The Kilbourn Public Library is a popular community amenity, serving the citizens and visitors of Wisconsin Dells and neighboring Lake Delton. The library’s location within a bustling tourism destination means that it sees a wide variety and influx of visitors as well as foreign workers. About 10 years after constructing a new library, leaders recognized the need to expand the facility footprint in order to offer new technology areas, expanded hospitality and community services.

MSA architects were hired to first conduct a comprehensive study of the needs of the library in conjunction with a review of the existing space. MSA then calculated projected community growth numbers over the coming years and responded by providing library leaders with multiple options for their facility’s expansion.

The selected design resulted in an airy two-level addition: 8,072 square feet on the main floor and 5,743 square feet on the basement level, with room to accommodate future growth. The project also remodeled an existing 7,405 square feet of space to improve functionality and traffic flow. The design works within a unique existing footprint and adds striking new roofline features, a metal roof, and interior architectural elements that pay homage to the Arts and Crafts aesthetics of the community’s original 1912 Carnegie library, which shares the same city block as the new facility.

The library expansion project rearranged book collection areas to improve the user experience, added a new children’s area, dedicated young adult area and new sub-dividable program room. It also greatly upgraded the library’s technology area, enlarged several adult reading areas and provided a hospitality coffee shop area for visitors to gather and relax. Other new provisions include a language lab, historical/genealogy room, garage, and support space for library staff and the community bookmobile.

This $2.9-million project was completed in 2011 and includes an expansive outdoor green space with rain garden, new sidewalks, main entrance and landscaping, all constructed by Kraemer Brothers of Plain, Wisconsin.