Madison Public Library and Madison Public Library Foundation will mark construction kickoff for the new Pinney Library with a groundbreaking ceremony beginning at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, in the Royster Corners development on Cottage Grove Road.

The ceremony will begin with comments from library, foundation and City of Madison officials, and an official groundbreaking. A reception at the nearby Chief’s Tavern, 300 Cottage Grove Road, will follow.

The library will be located in Ruedebusch Development & Construction’s Royster Corners, a mixed-use development four blocks east of the current Pinney Library. OPN Architects of Madison is leading design of the $10.2 million project, guided by library-hosted community input sessions held in late 2017. 

“I am excited to see several years of planning, fundraising and negotiation come to realization,” said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. “The new Pinney Library is a great community asset that will benefit east side residents for decades to come.”

Madison Public Library Director Gregory Mickells said the new Pinney Library “will allow us to engage the community in more ways than we can now with the added capacity of the new facility. Plus, the new library will include some unique, innovative features that we’re introducing in this new space to enhance your library experience. We can’t wait to share them with the community.” 

While the city will fund the majority of project costs, the Library Foundation has privately raised $1,134,896 toward its $1.5 million goal. As with previous library capital projects, any funds raised beyond the goal will seed a permanent endowment for Pinney.

“We’re thrilled that so many individuals and businesses have stepped up to support the new Pinney Library, from attending fundraisers to providing challenge grants,” said foundation Executive Director Jenni Collins. “We know they’ll find the space to be a welcoming community hub for the east side, much like our other libraries are for their respective neighborhoods.”

Each year, Pinney Library receives approximately 300,000 visits. It is the third busiest in the Madison Public Library system. Pinney is in need of a larger, better building to serve the Eastmorland, Lake Edge and Schenk-Atwood neighborhoods along with others close by, as well as thousands of students who attend the 12 schools within a few miles of the library. 

A growing number of residents in the Pinney service area are underserved, and at several east side public schools, more than 75 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The library will work with community partners to offer complementary educational programs that level the playing field for all.

The new library will also provide the surge of seniors — including those living in the adjacent senior apartment community — with an opportunity to attend educational programs, gain new digital skills and connect with others.

The new Pinney renderings and walk-through video created by OPN Architects show a modern, open space that is hoped to achieve LEED Gold certification. The library will be pedestrian-friendly, with Madison Metro bus access, bike racks and abundant parking.

Other planned features include:

• an expanded, flexible program room that seats 100
• designated spaces for teens and children
• updated technology, including laptop checkouts
• an outdoor space for events and programs
• a quiet reading area
• a drive-through book drop

The new Pinney Library is expected to open in 2019. 

To RSVP for the groundbreaking, call 608.266.6318 or email info@mplfoundation.org. 

For more Pinney Library news, visit the library website’s Pinney page at madisonpubliclibrary.org/pinney or the foundation website’s Pinney campaign page at mplfoundation.org/pinney.

About Madison Public Library:
Madison Public Library’s tradition of promoting education, literacy and community involvement has enriched the City of Madison for more than 140 years. Nine locations throughout the City of Madison are open six days a week and welcome more than 2.2 million visits each year. For more information, visit madisonpubliclibrary.org, or visit the library’s Facebook, Twitter (@madisonlibrary) and Instagram pages.

About Madison Public Library Foundation:
Madison Public Library Foundation promotes and supports Madison’s library facilities, services and programs. Established in 1993, the foundation provides annual project grants, raises funds for capital projects, and promotes awareness of the libraries and their programs. Learn how to support Madison’s libraries at mplfoundation.org, on the foundation’s Facebook page, on Instagram (mplfoundation) and on Twitter (@mplfoundation).