What's New: General

All You Need Is Your Library

At Pikes Peak Library District, you can do anything you set your mind to. We, of course, offer books at each of our libraries. But did you know you can also get help with at-home education, do virtual yoga, learn a new language, discover your family tree, stream music, watch movies, and more? PPLD offers so many exciting things, it’s hard to capture them all! Learn more about what all you can access with your library card below. Thanks to the public’s investment and taxpayer support, Pikes Peak Library District can provide Library resources and services to all cardholders for free. You can learn more about PPLD's budget and expenditures here.

My Library: Kids and Teens Edition!

Getting your Library Card

Click here to learn more about library cards.

My Account

From managing your holds, Interlibrary Loans, set notification preferences, and more! Click here to learn more about My Account.

Download the App

The Catalog

Find books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, video games, board games, and more! Click here for instructions on using the Catalog.

Programs

Click here to see our full calendar of events.

Meeting and Study Rooms

From a study room for one, to a venue space for large events and productions, we have a space to suit your needs.

eBooks

Audiobooks

Movies & TV Shows

Music

Magazines & Newspapers

Makerspaces

PPLD’s makerspaces offer access to tools, materials, and machines to help bring your creative vision to life. In these spaces, you’ll find equipment such as 3D printers, laser engraving & cutting machines, sewing machines, and assorted handicraft and art tools. Reservations are recommended for makerspace equipment. Find out what's available and plan your project. We also have a partnership with the Manitou Art Center allowing patrons to use their makerspace equipment. Go to the MAC page to find out more.

Studios

PPLD’s studios offer access to equipment and tools to help bring your recording desires to life. In these spaces, you’ll find items such as DSLR cameras, audio mixers, isolated sound booths, microphones, musical instruments, professional-grade video cameras and lighting, and even a green screen. Learn more about the studios by selecting a location below. Explore Studio equipment that’s available for reservation and checkout.

eLearning

Find help and support for your at-home learning endeavors at ppld.org/eLearning.

Languages

Mango Languages

Genealogy Research

Homework & Homeschool Help

Personal & Professional Development

Databases

Research Guides

And More...

Storytime@Home: Digital Storytime Materials

Missing Storytime at your favorite Library? Our Family and Children's Services librarians are creating Storytime at Home materials for you and you family to enjoy. Every themed Storytime includes top literary picks with easy links to our online Catalog, music, crafting, and literacy tips. Click the photos or the link for more information about each activity.

Get yours by following @PPLDKids on Facebook or get them straight to your email! Subscribe here!

All Storytimes:

Maker in Residence: Sustainable Art with Cara McKinley

2020 is certainly a year that we will forever remember. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to flex and develop our 21st Century Skills (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity) in order to reinvent our way of life and stay connected to our community. Faced with these challenges, local artist Cara McKinley has worked with PPLD’s Creative Services staff to completely reinvent and rebuild the annual Maker in Residence Program (MIR), adapting it to meet social-distancing needs.

Explore Fall Maker in Residence Create Together: Community Build to learn about the collaborative art project!

Classes

In place of in-person classes, Cara has created skill-based project videos that introduce the viewer to traditional clay ceramic and assemblage skills using non-traditional, sustainable materials readily available at home. We encourage you to follow along with the projects using your own materials, so we’ve provided a suggested supply list with each video so that you can participate at your own convenience.

Recognizing the value of direct interaction, we also scheduled several MIR Live Chats to provide community members with an opportunity to chat with Cara and ask her questions about the videos and her art style, connect with other community members, and show off their finished pieces.

  • Clay Dig
    • Clay Dig part one: A quick tutorial on how to find and dig clay, overviewing what properties or characteristics to look for when digging, with conscientious and ethical dig considerations included.
    • Clay Dig part two: Using the locally-sourced clay from part one, learn to create a small pinched object, and get a sneak peek into the Community Build projects that you'll find at PPLD Libraries across the Pikes Peak region!
      • Supplies: backyard clay (or air dry clay), plastic knife, plastic fork, pencil or pen
      • Optional: water cup, paint brush, inspiration foliage (leaves and flowers to press into the clay), pigment (tempera, acrylic, latex, glitter, etc.)
  • Sand Sculpture
    • Sand Sculptures part one: Using a tinfoil sculpted form as the base, this sandsculpting method of faux concrete sculpture incorporates glue, dirt, and pigment found in the home to coat the tinfoil form. See what other objects and materials can be added to create visual interest.
      • Supplies: Elmer's Glue (all purpose), dirt/sand from your yard (play sand works too), tinfoil, mixing cup, parchment paper
      • Optional: paint (latex, acrylic, or spray)
    • Sand Sculptures part two: For the sandcasting technique, use sand, glue, plastic, and different types of color such as food coloring or acrylic paint to create a one-part mold casting. Make and pour your own mixture into your favorite shapes in a form made from sand! Create one, two, or ten... you're the artist!
      • Supplies: Elmer's Glue (all purpose), dirt/sand from your yard (play sand works too), shallow container (or box lid), recycled plastic, parchment paper, fibrous string (yarn, rope, fabric strips), old brush or mixing stick, mixing cup, food coloring or pigment (watercolor paint, tempera), permanent marker
      • Optional: glitter, rhinestones, sequins, other found additions, tinfoil
  • Plastic Reboot
    • Plastic Reboot: Using simple and complex building methods, along with previous techniques (introduced in Clay Dig & Sand Sculptures), learn to reshape plastic using scissors, a nail file, and connection styles (maybe even some packaging tape). The everyday bottle is transformed into a treasure that catches light using rethought objects from your surroundings.
      • Supplies: plastic (found or collected), scissors, permanent marker
      • Optional: packaging tape (clear), nail file, pliers, drill XACTO, glue pigment mixture (or nail polish), wire, glitter, rhinestones, sequins, tinfoil, additional found objects
  • Maker Challenges

    Maker in Residence Cara McKinley wants you to pick a challenge from this video to complete in just an hour! Watch the video for inspiration prompts such as...
    • Make a tree ornament that you would want to live in if you were a bird
    • Make an instrument as tall and as wide as your body out of household objects and materials

    Watch the video to find more creative challenges!

  • Assembled Objects
    Here’s your chance to get a brief look at Cara McKinley’s studio while she explains why she enjoys working with natural and recycled materials and explains the importance of assembling objects to make art.

