With household budgets under strain from higher prices, the Pikes Peak Library District is drawing attention to how much ground a no-cost library card can cover — spanning recreation, academics, and professional development.
A single outing to the movies can cost a family of four upward of $100, a few new books from a retailer can push spending past that mark again, and expenses for art classes, sewing lessons, tutoring, printing, and costume materials all carry their own price tags. At Pikes Peak Library District, a library card opens the door to all of those things at no additional cost.
For households whose finances are stretched thin, the district offers a range of ways for people to spend time together without spending money, from games and puzzles to programs and hands-on makerspaces and studios. Children who are nine or older may use many makerspace resources alongside a parent or guardian, giving families the opportunity to tackle shared projects — whether that involves a sewing machine, craft supplies, or watching a design emerge from a 3D printer.
Online tutoring is on offer around the clock, making it available even during late-night homework crunches. Students who prefer face-to-face help can access in-person math and science support at three branch locations: Library 21c, Old Colorado City Library, and Ruth Holley Library. The district's website at ppld.org/homework brings together tutoring, research assistance, test preparation, and other academic tools in one place.
Younger patrons can explore games, films, anime, comics, and youth programming, and may also borrow interactive kits that include Magna tiles or robot-building components. A Culture Pass gives children a way to bring their parents to museums and other local attractions, and the district even operates a toy-lending library where families can borrow playthings.
Budget pressures reach well beyond families with young children — seniors on fixed incomes, college students seeking no-cost entertainment, and young adults trying to maintain a social life without depleting their accounts can all find something at PPLD. Cardholders can watch films and listen to music through streaming, borrow digital books and audiobooks, or check out board games and cameras, and the library also welcomes drop-in puzzle sessions.
For residents focused on employment, the district provides free printing and assistance with résumé writing, along with a career navigator who helps people find work and adult courses designed to support professional growth.
A single card connects holders to thousands of ways to read, view, learn, build, and engage, with the cumulative value of those services capable of adding up to hundreds of dollars. Residents who do not yet have a card can sign up at ppld.org/library-card.
Whether PPLD plans to expand in-person tutoring to additional branches beyond the three currently offering it remains an open question.