District Discovery - March 2022 Edition

Spring is in the air Spring 2022 • Volume 4, Issue 2 (719) 531-6333

ppld.org

Photo of Penrose Library Garden

Discover the Library of Things!

Start planting your garden!

Celebrate Poetry Month!

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Letter from the Editor Spring is known as the season of regrowth, rejuvenation, and renewal. For you, this might mean reimagining your own life and embracing the possibilities of what you could become. Here at Pikes Peak Library District, we welcome you to come discover all that we have to offer; there’s something for everyone during all seasons of life.

While public libraries are known for their large physical and digital collections of books, audiobooks, and movies, I encourage you to look beyond the book stacks and online catalog to see what else might capture your attention and support your goals, whatever they may be in 2022. In this issue of District Discovery, you’ll learn more about our gardens and seed libraries, our Library of Things, and the many programs offered this April and May. What better place than your local library to help you commit to a fresh start, explore new ideas and opportunities, and pursue your dreams in life. I have no doubt you can find what you’re looking for at one of our 16 locations, one of three mobile library services, or our ever-expanding online hub with many resources available anywhere and anytime.

Michelle Ray

Michelle Ray, Executive Editor

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Table of Contents 4

Connecting People and Communities Through the Library of Things Games, gardening tips and tools, museum passes, and more now available!

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Growing with the Library Visit our flower and vegetable gardens, then check out seeds to start your own!

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Gardening Planner Plant and produce your best garden with this general monthly planner.

10 April is Poetry Month Celebrate the creativity and self-expression of poetry!

12 Spring Programs

Get in Full Bloom!

ppld.org/social-media Get the latest updates, tag us with your flower and garden photos, and find more springtime fun for everyone!

Avoid Spring Break Fever! ppld.org/springbreak

Stay busy and engaged over spring break with children's and teen's programs from PPLD!

Kids are incredibly different. They need incredibly different care.

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Connecting People and Communities Through the Library of Things Games, gardening tips and tools, museum passes, and more now available!

It’s likely that you’ve checked out bestselling novels, blockbuster movies, a CD or an album or two by your favorite musician from Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). The modernday lending library in the United States has made printed materials like books accessible to the public since the mid-1800s, and PPLD’s history itself goes back not that far, but a good 60 years.

You’ve maybe even jumped on the much more recent electronic library bandwagon, and utilized PPLD’s apps, eBooks, audiobooks, web resources, and more. But when was the last time you visited PPLD to check out “Exploding Kittens” for a family game night, a Kill a Watt meter for testing home electricity usage, or a garden spade for planting projects?

One of PPLD’s latest ventures has been to consolidate non-traditional items like these that take up a different kind of physical space than books and the like into a central hub, known as the Library of Things.

Though libraries across the country have been starting up similar hubs like this for a while now, Community Partnership Coordinator Elyse Jones says PPLD launched the Library of Things at the same time it kicked off Pikes Peak Culture Pass in March 2020. When items were scattered all over the catalog, she says, patrons may not have known they existed, and even if they knew these items existed, they didn’t know how and where to access them.

“We decided to group everything and have it all in a central place so it's easier to find,” says Jones.

That central place? Online at ppld.org/things.

ranging from classics like “Clue” to the popular “Settlers of Catan” and “Ticket to Ride.” Jones says, “There's really something for all ages, all kind of levels.” One that's really fun, she adds, is “Bring Your Own Book.” Players pair books from their bookshelves (or PPLD’s) with this fast-playing card game, draw questions, and search for out-of-context text to fulfill a prompt.

“If you go to purchase some of these games, they're not cheap,” says Jones. “Board games are expensive and this way you get to try them before you decide, ‘Hey, I want to purchase this.’” Or, she adds, for people who host board game nights with friends or family, the Library of Things lets you try a different option each time without any financial investment.

Of course, if you prefer to get outside for your gaming, the Library of Things also offers yard games. Available for check out at Library 21c, games include badminton, bocce ball, disc golf, and even everybody’s favorite cornhole.

“We have a travel-size cornhole,” says Jones. “Especially for Memorial Day weekend or those summer barbecues or backyard birthday parties, these are really great to take out and try.”

While you’re tossing bean bags in an attempt to one-up your friend, you might notice that your yard could use a little care.

Head back to the Library of Things to check out a spade and a mattock — the result of a unique partnership with another local nonprofit, RAWtools.

From Games to Gardening Some of the more popular items in the Library of Things are the board games. There are more than 125 currently available,

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What will your next adventure be? ppld.org/Things

RAWtools Founded in 2013, after the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., RAWtools takes unwanted firearms donated by individuals, purchased through buybacks, or confiscated by law enforcement, and transforms their parts into garden tools.

Founder and Executive Director Mike Martin explains that through this process, RAWtools creates visual symbols for change.

