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    Library 21c

    4.2 (45 reviews)

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    Here I am sitting enjoying the view from the parking lot in front of Library 21C! :-D
    Ashira M.

    The coolest library in the country! Well, that's what I think from what I've seen and my mom's a librarian and I grew up in libraries and I even have a wallet just for my cross-country library card collection so I'm saying I'm comparing/ contrasting this library to/ with many a library and this is #1! That's not to say it's not without its faults, by any means. I'm zero percent a fan of how religious it's allowed to be while pretending not to be that by saying it's public space and people have freedom of speech in public places which is super-ironic because the Jehovah's Witnesses who stand around outside with their glaring, in-your-face, screaming proselytizing literature are not allowed to speak to people unless approached so ... clearly, they (the librarians and other library representatives) would not believe their own words were they to actually look into their purported message ... and I do not enjoy the church taking over the inside downstairs bulletin to spread their message of 'joy' and whatnot, either. I'm not even going to say they have the best selection of books -- but what they do have, as the name indicates, is a commitment to the future and incredible facilities with lots going on. It's incredible! So many classes, activities, events, conferences, things to do and learn and see and hear and get to know .... I did yoga, tai chi, made videos on high-quality cameras in a studio (Studio 21C, of course!) equipped with really nice lights, a green screen, some props, a sound isolation booth for sound-only recording, and not only that but there is instruction available so wow! It's so fun and inspiring -- plus it's got great views inside and out. I do wish, though, not for my sake but for some children I saw waiting outside in the windy cold for rides that there were some way or somewhere they could stay that were warmer and safer ... safer in terms of the weather, not other things. The bathrooms are nice and clean (at least almost always), you're allowed to eat inside -- no, not in the bathrooms! Gross! In the library! -- as long as the food is neat and you eat it carefully and it's not smelly, there's a courtyard, some really cool-looking birds hang out in the area, you can do tai chi and qi gong while looking out at the mountains through the big windows, there are vending machines, a nice little bookstore with intelligent volunteers, and just so much going on it's generally unbelievable enough to be mind-blowing. Incomparable, literally. Now, if only some of the ... patrons/ matrons and staff weren't so into talking about the devil, that would be really great! But hey, that's their holdup -- too bad for them! Um, no, I must add one more thing. The doors by the studio (21C, once again) are only for staff and it's really not easy to haul all one's gear all the way through the library. If the issue is those doors don't have a security metal detector or something (or whatever that is that's by the other doors for the public), then I think they should be installed and ... as much as I loved it, I stopped going when I was stopped from going out those doors which I did not realize I was not allowed to do. I was looked down at by someone-or-other and 'corrected' rather nastily on my behaviour and I just didn't want to be treated in that way .... I still think it's by far the best library in the country that I've ever experienced but that wasn't enough to make me want to keep going back because it made me so sad, it was so jolting and unexpected. I'd been going there frequently for a month at that point. In fact, it's the reason I stayed in the area as long as I did .... It's that much of a draw. It's inspired me to study film, as well. I want to feel more welcome there than I do. Oh, maybe it's also that they want to film everyone as they come and go, now that I think about it -- they do that when you come in the 'allowed' doors. It was mainly the nasty look I got, though, and the lack of communication when I verbally expressed my surprise that had me moving on elsewhere in my life .... I'll still give it five stars or even ten if possible because it so blows away the non-existent competition but that doesn't mean there isn't a ton of room for improvement! As far as the staff of Studio 21C, though, absolutely stellar! They/ you rock! Thank you!!!!!!!!!! :-D Just a tiny bit more: it's weird how we're treated based on how we do or don't look. If I appeared to have difficulty walking, I'm sure I'd be treated better and allowed to do things in a way that's easier and works better for me ... or at least not get nasty looks for wanting to walk and/ or carry things a shorter distance. Of course, it could just be that this -- was he security? I don't even know! -- person just isn't what we might call 'highly verbal,' but his disparaging look said everything .... He was apparently disgusted with me and it disgusted me, as well. :-( I'm still really grateful to the really great people, though! So caring! :-D

    Lower floor entry
    Susi H.

    Best library I have visited in the Springs! Not the closest to me, but the best equipped and prettiest building. Hands down. This library is architecturally a treat, has great light throughout the day and offers gorgeous views of the Rockies. The staff is very knowledgeable and polite. They have a 3D printer and offer courses to use it. They also have a full bank of iMacs loaded with Lightroom, Photoshop, Bridge as well as other engineering and drawing software. Just call them and reserve your station for the allotted time before use. They also have a 2 story gallery lined with artwork. I absolutely LOVE this place.

    Surprisingly solid, I had to see for myself after I saw someone else post it!
    Rick S.

    Gosh this place rules. Be prepared to have your idea of a library blown out of the water!! This is a really new library which they're coining the "technology" library. And they definitely don't disappoint. This is the only library that would still be rad even if they didn't have books! Where to even begin? They have study rooms, gaming rooms with legit computers and the most recent video consoles, craft rooms for sewing and also 3D printers, and the list goes on! The staff is super friendly, and like all the other libraries around here they have that redbox-like thing to rent DVDs and video games to your liking. Oh yeah you can also borrow books, almost forgot that one! The only things I can nitpick is for some odd reason they have CAD programs on their computers, but to find a computer with adobe programs like flash, photoshop, or illustrator is an impossible task. I also wish there were more study areas with outlets, and that the hours were a little more extended, but I mean this was well beyond a 5 star experience and some of the things I'm nitpicking are obviously not possible due to a slew of reasons. Minor things at the end of the day! Now that I know this place exists, winter is going to be just a little easier to get through :) definitely worth checking out! Book or not ;)

    Views
    Carrie P.

