District Discovery Spring 2024 Vol. 6 Issue 2

Calhan Library

Palmer Lake Library

Monument Library

Manitou Springs Library

High Prairie Library

Ruth

Library

Sand Creek Library

Cheyenne Mountain Library

The Hall at PPLD

Penrose Library

Ute Pass Library

East

Rockrimmon Library

Letter from the Chief Librarian and CEO

Clarence and Peggy Shivers created the Shivers African-American Historical and Cultural Collection at PPLD in 1993 with a substantial gift. In the 31 years since, a popular series of concerts continually provides funds to enhance our Library’s collection.

In these pages you will read about Peggy’s remarkable life, as well as the rich legacy of her late husband Clarence.

You can also read about Paws to Read, where children develop literacy skills by reading to dogs. This popular program takes place throughout the Library District, including at Rockrimmon Library, where kids can read to therapy dogs from Go Team, an international initiative that sprang from the ashes of the Waldo Canyon fire.

I hope you will enjoy these stories – as well as the others in this issue of District Discovery – and learn more about the services we offer and the people (and animals!) that help us improve lives in the Pikes Peak region every day.

Teona Shainidze-Krebs Chief Librarian and CEO Pikes Peak Library District

ppld.org/social-media

Seasonal

Peggy

Programming

Brain

By Jeremiah Walter

Creating in Computers

Growing up in the small town of Neptune, New Jersey, Juanita Lanaux had a passion for creativity.

“My best friend across the street and I used to have paper dolls. We designed wardrobes for dolls and I had shoe boxes filled with clothes that I had designed,” recalls Lanaux, now the director of IT systems and technical support at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD).

“I was a fidgety kid. Very fidgety. So, my mom brought me yarn and a crochet hook, which was all she knew how to do – my mom wasn't a crafter – and she taught me how to crochet,” says Lanaux. “And when I was 12, she bought me a sewing machine. That set those wheels in motion. As an adult, I collect sewing machines.”

She also has early memories of visiting the library in nearby Asbury Park.

“I can remember the smell of the library, that old dark wood, the paper, and books,” remembers Lanaux. “We went to the library frequently.”

After her family moved to Colorado Springs when she was 16, her love of libraries continued. In fact, her first job was working at the library of the very high school she graduated from, Mitchell High School. But she didn’t have any thoughts of making library work a career.

“I wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer,” says Lanaux. “That was during a time here in Colorado Springs where I didn't see very many African American lawyers. So, I figured I could become a legal secretary, learn a lot of legalese, and it would be easier for me to continue in school and become a criminal defense lawyer. But then I started paying attention to the news and the things that people were doing. I knew I couldn't defend them. I would have been like Robert DeNiro in that movie [Cape Fear]. I switched up and got a job at the U.S. Olympic [& Paralympic] Committee (USOPC).”

It was while working as an administrative assistant at the USOPC that Lanaux discovered she had a knack for computers. And hacking.

“I'm sitting there with my coffee one morning, and I'm

a Career Computers

watching what was called a login script,” recounts Lanaux. “I went down to Penrose Library and I got a book on the login scripts, and I found out what it was doing. And so, I broke into the IT guy’s games. I was playing his games and he said he noticed that his scores were changing. Well, he hired me instead of getting me in trouble.”

Thus began a long career in information technology. She worked for some time as a traveling technician based in Georgia.

“My region was southern Georgia and southern Alabama, so I was on the road most of the day.” says Lanaux. “Summertime in Georgia, the rain is no joke. I drove through a tornado one time and didn't know it. There were big trucks pulled over on the side of the road and it was raining really hard. But I'm like, ‘Are you wimps?’ When I got home, I found out that a town had been completely destroyed.”

She also worked for Chattahoochee Valley Libraries while in Georgia. “I was at that library when they first started putting in computers and getting networked,” recalls Lanaux.

But she was always looking to return to Colorado Springs.

“One night, my daughter called and said, ‘Mom, PPLD is hiring. And the job closes tonight’. I said, ‘Well then, it's too late.’ But she made me sit on the phone with her and I got my resume together, a cover letter, and I sent it in before the deadline. I interviewed and got the job.”

