00:00:03,000	S1:
City. Current. Produced by Dakota media access. In-depth discussion with Bismarck and Mandan city officials. Watch on government access channel 602 HD or tune in to radio Access 102.5 FM. Always local. Always current.

00:00:25,400	S2:
Welcome to a special edition of city. Current. Typically. Today. Mandan City Administrator Jim Neubauer would be with us. He had another commitment. So we have Barb Sandstrom, the director of the Morton Mandan Public Library, and Shawna Marion joining me. Community engagement coordinator. So welcome to both of you.

00:00:42,367	S3:
Thank you Tony.

00:00:43,067	S2:
Yeah, great to see you guys again.

00:00:44,701	S3:
Yes, yes.

00:00:45,868	S2:
Again I'm just teasing you a little bit. You're here not only because Jim couldn't be here. And the Mandan City Commission meeting was last night where you were presented as well. But because there's some big news to tell people about and you were able to receive a significant grant and you have some big plans for the library. Barb, tell us just a little bit about the grant. How much money and a little bit about the plans.

00:01:13,767	S3:
Um, the grant is through the North Dakota Commerce Department. Um, the especially the subdivision, I guess, of tourism. And it is the North Dakota destination grant. And so we have long since we've reopened. We've had a vision for the former rice bowl space. Um, and that was to kind of create a makerspace. But with this grant, we knew it had to be something different than just your typical makerspace you might find in any library, honestly, or high school facility. And so we wanted to bridge some tourism into it. That way we would be bringing, um, people coming through the state or just people in North Dakota passing through, and also connect them with different places around our region. All of the fun things that are happening in Mandan and Morton County, and we just thought we needed to celebrate those things, and this is how we can do it.

00:02:09,767	S2:
This is a half million dollar.

00:02:12,000	S3:
Yeah, it's scary numbers.

00:02:14,100	S2:
It's got to be fun to think about the possibilities.

00:02:16,467	S4:
It's not a teacher. So.

00:02:20,767	S2:
Um, so the big picture is you have some big plans for that former rice bowl space. You have a half million dollars to play with, so to speak, and more potentially as you look at what you'd like to do. But what's the inspiration behind this whole idea? I don't know which of you prefers to take that question.

00:02:41,367	S4:
I think we've had a lot of rich conversations as staff in the library about how our library can stay current. They are not the way we grew up as kids, and this space kind of opens that door for reimagining a library and what it can do. It's not just a place of books and magazines and newspapers. It's so much more. And learning comes in so many different forms, and this space is really going to encapsulate all of that very hands on. Dive in deep or just dabble with it and see if you like it. I kind of imagine it as a play lab for adults and teens because we still, as adults, should be playing and engaging our brains in those kind of ways. If you can dream it, try it, you know? And I can't wait to watch this unfold. You know.

00:03:22,801	S3:
Even for us to dabble. You know, there's machines that we're hoping to get in that I've never experienced before. You know, that wasn't part of my growing up. And obviously. And so just that's what I want is for adults, especially to feel comfortable getting to know these things and what their teenagers or their grandkids are using in schools now.

00:03:42,567	S2:
So just really continue to build upon a vibrant public space to right, like, yes, a place the community wants to gather, tell. I want to pop up a graphic, uh, kind of outlining what this space could be. And all this is just preliminary, but I wanted you to talk about the experience. You've touched on a couple of things, but maybe you could even walk us through a little bit of what we're seeing here and what you've been envisioning.

00:04:08,667	S3:
Um, well, I do have to kind of give a shout out to a library in Indiana or near Indianapolis. It is called the Hampton East Public Library, and they have two sites. One, I believe, is in fishers, Indiana, and they have a place called Ignite Studio. And I came across that and it was just like, this is what we had been talking about, but it's to it's come to life. And so this is a model somewhat like, like theirs, but I envision a place that we can have some professional kitchen so we can do some cooking classes, or we can have people coming in to test out their skills. As you know, going from a home baker to somebody who might cater. Um, but we also want open places where we can have different classroom settings if we need to, or just or bigger, larger groups coming in. Then we would have different labs. So we would have a fabrication lab that might have a 3D printer in it. Laser cutter, wood cutting tools, all of that. Another would be a crafting lab, where maybe that's just where they go and they just are working on painting or sewing or things along that line. But I kind of envision, like those little spaces be more clear and see through so that although the light comes in, you can see what people are are doing, and that might pique other curiosity. So that's part of it.

