttering your home. Whether you are an avid or occasional reader, there is nothing quite like listening to insightful talks by authors you have read or new ones you are just discovering. You never know what will catch your interest. Attend these events at no cost from the comfort of home. 

In July, join us on Tue., July 8 for a creative author talk with Raúl The Third as he discusses his book ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Read!. This presentation is also excellent for kids in preschool through 2nd grade. Raúl the Third uses his culture and his experience growing up on the US and Mexico border to inspire his art and his storytelling. Students will be encouraged to explore their world through a creative lens. Drawing supplies and paper are recommended as the author will invite the audience to draw along with him. Join us for this presentation in Spanish at noon, and in English at 2 p.m. Register for the access link. .

Then, on Thu., July 17 at 2 p.m., you are invited to explore the intricate world of Legend with #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu as she encourages readers to look beyond the surface and reveal hidden secrets. Legend is a dystopian novel where two unlikely characters, June and Day, cross paths in search for the Truth. Can they set aside their differences and preconceptions for the greater good? Register for the access link.

After that, tune in on Wed., July 23 at 2 p.m. to hear from award-winning author Rex Ogle about his struggles to navigate sixth grade as written in his book Free Lunch. Free Lunch is the story of Rex’s efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade—who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he’s trouble—all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. This talk will also be of interest to 5th – 8th grade students. Register for the access link.

For the last Virtual Author Visit of July, tune in on Thu., July 31 at noon for a fascinating conversation with neurologist and author Pria Anand to chat about her new book The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains (published on June 10, 2025). The Mind Electric speaks to the stories we tell ourselves about our brains, and the stories that our brains tell to us. Stories are etched into the very structure of our brains, coded so deeply that the impulse for storytelling survives and even surges after the most devastating injuries. Register for the access link. 

Learn more and see upcoming authors on our Virtual Author Visits page or check out past Virtual Author Visits!   

More Upcoming Virtual Author Visits 

• Tue., Aug. 5 at noon: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds with Smithsonian Biologist Jay Falk
• Wed., Aug. 20 at 5 p.m.: Returning to Romance Through Food and Flirty Fun in Fiction with Casey McQuiston
• Thu., Aug. 28 at noon: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos with Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich 

Kids and teens can enjoy lunch (and books) at no cost this summer! 

Colorado Springs School District 11 will bring their mobile unit to distribute lunches at East Library every weekday beginning Wed., May 28 through Fri., Aug. 1 (except for Fri., July 4). Meal service will be available 11 a.m. - noon, Monday - Friday, along with a basket of age-appropriate books from which kids and teens can take a book. Lunches are provided at no cost to kids and teens up to age 18. Adult lunches are available for $5. 

Outside of East Library
5550 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918   
May 28 - Aug. 1 (every weekday except Fri., July 4)   
11 a.m. - noon

The Summer Food Service Program, funded by USDA, provides nutritious meals to all children and teens ages 0 - 18. There are no income or registration requirements for participation.   

To find other nearby summer meal sites, visit KidsFoodFinder.org.

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is getting ready to launch updated Personal Belongings and Food and Drink policies. Our Code of Conduct Policy is also being updated to help us continue to provide high quality, safe Library experiences for everyone who uses our Libraries. We strive to create a welcoming, clean, and comfortable environment that meets the needs of everyone in the Library by requiring users to respect other patrons and staff, respect library property, obey the law, and comply with requests from staff.

The updated policies will go into effect on Mon., May 12, 2025.

To keep walkways clear and free of trip hazards, we are updating our Personal Belongings Policy. Patrons of the Library will be expected to always keep their belongings with them and refrain from disrupting walkways, doorways, or restricting access to Library resources such as computers or seating. Belongings should not be larger than 22” L x 14” W x 10” H. (about the size of a carry-on bag at the airport).

Wheeled carts, strollers, or wagons being used for transporting children, meeting supplies, or Library materials, as well as mobility and medical devices, are exempt from these size requirements. 