In her current position with PPLD, Lanaux oversees the End User Services team that is responsible for anything that is staff- and public-facing: computers, copiers, self-checks, and much more.

“I think I have the best team at PPLD,” says Lanaux. “They are nice, they are really smart, and they deliver good customer service. They know all the Library’s departments— what they do and what their needs are.”

Outside of work, creativity is still an important part of Lanaux’s life.

“I like to sew clothing. I like sewing clothing for dolls,” says Lanaux. “I took a class for shoemaking. I've dabbled in jewelry. I just like to be creative and work with my hands a lot.”

And she takes pride in working for an organization that serves the entire community.

“We serve people who otherwise don't have access to these resources,” says Lanaux. “So, I'm really happy that we're here, and I think PPLD is wonderful for the things that we do.”

Mining for Creativity and Community in Rockrimmon

by Jeremiah Walter

The Rockrimmon neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs sits atop a honeycomb of closed coal mines. The largest mine in the area, Pikeview Mine, produced 8.8 million tons of coal between 1897 and 1957.

In the decades that followed, houses and businesses filled the area and demand for library service grew along with the neighborhood. By 1989, the Rockrimmon bookmobile stop was the busiest in the city.

To provide library service to this burgeoning community, Rockrimmon Library began operations on Nov. 11, 1989, with a grand-opening theme of “Give Us Books, Give Us Wings.” The new Library was the largest in Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) aside from Penrose and East libraries. Its 5,600 square feet held 30,000 books, a community meeting room, a study area, computer terminals, and a "Right-to-Read" room for adult learning.

The Library underwent an expansion in the early 2000s, bringing the square footage up to its current size of 8,668. Located in the Village Center shopping complex, it is one of PPLD’s busiest locations.

“People utilize this Library for printing, entertainment, and technology help,” says Rockrimmon Library Manager Steve Abbott. “Our meeting room is well utilized by the community for things like scout meetings, HOA meetings, and even family gatherings and baby showers. We are an important community hub.”

Senior Library Associate Tina Matiatos agrees. “Many of our patrons walk, bike, hike, and push strollers to our Library. Tweens and teens walk over after school from the nearby middle school. Many families have grown up in this Library and are now bringing their grandchildren to our Toddler Time. Our

residents have ownership and pride in Rockrimmon Library and love reminiscing with staff about the history of our Library.”

Creativity is a hallmark of the location.

“We tend to have a great response to art programs,” explains Senior Library Associate Shannon Miller. “Most are completely booked. Our Rockrimmon Art Inspiration class for adults each month, taught by two wonderful volunteer instructors, is usually a room full of folks who are enthusiastic about trying new techniques, and supporting and encouraging one another. They are a great community.”

And each October, the Library hosts its annual art show, which is “a great opportunity for artists of all ages to meet one another and get a chance to display their art in a supportive environment,” says Miller.

The Rockrimmon area was affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012, which destroyed hundreds of homes and forced 32,000 people to evacuate. Two therapy dogs visited fire evacuees and first responders to provide comfort, which planted the seeds for the therapy dog organization Go Team. The initiative is now an international network of volunteer therapy dog teams. Go Team dogs now participate in the Paws to Read program at Rockrimmon Library and other PPLD locations. (See page 8 for more about Paws to Read.)

“Paws to Read is an opportunity to snuggle or read to a trained therapy dog,” says Matiatos. “Reading to a dog is beneficial because it provides kids with an opportunity to read out loud without judgement.”

All of these programs and services are coordinated by Rockrimmon Library staff, who “are a very helpful, highly educated group who are always friendly and willing to do their best to serve the community,” says Abbott.

The staff also has a silly side.

“We like to laugh and joke with each other. We have staff members who enjoy sharing terrible dad puns and a few merry pranksters who like to hide creepy dolls around for unsuspecting co-workers to find,” says Miller.

But at the heart of it all is a desire to improve the community it serves.

