DIS TRIC T DISC VERY
HERE, OUR PERSONALIZED CARE LEADS TO MIRACULOUS THINGS.
Letter from the Chief Librarian and CEO
Thank you for picking up this issue of District Discovery! Inside, you will read about All Pikes Peak Reads (APPR), our annual community-wide reading program. I’m excited that we will be bringing in Shelley Read the author of this year's reading selection, Go As a River. Read will visit us for an author talk on Sat., Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. at Library 21c. I hope you will join us!
If you’re reading this magazine, odds are good that you already have a library card. We are honoring Library Card Sign-up Month with a fascinating look at the history of library cards.
You can also learn about the joy of listening to audiobooks, how our Sand Creek Library serves Southeast Colorado Springs, and the dedication the head of our security team has toward making this community and our libraries safer.
Teona Shainidze-Krebs Chief Librarian and CEO
Pikes Peak Library District
Sand Creek Library
SERVING THE SOUTHEAST
By Jeremiah Walter
Tucked into a strip mall at the corner of South Academy Boulevard and Chelton Road, Sand Creek Library has been providing Library service to Southeast Colorado Springs since its grand opening on Oct. 1, 1988.
It became Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) eighth location, and the second to open after voters approved a mill levy increase in 1986. PPLD’s director at the time, Bernie Margolis, said, “We feel that it is critical to get a library in the southeast part of the city, where it has been relatively underserved.”
Named after a tributary of Fountain Creek that flows nearby, Sand Creek Library moved a few doors down from its original location in 1994. Its new location in the same strip mall expanded the branch’s square footage by about 10,000 feet and included the addition of a community meeting room, study rooms, adult literacy center, and more computer terminals.
The library later underwent a renovation, reopening on March 21, 2009, with PPLD’s first drive-through holds pickup window, as well as twice the number of computers, a quiet reading space, a teen area, and more study rooms.
The most recent major change to the location came in 2017 with the addition of a makerspace and recording studio.
“We have completed full length albums, narrated full audiobooks, and hosted the full run of numerous podcasts. Our patrons never cease to amaze me with what they can accomplish.”
“This is in an area of town that experiences a lot of hardships,” says Sand Creek Library Manager Sara Sharples. “The use of our computers, printing, and faxing remains a daily need for our patrons. We are also one of the only places around for patrons to explore creative interests and for groups to meet and collaborate.”
The creative spaces are extremely popular at Sand Creek Library.
“Studio916 is a popular destination for aspiring musicians, podcasters, and voice over actors,” says Keagan Kellogg, senior library associate. “We have completed full length albums, narrated full audiobooks, and hosted the full run of numerous podcasts. Our patrons never cease to amaze me with what they can accomplish.”
“The makerspace is open five days a week and it's amazing to see the diversity and variety of content created by our patrons,” adds Sharples. “We've seen people start small craft or service businesses using the laser engraver, sewing machines, and 3D printers. Someone who owned a skateboard shop customized keychains that he made from old skateboard decks.”
Library users can also come for some older technologies. “We still have an operational electric typewriter and an overhead projector for transparencies. And yes, we still have patrons who ask to use them,” confirms Sharples.
Sand Creek Library is also one of several Family Place Libraries in the District. “As a part of that [program], we have a parenting collection and a specialized play area, and we offer Family Place playgroups,” says Senior Library Associate Johana Pacheco. These playgroups include visits from resource professionals such as speech therapists, nutritionists, and dentists.
The location also offers Community Resources open hours, where patrons can receive information about a variety of resources, including legal assistance, employment resources, shelter and housing assistance, and workforce development.
"We find that a lot of patrons seeking assistance are dealing with some pretty intense, and often life-altering, events," says Sharples.
"Our community needs us, and we need them," says Kellogg. "That is really what makes this place and this job special. Even routine customer service interactions can be really important to our guests, and their gratitude for our assistance shows that.”
