What's New at PPLD!

Remember the Titans
Denzel Washington plays Herman Boone, who is hired as the T.C. Williams High football coach over a white coach in Alexandria, Virginia. Takes place in the early 1970s during a time when the school has just been integrated to allow blacks into the school. When players returned to Alexandria the players found the city in turmoil due to the forced desegregation of the high school. As the season progresses the team’s success caused the community to accept the changes. After the Titans’ perfect season, the team and the city were closer than ever.

• When: Thursday, February 11, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave.

An introduction to library resources for job seekers. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, career and industry research, job searches, and more. Registration is required; call 389-8968.

• When: Wednesday, February 10 and 17, 8:30 a.m.
• Where: Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave.

Learn how to use library resources to make your job search easier. Research companies and industries to find the right job. This series of workshops will answer questions about determining your interests and skills, networking, resumes, interviewing, and other job search strategies. Registration is required; call 389-8968.

Classes are held at 6 pm at Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave.

When:

Tuesday, February 9: Job Hunting/Networking
Tuesday, February 16: Resumes/Cover Letters
Tuesday, February 23: Interviewing/Follow up

Join local historian, teacher, and storyteller Estelle Kounce for an evening of stories in honor of Black History month.

When: Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 pm
Where: Old Colorado City Branch

Jaime Renville, a Colorado Springs photographer, talks about life on her side of the lens in this production by PPLD TV. Her work is on display at East Library in February 2010.

In the coming months, PPLD will begin incorporating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology into its collection. The District has been researching and saving for three years to pay for this new technology.

RFID will provide many benefits to PPLD patrons and staff. The most obvious will be a substantial increase in the speed at which items can be checked in and out. Multiple items can be processed at once. This time savings should result in shorter lines and quicker access to holds. Many locations will receive additional self-check machines, which will also use RFID.

How does it work? During check in and check out, material is placed on a reader pad which transmits only the item’s electronic barcode number. An item must be within two feet of the reader. The item title and a patron’s personal information are not on the tag.

The one million items in the Library’s collection will be tagged with a microchip and antenna. We are actively looking for volunteers to assist with this large project. Please call 531-6333, x1251 if you are interested in helping. You can click here for an application.

In order to implement RFID, the District will be closing each of its facilities for about a week at a time in order to tag material and install new equipment. These rolling closures will occur in March – May 2010. (See closure schedule below.) Closing the facilities will help us to complete the project in a shorter time period. We appreciate your patience during this process.

Closure Schedule

During these closures, libraries will still be open from 3 – 6 p.m. each day (and 3 – 5 p.m. on Sundays the branch would normally be open) for holds pickup and access to a limited amount of popular materials. There will be no programs or computer access at the closed location during this time. Lists of the nearest PPLD facilities will be posted at each location.

Please note that all dates are subject to change. Check for updates on ppld.org or by calling (719) 531-6333.

Monument Branch: March 1 – 7
Cheyenne Mountain Branch: March 8 – 14
Fountain Branch: March 15 – 21
Rockrimmon Branch: March 29 – April 3
Ruth Holley Branch: April 5 – 11
Briargate Branch: April 12 – 18
Old Colorado City Branch: April 19 – 22
Ute Pass Branch: April 23 – 25 (normally closed Fri. and Sun.)
Sand Creek Branch: April 26 – May 2
East Library: May 3 – 15
Palmer Lake Branch: May 16 – 17 (normally closed Sun. and Mon.)
Penrose Library: May 18 – 23
Mobile Libraries: No city or county stops May 25 – 26

Pikes Peak Library District again presents the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest for Children. This year’s theme is Poetry Ignition: Select the Key to a Fantastic Poem.

Invent a poem using one of these innovative beginnings:

• Snow sparkles in the sun…
• White wintry moon…
• I don’t know why…
• I remember when…

We’ve started the poem for you! Now it’s up to you to create a dynamic finish!

Prizes: Six winners will each receive $25, a book, and an Imagination Celebration poster.

Eligibility: Open to all fourth and fifth graders in the Pikes Peak region.

Meets Colorado Model Content Standards 1, 2, and 4 for Reading and Writing.
Contest rules:

• One entry per student. Teachers are urged to review poems and submit no more than five per class.



• Each poem must be the original work of the contestant.
• Poems will be judged on originality, including poem title and adherence to the theme.
• Submit two typed, double-spaced copies of each poem on 8½” x 11” paper (no handwritten submissions or illustrations will be accepted). Include on a separate piece of paper: name, telephone number, home address, school name and address, and teacher and principal’s names. Poems will not be returned. Please keep a copy.
• Entries must be postmarked by February 26, 2010.

Submission of a poem constitutes full permission to exhibit, use, and publish the poem for any purpose – printed or electronic media – and to publish the name, school, and photographs of the student without compensation.

Mail entries to: The Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest
c/o Nancy Maday
Pikes Peak Library District
P.O. Box 1579
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1579
Or fax to: 632-6043

Questions? Call Nancy Maday at 531-6333, x2405 .

Awards will be announced in mid-April as part of the Imagination Celebration and Young People’s Poetry Week.

Citizens interested in serving on Pikes Peak Library District’s Board of Trustees may now apply for a vacancy on the board. You can access a printable application by clicking here.

The Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees is a seven-member volunteer board responsible for setting Library policies, setting the Library’s budget, and hiring an executive director to oversee the operation of the Library District. PPLD serves all of El Paso County except the city of Manitou Springs and Widefield School District 3.

The term of office is five years; vacancies are also filled for the remainder of an unexpired term. Board members may serve for no more than two terms. One or two trustee terms expire annually. This ensures continuity, yet allows for the regular introduction of new board members. Board members are appointed jointly by the Colorado Springs City Council and El Paso County Commissioners.

The current vacancy was created when board member Calvin Otto passed away. Otto was originally appointed in March 2003. The term for this vacant position will expire December 31, 2012.

The application deadline is February 5 at noon. Applications should be mailed to: Pikes Peak Library District; Attention: Board Applications; P.O. Box 1579; Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

Any questions concerning meeting commitments, times, or general trustee responsibilities may be directed to PPLD Executive Director Paula Miller at (719) 531-6333, x2010.

Come stock up on books, CDs, and more at great prices at the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District Winter Book Sale, which will be held at the East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.).

• Friday, January 29, 4 – 7 p.m.: Friends members and educators only
• Saturday, January 30, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: General public sale
• Sunday, January 31, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: $5 bag sale (bags supplied)

Kids ages 6 – 12: Write a book between 250 and 500 words in the style of Dr. Seuss. Include a sample illustration based on any part of your story. Turn it in at any PPLD branch by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16. Be sure to include your name and phone number on the title page so we can contact the winner. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. For more information, email akussman@ppld.org.