“Then we also … connect people to conflict resolution resources like mediation, de-escalation, mental health first aid, other organizations or resources that might be helpful in the time of crisis — essentially helping people to gain skills to help deal with conflict, whether that's between them and another person or within themselves.”

In other words, he says, RAWtools focuses on “turning swords into plowshares and offering different tools to help people navigate conflict.”

Getting involved with PPLD’s Library of Things was a natural fit, says Martin.

“I think it's great to have shared tools like this, that you can cultivate life together as a community. We often have our tools donated to community gardens, and libraries have a lot in common with community gardens — having shared spaces and being together with your community and offering resources in that community setting as well.”

local museums to offer those experiences beyond books,” she says, adding, “Something that's more experiential and gets our patrons out in the community beyond the four walls of the library.”

As of March 2022, PPLD's Culture Pass partners include the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Glen Eyrie, the Money Museum, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, the Space Foundation Discovery Center, Pikes Peak Children's Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. The pass gives families and individuals the opportunity to visit these locations for free — and, of course, Jones adds, if they really like a particular museum, to support it by purchasing a membership or simply encouraging their family and friends to visit as well.

One of the organizations that’s been involved since the pass program’s inception is the Space Foundation Discovery Center, an interactive, education-focused museum that, according to Director Rachel English, “focuses on the ways that space impacts our everyday lives and how space history can teach us about where we're going into the future.”

English says when she was approached by PPLD about getting involved with Culture Pass, the answer was simple.

“The Discovery Center has been having conversations for a long time about how we make the museum and what we do here as accessible to our community as we possibly can,” she says. “It was just the perfect partnership to fall into our lap at the perfect time, and we are so excited to be a part of it.”

She adds, “I think libraries are so important as that third space that we're all so happy to have, where we can access all kinds of resources. What I really admire about Library of Things, and the way that PPLD has grown and expanded, is that they are really thinking about what the current resource needs of their community are. And that is always going to extend to more than just books and movies and things like that.”

So has English used the Library of Things herself?

“I have checked out a Culture Pass for myself,” she says, then laughs, and adds, “It’s a great program.”

‘Third Space’ and Beyond Community connection and resources could actually be the theme for many of the Library of Things items — from Colorado State Parks passes and Junior Ranger packs to wireless hotspots and book club sets. And especially Jones’ personal favorite (admittedly a program she developed), Pikes Peak Culture Pass.

“Museum pass programs have been in place in other libraries in Colorado and around the country, so we were really happy to be able to bring that to the Pikes Peak region and partner with

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Growing with the Library

Visit our flower and vegetable gardens, then check out seeds to start your own!

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) offers a large selection of digital and physical books, in addition to programs and classes, for both newcomers and experienced gardeners seeking to develop their skills and know-how. But, did you know that PPLD is home to several gardens and seed libraries that you can visit across El Paso County?

Carnegie Garden The Carnegie Garden is located between two historic buildings of the Penrose Library Campus in downtown Colorado Springs: the 1905 Carnegie Library and the 1928 Knights of Columbus Hall. Once a parking lot, the Garden is now home to a demonstration garden and a lawn that is perfect for public functions and outdoor gatherings.

Designed by landscape architect Carla Anderson, the Garden opened in 2007.

“I wanted to make sure we paid homage to our native shortgrassed prairie, so there are a lot of grasses that honor that,” says Anderson. “It’s a Plant Select garden, a program by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University. They select a variety of shrubs, perennials, and grasses and make those selected plants available. Then we report back about what did well, what had problems.”

The Garden has changed quite a bit since it opened 13 years ago and will continue to do so.

“It’s amazing to me how much it’s grown. It’s very much a Darwinian garden in that we plant things, and what grew and thrived deserved to be there. What didn’t survive got yanked out,” says Anderson. “A garden is a process; it’s not an end product. It’s four-dimensional art. You’ve got the three basic spatial dimensions, and then you have time.”

“The Carnegie had just been renovated, and somebody came to a master gardener meeting and said, ‘Here’s a beautiful building that needs a landscape,’” recalls Anderson. “So I said, ‘Here’s my opportunity to volunteer in the community.’”

Anderson took a look at the space and was interested in the location’s unique microclimate.

Penrose Community Garden

“It’s on that southern slope. And it’s surrounded by hard surfaces: walls on three sides and the pavement below, so it gets a lot of heat,” explains Anderson. “For me landscape architecture is all about problem solving, taking a challenge and finding a solution to that.”

Terracing the Garden solved one problem: the slope between the Carnegie Library and the wall below. It also made it easier to view the plants selected for the low-water demonstration garden.

Penrose Community Garden

Carnegie Garden

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The Penrose Community Garden includes a pollinator garden bed that is located along Pikes Peak Avenue, outside of Penrose Library. The garden focuses on intergenerational programming and is used as a learning tool incorporating specific gardening techniques. In past years, the PPLD Green Team managed the garden and planted and harvested vegetables for use at Catholic Charities' Marian House. Garden markers were made from recycled ceramic tiles at one of the Library’s makerspaces. Penrose Library staff are making plans to implement new programming when the garden reopens in Spring 2022.