"We have quite a number of folks we see almost every day," says Library Supervisor Lisa Garcia. "One patron is waiting at the front door every morning and is the first one in the building. We've joked with him that he would need to call us if he wasn't going to be here so that we'd know he was okay and wouldn't worry."
Those patrons are served by a top-notch staff.
“My coworkers are brilliant and dedicated,” says Kellogg. “They are funny and silly and awesome. I am lucky to have worked with so many great people. Everyone brings their special personality to work, and that makes it exciting and stimulating to work here.”
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By Jeanne Davant
Growing up, Shelley Read remembers swimming in Blue Mesa Reservoir and wondering what lay beneath its azure waters. Read, a fifth-generation Coloradan, heard stories from her grandfather about her forebears — tough, hardworking farmers and ranchers, and the history of the Gunnison River Valley. She also grew up with deep respect for the indigenous people who were displaced from the same land. These themes, plus her lifelong love of nature, flow together in Read’s bestselling debut novel, Go as a River The novel is this year’s selection for All Pikes Peak Reads, Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) annual community-wide reading program that celebrates literature and aims to foster dialogue and improve community connections. Library patrons can check out the book at their local Library location or visit OverDrive/Libby to access the eBook or eAudiobook.
A YOUNG WOMAN’S JOURNEY
In rich, elegant prose that will delight language lovers, Go as a River tells the story of Victoria Nash, a young girl growing up on a peach farm in the small town of Iola. At 17, Victoria has been the woman of the house for five years, since the loss of her mother. She performs the household chores, works on the farm, and tends to her troubled brother, distant father, and wheelchair-user uncle. A chance meeting with a charismatic American Indian boy sparks a secret, doomed romance. In its aftermath, Victoria must navigate tragedy and loss, exile and reconciliation, and must make difficult choices to survive as she builds a new life.
Victoria’s journey leads to a watershed moment when she is faced with the decision of selling the farm to the
government, which plans to dam the Gunnison River and inundate the town. This reflects a real event in Colorado’s history — the residents of Iola and two other nearby small towns, farms, and ranches were forced to evacuate to make way for construction of the Blue Mesa Dam, which began in 1962.
That event, which has resonated with Read since she was a child visiting relatives in the Gunnison Valley, provides the framework for the book’s setting and time period, as well as its themes of place and displacement, home, family, identity, and survival.
Victoria is inspired by Read’s ancestors, among them “some really tough women,” Read says. “I’ve often pondered the deep limitations the female ancestors in my family had on their lives and who they could or could not become. This is who I come from, and that's the story I wanted to tell, but particularly from a female lens. I think women's stories about the American West often get left out.”
ALWAYS A WRITER
Read grew up in Colorado Springs — her parents are graduates of Palmer High School. As a child, she says, “I just always saw the world through a narrative lens. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid.”
After graduating from Doherty High School, she went to the University of
Denver, where she earned degrees in writing and literary studies and picked up a second major in journalism. She was awarded a teaching fellowship to Temple University’s graduate program in creative writing. At this time, she reflects, "I just fell in love with teaching.” Fresh out of graduate school in 1991, she was hired as a lecturer at Western State College.
“I ended up teaching for 30 years, and in that time, I just started writing less and less because I was teaching, and then my two children were born. It was a wonderful season of my life, but I always knew that I needed to get back to my writerly self,” Read explains.
Just when her life as a working mom was at its busiest, Victoria floated into her imagination.
“Victoria sort of insisted that I come back to my writing life,” Read says. “I couldn’t not tell her story.”
ALL PIKES PEAK READS EVENTS
Senior Librarian Heidi Buljung says Go as a River was highly recommended by one of PPLD’s community partners as the All Pikes Peak Reads 2024 selection.
“In just one meeting, we decided what the title would be,” she says. “That’s never happened in the history of [All Pikes Peak Reads]. It’s a really great read, and I think people will enjoy it.”
