May 2024 update:

The hours are expanding at Sand Creek and Ruth Holley libraries starting Tue., May 28. The new hours will be: 

Sand Creek Library 

• Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Ruth Holley Library 

• Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Start original message (posted February 2024): 

Pikes Peak Library District is expanding service hours at several libraries starting on Fri., March 1. Hours are determined by multiple factors, including community need and staffing availability. After careful evaluation, we determined that the open hours at Cheyenne Mountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Old Colorado City, Ruth Holley, and Ute Pass libraries should be expanded.  

As part of the hours extension, Cheyenne Mountain Library, Monument Library, and Old Colorado City Library have an additional open day in their weekly schedules.  

Here are our new hours at each location: 

Cheyenne Mountain Library

• Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Manitou Springs Library

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday – Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Monument Library

• Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Old Colorado City Library

• Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed 

Ruth Holley Library

• Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Ute Pass Library

• Monday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2 – 6 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1 – 2 p.m.)
• Tuesday and Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2 – 6 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1 – 2 p.m.)
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2 – 5 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1 – 2 p.m.) 

Food industry careers are rewarding and challenging but can be difficult to break into without prior experience or training. Pikes Peak Library District offers Food Industry Training that is perfect for anyone wanting to enter the food industry or advance their career. We offer this training multiple times per year. Registration is currently open for the next session that runs from March 25 - April 26.

The Food Industry Training is a five-week training program at the Library that teaches participants the entry-level skills they need to find or advance in employment as a qualified prep cook or line cook. The program helps them learn basic culinary fundamentals, practice professionalism, explore career opportunities in the culinary industry, and earn their ServSafe Food Handler certification.  

Participants learn proper food handling, recipe reading, product identification, team building in a food industry setting, cooking methods and techniques, and other essential skills.  

No prior experience is necessary, and there is no cost to participate. Participants must be eligible to work in the U.S., be able to attend the scheduled classes, be pursuing a career in the culinary industry, and be age 18 or older. Applications for this session close on Thu., March 7.

March is Women’s History Month, honoring the contributions of women in the U.S. now and throughout history, and recognizing the achievements of women in a variety of fields. Celebrate and learn more about this history with the resources, book lists, and websites on this page. 

Booklists

• Books for Family Sharing 
• Biographies and Memoirs 
• Classics 
• Humor 
• Hoopla eBooks 
• Books on OverDrive
• Check out the curated book lists on Libby/OverDrive 

Resources

• Find biographies and reference information about notable women in history using one of PPLD’s databases. 
• Explore eBooks by women authors using Freading. 
• Enjoy videos and documentaries directed by women or about women’s history and current events on Kanopy. 
• Browse a selection of movies and TV on Hoopla. 

Websites 

• Women’s History Month (for all ages)
  The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. 
• National Women’s History Museum (for all ages) 
• National Archives (for all ages) 
• U.S. Census Bureau (for all ages)
  Find interesting facts and statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. 
• National Geographic Kids (an engaging resource for kids) 

All El Paso County residents are invited to attend one of four upcoming public input sessions to express your thoughts about how Pikes Peak Library District can better serve its community. As we plan for the future of the Library District, your feedback will help us identify ways we are succeeding and in what ways we can continue to grow. If you have used any of our libraries, resources, or services, or have ideas how the Library could help you and your family, join us to share your experiences and suggestions with us. Your input will help shape the future of the Library District.

Mark your calendar to attend the input session that fits your schedule best:

Wed., Feb. 14 from 2 - 3 p.m.

Western Museum of Mining & Industry

225 North Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Wed., Feb. 21 from 10 - 11 a.m.

Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado

2605 Preamble Pt, Colorado Springs, CO 80915

Registration recommended.

Tue., Feb. 27 from 6 - 7 p.m.

Ruth Holley Library

685 North Murray Blvd.

Registration recommended.

Thu., Feb. 29 from 6 - 7 p.m.

Virtual

Register for the access link

Registration required.

Unable to attend? We still want to hear from you! Share your feedback by completing our online survey. If you took the survey in fall 2023, your feedback has already been received and you don’t need to take it again.