High Prairie Library Garden In the past, this garden was maintained by staff of High Prairie Library. Starting in 2020, the Fresh Start Center now plants and harvests the garden. Food from the garden helps support their mission to “fight hunger, poverty, and joblessness through sustainable agriculture, food distribution, employment programs, nursing support, and case management.”

High Prairie Garden

Seed Libraries

Dr. Loomis Memorial Iris Trial Gardens The Elmohr Iris Society maintains this garden at East Library.

It is the only public, high-altitude trial garden in the world and features new hybrids sent from around the globe.

High Prairie Seed Library This seed library encourages a thriving community of gardeners through the process of growing, harvesting, and seed saving and sharing. Seeds can be checked out (three packets per family, per month) or donated to High Prairie Library. The local library also provides classes and information for beginner to expert gardeners.

Manitou Springs Seed Library

Dr. Loomis Memorial Iris Trial Gardens

The seed library at Manitou Springs Library, which is co-located with the Manitou Art Center, promotes the development and preservation of landrace heirloom seeds and varieties that are well adapted to the high-altitude, arid growing conditions of the region. They also promote a body of local knowledge on how to save and pass on those seeds to future growers. It lends seed and seed-saving skills to growers each year in exchange for new seed from regional gardens.

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GARDENING PLANNER

Plant and produce your best garden with this general monthly planner.

JANUARY Decide what to grow.

Trees and shrubs, vegetables, fruit or a butterfly and hummingbird garden.

Find your garden spot.

FEBRUARY Research, learn, and plan.

Use seed catalogs or check out books from the Library to learn about native plants!

Xeriscape Colorado

Measure and layout garden.

Water if temps stay above 40°.

Tip: Vegetable gardens need 8 - 10 hours of sun.

APRIL Join the Falcon Garden Club* to ask questions and learn tips!

Start seeds indoors.

Get soil test and amend soil with organic material (ASAP).

Plant asparagus, strawberries,

and spring bulbs (glads, lilies, etc).

Check it out!

MARCH Stock up on supplies.

Pick up seed starter supplies, garden tools, etc.

Start seeds inside.

Appropriate for cool-weather plants.

Water if temps stay above 40°.

Water if temps stay above 40°.

Tip: Check out one of our seed libraries!

MAY

Tip: Use a soil temperature, seed sowing chart.

JUNE

Prune dead branches from trees

Plant and protect from windy

Harden off seedlings 1 - 2

Water, weed, and mulch.

and shrubs after they bud.

weeks before planting outside.

Start picking asparagus.

Plant flowering vines, grapes, rhubarb, and roses.

cold nights with plastic covers.

Plus, plant herbs, iris, and annual flowers. (Spinach in 60 days)

Enjoy being outside!

Water if temps stay above 40°.

Water if temps stay above 40°.

Tip: To locate underground lines, call 811 or visit colorado811.org

* Falcon, CO

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Avg last frost: May 22 (Falcon*)

Tip: Buy soil thermometer and use black plastic to warm soil.

Tip: Use watering timers, especially for tomatoes.

Plan

Plant

Harvest

JULY Maintain watering and weeding.

Mulch between beds with straw

or hay to prevent drying. Use wood mulch around trees and shrubs to maximize watering.

Begin harvesting early-season crops such as spinach, radishes, rhubarb, and lettuce.

Tip: Use Black Forest slash/mulch.

AUGUST Replant spinach if desired.

Pick peas, beets, squash, broccoli, green peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, and zucchini.

Soil amendment is now key to success next year!

Avg first frost: Oct. 3 (Falcon*)

SEPTEMBER Harvest cabbage, zucchini, beets, beans, broccoli, spinach, squash, tomatoes, etc.

If Desired

Harvest

Protect plants to extend growing season. (Same in October)

Process

Plant fall bulbs for spring beauty.

Eat or give away!

Freeze, can, dry, pickle, etc.

Tip: Buy straw bales at the local feed and hay stores.

OCTOBER Rake up and compost.

Clean

NOVEMBER

(Daffodils, tulips, crocus, etc)

Tip: Take a break and watch some football.

DECEMBER

Finish garden clean-up.

Great job! Rest up!

Open garden plots and bury

You've built your garden with planning, planting, and discipline.

Think about all you have learned!

stems.

Clean up the tools and put away all garden supplies.

Golden Tip: (First, call to locate lines) Double-dig your permanent garden plots (down to 20°) and mix in up to 1/3 organic material. *Double-digging only every 7 - 10 yearsl

Golden Tip: Add compost or manure now for soil health and nutrients by spring, *Add kitchen scraps (except plate scrapings, fats, or salts) all winter to enhance and expand soil bacterial.

