Thirty-five projects totaling $6,664,072 were recently awarded Keystone grants. See the list of awarded projects below.
The competitive grant is used to award matching construction and facilities grants to municipalities that sponsor state-aided public libraries. Grants pay up to 50 percent of eligible costs in planning, acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of public libraries. A dollar-for-dollar match is required for grant funds received. Examples of fundable projects include, but are not limited to: ADA upgrades, new roof, replacement windows, energy efficient upgrades to HVAC systems, facility expansion and new construction.
The 2014 grant competition was for a maximum grant award of $500,000 with no minimum. Forty grant applications were received requesting $7,376,847. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, administers the public library portion of this program through a competitive grant process. During the review process the applications were evaluated according to established priorities, to include; economically distressed communities, ADA compliance projects, energy efficiency, building additions and new construction, libraries that have not had previous Keystone Grants, and equitable geographic distribution.
FUNDED PROJECTS
Municipality Library Amount Project
| Borough of Greenville |
Greenville Area Public Library Association |
$500,000.00 | ADA upgrades to bathrooms; elevator; ramp; lighting |
| Warren County | Warren Library Association | $94,166.00 | Re-roof entire facility; also replace A/C unit |
| City of Philadelphia | Free Library of Philadelphia | $500,000.00 | ADA compliant expansion and renovation |
| Ridley Township | Ridley Township Public Library | $500,000.00 | Construct new building |
| Lower Saucon Township |
Hellertown Area Library | $117,000.00 | Renovate existing space; create new space; upgrade lighting; ADA doors |
| Borough of West Chester |
West Chester Public Library | $8,000.00 | Outdoor ADA chairlift |
| Radnor Township |
Memorial Library of Radnor Township |
$500,000.00 | Replace HVAC system; upgrade 4 bathrooms to ADA compliance; add family bathroom; install elevator |
| Bethlehem | Bethlehem Area Public Library | $500,000.00 | Develop second floor area for children’s area |
| Township of Lower Merion |
Lower Merion Library System | $500,000.00 | ADA/elevator, restroom, ADA parking, new walkway, YA area |
| City of Farrell | Stey-Nevant Library | $27,656.00 | Renovate ceiling; upgrade lights; entrance door. |
| City of Pittsburgh |
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Knoxville |
$500,000.00 | Interior/exterior renovation; ADA compliance plus elevator |
| Township of Warminster |
Warminster Twp Free Library | $77,500.00 | Replace roof; replace ceiling tiles. |
| City of DuBois | DuBois Public Library | $125,000.00 | ADA upgrades to doors and bathroom. Install an elevator. |
| Folcroft Borough | Folcroft Public Library | $25,000.00 | Lighting improvement interior/exterior(LED); message sign |
| Lackawanna County |
Lackawanna County Library System |
$95,935.00 | Replace HVAC. Replace roof |
| City of Sharon | Community Library of the Shenango Valley |
$53,150.00 | Renovate and ADA upgrades to bathrooms; automate front door for ADA accessibility |
| Dillsburg | Dillsburg Area Public Library | $500,000.00 | Property acquisition for new library site |
| City of Wilkes-Barre |
Osterhout Free Library | $104,240.00 | Upgrade HVAC system |
| Borough of Monaca |
Monaca Public Library | $150,000.00 | Renovate new space to include bathrooms; electrical; ADA ; elevator |
| New Hope Borough |
Free Library of New Hope & Solebury |
$72,185.00 | Upgrade HVAC; upgrade electrical system; install new lighting; repair windows |
| Borough of Pottstown |
Pottstown Regional Public Library |
$300,000.00 | ADA access. Refurbish library for safety, energy |
| City of Latrobe | Adams Memorial Library | $37,350.00 | Replace roof |
| Lower Moreland Township |
Huntingdon Valley Library | $33,900.00 | Replace HVAC system |
| City of Aliquippa | BF Jones Memorial Library | $100,000.00 | Replace roof; repair windows; perform masonry repairs |
| County of Bucks | Bucks County Free Library | $430,324.00 | Replace tile; electrical wiring; lighting; upgrade restrooms; new carpet; doors |
| Winfield Township | South Butler Community Library |
$35,643.00 | Replace roof |
| Adams Township | Mars Area Public Library | $9,100.00 | Hire consultant for strategic planning |
| Carnegie Borough | Andrew Carnegie Free Library/Music Hall |
$180,401.00 | Replace lighting; repair wall; install fire safety system |
| Township of Cheltenham |
Elkins Park Free Library | $40,000.00 | Upgrade 2 restrooms to ADA status; add 1 family restroom |
| Township of Concord |
Rachel Kohl Community Library |
$68,342.00 | Replace roof; thermostat upgrades; carpet; window replacement; security locks. |
| Borough of New Brighton |
New Brighton Public Library | $160,000.00 | Three-wall building extension to add 2,000sq ft; add ADA restrooms. |
| Borough of Zelienople |
Zelienople Area Public Library | $18,430.00 | Upgrade to energy efficient lighting |
| Borough of Norwood |
Norwood Public Library | $26,100.00 | Replace roof; replace interior ceiling; replace lighting; replace carpet; install inside security cameras |
| Union County | Herr Memorial Library | $250,000.00 | Install elevator; renovate space |
| Lebanon City | Lebanon Community Library | $24,650.00 | Exterior building repair |
| TOTAL | $6,664,072.00 |