Penrose Library will be completing the first stage of updates planned for 2024 and reopening to the public on Wed., April 10 at 4 p.m. This is the only stage that requires closing the building to complete, as all other updates are expected to proceed while the Library is open.

During National Library Week, April 7 – 13, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will be hosting open houses throughout the Library District to celebrate libraries and what they bring to our communities. When Penrose Library reopens at 4 p.m. on April 10, this will serve as that location’s Open House and everyone is invited.

Penrose closing for security updates starting February 2024

Published Jan., 8^th, 2024

Updates are coming to Penrose Library in early 2024. In a concerted effort to increase the safety and security of Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) patrons and staff, Library leadership has determined that a significant investment in the systems, structures/facilities, and resources in use at Penrose Library is paramount. Staff and community members have asked that the Library District address this location specifically, and leadership has listened to that feedback. After careful evaluation, the Library District determined the most efficient updates that are financially feasible for PPLD and that provide the biggest return on time and funds invested. 

Although Penrose Library will not need to be closed for the majority of the plan implementation (predicted to take most of 2024 to complete), the beginning stages of the plan do require closing the facility. Penrose Library will be closed for approximately two months starting Thu., Feb. 1 in order to complete this stage of updates. During the closure, bookshelves will be shortened and reconfigured to increase shelf space, brighten the area, and increase visibility and accessibility. This process requires removing all of the books, disassembling the shelving units, sending them out for modification, and then reassembling them in their new configuration before reshelving the books. Only this stage will require closing the building, as all other updates are expected to proceed while the building is open. Other elements of this project will require the closure of smaller sections of Penrose Library for shorter periods of time in the coming months. Here are the planned changes that will not require a building closure to complete:

• Moving the lockers currently located along the wall near our Regional History & Genealogy department to the west entrance and installing another set of lockers at the east entrance for patrons to store belongings during their visit.
• Installation of boulders in the outdoor areas around the windows of the Children’s section.
• Interior stairwell fencing installed below the main and west stairwells.
• A visually appealing steel fence (resembling the one around the Carnegie Garden next to Penrose Library) installed around the premises.
• Creation of a permanent structure in the back parking lot in which people with large belongings may store their items short-term during their visit.
• Remodel of the computer lab.
• Replacing existing tables and chairs with more functional furniture.
• Removal of outlets and installation of a charging station near the front entrance.
• Repositioning staff desks to strategic locations throughout the building.
• Sectioning off the Children’s area to make it its own distinct room.
• Updating all security hardware throughout the building, including the installation of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant speakers.

PPLD is excited to update Penrose Library to improve safety and security for all patrons and staff. Penrose is a strong part of the downtown Colorado Springs area, and the Library is proud to continue to be a contributing part of this thriving community. Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all to access the Library’s resources and spaces has been and will continue to be at the foundation of Pikes Peak Library District. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Accessing Regional History & Genealogy

While Penrose Library is closed, limited Regional History & Genealogy resources will be available.

Virtual assistance

When needed, patrons can schedule a virtual meeting with Regional History & Genealogy staff for one-on-one help to address specific research needs.

Microfilm

While Penrose Library is closed, Microfilm may be requested from Regional History & Genealogy, in advance, to be sent and viewed at East Library. Patrons will need to give four-days’ notice before the film will be available to them. East Library staff will contact patrons when their film is ready to view. Patrons must view the film at East Library (items do not circulate outside of the library). Microfilm requests from Interlibrary Loan during this time will also be available from East Library.

Database Access

Certain PPLD databases that are only available at Penrose Library are currently available at other locations while Penrose Library is closed.

• Westlaw: Available at East Library
• Foundation Directory Professional: Available at Library 21c

The Library supports homeschoolers and homeschool families throughout El Paso County in a variety of ways. We offer homeschool programs for enriched learning, provide access to books and research materials, and create spaces for homeschoolers to get out of the house. Right now, we’re preparing for one of our biggest events for families new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling: the Homeschool Resource Fair. 

Our annual Homeschool Resource Fair connects both current and interested homeschool families with resources and information. This event features a wide variety of local exhibitors offering educational and extracurricular opportunities for homeschooling families. Stop by and chat with representatives from organizations and businesses that offer homeschooling services and support, including arts and science activities, sports groups, enrichment programs, tutoring, support groups, and more.  