Golden Tip: Apply a heavy layer of wood mulch around trees and shrubs after a hard freeze to protect roots and minimize winter watering.

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April is Poetry Month Celebrate the creativity and self-expression of poetry!

Programs

Take and Makes

Pikes Peak Poetry Summit

Magnetic Poetry Set

Sat., April 9 | Knights of Columbus Hall

The Pikes Peak Poetry Summit is a one-day event dedicated to uplifting and honoring poetry in our region. April is National Poetry Month, and this summit will be the perfect way to celebrate, whether you are a seasoned poet, exploring the art form, or just a lover of poetry. Get inspired, improve your craft, share your words, and learn more about poetry locally and across the region. Engage with our dynamic writing and performance workshops, learn from our poet speaker panels, and hear phenomenal poets. The poetic experience in the Pikes Peak region is vibrant and far-reaching, and we can't wait for you to add your voice to this art community.

Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest Award Ceremony

Make your own magnetic poetry set! We supply the recycled book pages for the words and the magnet sheet; you provide the glue and scissors to show off your craft and poetry skills. Pick up program supplies beginning April 1, the start of National Poetry Month. One kit per household while supplies last.

Engage in Poetry at Home!

Book Spine Poetry Pull some books off the shelves and stack them so their titles create a poem. Kids can take a pic, write the titles down as they are, or use their stack as inspiration for a more fleshed-out masterpiece.

Sat., April 16 | Knights of Columbus Hall

Paint Chip Poetry

Pikes Peak Library District will honor the winners of the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest during an award ceremony for recipients and their families on Sat., April 16. The theme for 2022 was Unexpected Gardens: Poems on Everyday Bravery, and students were asked to describe survival, thriving, and how to create habitats in which we blossom and grow.

This is easily one of the most popular poetry games and for good reason. With a color swatch from your local hardware store or online, write a poem using as many of the colors on the swatch as possible. Then, use them as bedroom or classroom displays!

Youth Poet Laureate Inauguration Sat., April 30 | Knights of Columbus Hall

Please join us for a celebration of youth poetry in the Pikes Peak region! The program will feature readings from winners of the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest, Poetry Out Loud Colorado, Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius, guest poets, and applicants of the Youth Poet Laureate Project. The event will culminate with the inauguration of the first Pikes Peak Youth Poet Laureate!

The Pikes Peak Youth Poet Laureate Project is a program of Hear Here Poetry, in partnership with the Pikes Peak Library District and championed by Urban Word, NYC. Hear Here Poetry exists to activate and amplify youth voices through events and education, encouraging everyone to listen, write, and share.

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April

Compose Acrostics!

Acrostics are simple enough for beginning poets, but even Edgar Allan Poe used this style to create beautiful works. Create a poem by writing a sentence that starts with the letters in each line.

Pikes Peak Library District Celebrates Poetry Month!

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is honored to celebrate Poetry Month by introducing you to and celebrating the new Pikes Peak Poet Laureate, Ashley Cornelius!

Cornelius is a nationally recognized and award-winning spoken word poet in Colorado. Her poetry has been featured at TEDx Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College, the Colorado Springs Women's March, Denver Public Library, Colorado Nonprofit Association, as well as on many stages.

Additionally, Ashley was the Colorado Springs representative for the 2018 Women of the World Poetry Slam and competed nationally. A winner of multiple poetry slams in Colorado Springs, Cornelius was also the Colorado Springs Independent's Best of Artist in 2019 and was recognized by the Colorado Springs Business Journal as a Rising Star in 2021. She is sought after across the nation for speaking engagements and workshop facilitation utilizing poetry.

Decolonizing Imagination Ashley Cornelius, 2020

Imagine the main character of a story.

See her running through an open field. Her skin shimmering in the sun, hair a riptide of waves in the wind. Laughter spirals from her lips to heaven in between songs her grandmother taught her. Awaiting an embrace from her partner.

What does she look like?

What color is her skin?

What texture is her hair?

What language does she sing?

Who is her partner?

We fill in the gaps with a single story, with the most common idea of the main character. Often denying ourselves full representation even in our imagination.

We do not do this innately. This practice is learned and instilled from the books we read, the shows we watch, and the art we experience.

The content matters.

It allows us to be seen and validated in the literature. We can find ourselves in the pages of a hardback book where the main character reflects a part of our identity. Where the story addresses the struggles and joys of our lived experiences.

Books are a portal to curated worlds that have been saving readers for centuries, opening perspectives and connections.

As we read, we can grow in understanding and empathy.

As Poet Laureate, Cornelius will work closely with the Library District to build a literary arts community through poetry by developing an appreciation of written and performance poetry, as well as inspiring and celebrating poetry and poets in the Pikes Peak region with dynamic programs of engagement, advocacy, and education.