On behalf of Pikes Peak Library District, we wish to send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends affected by the tragedy that took place this morning on the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs campus. It was senseless, dreadful, and heartbreaking. As we struggle to comprehend this news and the loss of members of our community, please remember that we stand with you.

Below are resources you can access for more information and support.

Websites

• Colorado Crisis Services hotline: Call (844)493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 to speak with a trained counselor or professional. Counselors are also available at walk-in locations or online to chat between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. Colorado Crisis Services is the statewide behavioral health crisis response system offering residents mental health, substance use or emotional crisis help, information and referrals. Its mission is to strengthen Colorado’s mental health system by providing Coloradans with greater access to crisis services wherever they are at 24/7/365 regardless of ability to pay. They offer walk-in, text, and call-in services for people in crisis.
• Colorado State Government Behavioral Health resources: Mental health resources from the Behavioral Health Administration of Colorado.
• Colorado 211: A confidential and multilingual service connecting people to vital resources across the state. No matter where you live in Colorado, you can find information about resources in your local community.
• Diversus Health: Offers a 24/7 walk-in crisis center for crisis services and counseling for all ages, regardless of ability to pay. You can request an appointment online or visit 115 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
• Medicaid support services: Medicaid-insured members have access to behavioral health services or other supports, and we want them to get the care they need during this time. Call (719)598-1540 to contact them directly, or refer to care coordination via the online referral form.
• Peak View Behavioral Health Assessment team: Individualized help for mental health treatment and other services. Visit them online or call (719)444-8484.

The numbers are in, and our community made excellent use of the Library in 2023! From eLibrary use and program attendance, to the most checked out book titles of the year, we feel that this data reflects the vibrant communities we serve. We also had 27,489 people sign up for library cards last year.

As one exciting 2023 achievement, we reached 3 million digital checkouts on Libby and OverDrive. In September 2023, we announced on social media that we reached 2 million Libby/OverDrive checkouts about a month earlier than we had reached the same milestone in 2022. We thought this was the height of excitement until we joined 22 other libraries in surpassing 3 million. Our community made this possible by borrowing eMagazines, eBooks, and eAudiobooks through the Libby app and its parent website OverDrive.

People throughout El Paso County visited our libraries more than 1,878,247 times to check out 2,298,021 physical materials (and 3,096,369 digital materials, but you don’t have to visit for that), use computers 219,885 times, ask 96,218 reference questions, and fill meeting rooms 27,623 times. We saw more than 156,790 people attend our 6,533 program offerings, and 3,180 Pikes Peak Culture Pass checkouts allowed people to visit cultural attractions around the Pikes Peak region and Denver. We are excited to see how you use your Library in 2024!

Here are the top checkouts of 2023:

Top 10 Juvenile Checkouts

1. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor (checked out 915 times)
2. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (checked out 801 times)
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (checked out 764 times)
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (checked out 735 times)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (checked out 715 times)
6. Front Desk by Kelly Yang (checked out 711 times)
7. City Spies by James Ponti (checked out 698 times)
8. Rhinos at Recess by Mary Pope Osborne (checked out 607 times)
9. A Long Walk to Water: A Novel by Linda Sue Park (checked out 584 times)
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (checked out 569 times)

Top 10 Teen Checkouts

1. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (checked out 425 times)
2. Scythe by Neal Shusterman (checked out 398)
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (checked out 329 times)
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (checked out 275 times)
5. Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan (checked out 199 times)
6. Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman (checked out 189 times)
7. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (checked out 186 times)
8. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (checked out 184 times)
9. The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure by Rick Riordan (checked out 176 times)
10. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer (checked out 167 times)

Top 10 Adult Checkouts

1. The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line by Mari K. Eder (our 2022 All Pikes Peak Reads title, checked out 1,088 times)
2. Simply Lies by David Baldacci (checked out 954 times)
3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (checked out 953 times)
4. Storm Watch by C.J. Box (checked out 901 times)
5. Desert Star by Michael Connelly (checked out 829 times)
6. The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham (checked out 821 times)
7. Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (checked out 796 times)
8. Fairy Tale: A Novel by Stephen King (checked out 729 times)
9. Mad Honey: A Novel by Jodi Picoult (checked out 684 times)
10. Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (checked out 669 times)

Join Pikes Peak Library District in celebrating Black History Month! Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. This month-long observance is an opportunity to recognize the impact that Black Americans have made on our society. Browse this page to explore Library resources and links to other websites where you can explore this history in-depth. 