“Working at PPLD is truly an opportunity for soul work. It is rewarding to share PPLD services

to transform someone’s life,” says Matiatos. “One of our patrons thanked us for being there when they were at a low point in their lives and struggling day to day.”

“It’s amazing what services PPLD can provide for people,” says Abbott. “As a taxpayer myself, I can honestly say that PPLD provides an incredible amount of service for the money. I am proud to be a part of an organization that can assist everybody, no matter where they are in life.”

By Jeanne Davant

Avalanche, a black-and-white pit bull mix who was born during a snowstorm, trots into East Library on Wednesday afternoons.

Hope, a golden retriever who loves treats of apples and carrots and is training to be a therapy dog, delights Library 21c patrons.

Kiwi likes to take a break from digging holes and chasing squirrels on Thursdays and cuddle with kids at Cheyenne Mountain Library.

They’re all volunteers with Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) Paws to Read program, and their job is to help children develop reading skills by listening patiently as young folks read aloud to them.

“The days that the dogs come to the Library is one of the happiest days for both the staff and the patrons,” says Carol Scheer, senior associate on the programming team who works on family and children’s services.

The dogs and their volunteer handlers visit various Library locations weekly.

“Kids can drop in and they can read to the dog or they can tell the dog a story,” Scheer says. “They can show the dog the pictures in the book. It really does not matter exactly how they interact with the dogs, but we are looking to have a positive dog experience.”

The dogs act as nonjudgmental reading partners — they don’t care if a word is mispronounced or if a child struggles a bit. The goal is for young readers to get practice with fluency and build reading skills they’ll carry with them for life. For many kids, this makes them more approachable to read to than an adult.

“It's a joy,” Scheer says, “to watch the dogs cuddle up with the kids and the children hugging the pups as they read.” She recalls one mom who was moved to tears when she saw her child successfully read aloud with confidence for the first time.

The dog-and-handler teams are recruited through a volunteer application process, and many of them come as a

result of contacts Scheer makes with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and the Go Team therapy dog organization. The dogs are thoroughly vetted and auditioned to make sure they’re comfortable and interact well with children. They must be certified therapy dogs to participate.

Each Library location has its own procedures and processes for choosing books, Scheer reports. Some have a pile of books in the children’s area selected by staff. Young readers also can choose their own book from the shelves, and sometimes the dog’s handler will recommend a favorite book. Some locations have dog bone bookmarks that children can color, and others award a small prize when a child has read for a certain number of days.

The Paws to Read program started about 15 years ago after library associate Jean Bishop learned about it. PPLD was one of the early adopters of the program after it was introduced in a library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since then, research has shown that five or six consecutive visits to the program can raise a participant’s reading by two levels, according to a 2012 article published in Library Journal

Paws to Read is just one of the programs the Library offers to help children build reading skills. Programs are offered for all ages, beginning with infants. For more information, visit ppld.org/kids/programs/ paws-to-read.

Seasonal Picks

Enjoy seasonal celebrations with these book and database pairings

By Carla Bamesberger

Spring brings with it a sense of change. The weather begins shifting from frigid to cool (often bringing wet snow to our region), and the world around us prepares for summer. Many people also celebrate holidays and family traditions in April and May. Here are a few book and database pairing suggestions to help you celebrate or learn about many traditions this season. Visit ppld.org/databases to find the databases (some are only accessible with a library card that starts with a 4).

Eid al Fitr (April 9 – 10) marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of celebrations wrapping up a month-long devotion to fasting, self-control, and prayer. Enjoy with The Wrong End of the Table by Reza Aslan and pair with articles in the Explora for Public Libraries database. For children, pair with Once Upon an Eid edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed.

Earth Day (Mon., April 22) calls for environmental action to protect natural resources and spaces around the world. Enjoy with A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough and pair with articles from the GreenFILE database. For children, pair with It’s Earth Day, Tiny! by Cari Meister or Black Beach: A Community, an Oil Spill, and the Origin of Earth Day by Shaunna Stith.

Passover (begins Mon., April 22) reflects on the freeing of the Jews from enslavement and suffering in Egypt. Enjoy with We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, and pair with eBooks and articles from the All-In-One Search database. For children, pair with A Persian Passover by Etan Basseri, or Passover is Coming by Tracy Newman.