“It is an honor to select Ashley Cornelius to serve as the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate,” said Dustin Booth, Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Project Chair and PPLD Manager for Knights of Columbus Hall. “She will be an incredible ambassador for the arts in the Pikes Peak region and her poetry inspires those who witness her work to think deeper about the roles we all play in our community.”

“This is an incredible honor, and I am excited to serve as the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate,” said Cornelius. “My intentions are to reach as many people as we can through poetry and storytelling and to be a champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion in our local creative spaces.”

But what if we didn’t have to fill in the gaps? What if the books were already celebrations of diversity and equity? What if you could feel represented and safe by the stories you read?

What if, “her deep brown skin shimmered in the sun, as her thick coarse hair waved across her head like a riptide. Singing a Spanish song her grandmother taught her while she clung to her side in the kitchen as a child. She will forever smell fresh chilis when she sings. The embrace of her wife feels like coming home.”

What if we didn’t have to force ourselves to fit in the narrative?

What if we wrote books where we are the main characters?

We owe it to ourselves to create and promote inclusive stories and art. Honor experiences and content outside of the historical standards. With every turn of a page, we decolonize our imagination and diversify our world.

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PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Learn more at ppld.org/programs/adults Use the URL above of the QR code to learn more!

Virtual Programs Virtual programs will be held via Zoom. Use the QR code above and search by keyword on our events calendar!

Native Plants of Colorado Tue., April 5 | Noon

Irene Shonle from Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Office shows and discusses Colorado’s wealth of native plants, colorful wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees, which are naturally adapted to our variable climate, soils, temperatures, and elevations. Native plants are great for landscaping because of their adaptability.

Composting presented by CSU Extension Office Tue., May 10

May

Join instructor Anne Dye to learn beginning calligraphy. In this session participants will learn how to make upper- and lower-case letters and how to write a short sentence or phrase.

Shakespeare in the Park May

Join PPLD and Theatreworks at UCCS for an outdoor Shakespeare performance where the actors perform multiple roles!

Staff-led Programs Check out these programs led by staff members at your favorite libraries.

Composting is a great way to create free and nutrient-rich soil usable in your garden and houseplants. Plus, it helps reduce yard waste and frees up landfill space! Join CSU Extension to learn how to get started with composting.

April

In-person Programs

Moss Terrarium

Use the QR code and keyword search to find the program at a library near you!

Moss is an easy-to-care for plant and can help stabilize humidity in an area. It is also green, vibrant, and looks great in a small terrarium!

Tap Dance & Jazz

Fri., April 8 | 2 p.m. | East Library Sat., April 9 | 1 p.m. | Manitou Springs Library

Join Dr. Wanda Tisby Cousar and Ron Cousar for an interactive program to learn about the history of jazz and learn about the hoofing style of tap dance.

Beginning Painting Class

Sat., April 2 | 1 p.m. | Ute Pass Library Fri., April 15 | 2 p.m. | Monument Library

Learn basic acrylic painting skills from local artist Chris Alvarez of the Alvarez Art School.

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Beginning Calligraphy

DIY Fishing Lures Make your own fishing lure using corks and other provided materials.

May Dungeons & Dragons 18+ Play D&D with other young adults (18+), led by volunteer Dungeon Masters. No experience is required.

Five-minute Macramé for Beginners Create an easy macrame plant hanger with basic knots in just five minutes! We will provide the instructions and all the materials you need.

Garden Decor

Take and Makes

Decorate a small pot with nail polish for those seed starters, and then decorate a seed container to keep your future growing projects safe!

Take and makes are available the first Friday of every month at all Library locations.

Learn to Sew: Farmer's Market Totes

Seed Starter (Earth Month)

April

Interested in learning how to sew? Learn the basics of using a sewing machine, including threading, filling a bobbin, and executing basic stitches, as we create custom tote bags. All materials will be provided. This class is intended for those who have little to no experience with machine sewing. Please bring reading glasses or "cheaters" if needed.

May

Chinese Paper-cutting (Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month)

Crossword Puzzle Can you figure out all of the words?

Down

Across

1. Friendly pollinator 2. The process or period of gathering crops 3. Vegetable often used in pie 4. State flower of Colorado 8. The region we grow in 9. The study of plants 11. To cut away dead or overgrown portions of garden 13. Often the start for a garden—available at special libraries in PPLD

5. A troublesome, often invasive, native plant 6. Often colorful result of metamorphosis 7. "Eat your fruits and (blank)" 8. The smallest of all bird species 10. Edible green shoots recommend to plant in April 12. Decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer 2

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PROGRAMS FOR CREATIVE SERVICES Learn more at ppld.org/create

Use the URL above or the QR code to learn more about Creative Services!

Monthly 3D Printer Badging

Introduction to Sewing

3D printing is an amazing technology that lets you print custom designs out of plastic! After completing this class, you will be able to use the 3D printer on your own during open hours at our makerspaces. For ages 9+.