The Maker

Meet the Maker video

Cara McKinleyA transplanted surfer from South Florida, Cara has always been enthralled in looking at the natural world. After completing her Post Baccalaureate Studies at Indiana University Bloomington and Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Cara moved to the rocky terrain of Colorado to recreate her observations in clay and multimedia. Using video, sculpture, installation and assemblage allows her the opportunity to indulge in the essence of an object and her world to create a shared reality. She makes in variable spaces in a continuous process of play using traditional and non-traditional media. Household objects, found items and natural materials such as sticks, sand, clay, tinfoil, metal, and glass express a way to enjoy and pay homage to nature.

Learn more at caramckinleyart.com.

eLearning with PPLD

The 2020 school year will look different for all of us, regardless what learning method your family has chosen for your students. Pikes Peak Library District has tools and resources to support you in your education journey this year!

Homework Resources Guide

First stop: get your card.

  • Either stop by a PPLD facility to sign up, or print out an application ahead of time to bring with you (located here).
  • OR
  • Apply for a card online!
    •  
      • You must live within the PPLD service area
      • You will need proof of your current address and a photo ID
      • If you're 15-years-old or younger, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.


Learn more about the Library's response to Covid-19.

Brainfuse

Live homework help and skills building online with expert tutors in math, science, social studies, and English, plus writing and reading assistance.

Peterson's Test Prep

Study Guides and Practice Tests:

This database provides study guides and timed practice exams for all major college entrance exams and standardized tests, plus college planning, scholarship search, and career exploration tools.

Databases

These platforms provide high-quality educational content and are fun to explore! Access is free with a valid library card and pin number. Databases include:

  • Academic Search Premier: Contains full text for more than 2,000 journals, including more than 1,550 peer-reviewed titles. This multi-disciplinary database covers virtually every area of academic study.
  • Consumer Health Complete:A comprehensive full-text resource for consumer-oriented health content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine.
  • CultureGrams: Includes over 200 reports on countries and cultures and state reports outlining the diversity and history of each U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Designed for upper elementary-aged children
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library: Searches our entire collection of Gale eBooks on a variety of subjects, including history, science, government, and more.
  • CustomGuide: Interactive online training for Microsoft Office software. Includes Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Windows and Word. New users will need to create an account.
  • LinkedIn Learning: Formerly Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers online video tutorials to help you learn software, creative, and business skills.
  • Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Explore current events and controversial issues by researching multiple sides of a topic. This database aids students in writing argumentative essays and developing analytical thinking skills.
  • Science Reference Center: Provides easy access to a multitude of full-text, science-oriented content. Designed to meet every student researcher's needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for 732+ science encyclopedias and reference books, 195 periodicals, 519 science videos and other sources.

Online Resource Guides

Librarian-Approved Info on Tons of Topics!

Your source for research assistance, subject guides, and library resources.

Mango Languages

Ready to expand your horizons by learning a new language? Mango Languages features 70 language options, including 21 options for those learning English as a second language. Explore languages from Irish to Punjabi in the comfort of your own home, or download the app to learn on the go! Students can go at their own pace. The courses have been created by expert linguists and native-speaking instructors to ensure that the content is grammatically and conversationally correct, as well as culturally relevant.

Workforce Readiness Training

Get ready to get a job or go to college! Work your way through modules focused on professionalism, communication, social skills, and goal setting to prepare yourself for the next big step in your life. Folks below age 15 should focus on the “basic” training while older youth might find the “intermediate” training more appropriate. Complete the training and pass an assessment to earn 10 hours of volunteer credit!

The Homeschool Hub

The PPLD Homeschool Hub has a wealth of resources and tools to support your learning at home efforts. You can also sign up for their newsletter here. Click on “Resources” to find information on getting started; Colorado homeschool law, online courses, concurrent enrollment, and enrichment programs; tutoring; extracurricular activities; support organizations; and more.
Featured Homeschool Resources Whether you are homeschooling full- or part-time, or simply looking for ways to enrich your child’s education, the online resources featured in this issue provide a variety of elucidating and engaging possibilities.

  • Learning Heroes This site provides parents with a picture of their child’s learning needs along with tools to bolster their academic, social, and emotional development. A “Readiness Check” with short questions about reading or math for grades K - 8 will show you where your student stands. You’ll also find learning aids by subject and grade level, ways to identify a child’s character strengths and areas for development, an idea-packed “Anti-Racism Resources Directory,” and more. It’s also accessible in Spanish!
  • GreatSchools This resource helps with developing “Emotional Smarts,” learning issues, building character, college prep, and more. A “What Your Child Should Have Learned” section outlines key academic and social benchmarks typical for grades K - 8 along with specific subject check-ins aligned with Common Core State Standards. Short “Milestones” videos clarify grade level expectations by demonstrating what success looks like in reading, writing, and math in grades K - 12. Parents can also access learning activities, vocab words, worksheets, and more by grade level. It’s also accessible in Spanish!
  • Khan Academy This site provides free standards-aligned video tutorials and interactive exercises in math, science, and the humanities from kindergarten through the early years of college. The self-paced lessons are organized to build knowledge one concept at a time. Create a free account to track a student’s progress, chart subject mastery, and support their learning needs. Use Khan Academy to tackle new coursework, fill in gaps for subjects already learned, homework help, or as a fun activity. It’s accessible in numerous languages!
  • Understood Understood is aimed at supporting kids with learning and thinking differences, like dyslexia and ADHD, by offering customized, accessible resources and a compassionate community. The “For Families” section organizes articles and resources into general topics: understanding and navigating learning and thinking differences; school and learning issues; socio-emotional development; community, including blogs and discussion groups; and “Through Your Child’s Eyes,” interactive simulations to help parents better understand their child’s world. It’s also accessible in Spanish!
  • Wide Open School This site offers engaging, high-quality online learning experiences for kids pre-K - 12. Parents can access the content by subject, or plan a full school day by grade level. Other sections are dedicated to virtual field trips, art and music, physical activity, emotional well-being, English-language learners, learning differences, and more.

For Fun AND Learning!

eLibrary: More than Books!

This is the place to go for thousands of free digital materials. First, you'll need to create an account using your library card number and pin. Some services in the eLibrary include OverDrive (eBooks, eAudios, eVideos), Hoopla ( eMusic, eVideos, eComics, eBooks, eAudios), AudioBookCloud (eAudios), Freading (eBooks), Freegal (eMusic), Kanopy (eVideos), and more.

