Library District hires Paragon to conduct facility review

The Springfield-Greene County Library District has hired Paragon Architecture LLC to conduct a review of its 10 branch facilities.

Paragon, which was selected following a request for proposals in October, is slated to provide a facility analysis of the Library District's owned and leased facilities to determine short- and long-term maintenance needs over the next decade, according to a news release. Five firms responded to the RFP, said Vickie Hicks, the Library District's community relations director.

“Our vision is to be a thriving library that is an integral part of the lives of the community," Library District Executive Director Ed Walton said in the release. "This study will help us determine the future of our existing infrastructure and identify opportunities for future growth."

Hicks said the final details of the contract are being discussed, so the price for services hasn’t yet been determined.

The study will include cost estimates and an examination of the type of maintenance or capital improvement needed at each facility, according to the release. Paragon additionally will create a footprint assessment and population trend analysis for the Library District.

The findings of the study are expected to be reported to the Library District Board of Trustees in late spring.

The Library District has already been in expansion and renovation mode when it comes to facilities.

Hatch Auditorium, a 500-seat event venue, opened this month at the Library Center. The 19,340-square-foot addition had an $8.2 million price tag, according to past reporting. 

Some $4.5 million in renovations and upgrades were completed at the Midtown Carnegie Branch before it reopened in June 2025 after around a year of temporary closure. 

Additionally, the Library District is building an $11.1 million new facility for its Republic Branch Library, Springfield Business Journal previously reported.