CNC Badging PPLD's ShopBot Desktop CNC is a computer-controlled mill, router, and drill all in one that lets you make your own projects with wood or acrylic. After completing this class, you will be able to use the CNC on your own during open hours at Library 21c.

For ages 16+.

Introduction to 3D Modeling Get a basic overview on how to create and modify 3D designs using TinkerCAD, a free browser-based 3D modeling platform.

You will learn the basics while designing your own project, which you can then print for free in any of our makerspaces.

Introduction to Inkscape for the Laser Learn the basics on how to use the free software Inkscape to create images you can cut or engrave using the laser and design your own project! You will leave the class with a finished notebook and the confidence to design more creative projects.

Learn the basics of using a sewing machine, including threading, filling a bobbin, and executing basic stitches, as we create custom drawstring pencil bags. For ages 9+.

Laser Cutter Badging Learn to cut out a wooden plaque, etch a custom design on glass, and more with our laser cutter/engraver! After completing this class, you will be able to use the laser cutter/engraver on your own during open hours at any of our makerspaces. For ages 9+.

Quilt Block Club We’ll create a new quilt block together each month, drawing from classic American quilt designs. At the end of the year, join your blocks together to create a sampler quilt!

April Makerspace Open House Still looking for the perfect present for Mother's Day? Why not make one? Drop by a makerspace to create personalized Mother's Day gifts and explore other fun crafts! All ages welcome. All materials provided.

REGIONAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY RESOURCES Learn more at ppld.org/regional-history-and-genealogy All programs are virtual. Use the URL above or the QR code to learn more!

SpecialPeak Collections photo archivist, Erinn Barnes, Colorado Springs History Book Club: Disasters of PPLD the Pikes Region Thu., April 21 | 6 p.m. discusses her chapter, “Evolution of Fire: Our Changing Views Disasters of the Pikes Peak Region

Thu., April 6 p.m. to the present. Using the published works of local of Fire in the as Pikes Peak Region,” fromclub ourhighlights Pikes Peakspecific Regional The past is 21 the| window historians inspiration, this book History Series book, "Disasters of the Pikes Peak Region".

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PPLD Special Collections photo archivist, Erinn Barnes, discusses her chapter, The pastofisColorado the window to theand present.

UsingIn theApril, published will from also highlight selection fromHistory our oralSeries history collection “Evolution of Fire: Our Changing Viewsthis of book Fire inclub the highlights Pikes Peak Region,” our Pikesa Peak Regional book, Disasters works of local historians as inspiration, documenting the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire. of the Pikes PeakofRegion.

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In April,

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1950 Census

PPLD Genealogy Resources

Sat., April 9 | 10 a.m. • Wed., Apr. 13 | 2 p.m.

Sat., April 23 | 3 p.m. • Fri., Apr. 29 | 11 a.m.

Mon., April 25 | 6 p.m.

Join PPLD Regional History and Genealogy in learning about the long-awaited release of the 1950 Census! The federal census is an invaluable resource for researching our family history. The 1950 Census will provide new insight into a fascinating time in U.S. History, shortly after the Second World War and just before the introduction of color TV, the discovery of DNA, and the day when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus.

Staff will offer classes throughout the month to help you take advantage of this new genealogical resource.

We offer many resources to aid you with your genealogical research. Get an overview of our databases, reference materials, and additional services to help you take your research to the next level.

Google for Genealogy Research Mon., May 23 | 6 p.m.

Google is an amazing tool for research! In this class, we'll cover how to perform more effective genealogy searches and provide an overview of some of Google's best tools for researching your ancestors.

Genealogy Resources Genealogy Basics

Mon., April 4 | 10 a.m. • Sat., April 16 | 10 a.m.

Mon., May 2 | 10 a.m. • Sat., May 21 | 10 a.m.

Join us for an introduction to basic genealogy research strategies including getting started, organizing research, and selecting and searching for records.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULT EDUCATION Learn more at ppld.org/adult-education

Use the URL above or the QR code to learn more about Adult Education!

Adult Education provides instructor-led classes, online resources, and more to prepare for:

GED/HiSET/ TASC exam

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Career Path to Online High Citizenship School (COHS)

Job Training

Job Search

Digital Literacy

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YOUNG ADULT SERVICES Learn more at ppld.org/teens

These programs are for ages 12 - 18 unless otherwise noted.

Use the URL above or the QR code to learn more!

How to DJ with DJ Gravity

Learn to Knit: Round Loom

Pull back the curtain on the mystery of being a DJ! DJ Gravity reveals what it takes to be a master DJ, and how you too can become one.

Learn to use a loom to knit a hat in this three-part series that will keep you warm on cold days, year-round!

Sat., April 23 | 1 p.m. | Library 21c

Free Comic Book Day Sat., May 7 | All Day

With the help of locally-owned Muse Comics + Games, all PPLD locations will distribute FREE comics while supplies last, so hurry in and get yours!

