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).

William B. Scott, author of All Pikes Peak Reads 2009 selection Space Wars: The First Three Hours of World War III, will give presentation entitled The Power of Fiction to Shape Perception. Scott is a full-time author and consultant. He retired as the Rocky Mountain Bureau Chief for Aviation Week & Space Technology, following a 22-year career with the international magazine. He also served as Senior National Editor in Washington, and as Avionics and Senior Engineering Editors in Los Angeles.

Refreshments will be served and admission is free.

When: Thursday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: University of the Rockies, Harvey House Auditorium, 555 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

PPLD librarians have compiled some early literacy resources for parents. Reading to children early increases literacy and brain development. Resources include a series of “Grow a Reader” activities for children 3-5 years old, and recommended early literacy websites.

Visit PPLD’s Early Literacy web page

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.

The National Gallery of Writing is featuring stories, essays, poems, and more from Pikes Peak Library District staff.

The National Gallery of Writing is a virtual space—a website—where people who perhaps have never thought of themselves as writers—mothers, bus drivers, fathers, veterans, nurses, firefighters, sanitation workers, stockbrokers—select and post writing that is important to them.

PPLD has had 62 entries from staff to date, with more on their way. Take a few minutes to look around!

http://www.galleryofwriting.org/galleries/gallery_pieces.php?galleryid=146639

A health fair for seniors will be held at Hillside Community Center (925 S. Institute) on Wednesday, October 14 from 9 a.m. – noon. There will be free health risk assessments for individuals who are uninsured or lack resources. Flu shots, provided by the Visiting Nurses Association, are free for persons with Medicare, and $25 for all others. A wide variety of screening will be available, including vision, hearing, dental, and bone density. Call 975-0742 or 574-5435 for more information.

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.

Looking for GED, SAT, GRE, ASVAB or other practice testing fast and easy online? The Testing & Education Reference Center subscription database offers this and more. This service is provided free to PPLD patrons whose card number begins with a 4. It provides online practice tests to help prepare for higher education and the working world plus information on private high schools, undergraduate and graduate programs and executive education programs that is searchable by location, major, tuition, sports, and more.

To find the Testing & Education Reference Center, click on Electronic Reference on the ppld.org homepage. Click on Education in the right column and you will find this database listed among others in alphabetical order.

Click here for a brief introduction to the Testing & Education Reference Center.

The Intersections Film Festival 2009 features award winning films and documentaries from Turkey, Iran, the Arab Middle East, and North Africa. This year’s festival explores the theme of women’s lives and experiences. Post-screening discussions and a Q&A follow five out of the seven featured films and documentaries.

This festival is free and open to the public. However, there is a limited seating capacity. There are two screening locations: Dwire Hall on the UCCS campus and at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

The opening reception is Friday, October 16 at 6 p.m. in Dwire Hall’s Room 121. The festival closes with a reception on Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center. For more information, including a list of films and a screening schedule, visit www.uccs.edu/iff.