District Discovery - Spring 2023

Letter from the Interim Chief Librarian & CEO

Much like the flowers that bloom each spring, creativity is blossoming at Pikes Peak Library District. Many people think of libraries as a place to get information, and that is certainly true. But we are also a place of inspiration and creation.

PPLD was one of the first libraries in the world to incorporate makerspaces into our facilities. In this issue of District Discovery, you will get an inside look at what went into opening our first makerspaces at Library 21c. Library 21c will also be home to All Pikes Peak Makes this spring. This all-ages event will be a celebration of the creativity and innovation we work to support as a Library District.

In these pages, you’ll learn more about the Pikes Peak Poetry Summit taking place at The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall) as part of National Poetry Month. This event and its theme of “Art is a Bridge to New Perspectives” are excellent illustrations of how public libraries create community and expand horizons.

You will also read about two local artists who create works out of recycled materials, making the world a more beautiful and sustainable place.

I hope this issue will inspire you to make something of your own. If it does, we at PPLD have resources to help bring your creative vision to life.

Teona Shainidze Krebs Interim Chief Librarian & CEO

4 Location Spotlight: Monument Library - A Community Connector

6 Celebrate Earth Day:

-Protecting the Earth starts with one person

-Two local artists recycle to create art and jewelry

8 Featured Event: True Crime Reporter Prendergast to speak at Mountain of Authors

9 Spring Games

10 Staff Spotlight: Serving Her Library Creatively

13 Programs for Adults

17 Programs for Teens, Families, and Children

Kids are incredibly different. They need incredibly different care.

Location Spotlight: Monument Library - A Community Connector

By Jeremiah Walter

For nearly 50 years, Monument Library has been serving the ever-growing population of the Tri-Lakes area just north of Colorado Springs, which is named after Monument Lake, Palmer Lake, and Lake Woodmoor.

The Woodmoor neighborhood began development in 1971, and by 1975, area residents expressed the need for their own library because the nearby Palmer Lake Library could not adequately serve the neighborhood’s growing population. Lewis-Palmer Middle School filled that need by providing a room with its own entrance, and on April 5, 1975, Pikes Peak Library District opened Monument Hill Branch Library in that location. However, as the area’s population continued to increase, the library returned the room to the school to accommodate a growing number of students.

In 1979, the library moved to a small, rented space in Woodmoor Center in the town of Monument, but by 1999 the community outgrew this location as well. The library relocated to a larger facility in the same shopping center and dropped “Hill” from its name. Monument Library’s grand reopening on June 19, 1999, featured llama petting, Native American flutes, and fire trucks. The library was soon expanded again and reopened with “Check Out Our Roots,” a 1970s-themed celebration, on Feb. 22, 2003.

Monument Library has become an integral part of the community. It was named Colorado Association of Libraries

Library programming is also popular, especially for young patrons and seniors.

“Storytimes and Toddler Times are really popular,” says Senior Library Assistant Kate Pangelinan, “as are Paws to Read dog visits. Rex – an enormous, bearlike dog, soft as silk and twice as gentle – is always so friendly when he comes by.”

“I think Monument Library is especially important to the senior citizens in our area,” says Library Supervisor Mary Nash. “The Tri-Lakes area is a popular place to retire, so we offer programs for seniors to attend and connect with new friends. Our book clubs and Socrates Café are very well attended, as are our historical programs.”

For all its popular programs, Monument Library might be best known for the duck pond on the west side of the facility.

For all its popular programs, Monument Library might be best known for the duck pond on the west side of the facility.

“It is home to several dozen mallard ducks and often visited by Canada geese,” says Library Assistant Harriet Halbig. “Because the west wall of the library is almost completely glass, patrons and staff can watch the wildlife outside. In the spring, we enjoy watching for ducklings and goslings. We also offer wild bird food so that patrons can feed them.”

There is also a popular duck inside the library: Daisy Quacker.

“Daisy is a ceramic duck that lives at our circulation desk,” says Nash. “She has an extensive wardrobe of hats created by one of our library patrons. Daisy has a hat for every occasion, and kids can stop by the desk and ask to change her outfit. She loves to dress up!”

“The library is a community connector,” says Monument Library Manager Jean Carrier. “Our meeting room space is well used. [We are] one of the few places in the community that has such a space.”

