City council members and library advocates presented a concept for an "Innovation Library" satellite site aimed at increasing access on the south side of the city and capturing circulation from the growing I‑94 corridor.

Alderman Matt Mulder and other proponents said the pilot would be an 800‑to‑1,000 square‑foot unstaffed facility accessed by library card (for patrons 16 and older). Services planned include a small circulating collection, holds pickup, Wi‑Fi and limited public computers. The council heard that Wingspan (a local property owner/developer) has offered a nominal $1 per year lease for up to ten years to reduce startup costs.

The model: The proposed site would be connected to a cafe; library access would be controlled by card‑entry and shared restrooms would be provided by the cafe operator. Aldermen said the cafe could be a social‑enterprise partner that offers employment to people with developmental disabilities. Proponents stressed the pilot would be budget‑neutral if donations, a low lease and partnership support material and operating costs.

Council response and next steps: Councilors expressed interest in the low‑cost pilot and noted community outreach should proceed; staff said more specifics on operations, security, staffing for programming and legal/lease terms would be needed before moving forward.