On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, I am very pleased to announce that the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) is now accepting applications for its 2024 Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities program.

The Keystone grant program provides funds to sponsoring municipalities for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs to plan, acquire, construct, or rehabilitate public libraries as outlined in the program’s general guidelines.  Examples of fundable projects include, but are not limited to ADA upgrades, a new roof, replacement windows, energy-efficient upgrades to HVAC systems, new elevators, facility expansion, and new construction.

To be eligible, the sponsoring municipality and the board of the state-aided library must submit an application that is developed cooperatively. A competitive grant process is used to evaluate and score applications.

The maximum Keystone grant award is $750,000 and it requires a dollar-for-dollar local match. There is no minimum amount that may be requested. Applicants must show matching funds on hand at the time of the application.

Grants are funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.

Application Deadline, Notification, and Grant Period

Applicants must submit their application on the eGrants platform before noon on October 13, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

OCL expects to notify applicants in mid-February 2024 regarding the status of their applications.

The grant performance period for project work is expected to be April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.

eGrants and Administrative Unit Number (AUN)

The grant application will be completed and submitted via the eGrants platform. The sponsoring municipality submitting the application on behalf of a public library facility must obtain an Administrative Unit Number (AUN) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to gain access to the application. Instructions may be found on the Get Ready to Apply page.

When the municipal AUN is obtained, please submit the eGrants request form containing the contact information for the municipal contact person who will be administering the eGrants account. Access instructions for eGrants will be provided via email, and the administrator will then be able to grant access to library staff or others to complete the application.

More Information

Information about the Keystone Grant Application is available on OCL’s Keystone grant website.

For questions about the Keystone Grants for Public Libraries process, please email RA-Keystone@pa.gov or call OCL’s Keystone Program Coordinator, Ed Lupico, at 717-783-5747.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to improve our library facilities and access for all Pennsylvanians.  This is a great way to build your relationship with your municipality and take an active role as the catalyst for improving your community.

Thank you,
Susan Banks

Susan Banks, MLIS | Deputy Secretary & State Librarian
Office of Commonwealth Libraries | Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg PA 17126

This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Carrie Cleary, Executive Assistant (ccleary@pa.gov; 717-783-5725).