PPLD Kids

You can find plenty of PPLD resources here! Explore:

  • Homework (search by subject to find databases, recommended websites, and more),
  • Read (access booklists by grade level, genre, online resources, and more),
  • Create (hands-on activities and websites),
  • or Parents & Educators (curated information source for adults).

PPLD Teens

Get homework help, book recommendations, virtual programs, research resources, and more!

Tumble Book Library

eBooks for Kids!

This curated database of children’s eBooks offers over 1000 titles for kids in grades K - 6. Included are animated talking picture books, read-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, literacy puzzles and games, books in Spanish and French, and graphic novels (a fan favorite!). Younger kids will enjoy listening to the stories while perusing the illustrations, while older or more accomplished readers can choose from the collection of read-along books featuring narration, sentence highlighting, and automatic page-turning. Each book is accompanied by a reading level, Lexile level, and grade information, plus an optional quiz. There are no limited check-out times or wait lists, so every item is always available to everyone.

Pikes Peak Library District Foundation Named in $2 Million Dollar Bequest

Pikes Peak Library District Foundation is honored to receive $150,000 from the estate of Milt and Darlene Johnson.

As we have come to learn, Milt was what we at PPLD would refer to as a “power user.” While serving as the pharmacist at Broadmoor Drug at The Broadmoor Hotel, Milt often worked the 4-11 p.m. shift. With Dar teaching during the day, Milt became a mainstay at our Penrose Library where he spent countless hours educating himself on investments and investment strategies, pouring over resources such as The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Barron’s.

After he retired, Milt continued to visit the library almost daily and used the knowledge he gained at the library to build and grow his and Darlene’s investment portfolio. In fact, Milt became such a subject matter expert that many of the investment advisors he and Darlene used often called Milt for advice. We are grateful to be a recipient of their generosity, which based on this story, is due in part to the time Milt spent at Penrose Library. PPLD’s mission is to provide resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community, and we cannot think of a more compelling story that demonstrates the impact of patrons connecting with library resources and in this case quite literally building our community.

PPLD and the PPLD Foundation are truly grateful to Darlene and Milt for including the library as part of the imprint these gifts will forever leave on our region, and we are deeply touched by Darlene’s gesture to make the gift to PPLD in Milt’s memory. The PPLD Foundation was created in 2003 to raise philanthropic funds and build an endowment to support our 15 libraries and the more than 650,000 people we serve. PPLD ranks 10th out of Colorado’s 13 largest library systems in funding per person, and the PPLD Foundation was created to accept meaningful, generous gifts like Darlene’s. It is donations large and small that helps PPLD close our funding gap and continue providing resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community. We are truly sorry to have lost Darlene and Milt, but these gifts will ensure their legacy is forever remembered.

Read more about the Johnsons and their estate in The Gazette's coverage here.

Photo credit: Joe Hollmann and the City of Colorado Springs

For more information on how you can include PPLD in your estate planning and create your own lasting legacy, contact Lance James at (719) 531-6333, x6890, or email foundation@ppld.org.

Learn more about the work of the PPLD Foundation.

Streaming History Series

In commemoration of Colorado History, join Regional History and Genealogy staff members as we view selected Rocky Mountain PBS Colorado Experience documentaries. Watch award-winning documentaries and chat about our state's unique history. Participants will learn about our state and community from the comfort of your home.

Register for one intriguing topic or the whole series. Click here to register for the whole series.

Registration is required.

Topics

Glen Eyrie Castle

  • Mon., Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Click here to register.

Enter the fascinating history of Colorado Springs’ founding estate. How did a refined English Tudor-style castle come to exist in the vast, unsettled West? Created by railroad tycoon and Civil War General William Jackson Palmer, Glen Eyrie Castle is adjacent to Garden of the Gods and the iconic views of Pikes Peak. Brand new archeological findings reveal intriguing details of castle life!


Ladies of the Mine

High altitude, groceries delivered by mule train, pack rats and spoiled Thanksgiving turkeys are just a few of the challenges faced by ladies living in Colorado's remote mining towns at the end of the 19th Century. Learn the stories of three inspirational women who held their own while surrounded by a harsh landscape and un-lady-like company.


Suffrage

On November 7, 1893, Colorado became the first state in the nation to grant women’s suffrage by a single issue popular vote, and the following year the first three female state legislators were elected. Meet the dedicated Colorado women that led this charge. Today, Colorado has the highest percentage of women in the state legislature.


KKK

From the Grand Dragon to known KKK appointees in the police, mayor and governor offices, Colorado once had the 2nd largest Ku Klux Klan membership in the United States. Discover the sordid history of the KKK in Colorado and the impact they had on Catholics, Jews and African Americans in early 1920s, and the courageous individuals who fought against their establishment.


Cheers to Beers!

The history of Colorado may best be seen through the bottom of a beer mug. From quenching the thirst of Gold Rush miners in the 1800's to modern craft brews pouring $3 billion into Colorado’s economy, beer has either borne witness to or helped create some of the most interesting chapters in the state’s history. Meet the pioneers of this now booming industry. Cheers!

Stone Soup 2019

We hope you enjoy the 23rd edition of Stone Soup, published by the Adult Education Department of Pikes Peak Library District.

These stories are written by adult participants and volunteers. They are offered as submitted.

Maker in Residence: Textile Art with Textiles West: Spring/Summer 2020

Celebrating Our Home, the Pikes Peak Region

Early in 2020, Makers Liz Kettle and Ruth Chandler of Textiles West set out to teach community members how to create fabric collages to celebrate the beauty of our Pikes Peak Region and share stories of our home and community. A week into the Spring Residency, everything came to a halt due to COVID-19.

Rather than stop the Textile Art Project altogether, Liz and Ruth transformed it into a virtual format, so that our community could be creative and stay connected even while sheltering at home. In many ways, the finished compilations are a record of our community and our shared experience during this unprecedented time. We’ve compiled all the finished pieces submitted by local community members into a Flickr album, which you can explore here.

MIR Collage

You can also see the pieces in person as part of a rotating display by visiting the following libraries during the months listed below. At the end of the display rotation, the piece will live at Monument Library.

Even though the Spring/Summer Textile Art Residency has come to an end, you can still create your very own collage! This project is traditionally a textile (fabric) project, but Liz and Ruth have adapted the project to use just about any materials you have at home. Get started by looking through the various PDF project patterns (see below) and reading through this tutorial PDF. This will give you a basic idea of the project and let you know what supplies you’ll need to get started.
Then, watch the video below to see Liz explain how to get creative and pull it all together! (Please note the video cuts off at the end, but all important content is included.) Links to supplementary videos examining various stitch types are also available below.