Real, non-ceramic animals have also welcomed patrons over the years.

“For many years, we had an aquarium with a beta fish and others named Dewey and the Decimals,” says Halbig. “We even gave Dewey an annual birthday party!”

Eventually, Dewey was moved to a nearby high school and in came Ruby.

“Ruby is our resident Madagascar Giant Day Gecko,” says Nash. “She spends her days hunting crickets, slurping up papaya paste, and carefully climbing the walls of her tank. Her toes are amazing! Kids often make a beeline to her tank to see her and say hello.”

“She is our beloved tiny dragon,” adds Pangelinan, who cleans Ruby’s tank every few weeks. “She is feared by crickets, mealworms, and papayas throughout the land.”

Although their reasons may vary, patrons definitely love coming to Monument Library.

“We see a lot of smiles when people walk through our doors,” says Nash. “Our regulars know us well, and I love when new visitors are excited about all that PPLD has to offer them and their families. Monument also sees some of the highest circulation numbers in the Library District. Our patrons are voracious readers!”

Once inside the library, patrons are served by a staff that is “caring, silly, supportive, curious, kind, funny, knowledgeable, strong, and inventive,” says Nash. “We also have 23 regular library volunteers that help us every week, many of them senior citizens who have been giving us their time for years,” says Nash.

“Some of them have been here longer than I have,” says Halbig, who has worked at Monument Library for 16 years. “They enjoy the atmosphere at the library and feeling as though they are a part of the action. Many former volunteers go on to be employed at this location or other libraries.”

The library also works to connect with the community outside its walls.

The library also works to connect with the community outside its walls. “We try to participate in outreach events in the local community as much as possible,” says Carrier. “Our biggest outreach is the Monument Street Festival and Parade. Last year we talked to more than 800 people! We are trying to bring the library to where the people are.”

And when those people visit Monument Library, they will be greeted by friendly staff, helpful volunteers, and some adorable animals.

Protecting the Earth starts with one person

By Jeanne Davant

On the first Earth Day in April 1970, there was nothing to prevent factories from belching toxic smoke into the air or dumping waste into the nation’s rivers. One man, a Wisconsin native who grew up respecting the beauty of the outdoors and the value of the natural environment, started a movement that changed all that.

Gaylord Nelson, born in 1916 in the North Woods community of Clear Lake, especially loved the St. Croix River, a tributary of the Mississippi River that flows through Wisconsin and Minnesota. Nelson studied political science in college and earned a law degree from the University of Wisconsin. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he returned to his home state to practice law and was saddened to see the state’s parks deteriorating and its public lands and waterways exploited by industry. Determined to do something about it, Nelson ran for the Wisconsin Senate. He was elected in 1948 and served for 10 years, until he was elected governor of Wisconsin in 1959.

During his two terms as governor, Nelson, a Democrat, steered the state to unprecedented improvements in education, health care, employment, and infrastructure. But he gained national attention for his environmental accomplishments: creation of the Department of Resource Development, which combined scattered and inefficient divisions into an effective state agency; establishment of a Youth Conservation Corps that provided more than 1,000 jobs; and acquisition of thousands of acres for new parks and wilderness areas.

His actions were extremely popular and earned him a reputation as the “conservation governor,” and in 1962, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. That year, Rachel Carson’s bestselling book Silent Spring documented the dangers of pesticides, and Americans began to awaken to the need to protect the nation’s natural resources.

During the next eight years, Nelson championed conservation in Washington, D.C. Although he was successful in winning appropriations for conservation jobs, he had trouble getting his colleagues to prioritize environmental concerns.

In the summer of 1969, Americans got another wake-up call. On June 22, the heavily polluted Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, Ohio, clogged with oil and debris, caught fire. The incident, covered heavily by the media, led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, but Nelson wanted to spur more action. Inspired by the anti-Vietnam War “teach-ins” occurring on college campuses, he proposed a day of gatherings nationwide that would educate citizens and motivate politicians to enact environmental legislation. He called it Earth Day.

He called it Earth Day.

An estimated 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Over the next decade, their voices and activism lead to the passage of landmark environmental protection laws, including the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Nelson’s beloved St. Croix River was the first to be designated under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Nelson was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1980. But he continued his environmental activism, joining The Wilderness Society as its counselor in 1981. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in September 1995 for his environmental work.

