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Future of SSP Library
South St. Paul Library Closing
The South St. Paul Library's last day open will be December 1, 2023, with the new Kaposia Library planned to open in early 2024.
Groundbreaking Ceremony - October 4, 2022
Following soil remediation and land transfer to the County in September, a well-attended groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new library site (7th and Marie Aves.) the afternoon of October 4, 2022. U.S. Representative Angie Craig and a spokesperson from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's office expressed their appreciation for libraries, but the spotlight was on Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord who had championed this project from the start.
For more information about this new Dakota County library, visit https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/libraries/HoursLocations/SSP/.
Final Renderings of New Library by BKV Group
Contract Awarded to Donlar Construction for New Library
County staff once again presented the lowest contractor bid for the new library project to the County Board at their Board of Commissioners Meeting on September 6, 2022. The difference in documentation included an addition to the resolution directing the County Manager to allot $1 million to energy conservation projects in the 2023 Capital Budget. Once again, discussion ensued with Commissioners Atkins, Gaylord, Halvorson and Hamann-Roland voting in favor of the project. Commissioners Holberg and Workman voted against the project with Commissioner Slavik attending the meeting virtually and unable to cast a vote. The project will move forward with the 4-2 outcome, and a ground-breaking ceremony is anticipated on Tuesday, October 4.
Donlar Construction Company Bid from Board of Commissioners Packet - September 6, 2022 (PDF)
County Board Vote Ends in Tie
County staff presented the lowest contractor bid for the new library project to the County Board at the General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The total project, if awarded to Donlar Construction Company, now comes in at $11,300,000 without a Net Zero component, and County staff are suggesting to fund the project with federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars instead of County CIP funds. After much discussion, the County Board vote ended in a tie with Commissioners Gaylord, Atkins, and Halverson voting yes, and Commissioners Slavik, Holberg, and Hamann-Roland voting no. The project will be on the agenda of the commissioners' September 6 meeting.
Donlar Construction Company Bid from GGP Packet - August 16, 2022 (PDF)
Joint Powers Agreement Approved
In anticipation of the merging of SSP Public Library with the County system, a Joint Powers Agreement outlining the responsibilities of the City of South St. Paul and Dakota County was presented to all governing bodies in June 2022. The SSP Library Board and City Council unanimously approved the document June 13 and June 20, respectively; the County Board voted in favor 5-2 on June 21.
The County Board also authorized project managers to seek bids for the new library since on July 5, 2022, the City's Economic Development Authority conveyed the property at Marie and 7th Avenues to the City for conveyance to the County. Bids will be accepted through 2 pm on August 4 with the County Board expected to award a contract September 6. A ground-breaking ceremony at the site is scheduled for September 29.
Transfer of Real Property from the SSP EDA - July 5, 2022 (PDF)
Physical Development Committee Votes Unanimously In Favor of New Library Design
On January 11, 2022, the Physical Development Committee of Dakota County voted 7-0 in favor of BKV Group's initial design for a new County library in South St. Paul. This project is now part of the consent agenda of the Board of Commissioners meeting on January 18. Future work includes design development so that bidding on the project can begin this summer as well as a Joint Powers Agreement to transfer the library site to the County.
SSP Library Schematic Design Review - January 11, 2022 (PDF)
Schematic Design Concepts Survey
After the Open House of November 10, 2021, the schematic design images of a new Dakota County library are available online for those that could not attend the in-person event. After reviewing the images, complete a short survey to provide feedback. The survey closes November 26.
South St. Paul Library Project Site and Open House
Dakota County is working with the City of South St. Paul to conduct design work for the possible construction of a new 16,000-square-foot library at the corner of Marie Avenue and 7th Avenue.
Community engagement events, a tentative project timeline, and the results of a short survey that occurred from Sept. 7 through Oct. 7, 2021, can be found on the County's Possible New Library in South St. Paul page.
Visit Central Square Community Center (100 7th Ave. N.) on November 10 from 5 to 7 pm for an Open House with the BKV Group who will be presenting their first design schematics of the new library!
BKV Group Selected for New County Library
On August 10, 2021, the County Board unanimously voted to approve Boarman Kroos Vogel Group, Inc. (BKV Group) of Minneapolis for architectural and engineering design services regarding the future construction of a Dakota County library in South St. Paul. County staff received 14 proposals for the project by the June 29 deadline, and a project team composed of County and City staff interviewed four firms. The County's contract for services with the BKV Group, to be finalized August 24, consists of a combined fixed fee of $531,821. Community engagement is expected to begin in September.
