Library 2 (copy)

Melanie Chadwick, left, and Keara browse the shelves at the Rockrimmon Library in October. The library is set to be closed by the library district at the end of November.

 Stephen Swofford, the Gazette

Three members of the Colorado Springs City Council have signed on to a letter asking to postpone or reverse the announced closure of Rockrimmon Library.

The letter signed by council members Dave Donelson, Nancy Henjum and David Leinweber was sent to the Pikes Peak Library District and its Board of Trustees on Monday afternoon.

In the letter, the three request that the Board of Trustees reverse the decision made in October to close the Rockrimmon branch or at least suspend the decision for another year. During that next year, the council letter asks that a "period of public comment be opened" so the community can continue to weigh in on the future of the library branch.

Rockrimmon Library advocates ask City Council to be 'part of the solution' to avoid closure

"We are concerned that this decision was made without sufficient opportunity for public input or community engagement, which has limited residents’ ability to express their needs and concerns regarding this important community resource," the letter states.

More than 100 library patrons and supporters attended the City Council meeting last week, asking the city to take steps to prevent the library from closing at the end of November. Council members appoint members to the library board but otherwise have no direct say in how the library district operates or its budget.

The library Board of Trustees voted in October to close the Rockrimmon branch in order to help address a limited budget for capital projects and maintenance across the district. Rockrimmon had been identified for closure because it was a leased building.

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

"We are committed to supporting efforts to explore viable options that can address operational challenges while preserving community services at Rockrimmon," the council letter states.

Donelson said the City Council has also requested that a Board of Trustees member potentially attend the next council work session to answer some outstanding questions about how the board arrived at this decision.

The library Board of Trustees have their next meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday. A group of Rockrimmon supporters are expected to attend to make a final push to keep the library open.