Officials with Salt Lake County have approved the Library Board’s motion to partner with Ballet West for construction of a new library branch. The new two-story facility, to be built on the library’s current location on Lancer Way, will include the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy studios on the top floor along with a black box theater.

“Rebuilding the West Valley branch is about more than bricks and books—it’s about updating a public space to ensure it works for today and tomorrow,” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a release. “This project reflects my commitment to smart modernization, environmental responsibility and designing places that bring people together. Our libraries are civic anchors and, with this revitalized branch, we’re delivering a future-ready hub for residents—one that pairs strong public purpose with private-sector innovation through a meaningful public-private partnership.”

The West Valley branch opened in 1969 and is one of the oldest and smallest branches in the system. In 2024, the branch had 123,000 visitors who checked out 160,000 items and attended over 1,000 programs and activities. The County Library will move forward to the next stages of this project by identifying an architectural firm and meeting with city leaders and residents to gather the needs and wants of the community. 

Ballet West began its programming in 1963 and trains the next generation of ballet artists and audiences in classical technique.

“As one of the nation’s largest and most highly regarded training academies in America, the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy continues to grow, resulting in full classes with little room to meet the needs of children and families on the west side,” said executive director Michael Scolamiero. “Serving the greater West Valley City area is yet another way for us to reach new communities and new audiences.”

He said the addition of a black box theater will fill a void of affordable performance spaces on the west side of the Salt Lake valley, opening up new opportunities for community programs in a state-of-the-art facility.

“Our County Library system supports residents with the tools and resources they need to learn, connect and thrive,” said Salt Lake County council chair Aimee Winder Newton. “We know West Valley residents are excited about a new County Library branch, and it will be a great model for how strong partnerships can build better public services.”

West Valley Mayor Karen Lang said the city is already working on a comprehensive update to its General Plan to “support the vitality of our community. The new building will support the early learning and lifelong learning of our residents through both the County Library branch and Ballet West’s studios.”

No timetable has been set for the project to begin.