Cinco de Mayo (Sun., May 5) commemorates the 1862 victory of the Mexican army over the French forces of Napoleon III. Enjoy with Inventing American Tradition: from the Mayflower to Cinco de Mayo by Jack Eller and pair with news and magazine articles, audio clips, and eBooks from the (World) History in Context database. For children, pair with Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by Carolyn Otto.

Mother’s Day (Sun., May 12) celebrates mothers and other significant caregivers in our lives. Enjoy with The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan or the documentary Mother, Father, Deaf (available on Kanopy), and pair with articles, videos, and ideas from the Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center. For children, pair with Mama & Me by Cozbi Cabrera or A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza.

Memorial Day (Mon., May 27) honors the people who died while serving in the U.S. military. Enjoy with A Time Remembered: American Women in the Vietnam War by Olga Gruhzit-Hoyt or World War I Battlefields: A Travel Guide to the Western Front by John Ruler. Pair with the MyHeritage database where you can research service members in your family genealogy.

Creativity flourishes at the Library in April from handcrafts and technology-assisted projects to the diverse world of writing. Join us and celebrate creativity during All Pikes Peak Makes and the Pikes Peak Poetry Summit.

Join us for a day-long celebration of tinkering, exploring, learning, and making during All Pikes Peak Makes! A maker is someone who creates – to be innovative, to solve problems, to bring something beautiful into the world, or simply to have fun. They have an idea, and they bring it to life. Making can encompass just about anything, from high tech to low tech to no tech, from art to fabrication, from knitting needles to table saws to software, and beyond. We have seen a wide variety of exhibits at this fan-favorite program, such as robots designed by up-and-coming scientists; mind-blowing Lego builds; hand-sewn square animals made from upcycled materials; a rug-making machine interactive demonstration; model airplanes; and so many other innovative things! The rockets sticking out of the ceiling of Library 21c were launched by kids as they learned about physics during past All Pikes Peak Makes events.

While you're at Library 21c, experience being on a green screen in Studio 21c, and check out crafts in the makerspace.

Sat., April 13

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Hall at PPLD

20 W. Pikes Peak Ave.

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Register at ppld.org/poetry-summit

Sat., April 27

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Library 21c

Learn more at ppld.org/appm

April is Poetry Month and the Pikes Peak Poetry Summit returns for another round of exploring poetry with our community. The summit got its start in 2022 and has proved to be a rousing success. Pikes Peak Library District is honored to host the summit for its third year in a row. This year’s theme is “Thriving Artists” and talents from across Colorado have been invited to share and celebrate this creative form.

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

We look forward to celebrating poetry with our community. Let poetry guide you across the bridge to new perspectives. All ages are welcome.

Do you know everything your library has to offer?

endless possibilities await you at our Open Houses!

Visit one of our Open Houses during National Library Week (April 7 – 13) and find out everything you have access to with your library card!

East Library

Mon., April 8 | 10 a.m. - noon

High Prairie Library

Mon., April 8 | 4 - 6 p.m.

Monument Library Tue., April 9 | 6 - 8 p.m.

Penrose Library Wed., April 10 | 4 - 6 p.m.

Cheyenne Mountain Library Thu., April 11 | 5 - 7 p.m.

Sand Creek Library Sat., April 13 | 10 a.m. - noon

Library 21c Sat., April 13 | Noon - 2 p.m.

Fountain Library Sat., April 13 | 2 - 4 p.m.

Take a tour and win prizes!

Enjoy local refreshments!

Partake in family fun activities!

There’s something for everyone!

ppld.org/open-house

Peggy & Clarence shivers' cultural contributions celebrate the Black experience

By Jeanne Davant

A painting by the late Clarence Shivers hangs in the Shivers wing of Library 21c showing the striking portrait of a man in prayer in front of a glowing orange background. The painting is a favorite of philanthropist and community activist Peggy Shivers, who, with her husband, created the Shivers Fund that supports the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection at PPLD. Like the Shiverses themselves, the painting has had a remarkable journey.