Programming Study by Dakota County
On November 10, 2020, the County Board voted unanimously to conduct a programming study for a potential Dakota County Library in South St. Paul. The proposal sought $50,000 to study a new location at 7th and Marie Avenues, with the City conducting a traffic study of the area as well as giving the land to the County if the site were approved for further consideration. The study also sought the authorization of a joint powers agreement with the City to secure funds in the amount of $15,000 for a study of the library's current site. Regardless of location, the study will consider the size of a new/renovated facility and construction costs, with $6,000,000 as a construction guidepost.
A project team of County and City staff convened in early 2021, many assessments as well as a traffic study were conducted, and the programming study was completed in May 2021 for the County Board's deliberation.
The programming study project team recommended that the optimal size of a library built in South St. Paul to Dakota County standards in terms of services, space considerations, amenities, etc., would be 16,146 GSF with the location on City-owned property at 7th and Marie Avenues. The total cost of this project was estimated at $8.3 million ($6,225,000 construction cost).
On June 8, 2021, the County Board voted 6-1 in acknowledging the City's proposal to join the County Library System while offering the land at 7th and Marie Avenues as a library site, directing staff to begin negotiating terms and agreements to accomplish this proposal, and finally instructing staff to proceed with designer selection for the potential building, returning to the Board for contract approval in August. If approved, the remaining schedule for the project consists of design and bidding by July of 2022 and the completion of a new building by late 2023.
Acknowledgement of City of South St. Paul's Library Proposal, New Library Site, and Authorization of Designer Selection Process for a Potential New Library in City of South St. Paul (PDF)
South St. Paul County Library Recommendations (PDF)
Final SSP Library Programming Study Report (PDF) and Appendix (PDF)
Resolutions 2021-75 and 2021-83 Based on the Results of the DC Programming Study
Possible South St. Paul Library Programming Study Review - May 10, 2021
SSP Library Programming Study (PDF)
Proposal to Dakota County
On March 2, 2020, the City Council voted unanimously to submit a proposal to Dakota County concerning the transfer of library operations from the City of South St. Paul to Dakota County Libraries. On March 9, 2020, the Library Board voted in favor (5 ayes, 1 abstention) of submitting this proposal in order to gauge the County’s intentions or interest toward the South St. Paul Public Library, anticipating further discussions regarding the library’s future with the City Council.
Proposal to Dakota County (PDF)
On July 20, 2020, the City Council voted 5-1 to adopt a resolution clarifying the City’s preferred site of 7th and Marie Avenues for a new library. This was in response to the County deciding to maintain Lawshe Museum on its current site; therefore, the City’s original preferred site that would have encompassed SSP Library’s current site in combination with the museum’s land is no longer a viable option for the County.
Library Survey
January 2020 Survey Results
As part of the community engagement process concerning the future of South St. Paul Public Library, every SSP household will receive a paper survey (PDF) in the mail in early January 2020. Although just one survey is being mailed per household, any and all members of the household may take the survey. Residents have the option to take the survey via the paper format or online. The online survey can be taken in either English or Spanish, and Spanish (PDF) and English (PDF) paper copies also will be available at the library.
Paper surveys may be dropped off at the library or at City Hall. It is requested that surveys be completed no later than January 31 (extended from January 24).
The survey, which should take no more than five minutes, will cover current services and programming at the library as well as questions regarding potential upgrades, users’ library preferences and opinions, renovation and building costs, and residents’ interest in merging with the county or in supporting a referendum to improve our city library.
To assist residents in filling out the survey:
Help Us Write the Next Chapter Fact Sheet (PDF) (Spanish PDF)
Final Report on Potential Options Dealing with the Future of the South St. Paul Public Library (PDF)
Town Hall Meeting
The City held a town hall meeting (PDF) on December 18, 2019, at 7 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Presenters included Kathy Halgren, SSP Library Director; Joel Hanson, SSP City Administrator; and Margaret Stone, DCL Library Director.
Full video of the December 18, 2019 Town Hall Meeting
Community Engagement
In October 2019, City staff kicked off the community engagement process at “On the Road Again” to share information concerning options for the future of South St. Paul Public Library and to obtain broad-based and representative citizen input to aid in the decision-making process.
A basic general Library Survey (PDF) was created to gauge the library needs of our residents as well as their interest in a library upgrade of any kind. (Spanish version (PDF) A more detailed survey will be mailed out to all residents of South St. Paul in January 2020.