After reading about Victoria’s struggles, Read hopes people recognize the importance of their connection with the natural world and can find more empathy and compassion for those who have difficult lives.
“We're all of us up against something, and can we please just be kinder to one another?” she says.
Read, who lives in the Elk Mountains of the western slope, will be returning to her hometown to talk about Go As a River
Read chipped away at the novel for 13 years and took early retirement in 2018 to focus fully on finishing it.
As a first-time novelist at age 57, Read “never had any big dreams for it,” but Victoria’s story has captivated millions of readers. Since its publication in 2023, Go as a River has become an international best seller and has been translated into 34 languages. It has won accolades including a Reading the West Book Award and has been named an Amazon Editor’s Pick Best Debut, a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award, and one of Colorado Public Radio’s 2023 Books We Love selections. It has been optioned and is in development for a film as well.
Read has toured the world, talking about Iola and how it was erased from the map.
“It’s been a real pleasure to resurrect it,” she says.
All Pikes Peak Reads Author Talk: Shelley Read Sat., Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. | Library 21c
Join us in welcoming author Shelley Read as she answers questions and signs copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. Registration recommended.
Author Talk: David Primus Thu., Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. | East Library
A talk with author David Primus about his book, Beneath Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir.
Introduction to Water Bath Canning
Thu., Sept. 5 at noon | Sand Creek Library
Wed., Sept. 25 at noon | Calhan Library
Learn water bath canning basics, presented by El Paso County CSU Extension. Registration required.
Peach Cobbler: A Hands-On Nostalgic Experience
Mon., Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. | High Prairie Library
Wed., Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. | Library 21c
Create and sample peach cobbler, along with storytelling. Registration required.
By Denise M. Abbott
Celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month at Pikes Peak Library District
What do you carry in your wallet that costs nothing, yet connects you to people, resources, and a world of valuable opportunities beyond your imagination? Your library card! This September marks the 37th anniversary of National Library Card Sign-up Month, and Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is participating with its You Belong campaign because everyone belongs and is welcome at the Library.
looking back at library card sign-up month
Library Card Sign-up Month started in 1987 after then Secretary of Education William Bennett declared, “Let’s have a campaign…Every child should obtain a library card and use it.” The American Library Association (ALA) was listening. ALA collaborated with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science to launch a library card sign-up drive backed by an $85,000 grant from the Reader’s Digest Foundation, later telling Secretary Bennett in a telegram, “We accept your challenge.”
Fast-forward to 2024 and Library Card Sign-up Month is still going strong with thousands of public libraries and schools across the country promoting the importance of children having a library card. In the words of the slogan of the first Library Card Sign-up Month campaign, “It’s the best gift you’ll ever give your child – a library card.”
a brief history of library cards
The first library cards were created in France in 1791 and represented many things. In those early days, owning a library card was akin to having an exclusive membership to a private club. For a card, some people paid fees and even brought books from their personal home collections to the library in exchange for the right to check out materials. In some libraries, cards for minors had a different color from adult cards so they could be easily identified, because
" We accept your challenge.”
these cards checked out fewer materials at a time than an adult card. Many libraries even offered multiple types of cards – cards that were based on a genre like mysteries or western literature; professional cards or teachers’ cards; or even cards for members of the clergy.
In 1932, the Gaylord Brothers, a leading provider of supplies to libraries across the country, invented a machine that would use a metal plate with an embossed number on the borrower’s card to stamp the borrower’s identity onto the card in the book. Today, library systems are more secure, and cards provide more privacy to patrons. And everyone – even young babies – can get a library card.