Peggy Shivers first saw the painting when she was a young woman, shortly after she met her future husband in 1966. He was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California alongside Peggy's brother, and she was teaching in San Francisco.

“The second day after meeting Clarence, he took me to his studio,” she says. “The painting was there, and I just fell in love with it.”

But when she returned to visit Clarence again about two weeks later, the painting was gone. Clarence told her it had been sold.

Peggy was devastated, and she lost track of the painting until 2013, when her granddaughter called her to say that she spotted one of Clarence’s paintings for sale on eBay.

“Lo and behold, it was that painting!” Peggy says. She learned from the seller, the daughter of an air force general who had passed away, that it had traveled all over the world

with her family. Peggy purchased the work she’d always thought of as “my painting” through the Shivers Fund, and now it is on display for the community to enjoy.

Sharing is important to Peggy Shivers, along with music, education, and community service.

Born in 1939, she spent her early years in Center Point, Texas, a small town founded by liberated slaves about 100 miles east of Dallas where education and accomplishment were valued. During a time when few African Americans had the opportunity to complete more than a few grade levels in school, Peggy’s aunt Christine Cash earned a Ph.D. and created a school that prepared Center Point’s students for college. Peggy’s family also was musical, and she began singing while she was still a toddler, under the tutelage of her grandmother. At the age of about 4, she sang her first solo in church.

“I’ve been singing ever since,” she says.

Peggy’s family moved to Portland, Oregon when she was 8, where she continued her education. She kept on singing, too, and started training as a classical soprano with voice teacher Bruce Marvin while she was still in high school.

She hadn’t intended on singing as a career; in fact, she became an elementary school teacher after graduating from Portland State College at age 19. But she kept getting offers to sing and getting paid for them.

Peggy moved to San Francisco three years after graduation and taught there for a few years. Her brother introduced her to Clarence, who had served with the Tuskegee Airmen— the elite squad of African American pilots who played a pivotal role in World War II.

“He was a very special and unique human being,” she says. “He had a brilliant and very creative mind. He had quite a sense of humor, and he was the type of person that was comfortable with anybody. Everybody loved him.”

He was also a talented and successful artist— something, Peggy says, that he was born to do.

The couple married in 1968, and after his retirement from the military in 1969, they moved to Spain. While there, Peggy was accepted to the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid conservatory and Clarence pursued his art full time, with Peggy serving as his manager.

Ten years later, Clarence was invited to a reunion of the Tuskegee Airmen in California. He and a friend were traveling to the event by car from St. Louis and stopped in Colorado Springs to see another military friend. While here, Clarence fell in love with a model home.

“He bought this place, and then he called me,” Peggy says.

She was upset and didn’t want to leave Spain, but Clarence talked her into the move, and the view of Pikes Peak and the supportive community she found here won her over.

In 1993, the Shiverses marked their 25th wedding anniversary with a five-day art and music jubilee that included performances and an art sale. In the midst of the celebration, Clarence was hospitalized for emergency triple bypass surgery.

“I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but we sold more artwork at that event than before or after,” Peggy says. “I decided we were going to take a portion of that money and donate it to the Library and ask them to start an African American historical and cultural collection. Now we have one of the best African American collections in the West.”

She also decided to continue hosting classical musical performances to support the collection and founded the Shivers Concert Series, which showcases African American performers at several events each year.

“I’m so glad, because I absolutely love it here,” she says.

It didn’t take long for the Shiverses to become an integral part of the city’s cultural and civic life.

In the early 1980s, Clarence received a commission from the Miller Brewing Co. to create a calendar featuring civil rights leaders.

“He was responsible for the writing as well as the painting,” Peggy says. “He went to the Library and came back really disappointed. He just didn’t seem to find much of, by, or about African Americans. I just couldn’t get that off my mind.”

Clarence was commissioned by the Tuskegee Airmen in 1985 to create a life-sized sculpture honoring the airmen. Unveiled in 1998, it stands at the U.S. Air Force Academy and is one of his best-known works.