Two local artists recycle to create art and jewelry

By Jeanne Davant

We can’t all have that kind of impact, but small actions also make a difference. To honor Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, this year, we recognize two local artists whose work helps to sustain the planet through recycling.

Community art

Steve Wood, executive director of Concrete Couch, says sustainability is part of nearly everything the organization does. A loose affiliation of teachers, artists, builders, environmentalists, and pragmatic optimists, Concrete Couch has been bringing people together to perform community art projects since 1990.

It started when Wood was teaching art at the Bemis Art School and had an opportunity to do a mural in the downtown city bus terminal.

“That really opened my eyes to the power of public art,” Wood says. He also learned that people working together can contribute to the community in a meaningful and fun way.

About 10 years later, Wood and artists including Patti Smithsonian started Concrete Couch to extend those concepts from the classroom to the community.

with the goal to rejuvenate the formerly industrial, crime-ridden tract.

“Given that it was a concrete and asphalt dump, we’ve been able to repurpose those materials to a large extent,” he says. On Earth Day, “we’re going to have a big soil building, tree care, improve-the-ecology workday.”

From trash to beauty

LolaBorealis’ upcycled glass jewelry proves that common objects doomed for the landfill can be repurposed into something new and beautiful.

LolaBorealis was captivated by acrylic painting and stained glass at age 17, when she took art classes at Wasson High School. Now based in Manitou Springs, she has been practicing these art forms ever since, teaching herself new techniques by watching YouTube videos and reading books.

“I noticed there’s quite a bit of cool art that is screen printed or painted onto wine bottles, beer bottles, vintage drinking glasses — really cool designs that get forgotten or thrown away,” she says.

She’s been collecting interesting pieces since the 1990s at thrift stores, garage sales, and recycle bins, and has a large stash of decorated glass containers from Aveda, where she used to work.

“I started hoarding them because [Aveda] transitioned to plastic,” she says.

Concrete Couch incorporates recycled materials into works like the Great Pumpkin in downtown Colorado Springs, which is 90 percent recycled materials, and the Soda Springs Park Pavilion fence and gate.

“Most of our large-scale sculptures have an extremely high degree of recycled materials in them,” Wood says. “We’ve also built three tiny homes as job training programs, and those were 80 percent recycled.” Those buildings are at Concrete Coyote Park, an 8-acre site in Southeast Colorado Springs that will be Concrete Couch’s new home and will host a variety of projects

“I break them in a very controlled manner to get the piece that I want,” she says. “I grind down the edges and drill a hole, and then it can become ornaments, earrings, bracelets or necklaces.”

Her pieces bring joy to people at arts and crafts fairs and events like Pikes Peak Library District’s Mini Maker Faire (now called All Pikes Peak Makes), where she displayed her work in 2019. She also sells her jewelry at her five-star-rated LolaBorealis Etsy store.

True crime reporter Prendergast to speak at Mountain of Authors

By Jeanne Davant

There’s a difference in the way historians and journalists write about history, says Alan Prendergast, award-winning author of Gangbuster: One Man’s Battle Against Crime, Corruption, and the Klan, published this spring by Kensington Publishing Co. That’s one thing Prendergast will talk about in his keynote speech at Pikes Peak Library District’s 17th Annual Mountain of Authors event taking place on Sat., May 6 from Noon - 4:30 p.m.at Library 21c. The District annually invites about 30 authors to set up tables where they interact with attendees and display, autograph, and sell their books. The event also features a genre-specific panel discussion.

Prendergast, a longtime staff writer for Denver newsweekly Westword, won the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2015 Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Writing Award for his article “Bloody Ludlow,” an account of the 1914 Ludlow massacre. Gangbuster explores the battle waged by rookie District Attorney Philip Van Cise against organized crime, the Ku Klux Klan, and government corruption in 1920s Denver. Prendergast is also the author of Poison Tree, a book about the Richard Jahnke child abuse and parricide case, and numerous other articles about the justice system, historic crimes, high-security prisons, and “death by misadventure.” He teaches journalism at Colorado College.

Q: Why do you think people are so interested in true crime, and what led you to focus on this area?

