"We just want to keep what we have" as Colorado Springs residents make last-ditch effort to prevent local library from closing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Dozens of people in the community came forward at a city council meeting Tuesday to prevent the closure of a library where the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) said they had terminated its lease.

11 News previously reported that PPLD closed the Rockrimmon Library on the city’s Northwest side due to financial problems.

At yesterday’s city council hearing, dozens of members of the public came out to support the library and offer reasons why it should remain open.

“One of the benefits it provides us is our literacy rates. We know literacy rates are challenging and we strive to raise them. Ken Pfeil, principal of Trailblazer Elementary School, said, “Have we ever thought about what kind of message we would send to our children if we closed libraries and literacy centers?” he said.

A website called saverockrimmonlibrary.com was launched to cover the library’s rent for next year. According to the website, $30,000 has already been raised and the goal is $300,000.

“What do we want? We want to protect our library. We don’t want more. “We don’t want anything less, we just want to keep what we have,” said Joe Pelka, who supports keeping the library open.

11 News spoke with the owner of the building, İsmet “Matt” Şahin, and he said he purchased the library about 20 years ago. He said that as an immigrant from Türkiye, libraries gave him the opportunity to learn English and that he wanted the Rockrimmon library to remain open.

“I am pleased that these places continue to operate as libraries. That’s important to me and hopefully we’ll keep it open,” Matt Sahin said.

Şahin proposed a lease to the library in which no further rent would be charged and a fixed fee would be given for the next five years, which would, in his opinion, save 30,000 per year. Now trying to find new tenants.

In a statement sent out from PPLD last month they said:

“While the property owner recently offered to reduce the rent and cover future expenses due to flooding or impoundment, this effort does not begin to eliminate any of the financial problems facing the Library District.”

In a statement last Friday, PPLD said in part:

“The decision not to renew the Rockrimmon Library lease was not taken lightly… Our district provides access to approximately 700,000 people throughout El Paso County. We must make decisions that will sustain the entire Region. The Facilities Master Plan was brought to us to ensure a strategic plan was in place for the longevity of the area.”

Next week on Wednesday the Pikes Peak Library Board of Directors Meeting will be held and many people from the community will show up to lend their support and make another effort to keep the Rockrimmon Library open.

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