“At that time, you didn’t see African Americans performing much here in Colorado Springs,” she says. “It [the series] started to let the community see that African Americans could do more than gospel and jazz music.”

The concert series was put on hold for a couple of years during the pandemic but returned last year for its 30th anniversary. The concert series continues to support the Shivers Fund and the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection with an upcoming fundraising concert on Fri., May 17 at Packard Hall on the Colorado College campus, the first of three concerts this year. The concert will feature baritone Shyheim Hinnant and mezzo soprano Stephanie Brink.

The concert will be presented alongside an exhibition of Clarence Shivers’ work, Experimenting with Form, that opened on Fri., Feb. 2 at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. Clarence had a prolific career, and his work celebrated friends, family, musicians, civil rights leaders, and the Black experience while he explored various media.

“Clarence couldn’t paint the same thing over and over,” Peggy says. “One time, he would do something realistic, and the next time, he'd be doing something abstract.”

The exhibition displays more than 30 paintings, prints, and sculptures. It runs through Sat., July 6, and Library patrons can check out a no-cost pass to the Fine Arts Center using their library cards through PPLD’s Culture Pass program (ppld.org/culturepass). For ticket information, please visit fac.coloradocollege.edu/tickets.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Cat Planters

Upcycle a plastic bottle into a cute cat planter (or other animal if desired)! Paint it and take it home. Registration is required.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Mon., April 8 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Join Pikes Peak Library District as we view the Great American Eclipse at Calhan Library, East Library, and Ute Valley Park. We will have games and activities throughout the morning, and a limited number of eclipse viewing glasses to give away. Light refreshments will be served. In the event of inclement weather, the viewing party will be canceled.

Farmer's Market Tote Bag

Decorate a tote bag with farmer's market inspired stencils or use your own art ideas and inspiration to design your bag. One tote bag per person. Registration is required.

CD Music Swap

Come swap music CDs with your community! Bring a new or gently used CD and take home some newto-you music. Learn about Library music resources (Freegal and our two Studios - Studio916 and Studio21c) and learn to make a "mixtape" for your friends and family. Registration is not required.

Medicare Beneficiaries and Avoiding Scams and Fraud

Thu., May 16 | 1 - 2 p.m.

Sand Creek Library

These days everyone is bombarded with phone calls, emails, and text messages about Medicare, Social Security, insurance options, and so much more! Join Roma Costanza with Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging to learn some tips and tricks on how to avoid being the victim of Medicare fraud and abuse, Social Security scams, and aggressive insurance sales tactics.

Four-Part Medicare Series

The Four-Part Medicare Series goes beyond the basics of Medicare and retirement. This series is designed and presented by the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Insurance Assistance department, the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to provide information to guide and support you as you make important health care decisions that affect the rest of your life. Visit tiny.ppld.org/ medicare for more information and a list of all events. Attend in-person or virtually with registration.

End of Life Conversations

Thu., May 23 | 1 - 2 p.m.

East Library Annex | Virtual Compassion & Choices is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most active nonprofit organization committed to improving care and expanding choices for planning end-of-life care. Join presenter Carol Folsom to learn more about advanced care planning, medical aid in dying, and the full breadth of end-of-life options. Attend in-person or virtually with registration

Virtual Prenatal Series

Are you expecting and have so many questions? Join Pikes Peak Library District and Nurse-Family Partnership for a series of virtual prenatal classes. Classes meet online every Wednesday at noon. Each week we will explore a different topic followed by a

REGIONAL HISTORY & GENEALOGY PROGRAMS

VIRTUAL CLASSES

We offer numerous virtual classes. To view the full calendar, visit tinyurl.com/ppldgenclasses.

Vital Records

Tue., April 9 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Vital records are key genealogical documents that provide proof of life events, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. Learn more about these records, what information and insight they provide, and how you can locate them.

Top Free Genealogy Websites

Tue., April 23 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

The internet offers many fantastic, but sometimes overwhelming, resources for genealogical research. This class will highlight some of the best free websites you can reference while researching your family tree.

