Council awards $474,000 contract for Marshalltown Public Library remodel

Marshalltown —'Dec. 8, 2025 '— The Marshalltown City Council voted to award the Marshall Public Library remodel contract (project LIB25001) to Garland Construction for $474,000, a project library leadership said came in under estimate and is funded by the Friends of the Marshalltown Public Library.

Library Director Sarah Roseman told the council the bids were opened last week and the recommended contractor, Garland Construction, is a local firm with experience on recent community projects. "They'll do a great job at the library," Roseman said, describing planned changes that include converting space near the reference desk into six new gathering rooms (two small rooms, a podcasting room, a social lounge, a larger meeting room and a boardroom-style room) while retaining the local-history collection.

Roseman said technology vendors and the library's camera contractor will continue supporting the building during the remodel and that the project's substantial completion date is tentatively June 1. She emphasized that some space will be limited during early construction and thanked parks and streets staff for recent assistance in keeping the library open during severe weather.

Council approved the resolution by roll call after discussion of the scope and the funding source. The council record identifies the project as LIB25001 and the contractor award in the amount of $474,000.

What happens next: Staff will finalize the contract with Garland Construction and coordinate scheduling with the library; the director asked that council members route project questions to library staff or the architect.

The resolution noted the project is funded by the Friends of the Marshalltown Public Library and did not require a city general-fund appropriation in the motion before council.