Colorado Springs, Colo. – When Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) made the decision last fall to close its Rockrimmon branch, northwest Colorado Springs lost an important resource. Citing building issues, budget concerns, and safety challenges, the closure left many residents without easy access to library services. However, a group of determined community members has found a way to continue the legacy of the beloved library.
Organizers of the new initiative, Reading at the Rock, quickly found a temporary home for the community library at Christ the King Lutheran Church, just across the street from the former Rockrimmon Library. The move has proven to be a lifeline for many residents, offering a space where people can continue to access books, DVDs, and audiobooks.
Sally Broomfield, a volunteer with the project, expressed her admiration for how swiftly the community came together. “This is important to us,” Broomfield said. “It’s just an interim solution until hopefully we can get a library back in this community.” While the library’s future remains uncertain, the volunteers are doing everything they can to keep the spirit of the Rockrimmon branch alive.
The transition to the new space has been seamless, with volunteers organizing donated books and materials into shelves. In fact, the donations were so abundant that the group had to stop accepting more due to limited storage space. As Broomfield pointed out, the new library already “looks like a library, feels like a library,” and offers a familiar gathering space where community members can meet and reconnect.
Though the space at the church is temporary, the volunteers’ commitment to the project is clear. They are stepping up to ensure the library can operate, with volunteers like Broomfield acting as librarians until a more permanent solution can be found.
“It’s amazing how people have rallied together,” Broomfield said. “So many people were so dependent on the library, and loved the library, that they wanted to do something like this.”
Meanwhile, PPLD has announced they will expand their mobile library services to the Rockrimmon area. Every Friday, a bookmobile will make stops at Wilson Ranch Park, bringing library services directly to residents until a more permanent location is established.
For now, the Reading at the Rock initiative serves as a reminder of the power of community resilience. With continued support from volunteers and donors, the project offers a hopeful glimpse into what the future of library services in northwest Colorado Springs might look like.
