Book Locker Plan Moving Forward at Sartell Library

SARTELL -- The Sartell City Council narrowly approved a resolution to enter contract negotiations with the Great River Regional Library System for its community library. The council voted 3-2 to negotiate a deal which would be a Local Material Delivery/Return service model to pick up and drop off library books.

Some members of the council questioned whether the contract would close talks on making the Sartell library a branch library in the future.

Sartell City Administrator Mary Degiovanni says they'll look to develop a contract which will allow them to review whether the book locker system is successful as they explore a library branch model.

Sartell would agree to paying the start-up costs which are estimated just over $71,000. That would be paid for primarily through donations to the effort. The operating costs in the first year are estimated at about $22,500.