00:05:37,701	S2:
Shawna, how are you or will you be? I'm sure you'll be reaching out to local creative people to help define this space.

00:05:45,501	S4:
Yeah, we've already been working with them since we reopened. And so that's the beauty. Like, they can dream big with us. Yeah, we've heard in other conversations when we're just brainstorming whether it's planning for Winterfest or, you know, getting ready for art in the park. Um, there's they've talked about there's a lack of spaces for them to create or to teach classes. And a lot of them are creating within their home space. So it's not the ideal space to teach something in. And we would love to be that destination. Like host your class here. And I know we have other spaces in Bismarck Mandan, but we would love, you know them to consider us as maybe their home away from home, as we always talk about. Um, but we've we've been part of that art alley development in Mandan, and we've been doing mosaics for the last two years. Molly McClain. Thank you. Yeah. And so we've just really encountered some wonderful people as artists, but people who are wanting to explore that possibility of becoming an artist, um, and, you know, storytellers and musicians, it's the city has quite a gift in hosting and, you know, um, generating that curiosity for even our teens who think it's not possible because I know when I was in high school, that was you were either an art teacher or you were, you know, a fine arts artist. But neither can be very, um, financially sustainable, you know? And I want them I want kids to know that this is possible. A lot of them, when we talk to them, they didn't think they could develop a career on that and look at what they're doing. I think of Nicole Gagner when we first met her and she had the only the single, you know, Art alley here behind the seeds of Hope. And now look what's happening right here stuff. Right. I mean, it just grows with the support of the community, and we hope to be that.

00:07:21,000	S3:
Place that sparks that curiosity, that jump into something new and different for them.

00:07:26,601	S2:
You know, you both walked into our building here at Dakota media access and commented on the history and, you know, naturally want to know the stories behind what's happened here in the past. And you mentioned the old rice bowl space. But first, maybe just mention for people who don't know where you're located. But then the idea of bringing this old building, keeping the history but repurposing and looking to the future, that's really cool.

00:07:49,167	S3:
Yes. So it was former in its former life, kind of a freight house for the library. And I know there's been other things that have been in the building since then, but we kind of want to bring that back because when you think about that, you know they're carrying their stories, right? When they're delivering their packages or their purchases or whatever it is they were on, you know, um, unloading off of the trains and you were carrying those stories along. And so I think that just really encompasses what we are as a library. You know, we like to learn out loud. And so it's through talking and sharing and sparking that interest and just bringing it back to that. That time in place I think is important.

00:08:29,801	S2:
Yeah. And, uh, community impact. I know this is a tourism grant or it falls under commerce. Uh, so you will be drawing people. It may mean just more, though, than just Mandan.

00:08:42,300	S3:
Yes. That is our goal. Is that and whether it is people who like. We had a lot of people coming from Fargo, and they were probably going to Medora, and they would stop in at the library, you know, or in from the eastern part. And it's getting them to be able to experience other things that are happening just within Bismarck, Mandan, Morton County, you know, even down by standing Rock. And, you know, if we look at that regional area, we like for them to explore some other things. Yeah.

00:09:09,667	S2:
Tell me about some of the partners. I know we rarely do anything alone, nor should we want to. Right. But I know you have some collaborators.

00:09:16,667	S4:
Yeah, we work quite a bit with Northern Plains Heritage Foundation. They've been very generous in supporting our art initiatives, whether it's been doing the mosaics or paint nights. Um, we've collaborated quite a bit with, um, Mandan Public Schools on various projects. That's been really good, because if we can get them the adults in our building in time, they start bringing their kids. And so we get to watch kids grow up in our space. Um, North Dakota, Asian American arts, um, initiative and culture, um, and sacred pipe.

00:09:46,901	S3:
Um, so we have a lot of places that we can bring in and work with storytelling sessions or making food, traditional foods and things like that. We also know we're going to have to expand on what we already have currently, who our partnerships are and stuff, but we're quite excited about where that can take us.

00:10:06,567	S2:
So the $500,000 grant and all these are competitive spaces. What do you think as you put your time and thought and talk to people? How did you make your grant stand out, so to speak?

