The new Kaposia Library in South St. Paul joined the Dakota County Library system Tuesday, Feb. 20 with a grand opening showcasing the building’s many modern features and inviting design.
Dakota County leaders, federal lawmakers and local officials pointed to the library’s importance as a place for learning and for gathering.
Library services have expanded beyond traditional books and research work. Technology has changed and broadened the services that are available, Dakota County Library Director Margaret Stone said.
“What we’re also seeing is as communities change, communities need libraries for other reasons — it’s the space in the building that people are looking for now,” Stone said, calling the library a community hub for social, educational and work gatherings.
Kaposia Library highlights include:
• 16,000 square feet on one floor, improving access for all users.
• An interactive children’s area with a light display, activity wall and other learning resources.
• Multiple study rooms and meeting spaces to accommodate groups of different sizes.
• A Calming Room for people who need a comforting space while visiting.
• iLab creative space equipment, including a 3D printer.
• The Quiet Zone, which celebrates South St. Paul history and features mosaic art and a fireplace.
• Outdoor reading space and a pollinator-friendly garden.
• On-site parking, including EV charging stations, a bike rack and accessible entrance.
The $11.4 million project was paid for mostly with the county’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding approved during the pandemic.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar applauded Dakota County and cities like South St. Paul for meeting the community’s needs.
“Every time a kid reads a new book or gets interested in reading and gets off their phone and actually learns new things, you’ve got to remember that’s our purpose as citizens — to continue this tradition and pass on this torch of learning,” Klobuchar said.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig thanked city and county leaders for supporting public libraries, especially for children in the community. She recalled attending the Kaposia Library groundbreaking in 2022.
“Now, we are standing in a world-class facility for the citizens of South St. Paul,” Craig said.
Kaposia Library is the 10th location in the Dakota County Library system and the county’s first new library in 15 years.
The library project was championed by Kathleen A. Gaylord, a former Dakota County commissioner and South St. Paul mayor.
Dakota County Board Chair Joe Atkins recognized Gaylord, South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis and city council members for their years-long pursuit of a new library, along with support from South St. Paul Public Schools.
The former South St. Paul Library building dated to 1927. The city approached Dakota County in 2020 with a proposal to stop operating its library and join the county library system.
The name Kaposia honors the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their seasonal village along the Mississippi River in the area of South St. Paul and St. Paul. The library features a translated description of the Kaposia name in Dakota and English.
“To showcase our language — it just doesn’t get any better than that,” said Andy Vig, director of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s culture exhibit. The tribal community assisted with the Kaposia translation.
The library is across the street from South St. Paul Secondary School.
“This can be a community hangout for the South St. Paul community, so it’s important to have a place where there are so many options and different experiences for the fun of the city,” said Gio Rivera, a fifth-grade student from South St. Paul who uses the library regularly.
The Kaposia Library is open Monday–Wednesday from noon–8 p.m., Thursday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search kaposia.