Virtual Author Visit

Join us for a Virtual Author Visit with award-winning author Jason Mott about his recent novel Hell of a Book on Tue., Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. This magnificent work of fiction is deeply honest, at times electrically funny, and is a book that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans and America as a whole. Register to get the link.

• Online: Tue., Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.

Virtual Genealogy Class: Researching African American Ancestors

Researching your African American ancestors can be a challenging, yet rewarding, process. In addition to research strategies, this class will cover how to use both traditional and unique resources to explore your family tree. Register for the access link.

• Online: Tue., Feb. 13, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Resources

• Hoopla Audiobooks
• Hoopla Resources
• 50 Songs to Honor Black History Month - Freegal 

Education Resources

• The Shivers African American Historical Cultural Collection
  • Explore the Shivers African American Historical Cultural Collection to find a wide variety of materials for all ages that celebrate African American culture.
• Biography in Context 
• National Archives: African American Heritage 
• Reading Rockets: Celebrating and Learning about Black History and Culture 
• ProQuest: Black Freedom Struggle in the United States 
   

Regional History & Genealogy Resources

• The Invisible People of the Pikes PeakRegion: an Afro-American Chronical by John Stokes Holley 
• Everybody Welcome: a Memoir of Fannie Mae Duncan and the Cotton Club by Fannie Mae Duncan 
• Negro Historical Association Newsletters and Yearbooks (available in Special Collections reference stacks) 
• African Americans in Colorado Springs in PPLD Digital Collections 
• Lew Tilley Photographs in PPLD Digital Collections 
• Black History Scrapbooks (Archival collection MSS 0387, available in Special Collections) 
• Colorado Springs Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (Archival collection MSS 0256, available in Special Collections) 
• African American Historical and Genealogical Society of Colorado Springs 
   

Websites

• Biography in Context 
• National Archives: African American Heritage 
• Black History Month 
• Black History Month - History Channel 
• ProQuest: Black Freedom Struggle in the United States 
• Celebrate African American History Month – Library Of Congress 
• National Museum of African American History and Culture 
• Black History Month – National Parks Service 

What does a region’s history look like through the lens of people who are often left out of a community’s archived history? Come find out with We Have a Story: Homelessness in Colorado Springs. This powerful documentary project showcases in a gallery the unique perspectives of three young adults experiencing homelessness and a caseworker who serves them through photography that captures this complex and diverse community. Join us at East Library for the reception of the gallery on Sat., Jan. 20 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

Over the course of one month in the Summer of 2023, participants took photos from their perspectives. They learned digital photography skills from a professional photographer and came together to critique and evaluate their photographs. They also met with a historian to conduct oral interviews capturing their experiences.

Each participant selected their four best photographs for the gallery, which will be on display at different PPLD locations each month. A written artist story accompanies each photo to delve more deeply into each individual’s perspectives.

The We Have a Story traveling exhibit will continue traveling in 2024, starting at East Library in January, Rockrimmon Library in February, and finishing at the Manitou Arts Center (MAC) in March. 

Kick off your New Year’s resolutions with the Library! Whether you want to save more money, learn a new language, get fit, enjoy more family time, or any other resolution for a new you in 2024, PPLD has you covered. To help you stick to your resolution, download the PPLD habit tracker and year-long calendar. They will help you get started on your new habits and track your progress. Use your library card to access PPLD resources and meet your goals head on!

Save Money

Your library card is your ticket to saving money throughout the year. Here are a few ways you can start saving today! 

• Get your library card for access to no-cost services and resources
• Ditch expensive subscriptions, stream TV shows and movies on Hoopla at no cost
• Skip costly recording studio fees by using PPLD’s studios for video and audio production
• Learn new skills at no cost by taking video courses on LinkedIn Learning 

Enjoy More Family Time

Your family deserves to spend quality time together doing things everyone loves. Here are a few ways that the Library can support your bonding time!

