BOUNTIFUL—It’s been eight years since the Davis County Library board started to discuss plans for several libraries, some that would be remodeled and some that would be new builds. The South Branch Library in Bountiful was on that list. As other libraries were rebuilt or remodeled money continued to be set aside for Bountiful Capital projects. 

In 2023, library staff requested formal offers from south-end cities for land options to rebuild the South Branch and received offers from Bountiful and North Salt Lake, ultimately selecting the Bountiful site. 

The initial plan called for a land swap between the County and Bountiful City for a new building to be built on the land across from the current location. However, at the Library Board meeting held June 23, the group voted unanimously to remodel the existing building instead. Now the decision will come before the commission on July 22.

“We hired an architectural firm, Modern Out West, to do a feasibility study,” said Davis County Library Director Josh Johnson. “The study determined the overall cost would roughly be the same to rebuild on the site or to build a new building off site.”

Modern Out West has a solid understanding of what the library needed, he said. “Basically all of the systems in the old building were at the end of life. The heating, air conditioning, and roof were from the 60s. If we had to remove the roof they could take care of some of that during the remodel.”

Johnson said the library’s big concern was keeping services available during construction. “If we move forward we’ll have to find a temporary location that can be a hub for staff. Where do you put 100,000 books? The question is how can we continue to provide services and programming that add value to people’s lives?”

Some plans include using other branches or pick up locations, he said. “It could be in a city hall or even a warehouse.”

Anyone who has lived in the area for a long time has probably been to a piano recital at the South Branch, said Johnson. “We want to respect the history of the building, it is well loved. What works stays, we want to give people what they want. We’d like to keep some of the old things.”

The library conducted a countywide public survey in 2022 to get feedback from the community to help them understand what they want, he said. “We had 13,000 respondents. I feel like we got a lot of insights.”

The design of the new building was for 18,000 square feet all on one floor compared to 24,000 square feet with two stories in the old building. “It’s a big building with landscaping, trees and a stream that you don’t have on the south side (new site),” said Trent Smith with Modern Out West.

“It hurts my heart to think about it being demolished,” said one board member. “It's a beautiful site.”

There’s been a ton of work on the new branch for the southern end of Davis County over a long time, years, said Commission Chair and Board member Lorene Kamalu. “It was the architect who revived considering a ‘down to the bones’ remodel.”

Staff with the architect and staff in the library department have worked really hard, she said. “It is important work. Libraries – and especially librarians – can influence lives for good.”

Additionally, library board members prior and current have all been engaged and thoughtful in the process, said Kamalu. “The board members were unanimous with the latest decision to recommend and now it goes before the Board of Commissioners.”

The building needs to serve the public for the next 50 years, said Johnson. “We don’t want residents to feel like we’re just spending a whole bunch of money on an old building. We want something that gives significant benefits and value to residents.”

It’s been a good process, he said. “We’ve done more than our due diligence. We want to do right by the public – that’s our job.”