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.

(We are in the process of posting a fully accessible version of this PDF, please visit our Accessibility page if you need assistance accessing this document.)

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?”

(We are in the process of posting a fully accessible version of these PDFs, please visit our Accessibility page if you need assistance accessing this document.)

Jean Ciavonne Remembered from PPLD TV on Vimeo.

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 April, join us on Wed., April 2 at 5 p.m. for a conversation with acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about her newest novel By Any Other Name. Told in intertwining narratives, By Any Other Name is a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire that asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten. Register now to join the wondrous conversation! Register for the access link.

Then, on Tue., April 8 at noon, join us to learn about stories, science, and the history of trees with Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse Horticulturist Matthew Fleming. Explore the secret world of trees as is revealed in the beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world—The Tree Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Trees. Combining natural history and a scientific overview with a wider look at the history, uses, symbolism, and mythology of trees, this book is a new kind of guide to these fascinating organisms. Register for the access link. 

For the last Virtual Author Visit in April, join us on Thu., April 24 at 5 p.m. for a visit with bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz about his Orphan X series and his life as a writer of suspenseful storytelling. Orphan X, the series opener, introduces the world to the Nowhere Man. He is a legendary figure spoken about only in whispers. It’s said that when he’s reached by the truly desperate and deserving, the Nowhere Man can and will do anything to protect and save them. Register for the access link.

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

More Upcoming Virtual Author Visits 

• Wed., May 7 at noon: How to Use Anxiety to Thrive with Dr. David H. Rosmarin
• Wed., May 14 at 5 p.m.: On Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller with Author Liann Zhang
• Wed., May 21 at noon: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us with Author Rachelle Bergstein 

Published on Mon., March 31, 2025

Until the Computer Lab and Children's area reopen:

• Laptops and Chromebooks are available to checkout for in-library use at the Service desk.
• All Children's programming will continue as scheduled. To participate, please enter through the Aspen Meeting Room.

Join us outside the Children's area for a reopening ceremony and celebration on Tue., April 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Learn about how Updates at Penrose Library Enhance Library Users’ Experiences.
 

Penrose Library will undergo the next stages of its improvement project starting on Mon., Jan. 6.

Published on Jan. 3, 2025 | Updated on Thu., Jan. 30, 2025

Building on efforts started in February 2024 to increase the safety and security of Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) patrons and staff, Penrose Library is gearing up for another round of updates starting in January 2025. Plans have been made to update the Computer Lab, Children’s area, both the east and west entrances, and the security monitoring and alarm systems. 

Penrose Library will remain open for the duration of this project. The Computer Lab and Children's area will be closed during construction. Library users can check out laptops or Chromebooks for use inside the Library by visiting the service desk. All Children's programming will continue as scheduled. Participants can join the programs by entering through the Aspen Meeting Room.

The user experience in the Computer Lab will be enhanced with a more open floor plan allowing for smaller collaborative spaces and increased availability of computers. New desks will be installed that will increase user privacy and create a more user-friendly environment. The service desk will be updated to provide for safer and comprehensive management of the computer lab. A Chromebook charging kiosk will also be installed. 

The shelving in the Children’s area will be lowered to improve sightlines and lighting. To increase child safety and provide noise reduction, a glass storefront will be installed to enclose the area. Also, the Library’s youngest patrons will be welcomed into their renovated space with a new hand-painted mural by a Colorado artist. 

Both the east and west entrances will receive updated exterior doors. New service desks will be installed at both entrances with an ADA approach height so that all patrons and staff can enjoy interactions at a desk suited to their needs. The east entrance (off Cascade Ave.) will have an energy-saving air curtain installed and be designed for better incoming and outgoing traffic flow. The Friends of PPLD will also be expanding their bookstore.  

To increase security throughout the building, an updated security monitoring and alarm system will be installed. 

PPLD is looking forward to completing these updates and continuing to create a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for all users of Penrose Library. This Library is a strong part of the downtown Colorado Springs area and is proud to continue to be a contributing part of the thriving Downtown community. Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all to access the Library’s resources and spaces has been and will continue to be at the foundation of Pikes Peak Library District. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. 

Updates are expected to be completed in March 2025.  

Penrose Library reopens with Open House!

Published on Mon., April 1, 2024

Penrose Library will be completing the first stage of updates planned for 2024 and reopening to the public on Wed., April 10 at 4 p.m. This is the only stage that requires closing the building to complete, as all other updates are expected to proceed while the Library is open.

During National Library Week, April 7 – 13, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will be hosting open houses throughout the Library District to celebrate libraries and what they bring to our communities. When Penrose Library reopens at 4 p.m. on April 10, this will serve as that location’s Open House and everyone is invited.

Penrose closing for security updates starting February 2024

Published on Mon., Jan. 8, 2024

Updates are coming to Penrose Library in early 2024. In a concerted effort to increase the safety and security of Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) patrons and staff, Library leadership has determined that a significant investment in the systems, structures/facilities, and resources in use at Penrose Library is paramount. Staff and community members have asked that the Library District address this location specifically, and leadership has listened to that feedback. After careful evaluation, the Library District determined the most efficient updates that are financially feasible for PPLD and that provide the biggest return on time and funds invested. 

