DEPARTMENT: Parks, Facilities, and Fleet Management
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Discussion Of Dakota County Library System Renovation Plan And Future Funding Considerations
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Inform the Committee on the library system renovation plan and discuss future funding considerations.
SUMMARY
Dakota County libraries have been renovated on a cycle which ensured each location remained consistent with the broader library system's goals. The last cycle, completed in 2019, touched the nine libraries the County had at the time. That cycle focused on adding or increasing the size of the Community Room, which usually resulted in maximizing the building floorplate for the site. It also combined the then-separate Service Desk with the Reference Desk. Some renovations also added Maker Space rooms, Quiet Reading rooms, and amenities in the children's area. The library renovations were ordered by taking the oldest, or longest-since-renovation, first and moving to the newest. This approach was reasonable and effective and provided planning logic.
Staff planned a pause after the most recent library renovations until 2021, to then return to the cyclic renewal work at each library. However, the pandemic and the opportunity to design and build Kaposia library prolonged that intermission. Work in the upcoming cycle would include:
1. Heating and cooling system changes.
2. Power and lighting updates.
3. Plumbing and controls replacements.
4. Building Code and Accessibility changes, including those in the restrooms.
5. Interior plan changes driven by library programming, including, e.g., dedicated teen spaces.
6. Ceiling, floor, and wall finish updates in most areas-especially public spaces.
7. Equipment upgrades, including book handling, audio/visual equipment, shelving, seating, and meeting room furnishings.
This plan will take over a decade to address all ten libraries. In 2024, staff began the design of Wentworth Library in West St. Paul. ...
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