Over the years, library patrons have kept in their wallets a variety of paper, laminated, or plastic library cards. These cards have been a badge of honor giving the holder a rite of passage into a world of their choosing. And many are proud to display that they have a library card. As technology advances many libraries (PPLD included) have started working with smartphone apps that store a patron’s library card barcode. As the librarians scan the barcode, they are essentially turning the smartphone into a library card.
past library cards of the pikes peak region
PPLD is starting this year’s Library Card Sign-up Month by digging into its archives to uncover its library card designs from years gone by. The Library has had many designs over the years, ranging from a piece of laminated construction paper to the current plastic ones featuring images representative of the Pikes Peak region.
Usually designed by PPLD’s staff, some of the District’s previous cards commemorated significant events in PPLD’s history such as the 10th anniversary of High Prairie Library in 2010 or the Sand Creek Library makerspace and studio additions in 2017. Other designs celebrated a bit of pop culture taking a spin off of The Hunger Games, declaring “let the Games begin!” on the card. Local features grace other cards, like the Palmer Lake Star on Sundance Mountain in Monument, or the Rocky Mountain Columbine which has been PPLD’s most popular library card.
Recently, PPLD teamed up with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (soccer team) and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum to make limited-edition branded cards. One featured Switchbacks mascot Ziggy, and the other featured a painting by American artist LeRoy Neiman, who was the official painter for five Olympic Games.
PPLD purchases approximately 40,000 library cards each year, with nearly 220,000 physical cards held by library cardholders throughout El Paso County. Everyone belongs at the Library, from sports fans and foodies to gamers and makers, and beyond. If you have friends or family without their own library card, encourage them to sign up for one!
For more information on signing up for a library card and all of the no-cost resources it offers, visit ppld.org/librarycard
By Jeremiah Walter
“I remember East Library’s opening day (in 1987),” says Michael Brantner, PPLD’s chief safety, community resources & security officer, from his office at East Library. “I was there for the ribbon cutting, and I was one of the first several hundred people through the door. I remember we were excited to have a library in our neighborhood.”
Brantner and his friends were regular visitors to East Library. “We would reserve the study rooms almost daily.”
When he wasn’t inside the friendly confines of a library, Brantner spent a lot of time outdoors as a youth. “I was really involved in Scouts, and I was an Eagle Scout. I went camping with my dad. My grandparents had some property in the mountains, so I was going up there and exploring. I played football, baseball, and all the things kids do.”
Brantner also endured hardship at a young age. “My mom passed away, my dad went to prison, and I was homeless for a little while, living out of my vehicle and seedy hotels, trying to finish high school.”
He did complete high school and after starting college with thoughts of being a teacher, Brantner changed directions and got a degree in firefighting from Pikes Peak Community (now State) College. Unable to get on with any local fire departments, he took a job as a medic on top of Pikes Peak over the course of several summers in his early 20s.
“I would get in a van at four o'clock in the morning and they'd drive you to the top. You'd stay there for three days at the Summit House. We’d have people die from lightning strikes, people falling off rocks. We'd have hikers come up in the winter, and they weren't well prepared. We dealt with frostbite, dehydration, and altitude related illnesses.”
Brantner went to work for the U.S. Forest Service for nearly a decade.
“I started off on an engine crew, traveling around the country fighting fires,” says Brantner. “Then I started working with the Helitack and Hot Shot crews. It was just fire to fire to fire, working 21 days straight, two days off, 21 days straight, two days off. It was like that all summer.”
He transitioned to the position of forest protection officer, dealing with things like vandalism, meth camps, illegal logging, and poaching. This law enforcement experience helped him get a position on the Memorial Hospital security team, where he became lead security officer.
He also met his future wife while working at the hospital. “Randi worked in the pharmacy. She hit a panic alarm by accident, and I responded. And now we've been married for about 12 years.”
After nine years with Memorial Hospital, Brantner started his own business making incident command cabinets for first responders, which contained everything needed to set up an incident command system: position books, vests, flags, easels, and more. He also started a handyman business in Colorado Springs, remodeling basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
“We were paying our bills, but my wife could really tell that I wasn't fulfilled. She said, ‘You're not doing what you need to do. You need to find something where you are helping people again and making a difference.’ And she found the job posting for the Library.”
