One more avenue to keep the Rockrimmon Library open has closed after the Colorado Springs City Council opted against helping pay for the building’s lease next year.

Councilmember Dave Donelson proposed during Tuesday’s markup session for the 2025 budget that the city provide $200,000 to the Pikes Peak Library District to cover the majority of the library’s lease next year. The money would have come from the city’s general fund reserves.

The rest of the council voted against the spending request. Councilmembers said they were wary of the city doing the business of the Pikes Peak Library District and of setting a precedent with a one-time investment.

Rockrimmon Library patrons sad, angry about impending closure: ‘Now, we have nothing’

On Oct. 16, the Library District Board of Trustees voted to close the Rockrimmon branch at the end of November and move its collection into the two closest library branches by the end of the year. The Board of Trustees said the closure would save the district money to close the gap on deferred maintenance costs across the library system and let them move staff to other locations.

“That is the responsibility of that Board of Trustees to make that decision and not ours to rescue,” councilmember Nancy Henjum said.

A group of citizens and library patrons have organized against the library closure in recent weeks. The Save Rockrimmon Library campaign has reportedly raised $8,000 in local pledges since the weekend.

Donelson, who represents Rockrimmon Library and its patrons in District 1, said the momentum and appetite for a mill levy increase that could save the library might disappear once the building closes.

“If it’s closed, you may have turned some of your most ardent doorknockers and petition getters into frustrated citizens who feel the system doesn’t work for them,” Donelson said.

Rockrimmon Library to permanently close before the end of the year

Rockrimmon Library had the most expensive lease in the library system at $240,000 per year — one reason it was selected for closure by the library board. Donelson said the building’s owner was willing to reduce the lease to around $213,000 for one year.

Pikes Peak Library District has a board appointed by the City Council but is a standalone governmental agency with its own budget. That relationship seemed to reduce the city council’s appetite to give money to another entity who may be interested in reversing their previous decision.

“The feedback I’m getting is that it doesn’t matter if we do it or not. They are not going to keep it open, even if we gave them money,” Councilmember Lynette Crow-Iverson said.

Councilmember David Leinweber compared the library’s partial function as a community center to the four community centers owned and operated by the city Parks Department. Leinweber said he was more interested in a long-term option to replace those services for the neighborhood than in getting involved with the library district for one year.

The only council funding request added to the budget Tuesday was a part-time staff member for the Westside Community Center. Councilmember Michelle Talarico requested $25,000 through the Parks Department for an extra employee at the community center 10 hours per week.

Donelson said after the meeting he was disappointed by the vote but not completely surprised. Donelson said he and the Save Rockrimmon Library campaign would keep looking at options until Nov. 30.