Prendergast: There's a core of people that I think are fascinated with transgression, and especially serial killers and that kind of thing. That, to me, is sort of the bargain basement side of true crime. Also, it's become a lens for looking at different aspects of society, within a context of some particular environment or history that people are interested in. A number of things have spurred what I would call historic true crime, like Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City and David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Initially, I was interested in crime as a way of illustrating a place, when I was doing sort of a true crime beat for Rolling Stone. … But as I wrote about crime, I also got interested in the system, so a lot of my writing is more about how the system responds or doesn’t respond, how it treats people differently, that kind of thing.

Q: Tell us about your latest book.

Prendergast: It started with me getting interested in a

neglected chapter of Denver history. When I first met Mr. Van Cise, it was through his work against a whole criminal conspiracy involving confidence artists that he broke up before he took on the Klan.

…He went on to take on the Klan, which was growing very fast and getting very politically connected, and he was really about the only person in public office who was speaking out against them. To me, it became interesting to think about the relationship between this first investigation and what he did with the Klan, the contrast between the two, probably because he had no support in the second one, but also because he was dealing with another criminal element, but it was operating politically, and that made it more difficult to prosecute. But the fact is, the people behind the Klan were in many ways bigger con men than the con men.

The 1920s were a lot like what we’re going through now: There was a pandemic, there was a lot of social disruption, there was a lot of political polarization. My hope is that people will see some of [those parallels] when they read the book.

Q: How does a journalist approach a subject like this differently than a historian would?

Prendergast: The idea I want to talk about is this whole area of what I would call historic true crime, and the idea of journalists approaching historic subjects with an emphasis on narrative and character, as opposed to other things. This book is my entry into that. I’ve done a lot of other archival reporting, but to do it book length and have that kind of immersion in things that happened 100 years ago is a different kind of challenge. … There’s not a citation in it, partly because I don’t like footnotes interrupting the flow of things, but also, you want your people to read it as if it were a novel. It’s different than the standard historian’s account. That’s not to knock historians — there are great writers who are historians and tell really compelling stories. But it’s not necessarily their priority.

Prendergast is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. at Mountain of Authors. For more information, visit research.ppld.org/ mountainofauthors

Spring Games

Find Me!

There is a rocket on every page, can you find them all?

Crossword Puzzle

Across

2. A person who creates instructions for computer programs.

4. A person who writes poetry.

6. A person who loves the library and the smell of books.

9. A person who investigates topics in order to discover something new.

10. A person who composes books, articles, or stories.

Down

1. A person who enjoys the thrill of the stage.

3. A person who best investigates topics by experimenting.

5. A person who enjoys playing games.

7. A person who produces something creative.

8. A person that brings something into existence.

Answers are located on pg. 17

Paint by Numbers Ladder Puzzle

Staff Spotlight: Serving Her Library Creatively

Rebecca Cruz helps the Library District continually evolve to fulfill modern needs

By Jeremiah Walter

Rebecca Cruz grew up in the Midwest, “on a farm outside of a small town with a population just over 1,000 people. It was very rural. There was lots of time spent outside, running around the farm and climbing trees.”

Now Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) Director of Creative Services, Cruz had an early affinity for books and libraries.

“When I was little, we would go to the big library in the city,” recalls Cruz. “The children's area was on the second floor, and there were these little painted footprints leading you up to that area. I spent a lot of time looking for books as I would hang out. I remember looking at the librarian and thinking to myself, ‘That must be the coolest job ever.’”

She eventually went to college and studied creative writing and French. “My senior year, my roommate’s mom worked at a library. She said to me, ‘You should go to library school.’ And I thought to myself, ‘Yeah, I should go to library school.’”

So she did, and her eyes were quickly opened to the broad scope of librarianship.

“I didn't understand entirely what a librarian’s job actually was,” she says. “I really like books, but you can imagine my surprise when I went to library school and in my first class, I was learning how to use HTML to make a website and learning about reference services and all of these different things and realizing there's so much more to librarianship than liking books.”

Upon graduating from college with a degree in Library Science, Cruz was hired at PPLD in 2008 as a reference librarian with a focus on teaching computer classes. “That job was very meaningful for me, helping people gain skills for personal growth or for jobs.”