Patterns

Supplementary Videos

The Makers

Textiles West's teachers are all experts who know the power of creating and understand that for many, textiles are a much more accessible art form than traditional art forms.

Liz Kettle

Liz KettleThrough her work, Liz Kettle tells tales that are personal as well as those that speak of relationship, humanity, and the earth. She chooses a nontraditional palette of fabric and stitch because she believes they connect us and draw us closer in a way that cannot be achieved with traditional art materials alone. Liz uses a variety of techniques drawing from the deep wells of quilting, mixed media collage, and paint to tell and support each unique story.

Liz is the co-founder and Director of Textiles West, a Textile Art Center that aims to inspire widespread awareness, participation, and appreciation of textile and fiber arts.

Liz is passionate about teaching and is a co-author of two books; Fabric Embellishing: The Basics and Beyond and Threads: The Basics and Beyond. She is also the solo author of First Time Beading on Fabric, Layered and Stitched and Know Your Needles. Liz has articles published in Quilters Home, Quilting Arts, Quilting Arts In Stitches and Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, and has appeared in the PBS show Quilting Arts TV.

Ruth Chandler

Ruth ChandlerRuth Chandler grew up in Japan where the vibrant color and texture of Japanese fabric, combined with the simplicity of Japanese design, caught Ruth’s attention. Ruth learned basic Sashiko from an elderly neighbor and at the age of four, and began to create and sew her own clothes at the age of ten which became an outlet for her imagination and creativity.

She made her first quilt in 1990, a queen size, hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted Hawaiian pineapple quilt, and she has never looked back. In her own unique style she loves to use new techniques mingled with the old and her work usually shows the influence of her years spent in Japan. Shibori, Boro, Sashiko, and indigo dying are her love, however she also teaches garment sewing and other classes to children and adults.

Ruth teaches locally at Textiles West in Colorado Springs, and nationally at Art and Soul Retreats. Ruth has written several articles for Quilting Arts magazine, blog posts for Havels’ Sewing, and has work published in several books. Additionally, Ruth is one of the co-authors of the best-selling book, Fabric Embellishing: The Basics and Beyond, and is the solo author of Modern Hand Stitching.

Ruth may be contacted for nationwide classes at ruthachandler@comcast.net. 

Celebrating the Shivers Fund Contributions

Given our stand against racism, along with the continued national and local conversations, we want to highlight and celebrate the Shivers Fund. Clarence and Peggy Shivers created the Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District, in concert with PPLD, in 1993. They introduced the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection at PPLD, which continues to expand annually thanks to the Shivers Fund and its many supporters. In addition to the collection, the Shivers Fund at PPLD also provides opportunities for our community to celebrate history, culture, and the arts. The Fund hosts concerts and other events, as well as helps expands educational and cultural opportunities for young people to encourage tolerance and diversity. Our Library District and Foundation applaud the Shivers Fund for its continued investment to create more tolerance, diversity, and community in the Pikes Peak region. Learn more about the history and work of the Shivers Fund.

Statement on Racism and Inequity

PPLD commits itself to join the efforts of all who share its mission of building a community free of racism, hatred, and intolerance. Our full statement is below: Providing resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community – that is the mission of Pikes Peak Library District. Our community, like others across the nation, is hurting. Just as it is our mission to build community, it is our duty to speak against the forces that would tear us apart. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have reminded all of us once again that the battle against racism and intolerance is not over. For many individuals, those forces are a constant in their lives, and that battle is waged on a daily basis. For those of us who do not experience the burden of systemic racism, events such as these may briefly ignite an urgent desire to seek justice and true equality for Black members of our community. All too often, though, we allow that sense of urgency to gradually disappear until the next horrific act of violence occurs. This cycle must stop. PPLD stands with those in El Paso County and throughout our country who are exercising their Constitutional rights to protest against systemic racism, inequity, and violence against the Black community. As a public library, we stand for the innate equality of all we serve. We pledge to do our part to help our community realize that diversity, inclusivity, and equity are pillars of a strong and thriving community and that if even one individual is harmed through injustice or racism, our entire community suffers. This is not the time to simply move on until the next act of violence jars us from our complacency. PPLD commits itself to join the efforts of all who share its mission of building a community free of racism, hatred, and intolerance. - John Spears, Chief Librarian & CEO, and Debbie English, President of PPLD’s Board of Trustees (June 5, 2020)

Pikes Peak Library District stands with our Asian American and Pacific Islander community and remains committed to building a community free of racism, hatred, and intolerance. (March 19, 2021)

For kids:

PPLD has curated a list of resources for our community. Click here to find links to national and local news coverage, deeper background on the issues, books, and other items here.

Let's Talk about Racism: Digital Book List The African American Historical and Cultural Collection, funded by the Shivers Fund at PPLD Let's Talk about Racism: Teen Collection Let's Talk about Race and Racism: Children's Collection Celebrating Black Voices: Picture Books

Social and Systemic Injustice Movies on Kanopy

Catalog links from booklist below:

Additional Resources For Adults:

For Kids:

2020 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest Winners Announced!

Pikes Peak Library District is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest for Children:

Bricks of Wheat
By Cooper Alvin

As I come home from school, filled with resent,
I see cold cream of wheat, hard as cement!
I thought what could be built with such hard a material,
Build skyscrapers out of this rock-hard cold cereal.
A new way of building! Who would of thought evolution
Could lead to such a disgusting solution.

Cream of wheat bricks! Now that’s something new!
Guess the trick to construction is edible goo!
Someone says: “The tallest building is inside Dubai.”
“That’s nothing! Build it with soup!” I reply.
We’d build it high and we’d build it wide.
Why would we do it? ‘Cause nobody’s tried.

A cream of wheat pool? No, that’d be just gross.
A cream of wheat coaster? (sigh) That’d be shunned on by most.
A cream of wheat car? Something no one would borrow.
Well, I’m out of ideas! Come back tomorrow!

Chocolate Peppermint Delight
By Emily Lunsford

One day during lunch,
My friend and I chatted.
She asked,
“If you could invent a dessert,
ANY dessert,
What would it be?”
We started sharing,
And worked together to imagine…
The Chocolate Peppermint Delight!

