Susan Banks, Deupty Secretary and State Librarian
$4.12 Million in Keystone Grants Awarded
I am very pleased to announce on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be awarding 21 municipalities in 15 counties with $4.12 million in Keystone grant funds to improve their local libraries. The grants, ranging from a low of $13,480 to a high of $750,000, will help support significant library building improvements.
Please join me in congratulating the following libraries:
| County | Municipality | Project Library | Award | Brief Project Description |
| Allegheny | Marshall Township | Northland Public Library Authority | $750,000 | Replace main entrance for ADA; reconfigure lobby & service area. |
| Allegheny | Munhall Borough | Carnegie Library of Homestead | $299,529 | Accessibility, infrastructure, and safety system improvements. |
| Allegheny | Oakmont Borough | Oakmont Carnegie Library | $173,475 | HVAC system replacement. |
| Bedford | West Providence Township | Everett Free Library | $43,253 | Roof repair; add automatic doors; replace carpet. |
| Bucks | Bucks County | Bucks County Free Library – Doylestown Branch | $539,660 | Replace and upgrade roof. |
| Butler | Evans City Borough | Evans City Public Library Association | $13,480 | Roof work and entrance remodel. |
| Chester | Malvern Borough | Malvern Public Library | $35,490 | Upgrade lighting to LED. |
| Clearfield | DuBois City | DuBois Public Library | $72,950 | Replace AC system. |
| Clinton | Lock Haven City | Annie Halenbake Ross Library | $82,800 | Replace 3rd floor AC & climate control; install UV filters. |
| Crawford | Linesville Borough | Linesville Community Public Library | $31,750 | Replace siding & insulation; repair decking/stairs; add portico. |
| Delaware | Concord Township | Rachel Kohl Community Library | $190,398 | Renovate space to library use; add ADA doors. |
| Delaware | Darby Borough | Darby Library Co. | $728,726 | Add elevator; fix masonry & water issues. |
| Delaware | Norwood Borough | Norwood Public Library | $14,811 | Create ADA compliant entrance. |
| Delaware | Radnor Township | Radnor Memorial Library | $47,000 | Replace shingle portion of roof. |
| Delaware | Yeadon Borough | Yeadon Public Library | $26,415 | Replace windows and doors. |
| Erie | Erie County | Erie County Public Library | $41,609 | Create meeting room space; add security features. |
| Luzerne | Wilkes-Barre City | Osterhout Free Library | $157,500 | Roof repair; window and carpet replacement. |
| Mifflin | Mifflin County | Mifflin County Library | $499,000 | Replace elevator & entrance; upgrade restrooms; other interior upgrades. |
| Monroe | Middle Smithfield Township | Eastern Monroe Public Library | $80,000 | Install roof solar array. |
| Montgomery | Whitpain Township | Wissahickon Valley Public Library | $182,623 | Replace roof. |
| Schuylkill | Pottsville City | Pottsville Public Library | $117,000 | Replace roof and HVAC. |
About the Keystone Grant Program
The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund was established by an act of the General Assembly in 1993. The Department of Education, through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Bureau of Library Development, administers the public library portion of this program which is funded from a portion of the state’s realty transfer tax.
Grants pay up to 50 percent of eligible costs in planning, acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of public libraries. 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.
A competitive grant application process is used to award matching facilities grants to municipalities that sponsor state-aided public libraries. To be eligible, the sponsoring municipality and the board of the state-aided library must jointly submit an application developed cooperatively by both entities and signed by their governing bodies. The Keystone grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match.
We anticipate opening the next round of Keystone grant opportunities in the summer of 2023.
Susan Banks | Deputy Secretary, Commissioner for Libraries, and State Librarian
Pennsylvania Department of Education | Office of Commonwealth Libraries
333 Market St. | Harrisburg, PA 17126
Phone: 717-214-4046 | www.statelibrary.pa.gov
This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Carrie Cleary, Executive Assistant (ccleary@pa.gov; 717-783-5725).
Please reference PDE’s Press Release at Shapiro Administration Awards More Than $4 Million in Keystone Grants to 21 Public Libraries (pa.gov)