She went on to manage both Sand Creek and Fountain libraries. In March 2014, Cruz became the head of the Creative Computer Commons department, which was later renamed Creative Services.

She had only three months to assemble and prepare a team of about 12 people to oversee the creative and business spaces at Library 21c, which was opening in June of that year. All but one

person started work just two weeks before the grand opening. Staff had to be quick studies on the new makerspace equipment, which included 3D printers, a laser cutter, a CNC machine, and sewing machines. Policies and procedures also had to be crafted.

“At the time, there weren’t many libraries offering makerspaces, so there weren't many people I could go to. I was looking for information from libraries, as well as membership makerspaces, and then trying to make it all work for PPLD. We had to figure out how equipment would be accessed and address safety concerns.”

Creative Spaces at PPLD

Makerspaces

Bring your creative vision to life in PPLD’s makerspaces with a variety of equipment, such as 3D printers, laser engravers, and sewing machines. There are makerspaces at East, Sand Creek, and Manitou Springs libraries, as well as Library 21c. (Equipment varies by location.) ppld.org/makerspaces

Studios

Explore recording possibilities using PPLD’s studios. Studio21c at Library 21c has video and audio recording equipment available, and Studio916 at Sand Creek Library focuses on audio recording. Both studios even have musical instruments available. (Equipment varies by location.) ppld.org/create/studios

Kitchen

The Kitchen at Library 21c is used in PPLD programming such as cooking classes and food industry training. Public reservations are available. ppld.org/fit

After Library 21c opened its doors to the public on June 21, 2014, the fledgling department had to learn quickly and make adjustments on the fly.

“It took a lot of great teamwork to learn everything and figure out how to change for the better. It's important to constantly evaluate and make things better for our patrons and staff. Things have changed so much since we first opened based on what we've learned along the way, how patrons have interacted with the space and equipment, and what our goals are.”

Since then, there have been many projects completed in the makerspaces at Library 21c, but an early one still stands out.

“Staff helped someone who collected antique radios create a replica radio knob on a 3D printer,” recalls Cruz. “We've had so many cool examples, but that will always have a very special place in my heart because it was such a big deal for us at the very beginning. It was a real feeling of success and excitement for everybody.”

The key to that early success – and all that has followed – is the staff Cruz has hired.

“I've tried to find people who are excited about technology, and excited about making technology accessible and willing to adapt to changes. For a while, we had a joke, ‘This is how we do it today.’ Staff was willing to help each other out and willing to fail and learn from it.”

Cruz also sees learning as an important component of what Creative Services offers to patrons.

“We're an educational institution, and we have to be able to keep up with what people need to learn. Things like 3D modeling, 3D printing, vector graphics, laser cutting, and even the sewing machines. Whether it's helping them create custom board game pieces they use to play with their family over the weekend or learning how to use the CNC so they can get a job working with that kind of equipment, we're offering people the opportunity to be creative and to learn something new.”

Ultimately, it’s about providing people access to resources they might not otherwise have.

“I grew up in a time and a place where technology wasn't readily available, and it was very expensive. Even to this day, that part of our country doesn't have great broadband access,” says Cruz. “A library can be an equalizer. It can open doors for people. Having benefited from that myself in the past, it's very meaningful to be a small part in providing those opportunities for others.”

Sat., April 29 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.| Library 21c

After several years of virtual and smaller programs due to the pandemic, Pikes Peak Library District’s annual celebration of making will once again be a daylong, in-person, all-ages event.

“All Pikes Peak Makes is an opportunity for our community to get together and celebrate making. People can share their projects and learn about science, engineering, and making,” explains Creative Services Senior Librarian Jennifer Eltringham, the event’s lead organizer.

“I'm so excited to have the event in-person this year,” says Director of Creative Services Becca Cruz. “There's nothing quite like a building full of people excited about making in all of its variety of forms. It's a very joyful event.”

So, what is “making”?

“It is a huge umbrella term,” explains Eltringham. “A lot of times, we think about it in conjunction with our makerspaces; with 3D printing and the laser and sewing machines. But it can include art, woodworking, and technology like robotics. That's what I think is really exciting; whatever your creative interests, you will really feel at home at this event.”

And this event offers an opportunity for makers to share those interests with the community.