A chocolate lava cake,
But with peppermint bits in the lava!
Sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream,
With chocolate chip cookie crumbled in
On top of the cake.
A peppermint shell,
For the luscious ice cream.

Topping it off,
Caramel sauce,
And don’t forget
The flavorful peppermint sauce!
Whipped cream generously deposited
Around the plate,
And up the cake.

Coming out from our dream
Of heavenly desserts,
We smiled, thinking about
The luxurious treat.
Our mouths watering,
We looked down at our trays of cafeteria food.
And our otherwise fine tacos,
They didn’t seem nearly as good anymore.
Nor did our fruit cups,
Or our milk.
With the Chocolate Peppermint Delight on our minds,
Everything else faded in comparison,
To a dull gray.

It’s funny how a daydream,
A vision of succulent delicacies,
Can bleach perfectly fine food,
Leaving only the fantasy,
Bright and colorful.
That day I learned
That pure imagination
Can achromatize
Reality.

Bitter and Sour
By Azul Padilla

I’m grabbing a mango
Dancing like a weirdo
Cutting the mango
Nice and yellow
I ask my mother
Can you pass me the chili powder
I sprinkled it all over
Bitter and sour

How to Make a Pot of Rhino Stew
By Avery Pilkington

How to make a pot of rhino stew:
Add these five things to your Crockpot
Slice up some carrots
Chop up some potatoes
Dice up some worms
Add one huge RHINO
Add a dash of ground herbs
Put the lid on
Cook for SEVEN HOURS

The Life of a Cupcake
By Maya Rebugio

They put me in the oven to bake.
Me, a depressed and miserable cupcake.
Feeling the heat, I started to bubble.
Watching the others, I knew I was in trouble.

They opened the door and started my life.
Frosting me with a silver knife,
Decorating me with candy jewels.
The rest of my batch looked like fools.

Lifting me up, she took off my wrapper.
Feeling the breeze, I wanted to slap her.
Opening her mouth with shiny teeth inside,
This was the day this cupcake died.

I Love Pasta That’s No Doubt
By Madison Smith

Hear it boil from the pot
Crunch munchy from the box
I love pasta a whole whole lot

Short, fat, long, tall, just ask me I’ve got them all
Slippery, slimy, spaghetti
Whirly, twirly, colored noodles
Cheesy, wheezy, macaroni

Spiraled, curved, rigid, smooth, pasta makes me really groove
Pesto perfecto green and grand, even beefaroni from the can.

Rigatoni in my tummy
Amazing alfredo hot and yummy
With veggies or without
I love pasta that’s no doubt.

Collecting Community Stories: Covid-19 Pandemic

Pikes Peak Library District is collecting stories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents of the Pikes Peak Region are invited to share their stories and experiences. People can submit written stories, photographs, or videos depicting their response to the pandemic and its impact on their lives.

Any observations are welcome. Submissions can include dealing with illness, quarantine, sheltering in-home, social distancing, employment, working from home, working in health care, schooling, travel, and other general observations.

Click here to submit your story.

Learn more about using the Library remotely.

Curbside Services

The Library is here to serve you, regardless of the circumstances! While you’re welcome back inside of PPLD locations, you can still take advantage of curbside services, with a new park and text option! Our Libraries and Mobile Library Services make it easy for you to return materials and safely pickup items on holds, wireless print jobs, and take and make kits – limiting any direct contact with Library staff or other patrons. Also, don’t forget that you can still use the Library remotely and connect with a librarian by phone, live chat, or email. Learn more about our response to COVID-19 and what you can expect from the Library during the ongoing pandemic.

 

 

Returns

Book drops or return bins are available 24/7 outside of all libraries, so you’re welcome to return books, movies, and other physical items anytime that’s convenient for you.

Holds

Ready to pick-up an item on hold, wireless print job, or take and make kits? Locations are now offering a park and text option to make it even easier for you! Simply drive, bike, or walk up, and have your library card number and PIN ready. Upon arrival, you’ll want to follow the available instructions like park and text, drive-thru, or walk up to the table. (Curbside hours and instructions vary by location, so please check below or by phone.) Then you’ll be on your way to enjoy a new book, movie, or other finds! Click on your Library location below to see their curbside service hours, phone numbers, and pickup instructions:

 

Homebound patrons can designate another person to pick up their holds. Please call your Library for more information and to schedule such a pickup. For new items, place your hold in the Catalog or mobile app and select your preferred location for pickup. Once you receive your email or text notification (if opted in), check your Library’s curbside schedule and procedures for pickup. For curbside pickup, Library patrons are encouraged to follow public health guidance, including staying 6 feet apart from others.

Wireless Printing

We also offer wireless printing at our libraries! Submit your print job here, then follow curbside service instructions for your pickup location during their open hours. Hours and pickup instructions can be found through the links above. For Mobile Library Services, please call ahead for such pickups.

Supporting Our Community during COVID-19 Pandemic

Pikes Peak Library District staff has shown dedication to the Library’s mission and tireless efforts to serve the community in many ways. We will continue to explore how PPLD can help people and organizations across the Pikes Peak region—well beyond our Library resources and services. Here are some ways that the Library has responded to community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • We donated 400 surgical masks and 6,000 gloves to the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management.



    • A makerspace at Library 21c was used for training on 3D printers to make face shields

  • Our team loaned out 3D printers to support Colorado’s Make4Covid initiative, which connects “makers” with equipment to produce protective gear for local healthcare workers.


  • We’re partnering with school districts and local businesses to provide individuals with reading material while they pickup food and beverages. (Thank you to the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District for making this possible!)


  • Sand Creek Library serves a donation site for the Southeast Supply Drive, helping collect common household items needed by individuals and families in the area.


  • Community partners are borrowing PPLD laptops and hotspots, so more residents can apply for unemployment and other benefits, as well as search for jobs.



    • PPLD Facilities staff installs water stations at Penrose Library

  • Penrose Library has made drinking water available outside of their building, so anyone can fill containers whenever needed. (Thanks to Olson Plumbing & Heating, Rampart Supply, and Colorado Sheet Metal for donating the supplies!)


  • We provided books, DVDs, and laptops to the City Auditorium’s isolation shelter, setup for those experiencing homelessness who have symptoms of COVID-19.

No matter the circumstances, we remain steadfast in providing Library resources and services that impact lives and build community across El Paso County. Thank you for entrusting us to be responsive to community needs and serve residents in new ways and virtual spaces, now and into the future.

