Renovation of Carnegie building, grounds work (Sept. 18, 2023)
Renovation of the Carnegie (original) part of the building is well underway. Work on parking lot, sidewalks, curbs, and landscaping has begun. The new addition is open and providing most regular services. Estimated completion date for all construction work is the end of October 2023. Then installation of furniture, shelving, and moving of collections will commence. Total project completion and re-opening of old part of building is expected by the end of November 2023. The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting will be held in January 2024, date to be announced.
Halfway There Open House! (June 14, 2023)
The Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library is excited to welcome the community to our Halfway There Open House event to celebrate the halfway point of our expansion! Our library is growing and we are excited to give the community the opportunity to see the progress being made inside the new space. Our open house will feature tours of the newly opened spaces, including the Children's area and Teen areas. Our Friends of the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library will also be providing frozen treats from Sugar Rush Truck and beverages from The Frenchie Press coffee truck.
Tours and Treats from 2 to 6 PM on Wednesday Jun 14, 2023!
New Addition of Library Opens (June 12, 2023)
The library re-opened to the public on June 12, 2023, after 4 week planned closure for moving and installing shelving and furniture. Library services are operating out of the completed new addition, while renovation work on the original part of the building is underway. Renovation work and final project completion is expected to be approximately October 2023.
Groundbreaking (April 2022)
It was a chilly day for an outdoor gathering, but spirits were high at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library Expansion and Remodel Project. The event attracted quite a few stakeholders, library card holders, planners, and public servants interested in the future of Baraboo’s public library.
Before the ceremony began, library assistant Cari Jo Teasdale read a story about building a library to small children in attendance. The kids got to take home little construction helmets and special cookies provided by the Friends of the Library.
Mayor Rob Nelson kicked off the event, followed by remarks by Pete Vogel, President & CEO, Vogel Brothers Building Co.; past Library Board President Dr. Mary Grant; Joan Fordham, Vice Chair, Baraboo Community Development Authority (CDA); and Julie Lassa, State Director, Wisconsin’s office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development.
The event finished with the ceremonial breaking of ground and group photos.
Library Construction Update (November 30, 2021)
We are pleased to share the good news that our loan from the USDA has been approved! We will now be able to move forward with the library expansion project. We will be working with the project team on a new timeline, which we will share when it is finalized. Thank you for your continued support in this project.
Library Needs You to Get Loud One More Time! (October 2021)
We were notified recently that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Rural Development office, the group processing our loan application for the library expansion, is requesting a public hearing to show that there is public support for the library expansion project. The public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, October 14.
We know that many library supporters cannot make it to a public hearing. There is a wonderful way you can show your support for the expansion project that will be both convenient for you and very useful evidence of community backing: Send an email!
Email your support for the project to Pat Cannon, Executive Director of the Baraboo Community Development Authority, who is the city official who is overseeing expansion project funds. He will share the emails with the USDA.
Baraboo Public Library Expansion Project Gets Historic Preservation Approval
JULY 14, 2020 – The Baraboo Public Library passed a key milestone in its expansion process last month when the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a state-level arm of the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, approved the final architectural concept for the expanded library design. With this hurdle crossed, the City of Baraboo’s application for a $6 million loan for a portion of the building project through the United States Department of Agriculture can move forward. Read entire article (PDF)
Revised floor plans reflecting requirements for SHPO approval - Part 1
Revised floor plans reflecting requirements for SHPO approval - Part 2
Baraboo Public Library Expansion Project: What You Can Do to Help NOW
Presentation to Baraboo Common Council on 5-28-2019
Get Loud for the Library Initiative
Read the case for expansion in 2021:
Tour of the Library Expansion Conceptual Drawings
We have developed a video guided tour of the architects' three conceptual drawings. Please watch the video and then share with us your opinion about which design would best help the library serve the community. Comment on our Facebook page, on comment cards available in the adult department of the library, or by emailing our director, Jessica Bergin, at jessica(at)baraboopubliclibrary(dot)org.
Library Facts from the Library Kid-2
Mary Bowers Speaks up for the Baraboo Public Library
Taxpayer Talk from the Library Kid
Lacey Steffes Speaks Up for the Baraboo Public Library
Customer Service from the Library Kid
Anna Krause Speaks Up for the Baraboo Public Library
Library Facts from the Library Kid