Council hears library team’s plan to buy downtown building; financing, sustainability still to be finalized

Lincoln City Libraries Director Ryan Weaver told the City Council on July 21 that the library is pursuing purchase of Southeast Community College’s Education Square (1111 O Street) and plans to reuse the existing building as a new downtown central library.

Weaver said the project budget now stands at about $46.2 million — a roughly 35% reduction from prior estimates for other sites — with the city planning to issue municipal improvement bonds (MIBs) in an amount not to exceed $25 million and to seek roughly $18 million in private philanthropy to make the project whole. Weaver said the library program is based on roughly 65,000 square feet of public library space with an additional 15,000 square feet reserved for a partner organization.

The library director emphasized adaptive reuse, site advantages and program priorities. “This is a great example of a public and private partnership,” Weaver said, citing access to a parking garage at the site, proximity to transit and program elements such as children’s and teen spaces, makerspaces, study rooms, a heritage/local history room and a rooftop auditorium.

Why it matters: The proposal would relocate Lincoln’s central library from Bennett Martin to a larger, centrally parked facility and proposes funding that avoids a general-obligation (GO) bond and associated voter ballot process. Because the city is considering municipal improvement bonds rather than a GO bond, the council and public focused on financing structure, schedule and whether the design process will fully integrate energy and life-cycle goals raised by stakeholders.

Details and debate

Finance and structure: Scott Keane of Piper Sandler, the city’s financing advisor in the presentation, explained the $25 million ordinance before the council as a not-to-exceed cap that provides flexibility on the day of sale to accommodate different investor bids (premium versus original-issue discount bids). “We generally structure this issue like we do the city’s other financings,” Keane said, adding that the team will target about $23 million of net proceeds for the library program and allow up to $25 million in the ordinance to cover issuance costs and sale mechanics.

Timeline and program: Weaver described an expected schedule that would complete final design in 2026, place construction from 2026–2028 and aim for a spring 2028 opening. Program elements the library team highlighted include interactive children’s and teen spaces, roughly 8–10 study rooms with conferencing capability, podcast/recording rooms, a makerspace with 3‑D printers and a rooftop auditorium seating roughly 300.

Sustainability and community input: Multiple residents and civic groups urged strong, early sustainability measures. Councilor Saundra Washington and others said they want life-cycle costing and energy-use metrics built into the design. Public commenters — including representatives of local environmental groups, disability advocates and decades-long library supporters — asked the library and the city to set performance targets early, consider District Energy or ground-source options, and include assisted-listening and accessibility measures in every public space.

Public backing and concerns: Several public speakers, including former Lincoln City Libraries Director Pat Leach and community leaders, voiced support for buying and reusing the Education Square building. At the same time, some members of the public said they want clear commitments on sustainability and a transparent fundraising plan before the project is locked in.

What the council decided: At this meeting the council heard the presentation and public testimony; the library items were described as returning for formal second reading and vote at a later meeting. Weaver and library staff said they expect to return with ordinances for bond authorization and the purchase agreement at or after the council’s next scheduled consideration. Council members repeatedly asked that the design and procurement process include measurable sustainability goals and noted broad public interest.

Looking ahead: Weaver said the library team plans community workshops in early fall focused on sustainability and design input. Library staff reported private fundraising is already roughly 40% committed toward the $18 million private target and that the Southeast Community College board has approved the purchase agreement on their side.

Ending: The council did not vote on bond issuance or the real estate purchase ordinance at this meeting; those formal actions were described as coming back for second reading and formal action in the council’s next session.