What's New at PPLD!

Come participate in National Gaming Day with PPLD. On Saturday, November 14 at East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.) between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., there will be tween and teen video gaming in the East Teen Center, as well as board gaming and chess in Conference Rooms I and II.

From 2 – 4 p.m. in the East Library Community Meeting Room, there will be senior/teen Wii gaming. Seniors can learn how to play Wii sports with the youth of the community. Invite your teen age family members to join you and learn from the best. All seniors are encouraged to attend, but teens must be accompanied by a senior to attend this gaming session.

Also from 2 – 4 p.m., there will be board games and Rock Band playing in the Carnegie Reading Room at Penrose Library (20 N. Cascade Ave.).

Latoya Lucas, award-winning author of The Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior about Faith and Perseverance, will give a free presentation and book signing. Lucas is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, and recently was awarded the Military Writers society of America Gold Medal Award. She also recently sat down for an interview for PPLD TV, which can be viewed by clicking here.

• When: Saturday, October 31, 2 – 4 p.m.
• Where: East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

If you are interested in drama and acting, or just like performing, the Improv Club is for you. The group is for teens in 6th grade and up, or ages 11 – 18. No experience or registration is required. For additional information, contact akrupicka@ppld.org or khoke@ppld.org.

• When: Wed., Oct. 14 and Wed., Nov. 11 from 4 – 5 p.m.
• Where: East Teen Center at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

There will be photo exhibits on loan from NASA on display at the East and Penrose Libraries for the month of October as part of All Pikes Peak Reads 2009.

At East Library, Special Effects from Space contains dazzling views of the ever-changing surface of the Earth and its atmosphere. Penrose Library’s Art Gallery is housing America from Space, spectacular shots of this country from the unique perspective of outer space. Both collections contain captions to shed further light on these startling images. Be sure to check out both exhibits this month and experience a truly out-of-this-world visual journey.

What happens when young adults with developmental disabilities leave school? Join David Ervin, Executive Director of The Resource Exchange for Bridges to the Community: Resources for Young Adults with Disabilities. He will inform parents about adult services in Colorado Springs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Presentation sponsored by Academy School District 20 Bridges Program.

• When: Thursday, September 10 from 4:30 – 6 p.m.
• Where: East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.)

Drop by the East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.) from August 23 through September 30 to see Empowered Passion: Stand Up and Be Counted. Our city’s greatest citizens, from both the past and present, will be the stars of this special exhibit, hosted by Pikes Peak Library District and the Greenberg Center for Learning and Tolerance.

More than 90 people will be featured, including our city’s founders, philanthropists, activists, artists, musicians, educators and civic leaders. The exhibit will feature a visual display, film presentation and interactive website where the public has the opportunity to nominate their own community leaders.

Both the reception (see below) and the six-week exhibit are free and open to the public. Call 531-6333, x1212 for more information.

Also, come to the Official Reception on Sunday, August 30 at 1:30 p.m. David Csintyan, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce will be the guest speaker, and the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale will perform.

What visionary do you think has contributed to the development of Colorado Springs? Share your thoughts and see what others think by clicking here.

Also, watch the exhibit’s video below:

Come and join us for a FREE viewing of Clint Eastwood’s Golden-Globe nominated Gran Torino (2008)

Date: Tuesday, August 11th
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: East Library, Community Meeting Room

Film: Gran Torino (Rated R)
“Gran Torino is about two things. It’s about the belated flowering of a man’s better nature. And it’s about Americans of different races growing more open to one another in the new century.” ~ Roger Ebert

Refreshments will be served

Sponsors: Pikes Peak Immigrant and Refuge Collaborative and Pikes Peak Library District

David Lubar, popular author of The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies and many other books, will be making two appearances in the area. No registration is required for these free programs, which are sponsored by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund.

• Monday, June 29, 5 – 7 p.m. Lubar will participate in a meet and great mixer at Ute Pass Branch (8010 Severy Ave. in Cascade). PPLD Foundation will provide a picnic dinner, with refreshments from the Ute Pass Friends of the Library.
• Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. Lubar will speak, followed by a book signing and discussion at Ute Pass Elementary School (9230 Chipita Park Road).
• Tuesday, June 30, 2 p.m. Lubar will speak, followed by a book signing and discussion in the East Teen Center at East Library (5550 N. Union Blvd.).

Come see a great exhibit of 19th Century maps in the East Library art gallery the entire month of June. PPLD’s Special Collections put together the impressive collection, entitled Drawn West: Mapping the Way to Colorado – from the Louisiana Purchase to Statehood. The maps of western North America traced the geographic, political, and cultural contours of a continent largely unexplored by European Americans and showed an expanding nation the way West. This exhibition focuses on the exploration and development of the United States’ western lands, from early government expeditions and commercial fur trapping enterprises to the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, railroad building, and Colorado statehood.

Get quality books at bargain prices! Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District. The sale will be held at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

• Friends members/educators only: Friday, May 29 from 4 – 7 p.m. (includes homeschool educators; Friends memberships available at the door)
• General public sale: Saturday, May 30 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• $5 bag sale: Sunday, May 31 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.