Village of Fall Creek Awarded State Grant of 4.25 million for New Library Building Project

The Village of Fall Creek proudly announces that it has been awarded the highly competitive Flexible Facilities Program Grant of 4.25 million from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources. This funding will support the Village’s new public library building project. Announced on October 7, 2024, by Governor Tony Evers, this grant helps bring the library’s vision of an expanded, modernized facility closer to reality.

The Flexible Facilities Grant is designed to fund projects that help communities adapt to post-pandemic needs, including enhancing access to work, education, and healthcare services. The new Fall Creek Public Library will offer expanded internet access, designated spaces for remote work, online learning, and telehealth services. The updated facility will also feature accessible meeting rooms and technological resources supporting these essential services, ensuring that Fall Creek area residents can stay connected and thrive.

View the Press Release from Governor Evers Here

Capital Campaign Readiness Study

The Fall Creek Public Library contracted with Crescendo Fundraising Professionals, LLC to conduct a
Campaign Readiness Study designed to determine the ability and willingness of businesses, individuals,
and foundations to support a capital campaign to create a new Fall Creek Public Library, community
meeting rooms, Community Hall, Fall Creek Administration, and public meeting spaces. Thank you to all of you who participated in the Campaign Readiness Study process. You can view the final reports below.

• Study Report
• Study Report – Executive Summary
• Mini Case Summary
• Pre-Campaign Job Descriptions
• Gift Table

Community Input

You can view the proposed site plan, interior layouts, and renderings by Lien & Peterson here. 

You can view the slides from the library’s Community Input Session presentation here. 

Share your feedback through our Google Form here. 

Email feedback with us by emailing buildingproject@fallcreekpubliclibrary.org

FAQ – Updated 10/14/24

How & when did this project begin?

• In July 2023, the library board approved a Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. Throughout our research in establishing our strategic priorities, investigation of the functionality of our current facility was a common theme in the feedback we received. We identified our facility as one of our strategic priorities.
• This led to a facilities assessment completed by our library system director and Wisconsin state expert in library buildings and spaces. The facilities assessment revealed numerous accessibility concerns and showed we are deficient in overall space for programs, materials, and services a library should be providing. To be competitive for future building grants, preliminary designs and a feasibility study with an architect are required.  
• In August 2023, The Village Board approved the Library Board’s decision to hire Lien & Peterson Architects to complete a feasibility study and proposal for a new library building.  
• In October 2023, a building advisory committee was formed, and work with Lien & Peterson began. 
• In April 2024, the Village Board approved the Library Board’s recommendation to hire Crescendo Fundraising Professionals to complete a campaign readiness study. 
• In July 2024, the Village applied for the Flexible Facilities Grant through the State of Wisconsin.
• In August 2024, Crescendo Fundraising Professionals presented the results of the Campaign Readiness Study.
• On October 7, 2024, the Village of Fall Creek was awarded 4.25 million from the State of Wisconsin through the Flexible Facilities Program grant to construct a new public library. 

What is the purpose of building a new public library? 

The purpose of building a new public library is to create a modern, accessible, and dynamic community hub that meets the evolving needs of our residents. The new library will provide expanded resources, services, designated spaces, and programming opportunities for people of all ages. The project will prioritize residents’ health and well-being by providing an improved library experience. This improvement will grant residents better access to telehealth, remote work, and virtual learning by increasing technology access and introducing new collaborative areas, dedicated workstations, computer labs, and private workspaces.  

Why do we need a bigger library when we have the internet? 

The internet is great and has become a central part of our daily lives. We provide free internet at the library year-round whether we are closed or open. However, the internet does not provide a physical space for community life and engagement. Additionally, our rural area has unreliable internet and limited availability; many households do not have access to fast or affordable internet. Besides providing access to the internet at our location, there are many tangible things the library offers, including: 

• Opportunities to meet others, learn new things, and engage in Fall Creek community life. 
• Space to study, take tests, conduct meetings, apply for jobs and certifications, tele-medicine, host events, play, and work. 
• Fast, free Wi-Fi which can be accessed outside of the building as well as Wi-Fi hotspots patrons can check out to bring the internet home with them. 
• Space which often serves as a much-needed respite from Wisconsin weather as a free-to-use place that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 
• Physical materials including books, movies, and magazines, still account for most library checkouts. 
• Tech support to help community members maneuver and adapt through constant tech challenges and changes. 
• A place for community members to connect safely online. 
• A one-of-a-kind space in our community where people of all ages are engaged. 
• Affordable, accessible printing, scanning, and tech support. 

Why can’t you remodel the current space?

Remodeling the current site would not provide the footprint
necessary to respond to the current or future  demographic needs of the village due to several factors, one of which includes limited parking downtown. Remodeling an older building, while seemingly
cost-effective at first glance, often reveals hidden expenses and structural limitations. The costs of upgrading an existing space, adhering to building codes, and addressing these unforeseen issues can quickly escalate, making renovations much pricier, while not even fully addressing the issues and limitations that the library is facing. Most importantly, remodeling the existing structure does not increase the available square footage, address the lack of parking or many of the other limitations and
issues that IFLS deemed important for the Fall Creek Public Library in their Facility and Space Needs Assessment per the Department of Public Instruction’s Library Space Standards. 

What will happen to the old building? 

That will be determined by the Village of Fall Creek Board of Trustees. Community leaders look for the current
library/village hall site to be sold which would offer opportunities for business development to improve the quality of life and downtown vibrancy. 

How will the new library be accessible? 

The new design of the library will ensure that everyone can get to the library, maneuver within it, access materials, fully participate in activities, and feel welcome.  

• Safe pedestrian walkways. 
• Wider aisles clear of obstructions. 
• Wider doorways, automatic door openers, and accessible door hardware.  
• Well-identified wheelchair-accessible parking areas, pathways, and entrances. 
• Restrooms that provide caregiver flexibility.  
• Adequate lighting.  
• Private study areas for patrons who need to bring personal equipment, require the assistance of a reader, or are distracted by noise and movement. 

I love this library! How can I donate in support of this project? 

Please contact the Library Director, Charlene Conradi, to discuss your contribution. Checks made out to the Library Building Fund and dropped off or mailed to the library. 

Why did we do all the drawings with the architecture firm before the study? Who paid for them? 

The initial concept drawings were needed to determine a cost estimate for the project as well as a visual concept to share with study participants. This initial work was paid for by the library. Additional design will occur once funding has been secured.  

Was this bid out or brought to many architecture firms to assess? The price seems high.

Contracting with multiple architectural firms to develop concept drawings and budgets would not be cost effective for determining the initial budget. Architects use standard market pricing to develop these preliminary budget numbers for a library project. As the project moves forward the library board and design team will balance the cost of materials versus the life cycle cost of those materials. One type of carpet might be cheaper initially, it needs to be replaced more often than a higher grade of carpet.  

Is there a town representative that could do this cheaper and not take a cut as big as a large architectural firm would? 

While design/build (one designer/builder) projects often occur for commercial construction, the library project is public construction. As a public construction project, the development of the design must be separate from the construction of the building. The construction of the building must be publicly bid for and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.