Although Penrose Library will not need to be closed for the majority of the plan implementation (predicted to take most of 2024 to complete), the beginning stages of the plan do require closing the facility. Penrose Library will be closed for approximately two months starting Thu., Feb. 1 in order to complete this stage of updates. During the closure, bookshelves will be shortened and reconfigured to increase shelf space, brighten the area, and increase visibility and accessibility. This process requires removing all of the books, disassembling the shelving units, sending them out for modification, and then reassembling them in their new configuration before reshelving the books. Only this stage will require closing the building, as all other updates are expected to proceed while the building is open. Other elements of this project will require the closure of smaller sections of Penrose Library for shorter periods of time in the coming months. Here are the planned changes that will not require a building closure to complete:

• Moving the lockers currently located along the wall near our Regional History & Genealogy department to the west entrance and installing another set of lockers at the east entrance for patrons to store belongings during their visit.
• Installation of boulders in the outdoor areas around the windows of the Children’s section.
• Interior stairwell fencing installed below the main and west stairwells.
• A visually appealing steel fence (resembling the one around the Carnegie Garden next to Penrose Library) installed around the premises.
• Creation of a permanent structure in the back parking lot in which people with large belongings may store their items short-term during their visit.
• Remodel of the computer lab.
• Replacing existing tables and chairs with more functional furniture.
• Removal of outlets and installation of a charging station near the front entrance.
• Repositioning staff desks to strategic locations throughout the building.
• Sectioning off the Children’s area to make it its own distinct room.
• Updating all security hardware throughout the building, including the installation of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant speakers.

PPLD is excited to update Penrose Library to improve safety and security for all patrons and staff. Penrose is a strong part of the downtown Colorado Springs area, and the Library is proud to continue to be a contributing part of this thriving community. Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all to access the Library’s resources and spaces has been and will continue to be at the foundation of Pikes Peak Library District. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Accessing Regional History & Genealogy

While Penrose Library is closed, limited Regional History & Genealogy resources will be available.

Virtual assistance

When needed, patrons can schedule a virtual meeting with Regional History & Genealogy staff for one-on-one help to address specific research needs.

Microfilm

While Penrose Library is closed, Microfilm may be requested from Regional History & Genealogy, in advance, to be sent and viewed at East Library. Patrons will need to give four-days’ notice before the film will be available to them. East Library staff will contact patrons when their film is ready to view. Patrons must view the film at East Library (items do not circulate outside of the library). Microfilm requests from Interlibrary Loan during this time will also be available from East Library.

Database Access

Certain PPLD databases that are only available at Penrose Library are currently available at other locations while Penrose Library is closed.

• Westlaw: Available at East Library
• Foundation Directory Professional: Available at Library 21c

Voting is both a right and a responsibility, and democracy works best when everyone participates. Learn more about making your voice heard with the Library’s nonpartisan Voting & Elections Guide for information about:  

• How to register to vote or update your voter registration, as well as useful information for first-time voters   
• How you can vote, including when to expect to receive your ballot via mail, when and how to return your completed ballot, and where you can return your mail-in ballot on or before Election Day     
• What will be on the ballot, including candidates running for elected office as well as local ballot measures   

This nonpartisan resource guide, compiled and maintained by PPLD librarians, also includes other useful information like finding news sources, fact checking, and identifying fake news. You can also find information on your current legislators and see how political campaigns are financed.  

Here are other ways that PPLD can help you prepare and participate in upcoming elections:   

• There are secure, 24-hour ballot drop boxes outside of East Library and Library 21c. They are accessible by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. (Fun facts: These are two of 39 total ballot drop boxes across El Paso County. Plus, East Library has the LARGEST ballot box in the state! It had to be specially built and installed due to high use by local voters.)
• Political literature may be available inside your local library as the general election date gets closer. If space allows, at Library locations, there’s usually a table dedicated to this purpose with clearly marked signage, and anyone can display political information in this spot only. (PPLD does not endorse any political campaigns.) 

For anyone interested in petitioning, hosting a voter registration drive, or conducting other civic engagement activities on any PPLD property, please review our Solicitation Policy.  

Who can vote in Colorado?

• U.S. Citizens.
• Individuals who are 17 years old if they will be 18 years old by election day (but 15 to 17-year-olds can preregister!). 
• People who have lived in Colorado for 22 days or more before election day. 
• People who are not in detention in a correctional facility, jail, or other facility for a felony conviction. 
• People who have finished their sentence for a felony conviction are eligible to vote. 
• People who are currently on parole, on probation, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor, are eligible to vote.

Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) Mobile Library Services has added a new weekly stop in the Rockrimmon area starting Fri., Feb. 21. Every Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., the bookmobile will stop at Wilson Ranch Park located at 2335 Allegheny Drive. This is one of three parks our Mobile Libraries visit in Colorado Springs.

Three PPLD staff members will be at the bookmobile weekly to provide Library resources, services, and seasonal programming. It is just a short distance from the shopping center that previously housed the District’s Rockrimmon Library location.

“This is an incredible neighborhood park that is very busy and has a lot of space,” said PPLD Director of Branches Janina Karoub. “The vehicles we will be using are able to transport a large quantity of Library materials, so we anticipate being busy. We are also extremely excited to have secured this location and cannot wait to start hosting Rockrimmon patrons in their community.”

Wilson Ranch Park is easily accessible for people who need additional support to use the bookmobile; vehicles can easily enter and exit the parking lot safely. Additionally, the park offers a seasonal pool, tennis courts, a playground, and portable restrooms, making it an appealing destination for the bookmobile services.

We considered four other locations while looking for an ideal spot for the new mobile stop. The other locations didn’t meet our standards for a quality bookmobile experience for our patrons due to factors like fees, safety concerns, and limited hours of availability.

Library users who want to start using this mobile stop as their primary location to pick up their holds should contact our Mobile Library Services team by calling (719) 531-6333, x7702 or emailing bookmobile@ppld.org.