That job was for the head of security at PPLD. Brantner got the position and immediately went to work on improving the security and safety procedures for the District.
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“The suspension process [for patrons not adhering to PPLD’s code of conduct] was glaringly broken and causing many subsequent safety and security issues,” says Brantner. “We got a new process ready, created trainings, and launched it out into the world. It was received really well. There was a significant reduction in repeat offenders, in the number of suspensions, and in the number of incident reports. It felt really good. We made a difference, and that was the first building block.”
Many other building blocks soon followed: revising staff reporting structure, improving communication and morale, updating hiring and training processes, and implementing the use of body cameras.
Technology upgrades have been an important part of the District’s security enhancements, with new cameras, software, locks, and more.
Brantner also oversaw the expansion of the Library’s Community Resources program, which helps connect patrons with critical services available in the community such as employment, housing, and legal and medical assistance.
This expansion included the creation of a dedicated Community Resources desk at Penrose Library as part of other renovations underway at that location to improve safety, such as lowering shelving unit heights to improve sightlines.
“It just comes down to the environment of each facility, because they're all different,” says Brantner. “Through environmental design, we should find a way to make it as safe as possible.”
Another recent addition, a security operations center, “allows us to consolidate all our existing security and safety programs, hardware, and software into one place. We eliminate the cost of outside monitoring agents and outside responses. It saves us money, it saves us time, it expands what they can do, and there's always somebody there.”
In the end, it’s all about a dedication to making a difference for Brantner.
“In all the positions I've ever taken, I've always tried to make sure that I can make a difference in my community,” he says. “That's a deciding point for me. Boy Scouts instilled a real service-to-your-community mentality.”
CAMPING #mountains SECURITY
PIKESPEA
By Drew Cerino
Snacks, cold drinks, and an audiobook — the essentials for making any road trip bearable. But what if you want to enjoy audiobooks at other times too? Do you feel guilty that you’re not really “reading?” Well fear not, friend, science is on your side!
Audiobook use is on the rise, at least in part due to the ease with which we can now access them. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) offers an extensive catalog of audiobooks for download to a variety of personal devices at no charge.
It turns out that listening to an audiobook triggers many of the same parts of the brain as reading, and offers additional benefits. People read for a variety of reasons, most commonly for entertainment or education. If having the content read aloud to you helps you achieve one of those goals more easily, then you would be foolish not to use it.
"It turns out that listening to an audiobook triggers many of the same parts of the brain as reading, and offers additional benefits."
Activities like running on a treadmill or washing the dishes present obvious challenges to reading a physical book. In this fast-paced world we live in, finding time to sit down with a book can be difficult. Audiobooks help you consume information while leaving your eyes and hands free to do other things.
Of course, not everyone agrees that freedom to multitask is a good thing, so let us not forget that Audiobooks can also be relaxing. They allow you to close your eyes and be transported to another place. Narrators often employ unique voices and accents to bring characters to life, helping you connect with the content in new ways. For many, these aural prompts help imagine a richer environment than reading a book themselves.
If education is the goal, research suggests that listening to someone else read while following along with the written word creates stronger cognitive pathways than just one input alone. In other words, seeing AND hearing will help some readers recall the information better.
This is no slight to the bibliophiles who enjoy the pleasure of holding a physical book. However, reading can be a challenge for people who have learning disabilities, who are blind or low-vision, or who have other physical limitations. Things like eye fatigue, poor lighting conditions, and more can also make reading untenable.
Audiobooks bring unique benefits to PPLD’s patrons, affording a new opportunity to engage with literature. At the end of the day, information and entertainment is being downloaded to your brain whether you read the book yourself or listen to it, so use the method that suits you best. Happy reading…er…listening!
Word PIES
Keeping all of the letters in the same order, can you figure out each word?
ken-ken
The numbers (1 - 5) in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematic operation indicated (+, -, ×, ÷).