Genealogy Basics

Sat., April 6 | 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Are you interested in researching your genealogy but aren't sure where to start? Or maybe you are ready to take the next step to enhance your skills? Join us for an introduction to genealogy research strategies, including getting started, organizing your research, and selecting and searching for records.

Don't want to wait?!

Find class handouts, databases, and other genealogy resources at tinyurl.com/ppldgendb

FEATURED PROGRAM

Jewish Genealogy

Sat., May 11 | 1 - 3 p.m.

Penrose Library - Columbine A

Join us in honoring Jewish Heritage Month with a special class hosted by the Regional History & Genealogy Department. Whether you're just embarking on your genealogical journey or are curious about the fundamentals of Jewish genealogy, this program is tailored for you. Dive into the unique opportunities and challenges presented in tracing Jewish ancestry. Participants will also enjoy a guided tour of our department. This program is a perfect blend of learning and exploration for enthusiasts of all levels.

TEEN PROGRAMS

Bad Art Night

Thu., April 25 | 4 - 6 p.m.

Old Colorado City Library

Being bad has never felt so good!

If you love art but don't consider yourself an artist (or even if you do), join us for Bad Art Night where we will do our best to make something imperfect, peculiar, or downright hideous. In this freestyle craft event, create your disaster-piece using a random assortment of craft suppliespaint, collage, or sculpt, as long as it's really bad!

Homeschool Science:

AI and the Environment

Thu., April 11 | 1 - 2:30 p.m.

High Prairie Library

Tue., April 16 | 11 a.m. - noon

Cheyenne Mountain Library

Learn how conservationists use AI image recognition to save time identifying how and where to protect endangered species. Build your own species-identifying AI system.

Escape Room: Back to the Planetarium

Tue., April 16 | 5 - 6 p.m.

Monument Library

Can you solve the clues with your team and break into the box in this planetarium-themed escape room?

For ages 12 - 18.

Superhero Trivia

Sat., April 13 | 3 - 5 p.m.

East Library

Are you a superhero superfan?

Prove your knowledge in this trivia competition!

Teens Make: Eclipse T-Shirts

Fri., April 5 | 4 - 4:45 p.m.

Cheyenne Mountain Library

Thu., April 11 | 4 - 5 p.m.

Penrose Library

Get ready for the eclipse with your own customized t-shirt! We'll use bleach and stencils to create fun designs to celebrate this rare astronomical event. For ages 12 - 18. We will provide XL black t-shirts; please bring your own shirt if you want a different color or size!

Brain

Dots & Boxes

Grab a friend and take turns drawing a line to connect dots. When you complete a box, it's yours. Complete the most boxes to win!

A Day at the Library

[Adjective]

[Plural Noun]

[Plural Noun]

Burst

Crafting Creativity through Poetry

With these craft-themed words, create a poem that celebrates creativity, artistry, and the joy of making.

Thread Fabric Quilt Maker Knit Paint Canvas Brush

Clay Sculpt Pottery Mosaic Collage Sketch Carve Weave Bead Craft Design Create Sew Texture Pattern Color

[Adjective] [Noun]

One sunny day, I decided to visit the library in my town. As I walked through the doors, I was greeted by the librarian who smiled warmly and handed me a . I wandered through the aisles, marveling at the rows of stacked neatly on the shelves. Suddenly, I spotted a book peeking out from behind a stack of . With eager hands, I reached out and pulled it from its hiding spot. Just as I was about to dive into the story, I heard a loud coming from the other side of the library. Curious, I set the book down and followed the sound to find a group of gathered around a table.

[Sound]

[Plural Noun]

[Adjective] [Noun]

[Adjective]

[Noun]

[Adjective]

[Adjective]

They were playing a(n) game of , laughing and joking as they competed for the prize. I couldn't help but join in the fun, and soon I was caught up in the excitement of the game. Hours flew by as we played round after round, the librarian occasionally stopping by to check on us. Eventually, the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the library's floors.

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Reluctantly, I said goodbye to my new friends and promised to return soon for another day at the library. As I stepped outside into the cool evening air, I couldn't help but smile, grateful for the adventures that awaited me within the library.

