Dakota County is building a new 16,000-square-foot county library at the corner of Marie Avenue and Seventh Avenue in South St. Paul. The new library will be called the Kaposia Library. Kaposia refers to the name of the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their seasonal village along the Mississippi River in the area of South St. Paul and St. Paul.
For about a century, the City of South St. Paul operated its own library. Because of cost increases to operate and maintain the site at 106 Third St., the city asked Dakota County to add the location into the county system. After studying the specific needs of the South St. Paul community and a cost analysis, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved the project.
BKV Group Architects designed the building.
The existing building will be repurposed by the City of South St. Paul.
Library amenities
When the library opens, visiting customers will find many great amenities. There will be many places to meet, read and study. The building will have a large community meeting room, several conference rooms equipped with audio-visual technology, study rooms, and a reading garden.
Other outdoor features include bike racks, EV charging stations, an accessible exterior book drop and an accessible ramp to the building. All services will be held on a single level.
Families will find a calming room near the interactive children's area. Visitors of all ages can watch the book handler process returns through a kid-friendly window in the lobby.
Go to the South St. Paul Library project site for more information
Construction update – Winter 2023
The new Kaposia Library is nearly complete. Donlar Construction will finish exterior work in October 2023 and interior work by the end of year. Next, staff will oversee moving equipment, technology, furniture, books and other materials into the new library. A grand opening date will be announced in early 2024.
Tentative project timeline
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September–October 2021: Concept Design – Public and stakeholders asked to offer input
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October–December 2021: Schematic Design – Library plans created based on input
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Jan. 11, 2022: Design approved by Dakota County Board of Commissioners
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June 2022: Design complete
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Late summer 2022: Bidding for construction project
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September 2022: Contractor approved
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Fall 2022: Construction begins
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Quarter 1 - 2024: Library opens
Questions?
You can find more information on the South St. Paul Library project website or contact Dakota County's project manager at
michael.wiese@co.dakota.mn.us.