Have a Question? Ask a Librarian!

Pikes Peak Library District is here to help you! We can answer your questions in-person at one of our library locations or by phone and email!

  • Give us a call!
    Speak with a reference librarian by calling (719) 531-6333, option 3. This phone service is available during the following days and hours:
    • Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Closed Sunday.
  • Send an email!
    Use our online “contact us” form, to submit your inquiry. Then, a PPLD team member will follow-up via email soon.
  • Book a Librarian!
    Can’t find the information you need? Have a research project? We’re here to help! Professional librarians are available to meet one-on-one to assist with research questions.

Virtual Library Services & Programs

Updated July 1, 2021

Enjoy our entertaining and educational programs from home! We offer a variety of virtual services and programs for people of ages and interests. Plus, you can use the Library remotely in other ways, anywhere and anytime, and connect with a librarian by phone, live chat, or email! Visit our virtual calendar of events for all scheduled programs and activities. Can’t participate live? No worries! Many of the videos are featured on our YouTube channel and playlists, so you can watch whenever it’s convenient for you. Here’s a handy overview of some virtual opportunities that our team created for you to experience:

FOR EVERYONE:

  • Live Virtual Programs From homeschool programs to tours of local institutions, PPLD has you covered.
  • Take and Make Library Crafts Missing your Library's programs? Exhausted your home crafting ideas? PPLD has you covered! Presenting.. Take and Make programs! Your Library will now have crafts available to TAKE home and either follow a virtual class or included instructions to MAKE! Kits are available for all ages.

 

 

 

FOR ADULTS:

  • Virtual Yoga Local instructor Svetlana Nudelman guides practitioners through beginner and intermediate-level yoga poses.

  • Virtual Book Club

  • Genealogy with PPLD Are you interested in learning more about how PPLD can support your genealogical research? Learn research strategies including getting started, organizing research, selecting and searching for records, and more!

FOR TEENS:

Click here to see all teen virtual programming.

Teens programs are available for viewing anytime on the PPLDTV YouTube Channel.

 

Family & Children's Services Virtual Programs

Videos are available for viewing anytime on the PPLDTV YouTube channel.

  • Baby Time Children’s Staff from around the district invite babies from 0 - 12 months, with a favorite adult, to enjoy music, rhymes, and a book together!
  • Children's Performers Performers can be viewed anytime on PPLDTV!
  • Homeschool Programs Whether you've been homeschooling for years or are just getting started with eLearning, our homeschool programs are here to help!
  • KidsMake Children’s staff from around the district lead an art or make project for kids ages 5 - 12.
  • STEM Children’s staff from around the district lead a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based project for kids ages 5 - 12.
  • Storytime Children’s Staff from around the district invite you to join in a sing-along and then read a children’s book.
  • Toddler Time Children’s Staff from around the district invite 1 and 2-year-old children, with a favorite adult, to enjoy rhymes, music and movement, and a few short books!
  • Tween Twist
  • LENA Start A 11-week program where parents learn how to increase conversational turns with their babies and toddlers.
  • Prenatal Series Are you expecting and have so many questions? Join Pikes Peak Library District and Nurse Family Partnership for a series of prenatal classes.
  • Storytime @ Home Our Family and Children's Services librarians are creating Storytime at Home materials for you and you family to enjoy. Every themed Storytime includes top literary picks with easy links to our online Catalog, music, crafting, and literacy tips.
  • Stroll-a-Story and Math Strolls Walk together and enjoy the benefits of some physical activity.
  • Reassuring Reads for Kids This always-available list presents reading options (available in electronic formats) that can provide comfort during tough times for kids and parents. The recommended books cover themes of encouragement, hope, and love while offering tools for emotional awareness and ways to deal with anxiety.
  • Kid-Friendly Music Playlist Our staff selected and compiled more than four hours of children's music on Freegal, PPLD’s streaming service for songs, albums, and more. (Pro tip: Browse other playlists, or create your own!)

 

Don’t see anything that interests you right now? Bookmark this page for frequent updates, or visit our calendar of virtual events for new additions each week. Stay tuned for more updates from PPLD! Our team continues to explore and expand virtual opportunities that we can bring to you, wherever you may be.

Using the Library Remotely

Last updated July 1, 2021 En español Thanks to the public’s investment and taxpayer support, we deliver access to information and opportunities that impact lives and build community across El Paso County. You can use the Library remotely, with many resources available 24/7!

 
  • Check out our new virtual services! Our librarians are bringing their services to you, anywhere and anytime. Watch a virtual storytime with your kids, participate in a virtual book club, try a digital escape room, join us for a community movie discussion, do an at-home craft or experiment, and more. (Looking for something else to do? Bookmark the web page and check back often for new updates!)
  • Ask a librarian! You can also ask one of our reference librarian questions by phone, live chat, and email.
  • Download our mobile app to view your account, browse and download from our collection, and more. (Pro tip: There are also apps for Libby, OverDrive, Freegal, Kanopy, RBdigital, and more.)
  • Stream and/or download from our digital collection! There are so many options – digital books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, music, and videos – that you can access from almost anywhere.
  • Use our databases to conduct research for businesses, nonprofits, legal matters, and more. You also can learn a new language, plan your next adventure, and do genealogy research.
  • Have kids or teens in your home? We have ample resources for children and teenagers, including homework help, reading, games, creating, planning for the future, and more. (Also, see above for new virtual services!)
  • Dig into some regional history and genealogy. For example, our digital collection features historic photographs, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, oral histories, films and more that highlight the rich history of the Pikes Peak area.
  • Find a good book! Check out recommendations, reading lists, and more.
  • Don’t have a library card? Get started and gain online access today.

That’s not all! Our Library staff also assembled and vetted a growing list of free online resources for all ages; no library card needed. Resources include live streaming, virtual tours, activities, and much more. Topics cover arts and culture, kids and teens, learning and reading for adults, professional support and development, and science and nature. Our team continues to explore and expand virtual opportunities that we can bring to you. Right now, we’re adding to our digital collection, as budget allows, and creating new virtual experiences that will launch in the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned for more updates from PPLD. We’re here to serve you now and into the future.

Community Resources

Community Resources at PPLD

We’ve all found ourselves in a difficult situation and we aren’t always sure where to turn. Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources across the District. Our Community Resources Specialists are here to help you navigate and connect with services by providing referrals and information to get the help you need for your specific situation. Reach out and meet with a Community Resource Specialist at the Library most convenient to you, or contact them by phone or email. We are happy to support you in finding the best resources for you and your needs.

