What's New at PPLD!

A ground breaking ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 12 will begin the construction process for the High Prairie Branch Library, a facility that will provide Library service to eastern El Paso County. Non-perishable food items for Care and Share will be collected at this event. The ground breaking will occur at 7035 Old Meridian Road in Falcon, site of the soon-to-be newest branch in Pikes Peak Library District. Construction should be completed by mid-2010.

Funds are still being raised to help pay for this project. Interested donors should contact the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation (531-6333, x2205 or ppld.org/foundation).

The Sand Creek Branch’s temporary location will close at 6 p.m. on February 18 for the final stage of renovation. It will reopen on March 21. During its closure, all holds will be routed to the Ruth Holley Branch.

The remodeled library, located at 1821 S. Academy Blvd., will open with a large, open floor plan that better accommodates the needs of its patrons. The area that has served as a temporary branch will become an 800-square-foot quiet reading room. Separate rooms have been carved out for teens and children, creating a more inviting space for youth. In all, the library gained an additional 4,000 square feet by utilizing storage space within the existing building and remodeling it for public use.

You may be aware that the Sand Creek Branch is undergoing an expansion. We’ve created a new website for you to learn more about this project and how you can help:

Visit our Sand Creek Branch Expansion website

Sand Creek Branch closed their doors temporarily on Wednesday, October 1 to begin their renovation process. They will remain closed through the rest of the week to prepare to offer limited services during the renovation.

Sand Creek Branch will re-open on Saturday October 4 at 2 p.m.

Sand Creek’s temporary hours during the renovation are:

• Monday – Tuesday: 4 – 8 p.m.
• Wednesday – Saturday: 2 – 6 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m.

For more information about the renovation, please visit sandcreekconstruction.blogspot.com.

The Sand Creek Branch will be closing its doors on October 1, beginning a four-month facelift. It is expected to reopen with full services in February 2009.

The payoff for this inconvenience will be on display in February, when patrons will have access to 4,000 additional square feet of space. This area will be filled with more computers for all age levels, a quiet reading room, and a café with vending machines.

A drive-though bookdrop and holds pick-up window will also benefit patrons, as will laptops for in-library checkout.

Beginning October 4, the branch will reopen for four hours each day with limited services. Patrons will be able to pick up holds, use a computer, and access a small collection of new and audio/visual materials. The entrance to the temporary location will be 60 feet south of the front door.

The hours during renovation will be:

Sand Creek Branch Manager Sid Stanfill will document the progress of this renovation and expansion at sandcreekconstruction.blogspot.com. If you have any questions, please call 597-7070.

We’re expanding Library services in your community!

Check out our NEW High Prairie Branch Library website! Find out information about the project, concept drawings, and how to help.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT HIGH PRAIRIE BRANCH LIBRARY

• Service Area: Falcon and surroundings
• Building Size: approximately 6,000 square feet
• Project Budget: $1,613,200 2008
• Fundraising Goal: $574,000 (36% of total)
• Land: Donated by the Pieper Family and Farmers State Bank
• Collection on Site: 14,000 items
• Additional Amenities: Farmers State Bank Community Meeting Room, wireless technology, teen area, drive-up book drop, study rooms, exhibit space, fireside reading area, access to the District’s 1.2 million collection items, and more!

Carnegie, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Old Colorado City Branch Grand Re-Opening Celebration! Saturday, November 17, 2007

Schedule of Events:

• 9:30 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting
• 10:00 a.m. – noon Meet and talk with Katharine Lee Bates & Teddy Roosevelt
• Noon – Buffalo Soldiers
• 1 p.m. – Technology of the Future
• 2-4 p.m. – Live broadcast by Q102.7
• 3 p.m. – The Emperor’s New Clothes by Birgitta De Pree
• 4 p.m. – What is a Carnegie Library?

For more information about the Old Colorado City Branch click here.

See you there!

The Old Colorado City Branch Carnegie Preservation Project has been honored by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs. At the 2007 Historic Presentation Awards Celebration on Thursday, the project received the Award for Excellence in Civic Restoration.

Congratulations to Branch Manager Julianne Rist and the staff at Old Colorado City Branch, contractor GE Johnson, architects Gifford Spurck, and Dolores Fowler with the Foundation for all of the hard work and care that has gone into this project.

The judges, who came from other parts of the state and viewed numerous structures in the Springs, called PPLD’s Carnegie a jewel and all of the work on the project near perfection. They were pleased to make the award in honor of a structure that has continued to fulfill its original purpose for more than a century – a rare find in their line of work.

Well done and cheers to everyone involved!

Old Colorado City Branch is beginning to move in!

Beginning on Thursday Oct 16, you may pick up your holds from the branch during the following hours:

• Thursday, October 16 through Saturday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 22 through Saturday, October 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Old Colorado City lift arrived on Monday, September 24 and installation started the same day. The lift will allow us to provide ADA access to our basement meeting room. We are very excited to see the final pieces begin installation, and hope that construction will soon be completed.