On Oct. 20, the Morton Mandan Public Library opens The Branch. It's a satellite library with books to check out and regular library services, and it sits inside the Mandan PlayLab building at 701 5th St. SW. For years the library has had one address, 609 W Main St. Starting Oct. 20, it will have two. Most of the library's 2026 projects take the library out of the reading room and into a neighborhood, onto county roads, or toward people visiting from out of town.
The Branch is the first of those projects to open. It's also the easiest one to fit into a winter week.
A Library Inside a Play Space
The library's event page calls The Branch "a readily available resource for PlayLab visitors and families in the nearby neighborhood, as well as all patrons of MMPL." The grand opening is open to everyone and runs in two sessions. Visitors can tour the space, grab a refreshment and a goodie bag, and add to a shared art piece.
The building already has a following. The PlayLab opened in December 2025, the Morton County News Journal reported, as a place where parents and kids in southwest Mandan can spend time on hands-on learning. It's run by Mandan Little Learners, the Mandan Public School District's early-learning initiative, and the district covers operations and facility upkeep.
Here is what the PlayLab's own page lists:
- Cost: Free to attend and take part, and families don't have to live in a particular area to come.
- Ages: Best for 9 months to 6 years, though younger and older kids are welcome.
- Play stations: Sensory play, building and problem-solving, creativity, early literacy and math, and social play. Kids can explore on their own or with guidance.
- Programs: SPARK play and story time, PlayGroups, family and child education, and early-childhood screenings.
- Regular hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Special events may run on different hours.
The PlayLab also partners with groups in the Mandan Early Learning Coalition. The coalition's fact sheet lists the Morton Mandan Public Library alongside Mandan Public Schools, BECEP, the University of Mary and others. So the library and the PlayLab were already working together before they shared a building. The Branch gives that partnership a permanent shelf.
Why 5th Street SW
There's a reason the library's second location ended up in this part of town. In its March 26, 2026 Hometown Grants announcement, T-Mobile described the Mandan project as one to "transform a reimagined site into a dedicated gathering space for families residing in the 3rd Street Corridor." The library board's July 2026 minutes say The Branch's furnishings were paid for by a T-Mobile grant.
T-Mobile's release says its grants go up to $50,000 per town, but it doesn't list Mandan's individual award. The Morton County News Journal covered the grant in April under the headline "MMPL receives Hometown Grant for new branch site," and the full story is behind its paywall.
The grant's language tells you the project was aimed at a specific neighborhood. It wasn't pitched as a citywide amenity. The plan was to bring library books to families around the 3rd Street Corridor instead of waiting for them to make the trip to Main Street.
The Hours Are Still Being Set
The Branch's own website lists Oct. 20, 2026 as opening day. It says scheduling "is being finalized and finishing touches are being made." The schedule section of that page has columns for Tuesdays and Thursdays, which are also the PlayLab's regular days. The actual Branch hours weren't posted when this was written, though.
The two calendars also disagree on the grand opening. The City of Mandan's events calendar lists both Oct. 20 sessions at the Morton Mandan Public Library. The library's own page says The Branch is inside the PlayLab building. If you're planning a morning around the open house, check the library calendar before you load the car.
The Next Stop Has Wheels
The Branch takes the library to a neighborhood. The next project takes it to the rest of Morton County.
The library's fundraiser, OctoberWest, is Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at 609 W Main St. The fundraising page says proceeds support a new bookmobile serving Morton County, along with the library's Creativity Studio. The evening includes food, drinks and music by Chuck Suchy. Early-bird tickets were $50 through Sept. 30, and since Oct. 1 they cost $60.
The library's service area goes well past Mandan's city limits, and a bookmobile takes the same idea behind The Branch out onto the road.
Upstairs on Main Street, a Room Built for Visitors
The biggest project is the furthest out, and it's aimed at a different group of people. The Tourism Makerspace Hub is planned for the main library's upstairs. It's a separate project from The Branch.
KX News reported in October 2025 that the space would be about 3,100 square feet, with artisan workshops, equipment for making souvenirs and a demonstration kitchen. The project is funded by a $500,000 state tourism grant. In January 2026, KFYR described the concept as workshop and production rooms, 3D printing, podcast booths, laser engravers, a demonstration kitchen and local tours.
The timeline has shifted a bit with each update:
| When it was reported | Source | What it said |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | KX News | Design and construction in 2026, opening in 2027 |
| January 2026 | KFYR | Opening expected by June 2027 |
| July 2026 | Library board minutes | Board hoped to have bids by October 2026 |
Bids were still expected as of this month, so June 2027 is the most recent public target and not a firm date. Even so, the makerspace extends the library's reach in its own way. The Branch goes after families nearby and the bookmobile goes after the county. This one is meant to bring people in from outside Mandan.
What Stays at 609 W Main
While all of that grows outward, programs keep running in the Main Street building. The adult discussion series Nights at the Round Table has its last fall session on Thursday, Nov. 19. October's session was titled "William Henry Harrison: The Power of Presidential Storytelling with Sharon McMahon." The library describes the series as informal, moderated conversations built around a theme and source material. It's part of the statewide Study Club initiative, it's for adults 19 and older, and registration is required. Earlier in 2026, the series also met on Feb. 26, March 26 and April 9.
Here are the dates to keep in mind as the weather turns:
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tues., Oct. 20 | The Branch grand opening, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2:30 to 6 p.m. | The Branch at 701 5th St. SW, per the library; the city calendar lists the main library |
| Wed., Oct. 28 | OctoberWest fundraiser, 4:30 p.m. | 609 W Main St. |
| Thurs., Nov. 19 | Nights at the Round Table, adults 19+, registration required | Morton Mandan Public Library |
| Every Tues. and Thurs. | PlayLab open, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | 701 5th St. SW |
| Target of June 2027 | Tourism Makerspace Hub | 609 W Main St., upstairs |
If your Tuesday mornings with a toddler need a new spot, starting Oct. 20 The Branch and the free PlayLab will share a building on 5th Street SW.
Melanie keeps track of the places like this that families in Mandan build their weeks around, from a new library branch to the next stop on a bookmobile route. If you have questions about the new spaces in your part of town or where things are headed, Moving with Melanie is happy to help. Start Your Move with Melanie: Get in Touch.