Contact PPLD's Community Resources

 

Contact PPLD's Community Resources Specialist - Nikki Flemate

 

Community Resources Drop-in Hours


 

Common questions from our patrons include

  • How to replace personal documents (ID, birth certificate, social security card, etc)
  • How to find affordable housing
  • How to go about applying for disability
  • Where to receive specific services like mental health, medical, or substance use treatment

Crisis Help:

Emergency Shelter:

  • The Salvation Army RJMC (serving families) (719) 578-9190
  • Springs Rescue Mission (serving adults 18 and over) (719) 632-1822
  • The Place (serving youth ages 15-20) (719) 630-3223
  • TESSA (serving survivors of domestic violence) (719) 633-3819

Other Resources:

Note: PPLD’s Community Resources Supervisor is not a case manager or case worker.

Census 2020

The 2020 Census is here and it’s not too late to complete it! It is important to fill it out so that local agencies (PPLD included!) have accurate information to use when designing community services. It's safe, easy, and required for all citizens to fill out.

COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS NOW.

In March, homes across the country received invitations to complete the 2020 Census with instructions for responding to the census online, in the mail, or over the phone.

Remember that April 1 is a reference date, not a deadline to respond. When you respond online, by phone, or by mail, count everyone living in your home as of April 1, 2020.

Beginning in August 2020, households that haven't responded yet may receive an in-person visit or call from a Census Bureau employee to help make sure everyone is counted.

As of June 11, El Paso County’s self-response rate, is now at 68.6%, which is higher than Colorado’s self-response rate of 63.4%! We are ranked number 18 in response rates by state, and higher than the national self-response rate of 60.8%!

Here’s a quick refresher of what it is and why it’s essential that everyone is counted.

  • Everyone counts: The census counts every person living in the United States once, only once, and in the right place.
  • It’s about fair representation: Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
  • It’s in the Constitution: The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The first census was in 1790.
  • It’s about $675 billion: The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties, and communities are based on census data. That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other vital programs (like libraries!).
  • It’s about redistricting: After each decade’s census, state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts.
  • Taking part is your civic duty: Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say “I COUNT!”

Census data are being used all around you:

  • Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.
  • Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices, and stores, which create jobs.
  • Local governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness.
  • Real estate developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.

Your privacy is protected.
It’s against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.

The Census Bureau uses a different method to count people in group living situations, called “group quarters,” such as college student housing, prisons, military barracks, and nursing homes. People experiencing homelessness (and who are not staying in a household) will be counted at the places where they receive services, such as shelters and soup kitchens.

2020 will be easier than ever.
In 2020, you will be able to respond to the census online. The online questionnaire will be available in 13 languages.

Click here to learn more!

Breaking Out at Studio916: Using Library resources you never knew existed

With a determined posture and a set look on her face, Kim Seaborn takes a deep breath to begin another take.

After singing a few lines, she stops, looking satisfied.

“I think we got it,” says Keagan Kellogg, sound engineer for Studio916.

Seaborn relaxes her shoulders and smiles before stepping away from the microphone to celebrate with the rest of the team. Her full-length album: officially a wrap.

Seaborn worked for weeks alongside Kellogg and Studio916 producer TerryJosiah Sharpe to record her second full-length album without incurring any expenses, inside a facility of Pikes Peak Library District.

“Here, I got to work with professionals,” Seaborn says. “I found the team here was so easy to work with and just really let me be myself, and they helped me flourish creatively.”

Seaborn started performing in front of her church’s congregation when she was just a sixth grader, and remembers the intensely overwhelming feeling of impacting the crowd.

“I saw people crying,” Seaborn remembers. “Seeing that emotion from the crowd… that was something I liked. If I can get a person to be transformed with my singing, that’s what makes it worthwhile to me.”

But standing up in front of large groups wasn’t something that came naturally to her.

“I’m a very shy person,” Seaborn says. “When I was growing up, I tried to do things that would take me out of that shyness. I felt singing was one of the things I could do to get me out of my shell.”

Her first album, His Glory, was completed in 2014. She was ready to record another one soon after but wanted to break away from the traditional feel of her first full-length album.

Plus, the sheer cost of recording an album was another hurdle.

“These hours in the recording studio can cost thousands of dollars,” Seaborn remembers.

But then she learned of a studio she could use at no cost at Sand Creek Library: Studio916. She attended a studio orientation to learn more about using the space. Then, she checked every day for open studio sessions because they were so frequently booked.

As she got into the studio more and more, Seaborn found that she had a team of experts at her disposal in Kellogg and Sharpe. “It helped me break out of my shell,” she remembers. “When you have people who know what they’re doing, it just gels.”

Now, Seaborn has a vision for her future as a musician, hoping to record more music as well as further market herself as a singer/songwriter and get her music out into the world.

She hopes other aspiring artists in the Pikes Peak region will take advantage of Studio916.

“To these young people with a dream, I say go for it,” Seaborn says. “If music is something that is a part of your purpose and you’re willing to put in some work, do it. It is thousands of dollars to do elsewhere what you can do at the Library for free.”

Click here for more news from around your Library district!

PPLD Top 10 of 2019 Lists!

The top 10 of 2019 are here! Learn more about what the Pikes Peak Region read in 2019 and add any you missed to your 2020 reading list!