“So often, making can be a thing that we do by ourselves. We're sitting in our houses knitting, or we cook for our families,” says Eltringham. “But with events like this, you can share making with others and really start to connect to other people who may have similar interests to yours or may just be excited about what you're doing.

“Anybody can be a maker, anybody can sign up to be here. And if you're not sure where you fit into the community, or what your next project should be, this is a great place to get ideas and experience a lot of different things in an easy and accessible way.”

For more information about presenting or attending the event, visit ppld.org/appm

In conjunction with National Poetry Month, Pikes Peak Library District celebrated its inaugural Poetry Summit in 2022, which was a rousing success. The Library is honored to host the summit again in 2023. “Art is A Bridge to New Perspectives” is the theme for this year’s summit and talent from across Colorado has been invited to share and celebrate this creative form of personal expression.

Sat., April 22 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The Hall at PPLD (formerly known as Knights of Columbus Hall) 20 W. Pikes Peak Avenue

The summit will be the perfect way to celebrate whether you are a seasoned poet, embarking on your exploration of the 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. You will have an opportunity to engage with our poetry workshops, share your work on the open mic, and experience amazing poetry and music performances.

Throughout the day, local artists will provide workshops at no cost to registrants. The scheduled workshops include:

Poetry, Pop Culture, and Social Justice with Michael Ferguson

Youth Workshop with Susan Peiffer

Earth Day Workshop with Ali Cavitt

How to Rhyme?: Songwriting 101 with Dominique Robbins

The Meaning & The Music Writing Workshop with Becoming Poetry

Building Community, Building a Poem with Poetry Heals

Attendees will also be able to shop the art market to support local poets, authors, and artists.

The poetic experience in the Pikes Peak region is phenomenal and we look forward to celebrating with the community. Let poetry guide you across the bridge to new perspectives. All ages are welcome.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Learn more at ppld.org/adults

Use the URL above or the QR code to get more information about these programs!

Glass Jar Wind Chime

Mon., April 10 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Fountain Library

Create your own mason jar-style wind chime using strung colorful beads, pebbles, and votive candles and enjoy the soothing sounds as the springtime winds blow. Register at tinyurl.com/ jar-wind-chimes

Upcycled Bird Feeders

Tue., April 18 | 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Ruth Holley Library

Too many plastic bottles? Join us to learn how to turn plastic bottles into a cute bird feeder instead. Register at tinyurl.com/upcycled-bird-feeders

DIY Mini Zen Gardens

Mon., May 22 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Cheyenne Mountain Library

At this program you can build and take home your own desktop Zen Garden. We provide the tray, sand (salt), and "rake" along with some decorative rocks. You can add whatever small objects you would like. Register at tinyurl.com/ mini-zen-garden

FEATURED PROGRAM

Repair Café

Sat., May 27 | 1 - 4 p.m.

Sand Creek Library

Toss it? No way! Fix it at Repair Café! Repair Café is back in 2023 on the last Saturday of every month. Our expert volunteers will help you troubleshoot and repair broken electronics, furniture, small appliances, clothing, jewelry, and more. Help the environment, learn repair skills, and save money with Repair Café. Register at ppld.org/repair-cafe

CLASSES

PROGRAMS FOR ADULT EDUCATION

Learn more at ppld.org/adult-education

Northstar Digital Literacy

These classes are for beginners to learn how to use a computer, email, and Microsoft Word. Patrons can find more information and sign up for classes at ppld.org/computers.

Food Industry Training

Career Guidance

Career Online High School

Scholarships are available to Career Online High School for those seeking a high school degree. This online learning platform gives learners credit for the classes they have already completed in high school. Learners complete a tailored learning path that includes a career certificate. Interested patrons can learn more and apply for a scholarship at ppld.org/cohs.

PPLD's Food Industry Training course is for those interested in starting a career as a line cook or prep cook. The course is approximately five weeks long and offered at no charge. Courses are offered in the fall, winter, and spring. The course includes hands-on instruction in cooking techniques, resume preparation for a job search in the food service industry, and ServSafe™ certification. Patrons can learn more at ppld.org/FIT

Patrons can meet with the Career Navigator for help using PPLD's job resources, preparing resumes and cover letters, and practicing interviews. The Career Navigator has open office hours at various libraries. Patrons can stop in to ask questions or talk. Patrons can also make a one-hour appointment for one-on-one career guidance. Learn more at research.ppld.org/career.