00:10:18,767	S3:
I. Well, to me, I think it's just what we believe in as a library. You know that this is people's home away from home. It is a place where they can come in and learn out loud, whatever that is, um, looks like to them. But I think it's something different and unique that as far as I know, I mean, there's a lot of libraries who have makerspaces, but to take it to this level, um, is something different, and I have not. I don't believe there's anything like this in the state for sure. So I think that helped us stand out. So they're actually taking a part of North Dakota home with them, but they're creating it. So it's not a purchase to souvenir or anything like that or a story.

00:11:00,167	S2:
So what's the so now I'm excited about this and we've seen the potential of some early iteration. Anyway, what's the timeline of living out this dream and creating it?

00:11:12,167	S5:
Yeah, I think we're looking at a year and a half timeline and I don't know with building.

00:11:17,400	S4:
Projects what that looks like in the city, but I mean, ideally we would love this running full speed ahead in the summer of 2027. Yeah.

00:11:25,200	S3:
Um, and maybe doing some testing of different, um, excursions. We like to call them, um, different excursions, testing them out, you know, the fall of 2026, you know, that kind of and throughout the winter. So it's also trying to make it kind of a Four Seasons, you know, place within our area.

00:11:47,000	S2:
In the end game. I bring my family, I come visit, I leave. What's the hope for someone like me in the community to experience? What am I walking away with as I leave after spending some time in this hub.

00:12:04,968	S3:
I think part of it is you're meeting people who, let's just say it's the Enchanted Highway. So you're meeting Gary Graff, who developed and designed and created all of that vision, and so you're meeting him. So you get to hear what his story is. You're getting to see those things firsthand, experience them up close, but then you're coming back, and then you're taking all that you experience throughout that day and you're doing something with it. Whether you're creating your own t shirt or you're creating a bookmark or you're making your own podcast on it, or a little video travel video, uh, it's just doing something with what you have which you've acquired that day.

00:12:46,267	S4:
That's me. It's making those priceless memories. You know, when you walk away from the library, it's not going to be, oh, I visit a library because everybody assumes it's about books and materials, but it's a place where memories are made. And we have. There was a great letter that was written, um, in support of this grant, and I love the way she called it. It's a memory making space. Um, and hopefully that's a reoccurring destination for people because you don't forget the way you feel in certain places and what happens there. So we're hoping.

00:13:12,567	S2:
So. Kind of like there'll be tangible, uh, things you take away, tangible takeaways, but then those intangibles that maybe, like you said, you met someone, you the experience makes you want to come back.

00:13:23,901	S3:
Yes. Yeah, definitely. We want it hands on in multiple ways. Yeah.

00:13:28,667	S2:
So take me to the moment you got the email or the call.

00:13:33,868	S5:
Shauna was the second person she called me later. Date. I was already for bed.

00:13:38,400	S3:
30 in the morning. Shauna. Yeah, I remember that. I looked at it and I was shocked. And then I called Shauna. I was like, you can't believe this. And I'm still like, up here in a high cloud. Yeah, and not really, to be honest. Not really knowing what that looks like. You know, as fellow classroom teachers, we have not experienced this kind of thing before. So we're stepping into some new ground. But I know we've got some really great people throughout the city and just our neighbors who will really help us through all of this.

00:14:09,868	S2:
So there's some screaming, Shawna, or what was it like?

00:14:12,267	S5:
Yeah, I'm a private dancer. I probably was dancing in my kitchen. Yeah, yeah.

00:14:18,667	S4:
You know, and I to piggyback on that community support, we have staff that have come from all over, have lived in different spaces. And so it's kind of funny, we've become a group of people that like to tour libraries and we travel. So it's so funny when we all come back. So what did you see? And inevitably somebody's been visiting a library. So it's kind of fun collecting all these ideas, almost like a a Pinterest board, you might say, of what other libraries are doing and what parts does sound and resonate with us here in Mandan Public Library.

00:14:45,667	S2:
What what was the reception like last night at the City Commission?

00:14:49,467	S3:
I'm very pleased. I definitely because they've wanted that space to be utilized. And, um, I think some don't quite get what a makerspace is. You know, and again, we come from the educational world. So we're very, very familiar with that. So this will help us to in getting that picture out there, um, of what it could look like. And, you know, so people can really see that it's tangible and it's real. It's realistic. You know, it's not this big pipe dream. It's something that can happen.

