Rockrimmon Library patrons react to impending closure: 'Now, we have nothing'

Sadness and anger were the prevailing emotions among Rockrimmon Library patrons Thursday over the news that the Pikes Peak Library District's Board of Trustees had voted not to renew the lease on the building that houses the branch, located in northwest Colorado Springs.

The board's 5-2 vote, made during Wednesday's monthly meeting, means that the Rockrimmon Library on Colorado Springs' northwest side will permanently close at the end of November.

"It's a sad day," said longtime patron Joan Hofer. "It's not like the branch is closing due to a lack of participation."

"(The closing) brings up a lot of questions," said Lauren Mohoric, who brings her toddler to the library at least once a week. "The big one is, 'Why? Why did they need to close this branch?'"

Board President Dora Gonzalez said the Rockrimmon lease is the most expensive in the district, and that library leadership did not take Wednesday's decision lightly.

"It was a really hard decision to come to terms with, but we reviewed and looked at all the data to ensure that we were doing the best for the El Paso County community and being good stewards of the community's dollars," Gonzalez said.

"I understand the angst of the community, because this is such a community hub. But tough decisions need to be made."

Friends of PPLD volunteer Rona Fletcher, who attended the board meeting, said building owner Ismet "Matt" Sahin made "an impassioned plea" for the board to reconsider, offering to make financial adjustments to keep the library open.

"It looked to me like (the board had) already decided," said Fletcher, who added that she was shocked at the decision. "They had made up their minds, and nothing was going to change them."

Fletcher, who helps operate a small used bookstore inside the library, said the move will adversely affect patrons who won't be able to drive to the East or 21c branches.

"Our main customers are children, who can't drive, and seniors, many of whom don't drive," she said. "This is going to be hardest on them."

Jason, a former district employee who declined to give his last name, stopped by to offer words of condolence and encouragement to his former coworkers.

"I think this is the best library in the district," Jason said. "It's quiet, and there's a sense of community here that you don't get at the bigger branches.

"I helped evacuate this library during the (Waldo Canyon) fire. I was here during COVID. It's a shame to see it survive all that, just to close for money reasons."

The Ruth Holley branch, located at 685 N. Murray Blvd., was also identified in a facilities master plan as a branch that might close. Gonzalez said the board has yet to decide on the fate of that branch on the city's east side.

"Ruth Holley, like several of our libraries, is in a leased building," she said.

"As a renewal date approaches, the board will review the data and make the best decision possible to address the needs of the community as well as seeing where we are in our budget. I don't know what that decision will be, but again we will do our best to be good stewards of our county's money and move forward."

In the meantime, regular Rockrimmon patrons said they will spend as much time as possible at their favorite branch before saying goodbye to it in six weeks.

"Now, we have nothing," Fletcher said. "We have no library on the west side. That makes me sad."