    Gone are the days of libraries being known as quiet. I have tried visiting 3 libraries around COS and although they have some great features, resources and facilities they don't cater to someone wanting a quiet place to read or study. As I browsed one location there was a group of teenagers laughing and talking very loud, without any care that they were in the library. Well without me saying a word, the librarian who was in the same isle said to me, I know hey are loud and we would usually would want to say something to them, but nowadays we are trying to get more of that age group into the libraries. So that makes sense, I get it. I would also rather have teenagers in a library than out wondering around town, which could lead to the things me and my friends use to do haha. But it's too bad they can't be taught respect for the environment they are in. Any ideas where people go to study and read in peace now? Seriously.

    Eric Herman music show

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Wonderful library and very high tech! Very modern and lots of great programs. Highly recommend a visit here!

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    3 years ago

    The building is really spacious and has a vibe that makes it easy to get work done. The staff was also incredibly kind!

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    4 years ago

    Awesome little library, you can either chill and get some work done or get lost in a book!

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great place to get work done. Lots of different places to explore and a great selection of book. Would recommend.

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    4 years ago

    If all libraries were like this one the US would not have an education problem. Highly recommend for all age groups and community events

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Library 21c

    Review Highlights - Library 21c

    Wow, I really want to commend this public library in the Briargate area of Colorado Springs.

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    Old Colorado City Branch Library - Front

    Old Colorado City Branch Library

    4.8(4 reviews)
    8.1 mi

    This building is quite beautiful. I had heard about this library and I was in Old Colorado City…read morewith my bestie, so we walked in to check it out! First, this is one of three Carnegie libraries here in the Springs. Carnegie was a philanthropist and one of the things he built were libraries. His foundation would allow cities to apply for grants and agree to certain requirements and made sure they would remain public. Supposedly, he was inspired by the reading rooms that women were organizing throughout the country. The collection of books are only on the main floor of the building, but this library (like with most libraries in the Springs) is part of the Pikes Peak Library District so you can order, borrow, and drop off books at any of the locations within the system. This library will celebrate 120 years this Saturday on Dec 7, 2024. They will be offering a swap out of your library card with a limited edition card if you drop in on Saturday. Never stop exploring!

    I love the Old Colorado City library because it's such a cute location in the staff are very…read morehelpful. It's right across from the park so I'm usually running multiple errands at once and only have to park in one spot. They do have their own parking lot as well which is super convenient especially if you're just doing a quick book drop off. I just saw that they are expanding their hours as well, and they are open till 7 PM most evenings to make it more accessible for those that work until 5 PM.

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    Old Colorado City Branch Library

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    Cheyenne Mountain Branch Library - Cheyenne Mountain Library

    Cheyenne Mountain Branch Library

    4.0(4 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    Great smaller library. Helpful staff & clean. That's all I personally need from a library...besides…read morebooks & media of course.

    Great community resource. This branch has very convenient and extended hours, a significant…read morecomputer bank, outlets and tables, a good book selection. PPLD has a strong system of reserving holds, you can go online with your card and select books and other resources from any branch and they will courier them to the branch you choose and set them aside for you to pick up. We have five big readers in the family and we home school, so this last service is invaluable. We can research which books the family can use or might be interested in, look them up in the online catalogue, and pick them up when they are ready. This has turbocharged the kids' reading because there are no gaps in reading, there are always books ready for them when we stop in town. Of course, they usually browse the shelves in addition. Also great for video resources. Last great use, there are a ton of school resources that look interesting but are too expensive to sample over and over. PPLD's reserve holds option lets me check out these resources, review them, and either decide they don't fit us or go ahead and buy the books for the school year. This doesn't just save us money, it saves us wasting time on curricula that aren't a good fit. Can't praise the place enough! Much of this applies to the other branch we use, also, so I'll be pasting this there.

    Penrose Public Library - Staff art area

    Penrose Public Library

    3.5(14 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    Came here to the Aspen Room for a group meeting today. The room was clean, easy to find, and…read morespacious. Parking on the top floor was free. The library itself was updated but filled with vagrants being loud. This should probably be addressed, as I wouldn't want my kids there without supervision. All in all it was a good visit and I will return. I saw dvds as well as printed media, and staff was visible throughout. It was worth mentioning that there were armed guards walking around. Seemed a little odd, but I wasn't hanging out too long in the main area, as I was there for a meeting, and that's it.

    My biggest complaint about this library is that I didn't see any form of free parking - it seemed…read morelike it was all metered. I understand this is downtown, but it seems like a barrier to entry for people who are not as well off and would need the free resources a library offers. Upon entering, the most jarring thing about this library is the "bleeding station" near the entrance (kind of weird it's not just called First Aid?) and the homeless man I saw being escorted toward it. Beyond that, this library was beautifully set up from what I saw (we didn't explore quite as much as usual due to the limited time we had on our meter) with the usual separate kids area (which had a sign that disallowed anybody from sitting there who wasn't with their child). This one didn't seem to have nearly as much activity space or resources as the other 3 libraries I've been to in the area, and seemed to have a bigger emphasis on baby and toddler age toys than anything else. I still think this is a great library, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come to this one, especially since I live on the opposite side of town from it.

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    Penrose Public Library - Children's area

    Children's area

    Penrose Public Library - Children's area

    Children's area

    Penrose Public Library - Children's area

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    Children's area

    Library 21c - libraries - Updated May 2026

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