Introduction
Act 50 of 1993 established the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL), administers the public library portion of this program through a competitive grant process. The competitive grant is used to award matching planning, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation grants to municipalities that sponsor state-aided public libraries.
Grants are awarded to municipalities for up to 50 percent of their eligible costs for public libraries' facilities projects. A dollar-for-dollar match is required for each project awarded grant funds. By providing funds to public libraries to make critical repairs, renovate existing space, or to build new public library buildings, the General Assembly has ensured better facilities to provide vital library services to Pennsylvania citizens.
Act 61 of 2011 requires PDE to submit to the Governor's Office and the General Assembly an annual report of the projects and services provided by the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. This report, which pertains to the period July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, meets that mandate.
The Keystone 2016 cycle was completed on December 31, 2018. Five projects from that cycle were granted extensions of time to complete their projects. Haverford Township was granted an extension to December 31, 2019, but withdrew from their award in June, and those monies were returned to the Keystone fund. Lower Macungie Township was granted an extension to March 31, 2019 and has completed their project. Bethel Township and Oakmont Borough received extensions to June 30, 2019. Indiana Borough has an extension to December 31, 2019.
In 2018, OCL received 41 applications from municipalities on behalf of their public libraries. Twenty-seven of these library projects were approved for funding, with funds committed totaling $6,851,597.36. These contracts will terminate March 31, 2020. A summary of the 2018-initiated projects is included in the report.
In February 2019, a Keystone Grant cycle was announced with a deadline for applications postmarked no later than April 26, 2019. Thirty-two applications were received and are presently in the review process. Awards are expected to be announced in early fall, with contracts to begin Oct.1, 2019.
Summary of 2018-Initiated Projects
Grant Recipient: Ambler Borough (Montgomery County)
Project: Wissahickon Valley Public Library
Granted $750,000 to renovate the library, as well as build a 2,458 square foot addition, making the facility accessible, adding meeting spaces, and including improvements to the HVAC, windows, lighting and restrooms.
Total project cost: $2,682,217
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,932,217
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Apollo Borough (Armstrong County)
Project: Apollo Memorial Library
Granted $23,100 to replace the flat rubber roof, replace electrical panel and upgrade lights to LED, and repaint the library interior.
Total project cost: $46,200
Amount requested: $23,100
Matching funds: $23,100
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Athens Borough (Bradford County)
Project: Spalding Memorial Library
Granted $99,933 to replace 29 windows, and make repairs to the front steps, railings, columns, and slate tiles of their historic building.
Total project cost: $199,866
Amount requested: $99,933
Matching funds: $99,933
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Bradford City (McKean County)
Project: Bradford Area Public Library
Granted $45,440 to renovate two existing public restrooms into three accessible restrooms.
Total project cost: $90,880
Amount requested: $45,440
Matching funds: $45,440
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Bucks County
Project: Bucks County Free Library—Doylestown Branch
Granted $443,460 to replace approximately 9300 square feet of metal roofing as well as deteriorating Kalwall window elements.
Total project cost: $883,920
Amount requested: $443,460
Matching fund: $443,460
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Centre County
Project: Centre County Library and Historical Museum—Holt Memorial Library Branch
Granted $27,000 to replace an outdated, inefficient HVAC system.
Total project cost: $54,000
Amount requested: $27,000
Matching fund: $27,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Concord Township (Delaware County)
Project: Rachel Kohl Library
Granted $85,000 to replace an aging HVAC system with new equipment using natural gas for greater efficiency and cost savings.
Total project cost: $170,000
Amount requested: $85,000
Matching funds: $85,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Cranberry Township (Butler County)
Project: Cranberry Public Library
Granted $475,964 for renovations to include the installation of automatic doors for accessibility, flooring improvements, LED lighting, and the creation of a makerspace area.
Total project cost: $951,928
Amount requested: $475,964
Matching funds: $475,964
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Township of Derry (Dauphin County)
Project: Hershey Public Library
Granted $529,784 to create an accessible family entrance in the north wall of the building, near the ADA parking spaces, as well as renovation of interior space to expand the children's area and create a teen space.
Total project cost: $1,059,569
Amount requested: $529,784
Matching funds: $529,785
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: East Berlin Borough (Adams County)
Project: East Berlin Community Library
Granted $112,948 to install automatic doors to the library entrance and convert the basement level into usable programming and storage spaces, including ADA restroom upgrade.
Total project cost: $225,896
Amount requested: $112,948
Matching funds: $112,948
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Evans City Borough (Butler County)
Project: Evans City Public Library
Granted $27,256.50 to repair outdoor lighting and upgrade to LED, repoint 25% of exterior bricks, and replace deteriorated windows.
