Building off the Saint Paul Public Library’s (SPPL) 2022 Strategic Direction, opens a new window, the Facilities Direction presents a vision and recommendations for SPPL facilities. The Facilities Direction includes recommendations for system-wide technology and play-based learning. It also focuses on three branches that have not been renovated in more than 30 years: Hamline Midway, Hayden Heights, and Riverview libraries.

The Facilities Direction is not a detailed implementation plan or branch-by-branch facility design.

Informed by SPPL’s Strategic Direction, an initial community engagement process to inform the Facilities Direction in January 2020 reached 1,680 people by online survey (translated into Somali and Spanish) and more than 53 community members at three neighborhood forums at Hayden Heights, Hamline Midway, and Riverview libraries. Take-home Engagement Kits were made available for community groups that could not attend the forum.

With the community input gathered, SPPL and its consultant, HGA, created a Facilities Direction report, which was made available to the public on its website. The report includes methodology, themes from community engagement, and recommendations for SPPL.

The recommendations for Hamline Midway Library, one of three locations in need of repairs, include a unique decision point: rebuild or renovate. SPPL held a community discussion in March 2021 to seek input on the two possible directions as it applies for funding through the City of Saint Paul’s Capital Investment Budget (CIB) process.

Community members were also able to provide input on the three priority library projects via a CIB online survey and community meeting in March 2021.

Libraries in Saint Paul are well loved, well used, and well worn.

Community members feel pride for their neighborhood library. The average rating for neighborhood libraries was 7.68 out of 10. The library is a strong connector in Saint Paul neighborhoods and patrons would like the library to play a stronger role.  More than half of the respondents in the survey said,  “I am willing to help make the library better.”

Across demographic and age groups, the library is viewed as a place for exposure to new things and people and as a place to have connections with other people. The majority of white respondents strongly valued access to diverse resources and the physical space and feel of the library. In comparison, BIPOC respondents strongly valued their library as a place to spend time with family, exposure to new things and people, and to attend meeting/gatherings.

Outdated buildings struggle to support high use. While circulation and visits remain strong, the collection large and diverse, and program attendance increasing, technology is falling behind, surfaces are worn, and the buildings are in serious need of investment. In SPPL’s historic two-level buildings, many spaces are not easily accessible. These buildings have limited access to power/data and many are experiencing water infiltration. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems need significant investment.
SPPL facilities are falling behind their peers. Interior spaces are inflexible and are challenged to provide consistent, quality learning and play spaces. Entry areas should be more welcoming. Exterior and interior signage and way-finding need improvement. Sightlines and staff work areas need reconfiguration. Meeting rooms require enhanced flexibility and improved AV technology. Furniture throughout the system needs replacement.

Technology within the library must evolve. As the role of the libraries is evolving beyond access to a physical (and digital) collection to a service-enriched, community-oriented space, the technology within the library must evolve as well. Development of a consistent, base level of technology services delivered throughout the library system will create resources patrons can rely on.

Library spaces should evolve to support play-based learning. Patrons helped SPPL understand the vast definitions and approaches of how play supports their learning and connecting—with themselves and others. The different modes, including play to learn, create, or express different ways of being represent new considerations to explore more deeply as a library system.

Improvements to the Hamline Midway Library are badly needed. Many components  of the building and its usage—the  mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; shelving and furniture; fireplace; community room; restrooms; building accessibility; and staff work spaces must be replaced or upgraded.

Given the extent of the repairs needed, coupled with the feedback from community engagement, our facilities plan consultant recommended we consider two options: renovate or rebuild.

A renovation to the existing building would improve building mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, furnishings and finishes, and some of the programming and space constraints. However, it would not address the community’s desire for additional square footage for different types of spaces—such as community spaces, individual work/study rooms, teen space—nor would a renovation substantively improve accessibility of the building.

