11-05-2025
Grand opening of community-led Rockrimmon Library
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Rockrimmon independent community library held its grand opening on Saturday, May 10, welcoming the community with open arms. The celebration comes after the original library closed its doors at the end of 2024, and since then, dedicated volunteers have worked to bring the beloved neighborhood library back to life.
The new location is just across the street from the former building, it's run out of Christ King Lutheran Church, and is completely volunteer-run from a local non-profit, Colorado Springs Reads. It was born out of local determination and love for literacy after the sudden closure of the former library. People gathered to celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guest speakers from the city council, music, and more.
'This is what community looks like, coming out here and supporting each other and seeing a need and filling it, it really is amazing,' said Veronica Baker, the Vice President of Colorado Springs Reads.
The new Rockrimmon independent community library is not affiliated with the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), as the name implies, it is an independent volunteer spot for local readers.
'I don't think we're confusing anybody by trying to be a, you know, a standout competitor with PPLD. I feel like we're just trying to give our community what they've always had and what we no longer have,' said Baker.
Book lovers say the closure of the former location left a significant void in the community, one community member said she was 'dumbfounded,' and 'couldn't think for a week,' when she heard about the closure.
During the fight to save the original library, people protested, created fundraising efforts, and there was even a lawsuit.
'My sons and I were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, and when we lost the library, we lost a big place for my kids with disabilities to practice being a part of the community,' said Baker.
Baker says she is hoping that the new interim library can be a safe space for her children going forward.
'It got to the point where we realized that they were not going to work with us at all, and they still closed the library, and we still wanted this library…. and because of that, we decided to fill the void ourselves, so we did,' said Karla Powers the President of Colorado Springs Reads.
It took volunteers only five months to raise enough money, gather enough book donations, and find the new location.
'This community has given so many incredibly quality books that when we decided to hold a donation day, we thought we'd be doing three after the first day, we had to stop, we had enough already,' said Powers.
She says the name of the new location is still evolving, but for now, they are calling it The Rockrimmon Interim Library.
To donate to the new library, click here.
'It just reinforces what we already know about this community: we support each other here, we are a kind group, we're a respectful group, and we deserve a library. We had a library, and we deserve a library, and now we did it ourselves,' said Powers.
Colorado Springs Reads says their mission is to offer a safe space for neighbors to gather and, of course, check out books.
'We're still here, we're still fighting and we're still trying to provide a need for support, we're still trying to meet that need for you here,' said Baker.
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