• Connect by reading picture books together (or use eBook picture books on Tumblebooks)
• Settle in for family movie nights with movies downloaded from Kanopy 
• Spark friendly family competition with board games, lawn games, and video games
• Come to PPLD programs and events for all ages each month

Get Fit

Building new health and fitness habits can be tough at first, but you’re not alone. Here are a few ideas to help you get started on your fitness goals! 

• Get in touch with your body during PPLD’s yoga classes at Library 21C, Rockrimmon Library, and online
• Develop healthy eating habits with nutrition books
• Get in shape with dance and fitness videos on Hoopla and Kanopy
• Level up your workout with no-cost music streaming on Freegal 

Learn a New Language

¡Hola! Hallo! Bonjour! Learning a new language is a great way to prepare for a trip, connect with friends and family, or keep your mind sharp. Here are a few resources at the Library to support your learning this year!

• Plan or join language meetups in PPLD’s meeting and study rooms
• Complete engaging lessons on the Mango Languages app
• Explore a variety of language learning books
• Learn cultural information through CultureGrams Online (requires a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of Library locations)

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions involve this year, your Library is here to support your efforts. Learn more about what your library card can do for you! 

Our theme for this year's Teen Art Contest is Balance.

Balance can be a physical skill or how we approach all the demands of our life. Can you balance on a tight rope or balance beam? Maybe you balance on a skateboard or ski board. Balance could be how you handle all the different responsibilities in your life - including your own needs and wants with school, family, and friends. Create a piece inspired by the theme that shares your thoughts on Balance or expresses what Balance means to you and enter it to win a prize!

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

Important Dates

• Sign up online between Thu., Dec. 1 – Tues., Feb. 13
• Drop off your artwork from Fri., Feb. 9 – Tue., Feb. 13
• Awards Ceremony on Tues., March 19th, at 6 p.m. at East Library Community Room
• Art on display throughout April
• Art pick up the first week of May

How to enter

Make sure you qualify:

• Must be ages 12 - 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 we can safely hang it 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 also transport in a regular passenger car.

Prepare your art:

• We highly recommend mattes or foamboard for artwork on paper. This helps protect it during transportation and helps with hanging.
  • Submitting art plain or in a frame is fine, just not preferred.
  • Pieces on canvas don’t need additional protection.
• Your submission should be able to support being hung in our galley hanging wire system.
  • Ideally this means there is a hanging wire 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.

Complete the entry forms:

• Fill out the art agreement form.
• All entries must have the following securely taped (NOT paper clipped) OR written on the back:
  • Name:
  • Grade:
  • Artwork Title (Make sure this matches the online entry you fill out below):
  • Display/Pick-up Location (choose East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c):
• Fill this online form out if you are a teen entering yourself
• Fill this online form out if you are a teacher entering for your student(s)
  • Download the excel spreadsheet here

Drop off your submission:

• Bring in your art and the art agreement form.
• Between Fri., Feb. 9 - Tue., Feb. 13., bring your submission to a drop-off location.
  • Drop-off locations:
    • East Library
    • Library 21c
    • Monument Library 
    • Fountain Library
    • High Prairie Library 
    • Manitou Springs Library
    • Ruth Holley Library
    • Cheyenne Mountain Library

Other Entry guidelines:

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

Award Categories

Award categories include: 

• One overall Best in Show
• Middle School Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice
• High School Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice for High School

Winning participants will be notified via letter in mid-March, with specific awards announced at the awards ceremony on Tues., March 19th, 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’ve had digital pieces, photography, crochet, painting, drawing, photographs of sculptures, collage, charcoal, and more!
   
• Do you have size requirements for pieces?
  Nothing formal – we have to be able to transport pieces between libraries, so the upper limit on size is something that will fit in a vehicle and will be able to be hung up 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 19 at 6 p.m. in the East Library Community Room 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 are Penrose Library, East Library, or Library 21c.
   
• When and where can I pick up my artwork?
  The first week of May at the library you selected to have it displayed. An email will be sent in April with specific details.
   
• What are the prizes?
  We award prizes for Coordinator’s Choice, First place, and Second place for the high school and middle school age groups. We also award a prize for Best in Show, which is the piece that received the highest score out of both the middle and high school categories. 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 on 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 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 who would like to enter a class of students, you can fill out the Excel Spreadsheet linked here 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 Becca at rphilipsen@ppld.org