There will also be fun, hands-on activities for kids to enjoy in the atrium.  

• Library 21c: Fri., April 12 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Click here to see the 2024 Homeschool Resource Fair Vendor Information

When:  Sat., April 27, 2024 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Library 21c

A maker is someone who creates – to be innovative, to solve problems, to bring something beautiful into the world, or simply to have fun. They have an idea and they bring it to life. Making can encompass just about anything, from high tech to low tech to no tech, from art to fabrication to artistic fabrication, from needles to table saws to software.

Join us for this event as we spend the day celebrating ingenuity in the Pikes Peak Region – by tinkering, thinking, and, of course, making! Past experiences include:

• Paper rockets
• Lego builds
• Local makerspaces
• Cosplay
• Whittling
• Cardboard creations
• 3D printing
• And so much more

If you have any questions, please email us at APPM@ppld.org.

PPLD will be selling a variety of old equipment during the event. Items will include old gaming systems, computers, monitors, old makerspace equipment, and more. Sales will be as-is, cash only with the buyer taking the item with them on the day of the event.

This April, celebrate National Poetry Month during the annual Pikes Peak Poetry Summit and open yourself to new ideas through powerful artistry. The summit got its start in 2022 and has proved to be a rousing success. Pikes Peak Library District is honored to host the summit for its third year in a row. This year’s theme is “Thriving Artists” and talents from across Colorado have been invited to share and celebrate this creative form. Join us for a day of exploring poetry and celebrating creativity with our community. 

This year’s Pikes Peak Poetry Summit is on Sat., April 13 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at The Hall at PPLD (20 W. Pikes Peak Ave.). 

The summit offers a unique opportunity to celebrate writing and self-expression whether you are a seasoned poet, embarking on your exploration of this diverse art form, or just a lover of poetry. You will be inspired, improve your craft, share your words, and learn more about poetry locally and across the state. Engage with our poetry workshops, learn how to slam, and experience amazing poetry and dance performances. 

We look forward to celebrating poetry with our community. Let poetry guide you across the bridge to new perspectives. All ages are welcome. Find all workshop descriptions and a schedule of the day in our program calendar. 

Workshops are provided at no cost and include: 

• How to Slam 101
• Stop Making Sense: The Exquisite Corpse and Other Surrealist Games
• Let's Make Poetry Zines!
• Shaping Your Story: Writing a Performance Art Piece 
• Poetic Resilience
• Spontaneous Overflow
• Self-Care through Poetry

Wed., April 3 is the sixth annual Library Giving Day! On that date, people across the country — including El Paso County — will come together as part of a movement to strengthen and support our local libraries. 

Where else but Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) can you find unlimited access to information, lifelong learning, programs, and resources that transcend physical limitations, geographic barriers, ethnicity, age, and education? In just one trip, you might find books to keep you entertained, make custom gifts in our makerspaces, and enjoy Storytime with your child. We provide essential resources for our community such as tax prep information and services, language learning and job prep classes and resources, eLibrary resources, research and regional history databases, homework help, activities and events that enrich our community, and more.
 

Support your Local library by making a donation

With you by our side, the PPLD Foundation can continue to fuel life-changing spaces, programs, and services. This means fewer barriers to success and increased opportunities of all kinds for members of our community. Your gift today will make a difference in our ability to serve everyone in 2024 and beyond. 

Pikes Peak Library District is excited to open author applications for the 2024 Mountain of Authors Local Author Showcase! Local authors can apply to be part of this year’s in-person or virtual author showcase. The event will be held on Sat., June 22 at Library 21c, and feature Keynote Speaker Adrian Miller. This is an exciting afternoon of networking and connecting with other authors and the public.

A limited number of applicants will be invited to be part of the in-person author showcase. In-person authors will have a table at the event for networking opportunities and book sales. Authors will be responsible for their own book sales and transactions. Authors not selected for the in-person showcase can be part of our Virtual Author Showcase, where authors will create videos promoting their books to be part of the virtual event.

Applications are due by 11 p.m. on Fri., March 22.

Learn more and apply through our 2024 Mountain of Authors Showcase Author Application.  

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.