Updates to our Food and Drink Policy will require all drinks to be covered while visiting the Library. Food will not be permitted, with the exception of prepackaged pouches and dry snacks allowed in the Children’s areas. Certain areas of the Library will be designated as, “No Drink Zones,” such as makerspaces, where drinks will be prohibited.

In areas such as computer labs, drinks with secured lids may be kept on the floor, not on the table or desk. These changes do not apply to PPLD’s event, meeting, and study rooms, which will follow the food and drink guidelines outlined in the Event, Meeting, and Study Room Policy.

Updates to our Code of Conduct Policy require patrons to wear appropriate clothing when visiting the Library. Patrons must wear shirts, dresses/skirts/pants, and shoes while at the Library.

The updated policies are available on our website, and the updated Code of Conduct signs will be posted in Library locations.  

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.  

The Library supports homeschoolers and homeschool families throughout El Paso County in a variety of ways. We offer homeschool programs for enriched learning, provide access to books and research materials, and create spaces for homeschoolers to have time (or experiences) outside of their in-home classroom. Right now, we’re preparing for one of our biggest events for families new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling: the Homeschool Resource Fair.

Our annual Homeschool Resource Fair connects both current and interested homeschool families with resources and information. This event 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 also be fun, hands-on activities for kids to enjoy in the atrium. Everyone is welcome!

• Library 21c: Fri., April 11 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Download the 2025 Homeschool Resource Fair vendor information.

Tue., April 1 is the seventh annual Library Giving Day! On that date, people across the country — including in El Paso County — come together as part of a movement to strengthen and support our local libraries. Libraries support and enrich people’s lives and have been an integral part of communities throughout the U.S. since shortly after its founding.

Where else but Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) can you find unlimited access to information, lifelong learning, programs, and resources that transcend physical ability, geographic barriers, background, age, and education? In just one trip, you might find books to keep you entertained, make custom gifts in our makerspaces, and enjoy Storytime with your child. We provide essential resources for our community such as tax prep information and services, programs that support Homeschoolers, language learning and job prep classes and resources, eLibrary materials, research and regional history databases, homework help, programs and activities that enrich our community, and more!

Support your Local library by making a donation

With you by our side, the PPLD Foundation can continue to fuel life-changing spaces, programs, and resources. This means fewer barriers to success and increased opportunities of all kinds for members of our community. Your gift today will make a difference in our ability to serve everyone in 2025 and beyond.

Volunteer experience looks good on college applications and can make a job application stand out to potential employers as well. Pikes Peak region teens (ages 13 – 18) looking for volunteer hours won’t want to miss out on one of the most fun volunteer experiences of the year: Summer Adventure! 

Our 2025 PPLD Summer Adventure presented by Friends of 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 Thu., May 1. Learn about our teen volunteer requirements and submit your application on our teen volunteer page.  

Announcing the Library Card Design Contest Unveiling Ceremony! Join us in kicking off National Library Week with a ceremony to unveil the winning designs at East Library on Sat., April 5 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided, and new library cards will be available at the end of the ceremony. If you already have a library card, switching your existing card will cost $1 and you will exchange your existing number for a new one. The new library cards will officially be available at all Library locations starting on Mon., April 7.

The contest in January had tremendous participation from our community. We received 814 entries, including paintings, collages, photographs, pen and marker illustrations, colored pencil art, digital art, mixed media, and other art forms. Our Communications team loved receiving your submissions and seeing the outstanding creativity of the people living in El Paso County. Narrowing it down to select winners proved to be a difficult task, and we expanded our target from four to six new cards. The six winners were notified in February.

Centennial Elementary School submitted 53 of the designs after running the Design Contest as a school-wide contest (which received over 300 submissions not included in the 814 received by the Library). The school's student body voted on their top favorites to send to the Library. People of all ages living in El Paso County (except for Security-Widefield, which has a different library system) submitted designs inspired by the Library, the community, or the Pikes Peak region. 

The Winning Library Card Designs

Explore the Library Card Design Contest Gallery

Thank you to HR Meininger Company  for sponsoring gift cards for each winner! 

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.