Adult Books
  1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
  3. The Reckoning by John Grisham
  4. Educated: a Memoir by Tara Westover
  5. Wolf Pack by C.J. Box
  6. TransAtlantic: a Novel by Colum McCann
  7. Redemption by David Baldacci
  8. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
  9. Unsolved by James Patterson
  10. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Teen Books
  1. Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
  2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling
  3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
  4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  5. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
  6. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
  7. The Giver by Lois Lowry
  8. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  9. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
  10. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
Children's Books
  1. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
  2. Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
  3. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
  4. Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
  5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney
  6. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
  7. A Long Walk to Water: a Novel by Linda Sue Park
  8. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  9. Warriors in Winter by Mary Pope Osborne
  10. The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
eBooks
  1. A Dangerous Act of Kindness by LP Fergusson
  2. Redemption: Amos Decker Series, Book 5 by David Baldacci
  3. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
  4. Wolf Pack by C.J. Box
  5. After the Flood: A Novel by Kassandra Montag
  6. An Anonymous Girl: A Novel by Greer Hendricks
  7. Run Away by Harlan Coben
  8. Connections in Death by J.D. Robb
  9. The 18th Abduction by James Patterson
  10. Neon Prey by John Sandford
eAudio
  1. The Silent Patient (unabridged) by Alex Michaelide
  2. Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals (unabridged) by Rachel Hollis
  3. Redemption: Amos Decker Series, Book 5 (unabridged) by David Baldacci
  4. The Giver of Stars: A Novel (unabridged) by Jojo Moyes
  5. City of Girls: A Novel (unabridged) by Elizabeth Gilbert
  6. The Dutch House: A Novel (unabridged) by Ann Patchett
  7. The Institute: A Novel (unabridged) by Stephen King
  8. Daisy Jones & the Six: A Novel (unabridged) by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  9. The Turn of the Key (unabridged) by Ruth Ware
  10. The Guardians: A Novel (unabridged) by John Grisham

The Art of Colorado's Natural Environment

Name of the Sculpture: Virage

The natural environment is one of our treasures in Colorado. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) sought proposals for an interactive, 3D, freestanding art piece to draw attention to this resource and its conservation. The call was answered by several artists and, after a jury process, Virage was selected. It is eye catching, conversation evoking, appropriate for all ages, safe for public spaces, and movable among Library locations. Throughout the year this sculpture will travel to four PPLD locations: Penrose Library, Sand Creek Library, East Library, and Library 21c.

With a focus on the beauty of our natural environment and conservation, PPLD hopes to evoke conversation and interaction among patrons. A variety of programming will be offered throughout the District that relates to this topic.

Click Here to learn about related programs.

Post your photos of and with #PPLDSustainaball on social media!
Virage 1Virage 2Virage 3Virage 4Virage 5
Artist Narrative:
The current political atmosphere has created an unsettling time with the lifting of protections to the environment, denial of scientific knowledge and climate change, and inclusiveness and access to education. Virage subtly, yet critically speaks to the impacts of humans on the environment and the consequences ahead. The beauty of the barks’ texture together with the perfect form of the sphere is meant to give a sense of hope and promise that humankind will take responsibility, humankind will find a respectful and healthy balance with the natural world and ecosystems. Human beings have the incredible ability to be innovative and creative, when presented the opportunity solve insolvable puzzles. The artwork invites the viewer to consider and reconsider the current choices and actions as a consumer. There is an intended charge to the viewer to make our natural world the highest priority - to practice conservation.
Artist Biography:
Nikki Pike grew up in Black Forest, Colorado, where she learned to ride bikes and climb trees in between flashlight tag, midnight soccer, and competitive sledding. The adopted daughter of a nurse and an engineer, and sister to four brothers and a sister, Nikki learned to work in groups and negotiate at an early age. Fighting over the measuring cups in the bathtub and wooden spoons in the garden, the Pike family children grew wild imaginations.

The earliest sign that Nikki may later become a sculptor was in her sixteenth year in being grounded for a month. Rather than moping around and feeling sorry for her new life in confinement, Nikki raided her father’s toolbox and undertook the accidental but artistic resurfacing of her very first vehicle, an AMC gremlin. Otherwise, realizing her interest and making a commitment to art came much later after her surrender to finally join the quest to attend college and explore communications design. Her exposure to materials and objects fed her need to make and build and fulfilled the physical gap that once was spent playing soccer. 

Now, Nikki Pike is an artist and activist committed to serving the community through her art practice and role as an educator. Through the use of universally positive human experiences such as curiosity, music, surprise, and gifting, along with the influence of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, she spreads values of empowerment, vulnerability and connection in the form of experience as opposed to product. Nikki sees herself as a cultural agent working together with local communities promoting activity and creativity. With her an expansive practice, Nikki straddles public arts, social sculpture, service srt and is exploring ideas of relief art intended to aide communities responding to disaster. Her methods start from the ideals of democracy and her work has been featured at the Denver Art Museum, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and Art Basel Miami to name a few. Currently Nikki resides in Denver, Colorado, and holds a professorship at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

eBooks for All!

Publishers are Putting Libraries and Patrons in a Bind
New lending and purchasing models place financial burdens and time limitations on libraries.

Recent moves by book publishers to limit library access to eBooks and eAudiobooks will create increased financial burdens for libraries and wait times for patrons.

The eBook collection at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is so popular that the system’s digital circulation now ranks within the top twenty in the nation. PPLD cardholders have already surpassed one million checkouts on OverDrive, one of several eBook services offered by the Library District.

Hachette, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Blackstone Publishing, and Macmillian Publishers, among others, are changing their lending models for eBooks and eAudiobooks. While these changed lending models vary slightly from publisher to publisher, each change limits library access to digital books and will increase wait times for new releases and other titles.

“Unfortunately, these drastic steps by book publishers are putting Pikes Peak Library District in an extraordinarily difficult position,” said John Spears, Chief Librarian and CEO of PPLD. “Our digital circulation is incredibly high, and we know these new measures are going to increase wait times for our patrons.”

Most of the changes include new purchasing models, so that instead of libraries having perpetual access to each book they purchase, they have to re-purchase the books after two years.

As of Nov. 1, Macmillan Publishers imposed an eight-week embargo on public libraries for the purchase of new eBook titles. Libraries may only purchase a single copy of new eBook titles during the first eight weeks of its release, during which time the titles will be available through marketplace vendors.

“This is an equal access issue for our patrons,” Spears says. “We know that not everyone with a library card will be able to bypass these increased wait times by simply purchasing the digital book somewhere else, and they shouldn’t have to. We urge publishers to reverse or modify these changes, and encourage our patrons to speak out if they agree.”

To learn more about eBook restrictions and how to take action, go to ebooksforall.org.

Maker in Residence: Tarikh Brown: November/December 2019

Tarikh Brown, PPLD's Maker in Residence for November/December 2019, specializes in comics and sequential art. Tarikh Brown is a local artist with a BA in Graphic Design. He is currently seeking an MA in Computer Science: Digital Media Technology, which will be used for developing video games and virtual reality. Tarikh is especially passionate about sequential art, such as comics and story boarding, and loves to share his craft with others!

Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information about this program.

Penrose Playgroup

The Penrose Playgroup welcomes newborns- 24 month olds and their parents or caregivers.
This time together includes books, songs, music, play time, and more!