Here's how you play:
1. Use each number only once per row, once per column.
2. Cages with just one square should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.
3. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.
PALISADE PAINT
Use the corresponding colors below to paint the peach.
b-a-s-k-e-t-s
For 1 - 3 players, using one die. Each player picks a basket and puts their initials in it. Playing alone? Pick a basket for us too! Take turns rolling the die (roll for us too!). The player who rolled fills in ALL letters that match the number rolled. 1=B, 2=A, 3=S, 4=K, 5=E, 6=T The first player to fill in B-A-S-K-E-T-S wins!
Community connection
What is your favorite area to hike in the Pikes Peak region? Scan the QR below and cast your vote!
Senior Lunch and a Movie
You bring your lunch and PPLD will bring the movie! Join us and other patrons as we enjoy a monthly movie during lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Registration is not required but is encouraged.
Art for Older Adults
Art for Older Adults inspires a sense of self-reliance for older adults, even when the participant is somewhat reliant on a partner to help with materials use. Each month seniors can produce high-quality art projects that respect their wealth of life experiences, skills, and innate capacity to create. All supplies will be provided. Registration required.
Featured Program: Medicare Open Enrollment Q and A Session: PPAAA Retirement Series
Wed., Sept. 18 | 1 - 2 p.m.
Monument Library
Do you have questions about Medicare, Open Enrollment, Insurance, Savings Programs, Medicare’s Extra Help, and similar programs? Bring your questions and join Barbara Sigmon, M.B.A., a case manager for the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging, for an interactive Q&A session. Registration required.
Repair Café
Toss it? No Way! Fix it at Repair Café! Together with our Repair Café volunteers, you will disassemble, troubleshoot, and possibly repair your broken items. Save money, help the environment, and learn repair skills with your local community!
Chocolate USA
Celebrate chocolate, American style! A bit of history and travel are infused into this delicious presentation, with virtual stops in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Hershey, Pa., Boston, and Chicago. Learn about different types of chocolate and discover fun things to do in these “cocoa capitals.” Each person will receive chocolate samples.
Presented by Susan Miura. Space is limited. Registration required.
Seasonal Sign Painting with SK Designs
Join Kathy of SK Designs to paint a seasonal, decorative sign. All materials provided. Space is limited. Registration required.
Featured Program: Share Classes with Elayne Prechtel
No-Sew Napkins
Join the DIY Napkin Revolution! Get ready for a hands-on, no-sew adventure where you'll craft stylish, eco-friendly napkins built to last a lifetime! Plus, walk away with a set of your own. Space is limited. Registration required.
Holiday Popcorn
Get Poppin' this Holiday Season! Join us live and let's whip up some holiday popcorn magic! Indulge in delicious samples as we craft festive popcorn delights. Space is limited. Registration required.
Virtual Prenatal Series
Wed., Oct. 2 - Wed., Nov. 6
Are you expecting and have so many questions? Join Pikes Peak Library District and Nurse-Family Partnership for a series of prenatal classes. Classes are every Wednesday at noon. Each week we will explore a different topic followed by a Q&A session. Visit ppld. org/whats-new/prenatal-series for classes and more info.
Featured Program:
All Pikes Peak Reads
Set amid Colorado’s wild beauty, Go as a River is a heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter. A tragic and uplifting novel of love and loss, family and survival—and hope.
All Pikes Peak Reads Author Talk: Shelley Read Sat., Oct. 5 | 3 p.m. Library 21c
Join Pikes Peak Library District as we welcome Shelley Read to discuss her book Go as a River, the 2024 All Pikes Peak Reads selection.
Following the keynote address, Shelley will do an audience Q&A session and will be available for book signing. Books will be available to purchase during the event. Registration is suggested, but not required.