An on-site rebuild of the library would address all issues named with the current building as previously mentioned and increase opportunities to add square footage for types of spaces and improved accessibility asked for through community engagement. A rebuild would cost more than a renovation.

With the two proposed scopes of work for the renovation or rebuild of Hamline Midway Library, SPPL as part of the City of Saint Paul, is weighing both short- and long-term fiscal responsibility along with costs and benefits to library patrons and the community. The current library location is already owned and controlled by the City of Saint Paul, so there is no cost to the taxpayers to acquire new property. It is well-located – accessible by walking and transit with both on-street and off-street parking.

In regards to a second floor, given the existing building footprint and the site itself, opportunities to expand to the south, east and west are limited, and expanding to the north (front façade) would likely compromise the character of the front façade. It is unclear if constructing a third level is structurally feasible or cost effective. We do know that having three levels in the library building would present significant operational challenges and increase budget cost related to staffing, programming, ongoing maintenance, and security. Additional operating funds are not provided with capital funds.

Regarding co-location, the Hamline Midway neighborhood’s Hancock Rec Center is not currently within Parks and Recreation established five-year capital program, and not among the very top systemwide stated priorities for investment from Parks and Recreation. This is largely due to significant deferred maintenance needs in City-owned facilities throughout Saint Paul.

Additionally, safety and security infrastructure of an elementary school is different than that of a public library. Public libraries welcome anyone, no questions asked, to come in, hang out, and spend time in the library. This does not always align with the needs of elementary schools to more closely monitor who comes and goes from their buildings.

Library leadership has spoken with other libraries who have facilities co-located with elementary schools. Their general opinion is that these libraries deliver quality service to families with young children, but sometimes at the expense of the broader community who does not always feel welcome or interested in coming to an elementary school property. In a neighborhood like Hamline Midway, with high interest in the library better serving teens, working adults, and students in need of study and work space, SPPL believes a stand-alone public library provides most welcoming and accessible experience to all neighbors.

Finally, maintaining the existing library building while also building a new library in a new location would not meet the City’s goals for fiscal responsibility in our capital investments and would make any proposed investment in the Hamline Midway Library less likely to fare well in the competitive CIB process.  Maintaining the existing Hamline Midway Library building while constructing a new library in another location would add to the City’s already over-burdened total liability for long-term maintenance and repair. As we have shown, the current Hamline Midway Library facility is in bad condition and needs repairs – regardless of who occupies the building. There is little history of market-driven alternative uses for libraries and rec centers in Saint Paul. Re-partnered buildings generally remain the City’s responsibility for maintenance and repair over time. If we sought to build a new library in another location, public funding (i.e. taxpayer dollars) would need to pay for repairs to improve the condition of the current building and pay for a new library, while maintaining both buildings over time as City-owned properties.

This is a complex question that does not have a simple answer. An existing building’s embedded carbon –the carbon it took to make, use, and transport the materials used in construction—is significant  However, if constructing a new building enables it to be more energy-efficient through its design and construction, then it could ultimately have a smaller carbon footprint over the long run, especially if  it is expected to be in operation for many decades. Another important factor is the degree to which the building meets the needs of people within walking or biking distance. If the building does not fully meet residents’ needs and they drive elsewhere to meet those needs, that contributes to its overall carbon footprint.

The Facilities Direction sets the visions for SPPL's facilities, but is not a detailed implementation plan. Learn more about the timeline below.

2019

• Community engagement to inform SPPL Facilities Direction

2020

• Share community-informed facilities vision and recommendations with City of Saint Paul leaders and community
• Make limited, budget-approved mechanical and electrical improvements and other repairs

2021-2025

• Funding secured for design work for Hayden Heights renovation and a limited number of additional mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) system upgrades
• Community engagement to inform decisions on future project proposals (delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19)
• 2021: Submit project proposals for the City’s Capital Investments Budget (CIB) process and other funding
• Work with The Friends and City of Saint Paul partners on capital fundraising strategy

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