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EARLY LITERACY

French Music Lingua

Join Madame Barbara from Springs French Music Lingua for a unique program that teaches French and sign language to children ages 8 and under using a fun mix of music, movement, art, drama, and storytelling. Due to the popularity of this class, please limit your family to one class per month. Merci!

ASL Storytimes & Playgroups

Join Pikes Peak Library District and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) for a bilingual storytime and playgroup! Books will be read in American Sign Language and English. An interpreter will be available for English and ASL translation. A CO-Hear representative from CSDB will be available during the playgroup to speak with families about speech, hearing, language, child development, and various other developmental topics. For children ages 0 - 3 with a favorite adult. Siblings welcome. One registration per family.

Once Upon a Sign: ASL Storytime

Join us for a fun storytime featuring early literacy activities and stories signed in American Sign Language (ASL) by a deaf role model and spoken aloud in English!

Bilingual Storytime

Join us at Sand Creek Library the first Wednesday of every month for a bilingual storytime in English and Spanish. For children ages 3+ with a favorite adult. El primer miércoles de cada mes tendremos una hora del cuento bilingüe en español y ingles a Sand Creek Library. Para niños de 3+ años con su adulto favorito.

Family Place Playgroups

Parents and caregivers of children ages 1 - 3 are invited to join us at our Family Place Library locations for an enjoyable five-week playgroup, where you spend time together, play, make friends, and speak one-on-one with specialists in child development, nutrition, and more. Registration

IDEA LAB

LEGO Build

Engineer your best LEGO creation, complete LEGO challenges, produce LEGO Art, and explore endless creative possibilities at this open-ended LEGO program using PPLD’s LEGO resources. Join us for the fun! For ages 5 - 12.

Ozobots

Get an introduction to coding with these simple robots. You’ll use color combinations to move the robot along. For ages 5 - 12.

Keva Planks

Engineers are invited to create their own masterpieces or complete a challenge with our Keva Planks. This open-ended program is only limited by your imagination. For ages 5 - 12.

HOMESCHOOL

Homeschool Science: Engineering Design Challenge

Fri., April 19 | 1 p.m.

East Library

Join STARBASE Peterson for an afternoon exploring STEM and the engineering design process. Use your engineering skills to complete a challenge using limited supplies and time. YOU are the engineer! Can you solve the problem? For ages 8 - 13. Registration is required.

Homeschool Art Show

Drop by to check out the Homeschool Art Show, exhibited in the East Library Children's Department throughout April. Artwork has been provided by homeschoolers, Grades K - 12, from across El Paso County!

Homeschool Resource Fair

Fri., April 12 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Library 21c

Are you a homeschool family or interested in getting started in homeschooling? Our annual Homeschool Resource Fair features a wide variety of local exhibitors offering educational and extracurricular opportunities for homeschooling families. Stop by and chat with representatives from organizations and businesses that offer homeschooling services and support, including arts and science activities, sports groups, enrichment programs, tutoring, support groups, and more. There will be fun hands-on activities for kids in the atrium!

Paws to Read

Young readers can practice reading aloud and improve fluency by sharing a story with one of our lovable Paws to Read therapy dogs. If your child might benefit from sensory accommodations such as fidgets or noise-reducing headphones, please request a Sensory Accommodations kit at the staff desk.

Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest Award Ceremony

Sat., April 20 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. The Hall at PPLD

Celebrate the 4th and 5th grade winners of the 2024 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest. Enjoy a reception with light refreshments following the awards ceremony.

TWEEN

Tween: Superhero Trivia

Are you a superhero superfan? Come prove your knowledge in this trivia competition! For ages 9 - 12.

Junior Advisory Board

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.

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

The Hall at PPLD

20 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colo. Spgs., CO 80903 (719) 531-6333, x6142

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

Spring 2024 | Volume 6 | Issue 2

Executive Editor Denise M. Abbott

Managing Editor Carla Bamesberger

Proofing/Editing Jeremiah Walter, Jennifer Flatland, Nawal Shahril, and Kim Melchor

Graphic Designer Alyssa Scaduto

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 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 16 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 700,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colorado. Learn more at ppld.org.