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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has received a $500,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs toward the completion of the High Prairie Library Branch in Falcon, and the Library District is scheduled to begin construction in the fall. It is the first PPLD library to be built east of the Powers Boulevard corridor.

The grant was part of $23.2 million awarded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for community projects across Colorado.

The 47 projects chosen include construction, infrastructure and other community projects that will help create and support jobs and strengthen local economies all across Colorado, according to the office of Gov. Bill Ritter.

The High Prairie Branch will be located next to the Farmers State Bank, at the corner of Colorado Hwy. 24 and Meridian Road. Farmers State Bank donated the land to PPLD. The anticipated completion date of the branch is spring 2010.

The PPLD Foundation is working to fund furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Local families and businesses are being asked to donate funds toward the project and will receive recognition on various items within the branch.

Total cost of the project is an estimated $3 million.

“Community contributions have been received through the foundation’s efforts and those of the Farmers State Bank through the Bucks for Books campaign,” said Beth Barrett, PPLD associate director of branches and outreach. “This support was a factor in successfully competing for the DOLA grant.”

The new library is expected to be 6,000 square feet, and will later expand to accommodate the community’s growing needs.

PPLD has identified this community as a priority because there is an increasing demand for library services among the growing Falcon area. 

The facility will hold a collection of about 14,000 items, focusing primarily on popular materials and children’s items due to the limited space, and will have a community meeting room for special events, programs and community meetings.

The community is currently served by PPLD’s county mobile library, which reaches eight communities on the eastern plains of the county through 12 stops. In 2008 the mobile library services circulated more than 255,000 items.

Other major contributions for the project include $784,428 from the Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Grants, the Farmers State Bank gift of land, and a major gift from the Mountain View Electric Cooperative’s Round Up Fund.

For more information about the upcoming groundbreaking or to contribute to the campaign, contact Dolores Fowler at (719) 531-6333, x2205.

Pikes Peak Library District was founded in 1903. It serves a population of 530,000 with two main libraries, 10 branches and mobile library service. PPLD has 425 employees and a collection of 1.3 million items. PPLD was ranked ninth in the nation among libraries of its size by HAPLR (Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings).

Information provided by Pikes Peak Library District.