00:15:21,167	S2:
And so looking through your application, I just find it interesting. Of course you want everyone to come, but what's a target audience? What does that look like? Who are you really hoping to engage? Is there an age group or am I?

00:15:35,767	S3:
To me personally, I go back to we traveled a lot when we were kids and so and every summer we would take two weeks off and we would go somewhere. And so I just look at families because we'd always sign up for these excursions that we would go on guided ones, and we don't have anything like that, at least in our area. Maybe there are parts of the state who do, I'm not sure, but we don't. And I just think that those feelings you get when you're with other people from across the country or across the state. It's just powerful. Again, it's making memories. So.

00:16:10,167	S2:
And of course, you don't really start out thinking of it this way, but but big ideas like this will have economic impact for the area.

00:16:19,400	S5:
Yeah, sure.

00:16:20,367	S4:
You know, um, MPO is very, um, bold in what they're dreaming from their end. And that part we kind of book in this space. And so you match that hype. And I think it's going to be very complementary to one another what we're doing. I mean, he gets them in that park space for music and lights and, and then we have kind of this different approach of how that can look for an experience for families. And I'm kind of excited between the two, how we are able to just enhance each other's attendance at anything, any event or any program. Um, because it will certainly help one another.

00:16:52,200	S3:
Yeah. But also looking at we have really good connections with local businesses. You know, some are just right across the street and it's going to be beneficial for them. But we can also bring them in and have them do some teaching as well. So I think that will be powerful. Cooperation and partnerships too.

00:17:11,667	S4:
And we always laugh about how this space was. You know, there's a whole wing that was added on in that remodel. And within two years we started realizing we've actually kind of outgrowing the space. Like people are wanting to reserve rooms for different things. And it's it's tricky navigating and, you know, relocating different things to accommodate. I just didn't think that was possible in two and a half years in the library, when you expand that way, and this will just open up that door for so much, you know.

00:17:37,601	S2:
Well, we've touched on quite a few things. I mean, you just received word that you received this grant recently. So like you said, you're still on cloud nine and I can't wait to see what comes of it. I'm sure a lot of people, when they learn about it, will share that sentiment.

00:17:54,667	S5:
It's just.

00:17:55,267	S2:
It's exciting.

00:17:56,000	S3:
And part of our goal too, is to get community involved. So we know, you know, in the beginning of this process, we're going to have a lot of community surveys and questionnaires, small groups, that kind of thing to help us kind of set the tone. What other things do they want to see that we haven't even dreamt of or thought of? Um, I think that will be very powerful, even the naming of it. You know, this is a generic name, but I think we would like some help even naming what this space could be like. So.

00:18:26,968	S2:
Yeah. Love it. All right. Any last words? Anything we didn't touch on, we'd like.

00:18:32,667	S5:
To.

00:18:33,167	S3:
Follow our journey.

00:18:34,767	S2:
Yeah, well, give us a website.

00:18:36,567	S3:
Okay. We don't have one yet.

00:18:38,467	S5:
But we'll have to do.

00:18:39,567	S3:
That.

00:18:39,868	S5:
Absolutely.

00:18:40,367	S2:
We can follow along for the Morton Library.

00:18:43,100	S3:
I would just. Morton Mandan Library is.

00:18:46,968	S2:
That's one way.

00:18:47,901	S5:
That's one way.

00:18:48,667	S2:
Keep track. Well, Barb and Shawna, thanks so much for your time. Congratulations. I feel like I just had, like, a triple.

00:18:54,667	S5:
Espresso.

00:18:56,267	S2:
Because you brought a lot of energy and really happy that you received this grant, and can't wait to see what it adds to our region. And. Bismarck. Mandan. Mandan. Bismarck. Yeah.

00:19:07,267	S3:
Very excited.

00:19:08,000	S2:
Yeah. All right. Well, thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on City Current.

00:19:12,501	S1:
For more information on what was discussed in this episode of City Current, visit City of mandan.com or call (700) 166-7321 five. If you have any suggestions, comments or issues you would like addressed in Future City Current episodes, contact us at info at free TV. This program airs on Government Access channel two and 602 in HD or on Radio Access 102.5 FM. It's also available as a podcast on radio access and as a video viewing link at free TV. Thanks for tuning in to this edition of City Current.