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Rochester Public Library Expansion (Two Floor Addition)

Plans are in motion for Rochester Public Library to begin a study of a two-floor addition to the downtown location, a renovation that would nearly double the facility in size, and cost an estimated $47 million to $55 million.

This project is in Archive Phase

Explore this page to view Beam's assessment of the basic description of the project, its impacts and collaboration atrributes. Also shown are status reports related to the project.
Please click this Link to get to Beam's view of the project's strategy, expected results, and monitored metrics.

Collaborators, Project Type, Impacts, Related Projects

Collaborators

Lead Organization: Rochester Public Library

Contact: John Hunziker ; Email: TBD ; Phone: TBD

Known/Likely Collaborators: Rochester Public Library

Potential Collaborators: City of Rochester, MN ; County of Olmsted, MN ; DMC EDA

Related Projects

Education, Health and Recreation Space (DMC UMR/Rec sub-district) ; Envisioning a 21st Century City: Regional Issues, Global Perspectives ; Integrated Recreation, Education, Living Space (iREL) Rochester Family Y 2020 Plan Concept ; Intercultural Center, Rochester (Creating a 21st Century Community Space)

Impacts

Major Impact: Education

PlanScape Impacts :

Level 1: Education, Reading, Vision/Identity

Level 2: Education, Education

DMC Impacts:

Education/Learning Environment, Waterfront

Community Health Impacts:

Type of Project

Detailed Description

The 21st Century Library for a vibrant city.

The role of a community library continues to evolve. Without enough square footage, programs compete for space on a weekly basis, preventing the Library from meeting public demand.

THE SOLUTION

After a full examination of other options, Library officials determined the most cost-effective solution is a $55 million renovation and expansion of the current building. RPL is exploring funding options through City of Rochester, Olmsted County, Destination Medical Center (DMC), and philanthropic gifts from foundations, corporations, and individuals.

• Provide a Youth Floor for children and teens.
• Utilize flexible and balanced (quiet/loud) space for programming, collaboration, and engagement.
• Connect varied generations, ability levels, and cultures in new ways.
• Strengthen the community with information and technology.
• Spark imagination and innovation through new opportunities.

PB Article:

Plans are in motion for Rochester Public Library to begin a study of a two-floor addition to the downtown location, a renovation that would nearly double the facility in size, and cost an estimated $47 million to $55 million.

The library is the gathering place of the community, a space that shows a true cross-section of the community's populous, said Library Director Audrey Betcher at a Rochester Library Board meeting Wednesday.

Funding sources for the 80,000-square-foot addition and renovation could include a similar cross-section of the community. A preliminary outline of financing proposed support from local government, local business, nonprofit organizations and citizen donors.

"What we're trying to do is show that the community is willing to pay for some of it," said John Hunziker, library communications manager, during a presentation detailing the library expansion.

Hunziker's preliminary funding sources showed the city of Rochester issuing bonds for $20 million to $40 million of the cost; Olmsted County contributing significantly; and Destination Medical Center adding a large sum. A public fundraising effort would account for about $3 million.

Pinned Reports on: Rochester Public Library Expansion (Two Floor Addition)

Fundraising questions for RPL expansion (March 02, 2016)

Sixty-three people were interviewed for the survey, plus an online survey yielded 263 responses. It was done in part to assess how fundraising for the project would go; the document refers to a $3 million fundraising campaign for the project.

Reports on: Rochester Public Library Expansion (Two Floor Addition)

Fundraising questions for RPL expansion (March 02, 2016)

Sixty-three people were interviewed for the survey, plus an online survey yielded 263 responses. It was done in part to assess how fundraising for the project would go; the document refers to a $3 million fundraising campaign for the project.

Other Community News and Reports having impacts on:

Education, Reading, Vision/Identity

August 12, 2024: Community Healthcare Simulation Center Co-Design Report

Jun 2021 Co-design Report

2024-08-12 PB Reporting GRAUC leads project to build prototype sim center The Southeast Minnesota Community Healthcare Simulation Center is set to open in downtown

Rochester by mid-October

August 02, 2024: Rochester Vision 2050

The visioning effort calls for soliciting broad community input to help propose desired strategic initiatives based on desired outcomes through 2050.

