Pikes Peak Library District leadership, members of the PPLD board, and representatives from the PPLD Foundation gathered on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Ruth Holley Library (685 N. Murray Blvd.) to celebrate the district’s purchase of the library’s formerly leased property.
Inside the PPLD branch, a poster near a framed photograph of Ruth Holley tells the story of her library legacy. Holley was a school librarian in Oregon before she moved to Colorado Springs with her family in 1967. She started working for the district as a bookmobile librarian serving the east side of Colorado Springs. As that part of the city grew, the popular bookmobile’s services expanded into a permanent location. Ruth Holley was named branch supervisor, becoming the first black person to head a local branch library.
In August, the PPLD board voted to enter agreements to purchase both the Ruth Holley Library and the Ute Pass Library in Cascade.
“Owning these properties will ensure long-term sustainability in these communities and allow PPLD to offer library services to residents in ways that best fit their lifestyles,” said Board of Trustees President Julie Smyth in an August statement. “Focusing on literacy in the southeast region and working toward extended hours of service for our patrons in the more rural areas strengthens PPLD’s commitment to providing access to everyone.”
Just last year, Ruth Holley was considered for closure along with Rockrimmon Library, another branch operating out of a leased space.
The PPLD Board of Trustees voted to close Rockrimmon Library despite outcry from residents and several elected officials. Its last day was Nov. 30, 2024.
PPLD said it owns 10 of its 14 library locations. Cheyenne Mountain, Monument, Palmer Lake, and Manitou Springs libraries are still under active leases.
PPLD said a $1 million donation from the PPLD Foundation, a $200,000 donation from a private entity, $1 million from the fund balance reserves, $400,000 from the capital funds contingency, and $48,000 from Colorado Trust interest made it possible for PPLD to purchase both Ruth Holley and Ute Pass libraries for a total of $2.65 million.
Chief Librarian and CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs addressed the crowd gathered for the Ruth Holley Library purchase celebration.
“This is a very emotional day for me,” she said. “The very first time I came to this library was in 2007. This was actually my job interview for a part-time English as a Second Language instructor.”
“We saw the need for literacy in this area,” Shainidze-Krebs said.
She praised the PPLD board for using data in decision-making, and cited statistics pointing to the importance of libraries in general and especially in southeastern Colorado Springs: 1 in 6 adults are functionally illiterate in the United States, and 14% are at or below Level 1 literacy in El Paso County. In the Ruth Holley Library area, she said, 7.5% of adults do not have a high school diploma, kindergarten literacy deficiency is between 11 and 22.4%, and the third grade literacy deficiency is 16.8 to 30.8%.
“This purchase is about making a commitment to this community to provide sustainable library services, resources and programs,” she said. “So not only today we can enjoy and have access, but for future generations as well.”
She said plans for Ruth Holley include a larger children’s services area and expanded hours of service, and that details on PPLD’s thoughts and plans to serve the community will be provided in town hall meetings in early 2026.
“I hope you will be able to join us there,” she said.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, PPLD will hold a celebration for the purchase of Ute Pass Library (8010 Severy Rd., Cascade).
