What's New: General

Your library card gives you access to a world of possibilities at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). In addition to a wide selection of physical and digital items you can check out, you also have access to a variety of online resources and databases. This month, take a closer look at our Gale Legal Forms and Data Axle databases.

You will need a library card that starts with a 4 to access these resources outside of a Library location.

Gale Legal Forms 

If you need legal forms and information pertaining to Colorado, Gale Legal Forms is a good place to start.

Browse a wide selection of categories to find the documents you need. Find forms related to employment, landlord and tenant topics, powers of attorney, name changes, bankruptcy, and other topics. Each form is accompanied by a description to help you determine if it is the correct form for your needs. You can also find free tax forms to help you file your taxes. In addition to forms, this database includes sample letters as reference materials.

The Attorney Directory provides valuable information to help you learn more about attorneys around the U.S. Narrow your search to Colorado to find information about attorneys closer to home and browse based on area of expertise.

If you have legal questions, check out the Legal Q&A section. This section contains both general and specific questions answered by legal professionals. Search through the list of topics to find your area of interest and see if any of the questions answered relate to your own inquiry.

Under the Law Digest and Legal Definitions sections, you can get an overview of specific laws, find the definition and use of common law language, and read up on other current and historical topics. Find the definition of ‘null,’ learn about the Fair Labor Standards Act, find out how ‘affray’ is used in law, read up on historic Justices, and explore other topics from U.S. history.

Please note that PPLD and its employees cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice. For more law resources available at the Library, visit our Law & Legal Forms or Law & Legal Resources Subject Guides.

Data Axle 

Is that pet store you visited a local company or a national chain? How are your business competitors faring? Who is hiring in your industry? If you are looking for business and consumer information for personal or business inquiries, Data Axle (formerly ReferenceUSA) offers up-to-date information on millions of businesses in the U.S. and Canada. This comprehensive database also offers support for job seekers, who will find millions of job and internship postings.

Use this database to search for information about companies, including your own. Each listing includes basic information like contact details, address, hours of operation, company news, other nearby businesses, other locations (if the business has more than one), and who the owners and managers are. You will also find helpful information to support your marketing research, such as square footage, business expenditures, history of the business, and links to information about business competitors.

Other collections include healthcare, consumer and lifestyle information, new movers and homeowners data, and U.S. and Canada white pages. There is even a collection of historical business listings where you can find information on businesses dating back to 1997.

For job seekers, use this database to search for the perfect job or browse its career resources to improve your job search skills. Explore college and career options, take skills, interests, and self-assessments, explore job search and interview tips, find resume writing help, estimate your potential salary, and more. You can also register for webinars to learn job search skills from professionals.  

All you need is your Library. But your Library needs you, too! 

Libraries are a vital lifeline for the whole community. It’s difficult to capture everything that Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) offers to support people throughout El Paso County in a single, brief statement. We will highlight a few: 

• Job seekers can find resume writing and interview preparation help, career search navigation, and educational opportunities for job skills.
• Parents and caregivers of young children can find early literacy and education opportunities, hands-on programs, a Toy Library with toys for motor skill development, homework help, homeschool resources and programs, and a wide range of other resources to support their children’s growth and development. 
• Teenagers can enjoy resources and services like safe spaces to hang out with friends, gaming consoles, research and homework resources, test and college prep help, and tutoring.
• And anyone can enjoy our vast collection of books and other media, genealogy resources, no-cost passes to local attractions, classes and community activities, and many other services and resources we provide.

In addition to these and other resources, the Library supports its community by providing enriching programs and education opportunities for all ages. This year, PPLD enjoyed hosting a wide range of new and returning programs.

• We took on reading and activity challenges with you during the Winter Adult Reading Program. This year, we had 5,070 people register for the program (a 27% increase from 2023).
• Our 2024 Summer Adventure, presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado, opened to adults for the first time. The annual summer reading program had 18,302 people register this year (a 27% increase from 2023). 
• In July, we started reading Go As a River with our community and had the pleasure of hearing from its Colorado-local author, Shelley Read during the All Pikes Peak Reads author program. Due to the high interest, the Library had to add a second author presentation.
• And, local teens submitted outstanding works of art to the annual Teen Art Contest; local 4th and 5th graders submitted thoughtful poems to the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest; and local writers of all ages sent us a wide range of creative stories for the All Pikes Peak Writes program.
• We also hosted art classes, games, book clubs, author talks, and many other programs.

Donations are a vital part of Library funding, and they allow us to purchase materials and plan programs for our community. We invite you to make a difference in your community by making kind contribution through the PPLD Foundation during the Year End Giving Campaign. We thank you for your support and generosity! 

The fall concert in this year’s Shivers Concert Series, From Classics to Jazz, will take place on Fri., Nov. 22 at The Antlers, a Wyndham Hotel (4 S. Cascade Ave.). There will be a social hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the concert at 8 p.m. 

The Shivers Concert Series has been raising funds to support local culture and arts for 31 years. These concerts benefit the Shivers Fund at PPLD started by Peggy and Clarence Shivers, which contributes to the African American collection at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), awards grants and scholarships to students, and encourages young people to pursue their interests in the arts.

The concert features performances by soprano Christina Danaé, baritone Stephen Locke, flutist Sandra Tiemens, guitarist Colin McAllister, and collaborative pianist Susan Grace. Following the concert, author Fran Pilch will sell and sign copies of her book, Applause! Stories from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.   

Purchase your tickets today!