Dungeons & Dragons Play D&D with other teens, led by volunteer Dungeon Masters.

Free Math Tutoring ppld.org/MathTutor

Is math homework getting you down? Are finals freaking you out? Do you need to brush up before the ACT, SAT, or GED? Our experienced math tutors can help you improve your grades and take the stress out of math. Tutoring is for all ages, all levels.

Tuesdays, April 12, 19, and 26 | 4 p.m. | Rockrimmon Library

Learn to Sew Series: Zippered Pouch Saturdays, April, 16, 23, and 30 | 3 p.m.

Learn the basics of sewing: including threading the machine, winding the bobbin, and basic machine troubleshooting.

Complete a color-blocked zippered pouch and perhaps a bonus project or two!

Teen Advisory Board ppld.org/teens/volunteer

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 PPLD, as well as engaging in leadership development opportunities. Regular attendance is recommended. You must complete a volunteer application to participate.

Learn to Knit: Baby Socks

Thursdays, April 7, 14, and 21 | 1 p.m. | Fountain Library

Learn to use a loom in this three-part series to make quick, easy, and cute baby booties for your little one or a loved one! For ages 16+.

Call for Volunteers!

PPLD is looking for Summer Adventure volunteers! Serve your community by promoting the love of reading and gain crucial skills for entering the workforce or college.

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"This summer, I got the chance to experience volunteering and customer service.

I got to help lead parents that have never heard of Summer Adventure through the process of it and explain why this is an amazing program. I met new people and learned new skills while volunteering at the Monument Library." - Volunteer

PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN Learn more at ppld.org/kids

Use the URL above or the QR code to learn more about Family & Children Services!

LENA Start

Tuesdays, April 5 - June 7 | Noon Thursdays, April 7 - June 9 | 6:30 p.m.

This 10-week program will help parents, with children 0 - 32 months, increase conversational turns. Each week a child will wear a "talk pedometer" to track the number of adult words, conversational turns, and minutes of electronics they are exposed to. We will meet weekly to give you tips on how to increase conversational turns and increase them by the end of the 10 weeks. Families will receive 10 free books and three gift cards throughout the program! Plue, the child will receive a gift at graduation.

Down the Rabbit Hole: All About Pet Bunnies Sat., April 23 | 10:30 a.m. | High Prairie Library

Children ages 3 - 12 will learn about the unique needs of domestic house rabbits and how they differ from dogs and cats.

Additionally, they will learn how pet rabbits differ from wild rabbits. Stay and meet the bunnies after the program! Presented

by Rocky Mountain House Rabbit Rescue.

May Baby Time Enjoy songs, bouncing action rhymes, and sharing a book together. For ages 0 - 12 months.

Create & Play Did you know studies show that art making builds motor skills, reading readiness, and math concepts? Little ones experience creative and playful adventures with art! For ages 1 - 5.

Early Literacy Early literacy programs are specialized programs for the ages listed in the program description at registration.

FAB Time Talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children.

Music & Movement Shake those wiggles out and have some fun with music and movement activities and a story. For ages 2 - 3.

Sensory Storytime Join us for an interactive storytime that is especially welcoming for children on the autism spectrum and families who are looking for a smaller, more adaptive Library experience. For ages 12 and under.

Stay & Play We’ll have fun toys to enhance your child’s early literacy learning.

Meet new friends and have fun playing together. For ages 1 - 3.

Storytime French Music Lingua

Wed., May 11 | 10 - 10:45 a.m. | Library 21C Fri., May 13 | 10 - 10:45 a.m. | East Library

Join Barbara Mills from Springs French Music Lingua for a unique, FREE program that teaches French and American Sign Language to children using a fun mix of music, movement, art, drama, and storytelling. For ages 8 and under.

Stories and more for children ages 3+.

Tails and Tales: Visit a Therapy Animal Enjoy a story, do a craft, and meet and greet a small animal from Reigning Hope Therapy Service in a relaxing atmosphere.

For ages 3 - 10.

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Toddler Time

Participate in nursery rhymes, music and movement, and listen to a few short books. For ages 1 - 2.

Zumba® for Families Enjoy a free Zumba session with instructor Natilia Sibert. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you'll see why Zumba® Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise. For ages 2+.

May Programs Camp Half-Blood Cabin Flag Ocean Mini Golf

Homeschool Homeschool Resource Fair

Fri., April 8 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Library 21c

Tween Tween programs are in-person and are for ages 9 - 12 unless otherwise noted.

"I Survived" the Library

Tue., April 5 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Monument Library Thur., April 7 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Penrose Library

JAB (Junior Advisory Board)

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. 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.

Tue., April 12 and Tue., May 10 | 4 - 5 p.m. | East Library

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 and time for a fun project or activity.