Help Us Write the Next Chapter (PDF), a library fact sheet, was created to outline the essential points of the discussion surrounding the library. These points follow an ABC approach of Autonomy, Build-Out, and Cost Impacts. (Spanish version (PDF)) A narrated companion video was developed for social media outlets and websites. (Spanish video)
Finally, a basic Q&A (PDF) document answers many lingering questions that residents may have. (Spanish version (PDF))
An in-depth look at these options, as well as other factors impacting future choices, is provided in the Final Report on Potential Options Dealing with the Future of the South St. Paul Public Library (PDF). This document, with ample appendices, addresses the question of a City- vs. County-operated library, site options, financing options, continued operations of the library during construction, potential partners/shared services in a new or remodeled facility, potential uses of the current library building, and community engagement. It is the result of the Library Action Plan, which was drafted in the spring of 2019.
Community engagement opportunities will occur in the future, but residents do not need to wait to express their opinions on their City Library! Please do contact members of the City Council or the Mayor regarding your concerns.
2019 Library Action Plan
On April 29, 2019, the City Council and city staff participated in a goal-setting exercise to determine top priorities for the coming year. The future of the South St. Paul Public Library was a top goal for both council and staff, and a Library Action Plan (PDF) was devised to study current issues and options in order to present potential scenarios to the public based on current information.
The June 24, 2019 Council Worksession Report (PDF) includes a Memo regarding the Library Action Plan; Dakota County’s response to specific questions regarding the library; a Memo from LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A. concerning the creation and control of the city library; the June 10, 2019 Worksession Packet regarding the Library Board’s value of an independent library to this community and support of LSE Architects’ Option C1; and the Phase One Report of Discover Together: South St. Paul.
2019 MOU with Dakota County Library
On February 19, 2019, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dakota County regarding a study to determine the feasibility of merging with the Dakota County Library System. On March 12, 2019, Dakota County did not approve the Memorandum of Understanding, but did agree to the collection of data regarding the guiding principles in the MOU.
Items in the MOU concerned staffing; service levels; the possible transfer of the collection, equipment, etc.; the short-term and long-term options for the library on its current site or elsewhere; community engagement; and a timeline with a preliminary decision on potential library coordination or joinder by September 30 when the maximum levy is set by the City.
The County provided these reasons for not approving the MOU:
- The Dakota County Board of Commissioners recognizes the important step that the City of South St. Paul took in requesting a study of the City Library with the County Library. However, the Board chose not to formalize the MOU study agreement with South St. Paul until they have a better understanding about the future of the current South St. Paul library facility, which wasn’t addressed in the document.
- The timeline for decision making in the MOU wasn’t sufficient given the complexity of the issues related to the long-term future of the facility
- The County staff will continue to work cooperatively with the City to develop information that will assist the City in their decision making.
- Having a clearer sense of the City’s direction and expectations about their current library facility is necessary before the County formalizes any agreements with the City to study the future of the library systems.
2016 Library Redesign Study
In June of 2016, the library contracted with LSE Architects of Minneapolis to conduct a space study/mechanical needs assessment of our current site. KFI Engineering was responsible for assessing the building systems (heating, cooling, electrical, etc.), while LSE staff focused on workflow, public needs/uses of the building, technology improvements, etc.
The library was originally built in 1927; in 1964, the library was expanded to provide better service to the community. After retiring the bookmobile, the bookmobile garage was converted into a meeting room in 1999. The current library is approximately 11,800 square feet.
Libraries are increasingly becoming community gathering places for programs, quiet study, lively discussions, and interactive learning. Some issues regarding our current building concern lack of parking, difficult sightlines for staff with four distinct levels, confusion about the library’s entrance, no performance space/large meeting area, no smaller private study rooms, and meager workroom space.
Library staff provided input regarding their work areas, and the public responded to print and online surveys regarding current library services. The study (PDF) was completed in December 2016 with a recommendation to remodel the 1927 original library while creating a new addition with underground parking, enlarging our current footprint to 17,000 square feet. This concept would alter the current four-level library to two levels, bring the library up to code (mechanically, electrically, ADA, etc.), provide private study areas as well as larger community rooms with current technology, move the teen area up to the second level, and provide staff and patrons with improved sightlines throughout the building. The initial cost estimate for this remodel is $4,494,320. The Library Board approves this recommendation but is also open to further study of various designs and potential collaboration with other agencies.
This is but one possible vision for the library. More reflection, public input and assessment will follow this initial proposal. The full study, as well as a handout (PDF) with features of this proposed renovation, is available for viewing at the library.