GROUPS

Speak English and Write English

These groups are for patrons to practice English language skills. They are open to intermediate and advanced adult English language learners. They are not appropriate for beginners. Patrons can learn more at ppld.org/practice-english.

Path to Citizenship Study Group

This group is for immigrants who are ready to prepare for the naturalization test to earn U.S. Citizenship. Learn more at ppld.org/path-citizenship.

volunteer with PPLD tutoring learners in English, reading, or math?

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS

Learn more at ppld.org/equity-diversity-and-inclusion

OLDER ADULTS

Art for Older Adults

Fri., April 7 | 1 -2 p.m.

Penrose Library

Thu., May 4 | 1 - 2 p.m.

Old Colorado City Library

Art 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 adults 55+ can produce high-quality art projects that respect their wealth of life experiences, skills, and innate capacity to create. Learn more at tinyurl.com/art-for-all

Aging Well, Without Injury

Wed., April 19 | 1 -2 p.m. - Part 1

Sand Creek Library

Wed., May 17 | 1 - 2 p.m. - Part 2

Sand Creek Library

Falls are the most common injury for people of all ages. This two-part workshop covers what increases your risk of falling and being injured, and how to keep yourself safe and injury-free. Our goal is to prevent injuries so you can continue the active lifestyle you enjoy. Please join Christy from Centura Health for fun, learning, and fellowship. It is recommended to take Part 1 before Part 2. Learn more at tinyurl.com/no-injury-aging

Senior Lunch & a Movie

Wed., April 26 | Noon -2 p.m.

East Library

Wed., May 31 | Noon - 2 p.m.

East Library

This popular program returns to East Library on the last Wednesday of every month. You bring your lunch, and we’ll bring the popcorn, drinks, and movie. Learn more at tinyurl.com/ppldseniormovie

FEATURED PROGRAM

Month of the Military Child

This April, celebrate the Month of the Military Child by visiting any PPLD location and finding the Military Child Travel Map. Place a sticker on all the places that you lived or visited as a military child.

On Fri., April 21, join the PPLD staff in wearing purple for Purple Up Day! to honor the strengths and unique experiences of military children.

National Military Appreciation Month

Enjoy this simple yet heartwarming act of sending a postcard to the military member in your life or community. Stop by your local PPLD Library during the month of May to pick up a free postcard to share with the patriot you respect and honor. While supplies last.

Library Explorers

Spring is in the air and in our art. Enjoy a variety of Spring Art projects available for our Library Explores patrons. Learn more at ppld.org/library-explorers

REGIONAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY RESOURCES

Learn more at ppld.org/regional-history-and-genealogy

All programs are virtual. Use the QR code or the URL above to learn more!

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

Census Records

Tue., May 23 | 7 - 8 p.m.

Census records are an excellent tool for genealogical research. Join us to learn more about how to use Library resources to navigate and access census records, basic search strategies, and tips and tricks for locating your hidden ancestors.

Genealogy Basics

1st Monday - April 3 and May 1 from 10 - 11 a.m.

3rd Saturday - April 15 and May 20 from 2 - 3 p.m.

Are you interested in researching your genealogy but aren't sure where to start?

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

Don't want to wait?

Find class handouts, databases, and other genealogy resources on our website: ppld.org/regionalhistory-and-genealogy

FEATURED PROGRAM

Google for Genealogy Research

Tue., April 25 | 7 - 8 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. Learn more at tinyurl.com/google-genealogy

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS

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!

FEATURED PROGRAM

Free Comic Book Day

Sat., May 6

All open locations

Free Comic Book Day is a nationwide, annual event built around putting free comics into the hands of long-time comic book fans and curious new readers alike! Thanks to our friends at Muse Comics + Games, the Library is offering free comics while supplies last at each of our locations.

We are also celebrating comics and their stories with great activities and free giveaways! Join us at East Library in the East Teen Center on Sat., May 6 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

How to Podcast with Studio809 Podcasts

Sat., April 22 | 3 - 4 p.m. Manitou Springs Library

Ever feel like everybody's got a podcast but you? Have something on your mind you want to share with the world? Come join Dave Gardner with Studio809 Podcasts to learn the magic behind the making of a podcast.