Stage Fright

Tue., April 12 | 2 - 3 p.m. | Calhan Library Mon., April 18 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Monument Library Tue., April 26 | 1 - 2 p.m. | East Library

Bird’s Nest Treats

Wed., April 13 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Sand Creek Library Fri., April 15 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Palmer Lake Library

Gross Out Science

Thur., April 14 | 4 - 5 p.m. | East Library

Critter Club: Pets 101: The Basics Tue., April 19 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Calhan Library

The many different pets in our lives have very different needs.

Learn the basics about what each kind of pet needs! We will talk a little about the care and behavior of dogs, cats, small mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds.

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Join us for a short history of the theater, and then practice your personal performing skills with fun theater games!

For ages 7 - 12.

Homeschool Science: Magic of Science Fri., April 15 | 1 - 2 p.m. | East Library

Take a look at some of the fascinating science concepts that affect our everyday lives and learn why magic is science we do not understand yet with Stacey Lazzelle from the Department of Research at the United States Air Force Academy. For ages 6 - 12.

Goldilocks, Dinosaurs, & STEM

Fri., April 22 | 2 - 3 p.m. | Cheyenne Mountain Library

An introduction to Mo Willems’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, Homeschoolers will dig deep into the story with a variety of engaging hands-on STEM activities from building and design challenges to dinosaur fun. For ages 5 - 10.

Finding Your Roots: Genealogy for Kids Fri., April 22 | 1 - 2 p.m. | Ute Pass Library

STEM STEM programs are for ages 5 - 12.

Begin filling out your family tree, discover how to ask the right research question to explore your family history, and experience a variety of fun hands-on activities. For ages 6 - 12.

Physical Science: Atoms & Molecules Wed., April 27 | 2 - 3:30 p.m. | High Prairie Library

Learn about the periodic table in a fun game. Visit various stations constructing atoms and molecules, creating chemical reactions, and more! For ages 6 - 12.

Homeschool Science: Straw Balloon Rocket Racers Fri., May 20 | 1 - 2 p.m. | East Library

April Programs

Explore Newton's Three Laws of Motion with educators from STARBASE Peterson. Students will make a straw balloon rocket racer and learn to predict and explain their motion.

For ages 6 - 12.

Celebrate the Earth

KidsMake

Oh, no! Torrential rains are coming and flooding is predicted.

Can you create a barrier to keep your doghouse from flooding?

First, test the absorbency of several materials and then build a paper house and experiment to discover your best barrier to keep your doghouse dry.

KidsMake programs are for ages 5 - 12.

Celebrate the earth with STEM activities while learning more about our planet!

Flood Barriers

May Programs Simple Machines: Pulleys Imagine you’ve just bought a plot of land in the Old West.

What’s the first thing you need to do? Build a well to get water!

But how? Build a pulley!

Balloon Powered Cars

April Programs Tie Dye Art Tissue Paper-Stained Glass Trash Art May Programs Fairy Huts Ocean Sensory Play Squishy Stress Balls Under the Sea Portal Suncatchers

Observe the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy while building a car powered by nothing but air. Experiment with different designs to make the car go faster and farther, then race your top design!

Air Cannons For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Children will get to demonstrate it when using the air cannon they create!

Cloth Printing Use Ahanti Kente Cloth as inspiration, creating your own patterns and arrangements.

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Calhan Library

Mobile Library Services

600 Bank St., Calhan, CO 80808

(719) 531-6333, x2313

(719) 531-6333, x7013

Monument Library

Cheyenne Mountain Library

1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument, CO 80132 (719) 531-6333, x7005

1785 S. 8th St. #100, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (719) 531-6333, x7001

East Library 5550 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, 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

Knights of Colombus Hall 20 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 531-6333, x6142

Library 21c 1175 Chapel Hills Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (719) 531-6333, x7012

Manitou Springs Library 515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, CO 80829 (719) 531-6333, x7004

Old Colorado City Library 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, 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., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 531-6333, x7015

Rockrimmon Library 832 Village Center Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (719) 531-6333, x7008

Ruth Holley Library 685 N. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 (719) 531-6333, x7009

Sand Creek Library 1821 S. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916 (719) 531-6333, x7018

Ute Pass Library 8010 Severy Rd., Cascade, CO 80809 (719) 531-6333, x7011

Pikes Peak Library District Discovery Spring 2022 / Volume 4, Issue 2 Executive Editor Michelle Ray Managing Editor Denise Abbott Graphic Designer Rachel Quinn Contributors Kirsten Akens Brenna Hemphill James Krebs Jeremiah Walter Pikes Peak Library District 2022 Board of Trustees President Dr. Ned C. Stoll Vice President Scott Taylor Secretary/Treasurer Dora Gonzales Erin Bents Debbie English Mina Liebert Aaron Salt

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Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) seeks to engage and transform people’s lives by providing equitable access to information, enrichment opportunities, and community connections via 16 facilities, online resources, and mobile library services. It is a nationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of more than 670,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colo.