Marion hosts new library update meetings

MARION - Officials from the Marion Public Library host meetings Tuesday and April 19 to update residents on a project to construct a new 40,000- to 45,000-square foot library in the heart of the city.

Meetings take place in Meeting Room A at the library, 1095 Sixth Ave., at 8 a.m. Tuesday and again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.

Aside from an update on the project, those who attend can see renderings of the proposed building and can ask questions and participate in conversation about the project.

The new $12.2 million library would be part of a $24 million mixed-use residential and retail building constructed by Minneapolis-based developer Ryan Cos. Officials are considering demolishing the Marion Square strip mall to make way for the development.

The Marion City Council in February agreed to seek financial and legal guidance on the proposal before taking any further action.

Those who support the project have said the existing library, built in 1996, is too small and not properly laid out to accommodate the library's 900,000-item collection.

Opponents have said they are concerned about displacing business owners from the strip mall.