What's New at PPLD!

PPLD executive director Paula Miller hosts the groundbreaking ceremony for the High Prairie Branch Library.

Watch the High Prairie Branch Groundbreaking Ceremony

Come participate in National Gaming Day with PPLD. On Saturday, November 14 at East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.) between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., there will be tween and teen video gaming in the East Teen Center, as well as board gaming and chess in Conference Rooms I and II.

From 2 – 4 p.m. in the East Library Community Meeting Room, there will be senior/teen Wii gaming. Seniors can learn how to play Wii sports with the youth of the community. Invite your teen age family members to join you and learn from the best. All seniors are encouraged to attend, but teens must be accompanied by a senior to attend this gaming session.

Also from 2 – 4 p.m., there will be board games and Rock Band playing in the Carnegie Reading Room at Penrose Library (20 N. Cascade Ave.).

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 first 150 teens who show up with a PPLD library card at this party will skate for free, not including skate rental ($1.50 for regular skates, $3.50 for inline skates). Don’t have a card? Don’t worry! You can sign up for one at the party.

Skate City will provide bus transportation from the Fountain and Old Colorado City library branches. If you are interested in taking a bus to this event, contact Mary Gapko (Fountain Branch, 382-5347) or Tiffany Paisley (Old Colorado City Branch, 634-1698).

And be sure to dress up for the costume contest!

• When: Friday, October 30, 6 – 10 p.m.
• Where: Skate City, 4575 Austin Bluffs Parkway

Latoya Lucas, award-winning author of The Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior about Faith and Perseverance, will give a free presentation and book signing. Lucas is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, and recently was awarded the Military Writers society of America Gold Medal Award. She also recently sat down for an interview for PPLD TV, which can be viewed by clicking here.

• When: Saturday, October 31, 2 – 4 p.m.
• Where: East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Attend the Colorado Springs Ballot Measure and School Board Candidate Forum on Tuesday, October 13 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Penrose Library Carnegie Reading Room (20 N. Cascade) and get engaged in this year’s election. This lively forum will include pro and con speakers and audience questions about Colorado Springs ballot measures 2C and 300, and presentations by school board candidates from District 11 and District 2. Enjoy free Bristol beer at a reception following the forum. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Citizens Project for more information at info@citizensproject.org, 520-9899, or online by clicking here.

If you are interested in drama and acting, or just like performing, the Improv Club is for you. The group is for teens in 6th grade and up, or ages 11 – 18. No experience or registration is required. For additional information, contact akrupicka@ppld.org or khoke@ppld.org.

• When: Wed., Oct. 14 and Wed., Nov. 11 from 4 – 5 p.m.
• Where: East Teen Center at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Watch as Kathleen Murray speaks about her art. Her vibrant works are on display at Old Colorado City Branch in October and Cheyenne Mountain Branch in November.

This class highlights standard free genealogy websites, including: Social Security Death Index, Bureau of Land Management Land Records, FamilySearch (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), among others. Register by calling 531-6333, x2253 or online by clicking here.

• When: Wed., October 14 at 10:30 a.m. – noon
• Where: Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave.

There will be photo exhibits on loan from NASA on display at the East and Penrose Libraries for the month of October as part of All Pikes Peak Reads 2009.

At East Library, Special Effects from Space contains dazzling views of the ever-changing surface of the Earth and its atmosphere. Penrose Library’s Art Gallery is housing America from Space, spectacular shots of this country from the unique perspective of outer space. Both collections contain captions to shed further light on these startling images. Be sure to check out both exhibits this month and experience a truly out-of-this-world visual journey.