July 27, 2024: C2C Summer 2024 Sparklers

Newsletter Highlights:

Systems Change Designation; Data Updates; Network Updates; Contributors

June 19, 2024: RISE for Youth Learning

Updates from NAACP with Media Links

"Example of careers they are interested in include radiology, artificial Intelligence, surgery, aeronautical engineering, psychology, sports, business administration and many more!"

June 15, 2024: Homes for our Neighbors Community Gathering

Calling for Community Support at Community Meeting: The most recent Olmsted County Maxfield Study found that from 2020-2030, housing demand required 18,000 new housing units. 71% would need to be general-occupancy and 29% age-restricted senior housing.

May 29, 2024: Mr and Ms JuneTeenth 2024

2024 Recognition

$1K Scholarship: 2024 Rochester H.S. Graduate: Application and Nomination, Sponsorship and Donation support

Facebook photos of 2024 Mr. and Miss Juneteenth

May 24, 2024: 1H 2024 Destination Medical Center

Proceedings

May 2024 DMCC Board Meeting and City, County, DMC Joint Meeting

Feb 2024 DMCC Board Meeting

May 21, 2024: M.O.V.E: A Collaboration of SHIP, Joint Study, One Olmsted

Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) community council application

M.O.V.E. Promotional Flyer and Application to join M.O.V.E.

5/10/2024 Conversation Olmsted County Rep and CMRC Rep.: Regarding Olmsted County Community Council's DEI initiative called Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E)

Rochester Area Foundation Support Message

May 06, 2024: Free FAFSA Support for Community Based Organizations

5/6/2024 Announcement: CBO hosting a College Financial Aid Event to receive $1000 grant

Cradle 2 Career (C2C), Rochester Public Schools (RPS), and Arch to Philanthropy are launching a College Coordinator Pilot to provide College Based Organizations (CBOs) resources for College Readiness.

April 27, 2024: 2024 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Updates

DMC Updates April 29 Presentation to City Council Study Session

Transit Village

Business Development

Historic District

April 01, 2024: EBE Presentation to City Council Study Session

1. Part of Feb 26, 2024 City Council Study Session on DEI: Presentation Slides include actions and measures to City Council Study Session and Link to City Council video

2. Career Opportunities for Women of Color

March 26, 2024: Community Asset Building and Early Literacy Grants

Grant Opportunities:

Due April 17, 2024 Community Asset Building and Health and Wellness Priorities Grants

Due March 5, 2024 Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation seeking applications for Early Literacy Grants

March 19, 2024: Action Request March 18, 2024

Comment at the 3/18/2024 City Council Meeting:

To act on September 21, 2020 council resolutions for the city staff to develop a Intercultural City action plan.

March 13, 2024: DEED Funding Opportunities and Workforce Training Available for Minnesota Employers

Funding Opportunities: DEI for Small Employers, Targeted Populations Capacity Building

Employer subsidies: 1. The state of Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) program offers grants to help train or retrain your workforce.; .2. New Minnesota Fund Reimburses Employers for Costs of Reasonable Accommodations

March 12, 2024: University of Minnesota Rochester at DMC Board November

DMCC Board November 17, 2023 Meeting UMR Update

Presentation Slides

Video Recording

Last modified by support on 2021/09/05
Created by allnode on 2015/07/16

Site Information

Project Phase Definitions

The following defines the various project phases:

Available - a product, program or service is in production
Develop - program or application is being developed
Plan - idea is solid, stakeholders are identified, and there is strong commitment to go forward from all parties.
Concept Phase - idea scoped out with enough details to give an early sizing and/or to build a proof of concept
demonstration
Pre-concept Phase - an early idea or a requirement.

About Beam

Community Beam (dmcbeam.org) is a registry of private and public resources (organizations, projects, initiatives, programs) that underpin economic and social developments of greater Rochester:

For the commercial sector, we tend to register startup activities (new companies and new commercial projects) that bring diversification and high-impact opportunities to the area.
For the non-profit sector, we wish to shine light on all the organizations and services that otherwise labor under relative obscurity.
Our hope is that dmcbeam.org will encourage cross-sector collaborations and creative solutions.

While there are a number of registries in the community, dmcbeam.org's distinct value is to pilot a database with a data structure and categorizations that answer the questions such as: What organizations or projects/programs in our community that have purported relevance with some of the over-arching focuses put forward by initiatives such as DMC, J2G and Health Improvements?

This database could be used as one of the ways to explore the capacities of the community. If you are someone on an exploratory journey to learn about the greater Rochester community. dmcbeam.org could be an interesting first step.

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