As his term nears its conclusion, President Joe Biden expressed his early aspirations for a presidential library during an exclusive interview with YSL News on Wednesday. He indicated he has yet to decide on a location for the library but remains hopeful it will be situated in Delaware.

Biden remarked, “I’ve spoken with former presidents, and it seems that building a library is a massive project.” He further stated, “I haven’t finalized that decision yet.”

There are discussions advocating for the library to be connected to the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. Meanwhile, officials from Wilmington are pushing for the library to be placed within the city. Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania, which already has the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in D.C., is also expressing interest in hosting the library. Various proposals are emerging across Delaware regarding potential sites for the Biden library.

This momentum is expected to continue.

A spokesperson for the University of Delaware stated, “We would be honored to be considered as the location for the Biden Presidential Library and Museum either on or near our campus.”

Wilmington’s Mayor John Carney also shared his views on the library’s location, indicating his preference for a central spot within the City of Wilmington.

As for the timing, Biden remains patient.

Biden Not in a Hurry to Decide on Library’s Location

Biden explained that one reason for his indecisiveness is his current role as President.

With his presidency concluding on January 20, he has yet to select representatives to assist with the library planning. Since 2017, he and First Lady Jill Biden have partnered with the Creative Artists Agency, a Los Angeles-based agency, to continue their policy initiatives post-vice presidency.

He said regarding the planning team, “I honestly haven’t made a decision about whether to stick with CAA or enlist others.”

According to Axios, two of Biden’s close aides, Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden’s senior adviser, will spearhead the library planning efforts. Establishing the library will require significant fundraising, and any location decision will pass through Biden, the First Lady, and various family members and advisors.

Since Herbert Hoover’s era, presidents have opted for establishing presidential libraries and museums to house their documents, records, and historical artifacts. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to formally create the presidential library system in 1939.

Presidential libraries require substantial funding – for instance, George W. Bush managed to raise over $500 million for his presidential center. They are typically financed through private donations, sometimes supplemented by contributions from state and local governments or university collaborations. Once built, the National Archives and Records Administration usually oversees the operations and maintenance of the facility.

In contrast, Barack Obama opted not to establish a traditional government-supported presidential library. Instead, the Obama Foundation intends to construct and run a private museum and presidential center while maintaining the first completely digital presidential library. Approximately 95% of his records are already in digital formats, according to the foundation.

The National Archives will keep and protect documents post-digitization, while some materials will be available for display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago. This site will delve into the broader narrative of both the president and his family’s journey before and after his time in office, with an expected opening in 2026.