The modern rebuild: 1969, 1998, the branch era, and the 2026 works — Osceola's share is the tax share only

The district's modern building course prints at boundary/pointer size, as the register directs, because the buildings are Mishawaka's and Granger's; Osceola owns of this course exactly what it paid — a Penn Township tax share, running since 1978 — and that share, not a floor plan, is this ground's part. The course itself: plans for a new main library were drawn by Donlon-Lofgren in 1964 (more than 25,000 square feet), the Lincolnway East location was approved in 1966, and the move out of the Carnegie began on Monday, July 14, 1969, staff transferring books and equipment, with the new library at 209 Lincolnway East unveiled about two weeks later — the same fortnight as Apollo 11 (Evans, April 9, 2025). In 1998 the downtown building was expanded and renovated, incorporating the old post office and creating the Heritage Center told above. The branch era followed the tax fights: the Bittersweet Branch in Mishawaka, and the Harris Branch, opened August 2004 with construction finished in the fall of 2005 — the 2001 plan's promise of a branch in three to four years, kept on schedule.

The current cycle is dated from the district's own construction page. The Long Range Plan 2023–27 earmarks new roofs, LED lighting, and a major Harris Branch renovation; the district's architects (DLZ) describe the Bittersweet Branch renovation — an outdated layout, declining use, a new entry lobby. In the event, Bittersweet closed June 22, 2026 for HVAC and LED lighting upgrades — its outside book return open throughout — and reopened November 2, 2026, nine days before this section's as-of date, the freshest fact in the leg. One figure the row would want is not in the open record: the bond amount for the modern rebuild was not found, and the district's debt is carried as a named gap, settler the MPHPL bond record and the State Board of Accounts' debt schedules. Osceola's share of whatever that figure proves to be is the taxed share, and no other share is claimed.

Sources:

1. South Bend News Times, Alec Evans, April 9, 2025 (1964 Donlon-Lofgren plans; 1966 Lincolnway approval; transfer begun Monday, July 14, 1969; unveiling about two weeks later); MPHPL Heritage Room timeline (1998 expansion incorporating the 1914 post office).
2. South Bend Tribune, 2005 (Harris Branch opened August 2004; construction finished fall 2005). MPHPL, Long Range Plan 2023–27 (roofs, LED lighting, Harris Branch renovation); DLZ project page (Bittersweet Branch renovation).
3. MPHPL construction page, posts of May 26, June 22, October 21 and November 2, 2026 (Bittersweet closure June 22, 2026 for HVAC/LED upgrades; outside book return open; reopened November 2, 2026). Bond amount: not found — named gap, settler MPHPL bond record / State Board of Accounts debt schedules.