Answers from p. 13
Ken Ken
Word Pies
Orchard Harvest Foliage Autumn
REGIONAL HISTORY & GENEALOGY PROGRAMS
Spooky Stacks
VIRTUAL CLASSES
Discover more at ppld.org/regional-history-and-genealogy
Mon., Oct. 28 and Tue., Oct. 29
Tours begin at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Uncover the eerie secrets of our past at "Spooky Stacks," hosted by Regional History & Genealogy! Join us at the haunted Carnegie Library for a spine-tingling tour through ghostly decorations and chilling stories, where costumed interpreters bring regional history back from the dead. Attendees under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required and available at tiny.ppld.org/Spooky-Stacks
We offer numerous virtual classes. To view the full calendar, visit tinyurl.com/ppldgenclasses.
Explore Your Ancestry with Our Free Online Genealogy Classes!
Discover the layers of your family history through our engaging online classes, ranging from beginner courses to in-depth research techniques. We teach three classes each month.
DNA Decoded: Discovering Your Family's Past
Tue., Nov. 12 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Uncover the stories hidden in your DNA! Learn about using the latest DNA testing technology to explore your family history. This class is perfect for anyone interested in using DNA insights to trace their ancestry and connect with distant relatives.
Don't want to wait?!
Find class handouts, databases, and other genealogy resources at tinyurl.com/ppldgendb
Teen Advisory Board
Come learn leadership skills, earn volunteer hours, and give your input on what happens at the Library! Attendees will earn volunteer hours at meetings and by working on projects for the Library, as well as engage in leadership development opportunities. Regular attendance is recommended. You must fill out a volunteer application to participate.
Dungeons and Dragons
Play with other teens, led by volunteer Dungeon Masters. No experience needed.
Program is for ages 12 - 18. Space is limited. Registration required.
Math Tutoring
Is math homework getting you down? Are finals freaking you out? Do you need to brush up before the ACT, SAT, or a high school equivalency test? Our experienced math tutors can help you improve your grades and take the stress out of math. Tutoring is for all ages, all levels. No appointmentsDrop in!
NOTE: We will not have Free Math Tutoring in the case of holidays or unexpected Library closures.
Teens Game
Come hang out and show off your gaming skills! We’ll have a video game or board game tournament! Ages 12 - 18.
Anime Club
Love Anime? Come hang out with other teens who share your passion! Some Anime shown may be rated PG13 or TV-14. Cosplay welcome!
Homework Help?
Use your library card to access live homework help and tutoring through Brainfuse HelpNow.
ppld.org/databases/ helpnow
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
HOMESCHOOL
Homeschool Science: Animal Mythbusters
Fri., Sept. 20 | 1 - 2 p.m. East Library
Join Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and their animal ambassadors to learn the truth about some well-known animal myths. Can porcupines shoot their quills? Do cockroaches serve any purpose? After investigating these myths you’ll see wildlife in a whole new way! Ages 5 and up.
Homeschool Science: BOTs! Secret Life of Robots
Fri., Oct. 18 | 1 - 2 p.m. Library 21c
Explore the world of robots that help to improve lives every day, often going unnoticed. Join Mr. JD and his AI buddy, Cosmo, in an interactive educational show about the secret life of robots. Students will learn about how the robotic technologies that power our world can help people and improve our lives. Grades K – 6.
Homeschool Science: Talon Talk
Fri., Nov. 8 | 1 - 2 p.m. Library 21c
Join Nature’s Educators to learn about the characteristics that define raptors and why they are important to our ecosystems. Students will discover the various types of birds of prey found all over the world, and what it takes to care for one. They will also find out about the animal ambassadors’ personal histories, anatomy, hunting strategies, and habitats. Ages 5 and up.
Homeschool Science: Science Fair Made Simple
Fri., Oct. 4 | 1 - 2:30 p.m.