Mosaic Painting

Thu., April 6 | 4 - 5 p.m. Ute Pass Library

Sat., April 15 | 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. High Prairie Library

Join us to create a painting inspired by Black American Artist Alma Thomas! Register at tinyurl.com/ppld-mosaic-painting

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's Services opportunities!

FEATURED PROGRAMS

Homeschool Resource Fair

Fri., April 14 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Library 21c

KidsMAKE

In these fun and messy programs, kids will learn how to safely use tools like hammers, nails, sanding blocks, and more to make their own unique creations!

tinyurl.com/KidsMake2023

Registration required for all KidsMAKE programs. Ages 5 - 12.

Sensory Boards

Get creative and craft your very own sensory board. Learn how to use various types of fastening tools while experimenting with different textures.

A Mess

Explore a variety of materials and hand tools to make a unique creation from your own imagination!

String Art

Kids will use a hammer, nails, and colorful string to make their own work of art!

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!

French Music Lingua

Wed., May 17 | 10:15 - 11 a.m.

Library 21c

Homeschool Science:

LocoMotion

Fri., April 21 | 1 p.m.

East Library

The Science & Circus Arts Show National Juggling Champion Peter Davison presents juggling, unicycling, balancing, acrobatics, and more while teaching the science behind the artistry. Much more than a “science demonstration,” Peter mixes awesome circus skills with dance and physical theater in a unique performance. Human and machine locomotion, Newton’s Laws of Motion, center of gravity, gyroscopic action, centrifugal and centripetal forces, friction, and other physical phenomena are revealed. Be amazed and educated with LocoMotion! For grades K - 6.

Fri., May 19 | 10:15 - 11 a.m.

East Library

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. Registration required.

PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN CONT...

Learn more at ppld.org/kids

TWEEN

All programs 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 will include time for you to give ideas and feedback and time for a fun project or activity.

Campfire Stories in the Library

Come experience the joy and goosebumps of campfire stories. Bring a friend, a blanket or sleeping bag to lay on the floor, and a favorite scary story. Create a memento to take home to help remember this amazing camping adventure. S’mores anyone?

Pixel Art Portraits

Have you ever wondered what you would look like inside a video game? Do you have the perfect design for a Minecraft skin? Come create your own pixel art portrait!

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)

All programs for ages 5 - 12.

Petroglyphs

Your children will learn to explore petroglyphs in this archaeology program. The program starts with a book and then includes several petroglyph activities – sandpaper petroglyphs, playdough petroglyphs, and Taino petroglyphs. Let their imagination fly and see what they create.

Seurat Pointillism

Participants will learn about artist Georges Seurat and explore the technique of Pointillism by creating their own painting masterpiece.

Chia Pets and More

Explore the magic of seed germination. Create your own Chia Pet, and get ready to watch it grow. Prepare seeds in a bag where you watch the roots grow and the seeds germinate.

Tween Dungeons and Dragons Club

Play D&D with other tweens, led by our very own Dragon Master! Registration is required at some locations. New members are welcome. No experience is required.

Tie-Dye Cookie Decorating

Boost your cookie-decorating skills by using royal icing to create rainbow tie-dye cookie creations!

Weekly Events

Every week we offer:

• Storytime (ages 3+)

• Toddler Time (ages 1 - 2)

• Baby Time (ages 0 -12 months)

• Music and Movement (ages 2 - 3)

• Sensory Storytime, Create & Play (ages 1 - 5)

• Stay & Play (ages 1 - 3)

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information visit tinyurl.com/ppld-kids

The Hall at PPLD (formerally known as Knights of Columbus Hall)

Spring 2023 | Volume 5 | Issue 2

Executive and Managing Editor Denise M. Abbott

Proofing/Editing Carla Bamesberger, Jennifer Flatland, and Jeremiah Walter 2023 Board of Trustees

Graphic Designer Alyssa Scaduto

Aaron Salt

Vice President Dora Gonzales

Secretary/Treasurer Erin Bents

Debbie English

Julie Smyth

Dr. Ned C. Stoll

Scott Taylor