Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will host the Americans and the Holocaust traveling exhibit from the American Library Association and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. We are one of only 50 libraries nationwide and the only library in Colorado to host the exhibit. It will be at East Library from Sept. 5 – Oct. 11.
Learn about this period in American history and explore how people in the U.S. reacted to the Holocaust. Your journey will take you through the many factors impacting the decisions and opinions of the government, news media, organizations, and individuals in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Great Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism.
During the exhibit’s stay, we will have related programming that will include a workshop for educators, an open reception, and special presentations. We selected this year’s community read book for All Pikes Peak Reads to compliment this exhibit as well. The selected book isThe Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of WWII. Find the full schedule of events on our Americans and the Holocaust page.
Self-guided tours will be available during East Library’s open hours, or find out how to schedule a tour at ppld.org/holocaustExhibit
We are pleased to announce the 2023 book for All Pikes Peak Reads, our annual community reads program. This year’s title is The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II by Mari K. Eder. Anyone interested in joining us for this engaging book can stop by any Library location any time starting Wed., July 19 to pick up a copy or access it with our eLibrary resources Libby and Freading (it is always available on Freading).
Several of our library book clubs are also reading the book in September. Find your nearest book club that is reading the All Pikes Peak Reads book together on our book clubs page.
All Pikes Peak Reads improves community connection through literature and fosters dialogue across social, cultural, and generational lines. Every year, we select books that center around timely topics, and we pair the community read with related programming. Enjoy craft kits and coloring pages throughout the month, and join us for an author talk with Eder on Sat., Oct. 7 at Library 21c. Keep an eye on our website for information about additional programs coming soon.
This year’s title, which focuses on the women who served, fought, and took action against devastating odds during WWII, compliments a traveling exhibit coming to the Library this fall. From Sept. 5 – Oct. 11, East Library will host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibit from the American Library Association exploring social, financial, and political factors impacting life in the U.S. during the 1930s and 1940s and how these factors influenced the way Americans reacted to the Holocaust.
Detailed information about this year’s All Pikes Peak Reads program is available on our All Pikes Peak Reads webpage.
This summer the lawn and landscaping around Library 21c will undergo a turf conversion. This involves replacing non-native, manicured turf (lawn) with grasses native to our region. This is part of an initiative to be better stewards of our water and budget resources.
The landscaped areas of Library 21c currently consist of more than 1.5 acres of Kentucky Bluegrass turf which is a high-maintenance, high-resource using plant material. The cost to irrigate and provide routine maintenance to the lawn continues to increase each year. According to the Library’s water use monitoring, costs to irrigate the existing lawn areas at Library 21c exceed $20,000 annually. Converting the lawn to native grasses could save the Library as much as 60 – 70% of this cost and it will also greatly reduce water consumption. This conversion project will free up future financial resources that may be put to better use helping the community with other programs and services.
Over the next several months the Library will be working with Fisk Landscaping on the turf conversion. In general, the conversion includes adapting the irrigation system to serve the new grasses; killing the existing lawn; planting seeds for the new native “prairie”; watering for establishment and weed control; and installing sod where needed. The whole process is anticipated to take two growing seasons. This summer we will work on getting new native grass seeds germinated and growing, while next summer will focus on promoting healthy growth and establishing the native grass stand.
During the conversion process the Library asks patrons to please heed the warning signs to stay off of the lawn. This will help the conversion proceed as planned without unnecessary disturbance or damage to the new landscaping as it develops. We appreciate your cooperation.