East Library
Are you ready to up your science fair game? This interactive workshop will help students work through the steps of turning a general idea into a science project; from topic selection, to formulating a testable question or design goal, to collecting data for analysis. Get a jump on planning for the Homeschool Science Fair on Fri., Feb. 21, which opens for registration on Thu., Jan. 2! This workshop is presented by the Pikes Peak Regional Science and Engineering Ages 7 and up. Registration required. Please register each student
Featured Program: Homeschool Book Blast
Fri., Dec. 13 | 1 - 2 p.m. East Library
Tell the world about your favorite book! Prepare a creative book report at home and present it informally to other families. You can make a diorama, design a game based on the plot and characters, or make a poster for the movie version. You can create a book in a bag, make a clothes hanger mobile, or retell the story in comic book format. The possibilities are endless! Or drop by to browse the projects and discover your next favorite book! Projects will be presented in a science fair-type format. Grades K - 9. Registration required if you want to present. Please register each student who will participate.
TWEEN
Junior Advisory Board (JAB)
Have a voice in your community, meet new friends, and make a difference — all while having fun! We want to learn from the experts (you!) what programs and events tweens want to see at the Library. Each session of the Junior Advisory Board (JAB) will include time for you to give ideas and feedback, as well as time for a fun project or activity. For ages 9 - 12.
STEAM
Idea Lab: LEGO Build
Engineer your best LEGO creation, complete LEGO challenges, produce LEGO Art, and explore endless creative possibilities at this openended LEGO program using PPLD’s LEGO resources. Join us for the fun! For ages 5 - 12.
Calhan Library
600 Bank St., Calhan, CO 80808 (719) 531-6333, x7013
Cheyenne Mountain Library
1785 S. 8th St. #100, Colo. Spgs., CO 80905 (719) 531-6333, x7001
East Library
5550 N. Union Blvd., Colo. Spgs., CO 80918 (719) 531-6333, x7014
Fountain Library
230 S. Main St., Fountain, CO 80817 (719) 531-6333, x7002
High Prairie Library
7035 Old Meridian Rd., Peyton, CO 80831 (719) 531-6333, x7003
Library 21c
1175 Chapel Hills Dr., Colo. Spgs., CO 80920 (719) 531-6333, x7012
Manitou Springs Library
515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Spgs., CO 80829 (719) 531-6333, x7004
Mobile Library Services (719) 531-6333, x7702
District Discovery Fall 2024 | Volume 6 | Issue 4
Executive Editor Denise M. Abbott
Managing Editor Carla Bamesberger
Proofing/Editing Jeremiah Walter, Jennifer Flatland, Nawal Shahril, Abby Simpson, and Kim Melchor
Graphic Designer Rachel Quinn
Photography Drew Cerino
Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees
President Dora Gonzales
Vice President Scott Taylor
Secretary/Treasurer Erin Bents
Angela Dougan
Debbie English
Aaron Salt
Julie Smyth
Monument Library
1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument, CO 80132 (719) 531-6333, x7005
Old Colorado City Library
2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colo. Spgs., CO 80904 (719) 531-6333, x7006
Palmer Lake Library
66 Lower Glenway St., Palmer Lake, CO 80133 (719) 531-6333, x7007
Penrose Library
20 N. Cascade Ave., Colo. Spgs., CO 80903 (719) 531-6333, x7015
Rockrimmon Library
832 Village Center Dr., Colo. Spgs., CO 80919 (719) 531-6333, x7008
Ruth Holley Library
685 N. Murray Blvd., Colo. Spgs., CO 80915 (719) 531-6333, x7009
Sand Creek Library
1821 S. Academy Blvd., Colo. Spgs., CO 80916 (719) 531-6333, x7018
Ute Pass Library 8010 Severy Rd., Cascade, CO 80809 (719) 531-6333, x7011
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) provides everyone with access to resources and opportunities so people can thrive and connect. The Library cultivates spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities via 15 facilities, mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources. It is an internationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of nearly 750,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colo. Learn more at ppld.org.
