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Beloit Public Library outlines Discovery Place plan, seeks $3.15 million in private support after $3.9M state grant
Summary
Library director Nick Dimasas presented the Discovery Place early-learning center plan: a roughly 15,000 sq ft free, research-based children’s learning center. The project has a $3.89–$3.9 million state grant and a $4.15 million total cost; the library has raised $1 million so far and is launching a capital campaign to raise the remainder.
Nick Dimasas, director of the Beloit Public Library, told the City Council on May 20 that the library is moving ahead with Discovery Place, a 15,000-square-foot early-learning center designed for children ages 0–6 and their caregivers. Bids for a general contractor were out and the library had chosen a designer, Lucy Creative, Dimasas said.
Dimasas said the project has secured a state grant of roughly $3.89–$3.9 million that creates the physical space and allows the library to expand the children’s area and add six classrooms, two telehealth rooms and other spaces. The total estimated cost for Discovery Place was $4,150,000, he said. The library has raised $1,000,000 to date; Rock County has pledged $500,000 for operations; a private donor pledged $250,000; and the library foundation is launching a capital campaign to raise the remainder. The library indicated it plans to request that construction tied to the state grant begin by July 1, and that grant-funded spaces be installed and open to the public between February and June 2026.
Dimasas emphasized that Discovery Place will be free to the public and research-driven. “It needs to be free, to do the job that it needs to do within the Beloit community,” he said. The program focuses on play-based early literacy and caregiver engagement and includes classroom space for adult education, a sensory room for differently abled children, and a resource room to make teaching equipment available to schools and families.
Dimasas outlined evaluation plans: Beloit College’s Belmarc Associates has committed to five years of evaluation to measure developmental markers and program effectiveness. He described the project as complementary to other community early-learning efforts, and stressed partnerships with Head Start, early childhood programs, schools and community groups.
Councilors asked about strategies to encourage repeat visitation and community reach. Dimasas said Discovery Place will prioritize “fun” and create take-home, interactive materials, family nights and partnerships to draw groups back repeatedly. He said the library had conducted focus groups — including Spanish-language sessions — and planned a volunteer and docent program.
Dimasas asked council support for the project’s next steps. He said the library’s design and fundraising phases would be reported back to council as renderings and campaign milestones develop.
The council did not vote on a funding request at the meeting; Dimasas said specific capital requests would return in future staff reports.