Total project cost: $54,513
Amount requested: $27,256.50
Matching funds: $27,256.50
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Lebanon City (Lebanon County)
Project: Lebanon Community Library
Granted $22,902 to upgrade flooring in all public spaces.
Total project cost: $45,805
Amount requested: $22,902
Matching funds: $22,903
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Lehighton Borough (Carbon County)
Project: Lehighton Area Memorial Library
Granted $169,699 to construct a 1,433 square foot addition providing a youth services area, community meeting room, and two ADA-compliant restrooms.
Total project cost: $339,398.20
Amount requested: $169,699
Matching funds: $169,699.20
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Lower Merion Township (Montgomery County)
Project: Lower Merion Library System—Ludington Library
Granted $260,000 to replace deteriorating windows, upgrade and improve lighting, and replace key HVAC equipment.
Total project cost: $736,000
Amount requested: $260,000
Matching funds: $476,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Marple Township (Delaware County)
Project: Marple Library
Granted $180,723 to renovate five outdated restrooms for ADA-compliance and replace two sets of automatic entrance doors.
Total project cost: $361,446
Amount requested: $180,723
Matching funds: $180,723
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: McDonald Borough (Washington County)
Project: Heritage Public Library
Granted $11,916 to replace the HVAC system, make the side entrance accessible, restore and repair exterior sidewalk areas, and replace gutters.
Total project cost: $23,832
Amount requested: $11,916
Matching funds: $11,916
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Middletown Township (Delaware County)
Project: Middletown Free Library
Granted $750,000 to renovate a former school building in which to re-locate the library, providing an additional 10,000 square feet of usable space to the library's current size. The design will meet ADA guidelines and includes a variety of meeting and collaborative spaces, as well as a makerspace.
Total project cost: $4,071,007
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $3,321,007
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)
Project: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh—Mount Washington Branch
Granted $750,000 to renovate their historic building, making it ADA accessible, adding an elevator and accessible restrooms. A two-story addition will provide meeting and program spaces. Heating, electrical, lighting and plumbing systems will be upgraded, along with a new slate roof and copper gutters.
Total project cost: $3,750,000
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $3,000,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: City of Reading (Berks County)
Project: Reading Public Library—Northwest Branch
Granted $77,500 to replace 39-year old HVAC with a new system.
Total project cost: $155,000
Amount requested: $77,500
Matching funds: $77,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Ross Township (Allegheny County)
Project: Northland Public Library Authority
Granted $568,973 to replace a leaking roof and skylight, as well as replace an inadequate HVAC system with an efficient upgrade.
Total project cost: $1,137,947
Amount requested: $568,973
Matching funds: $568,974
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Shaler Township (Allegheny County)
Project: Shaler North Hills Library
Granted $45,400 to install 39 energy-efficient windows throughout the library, as well as upgrade flooring in the children's area.
Total project cost: $91,000
Amount requested: $45,500
Matching funds: $45,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Somerset Borough (Somerset County)
Project: Mary S. Biesecker Public Library
Granted $222,394.76 to install an elevator and renovate the library entrance for accessibility, replace an outdated roof-mounted air-conditioner with a high-efficiency unit, replace the asphalt roof with a metal roof, and install a solar-array providing a renewable energy source.
Total project cost: $444,789.52
Amount requested: $222,394.76
Matching funds: $222,394.76
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Upper Dublin Township (Montgomery County)
Project: Upper Dublin Public Library
Granted $750,000 to repurpose an office building as a new location for the library, more than doubling the library's usable square footage. The project will be ADA-compliant and will upgrade all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements.
Total project cost: $8,588,529
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $7,838,529
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Wilkes-Barre City (Luzerne County)
Project: Osterhout Free Library
Granted $120,000 to repair slate roofing system and problem areas, replace single-pane windows with efficient alternatives, and make flooring upgrades.
Total project cost: $240,000
Amount requested: $120,000
Matching funds: $120,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Yeadon Borough (Delaware County)
Project: Yeadon Public Library
Granted $61,770 to upgrade HVAC, windows and lighting with energy-efficient replacements, and renovate restrooms.
Total project cost: $123,540
Amount requested: $61,770
Matching funds: $61,770
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: York County
Project: York County Libraries—Martin Library
Granted $233,834.10 to renovate public restrooms into secure, airport-style facilities.
Total project cost: $467,668.20
Amount requested: $233,834.10
Matching funds: $233,834.10
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Zelienople Borough (Butler County)
Project: Zelienople Area Public Library
Granted $6,500 to upgrade flooring in the lower level children's area.
Total project cost: $13,000
Amount requested: $6,500
Matching funds: $6,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Summary of Reported Totals
The following is a summary of the cumulative totals for the 2018 Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant awards, initiated in 2018 and contained within this report:
Total Project Costs: $27,007,950.92
Total Grant Amounts Requested by 2018 Awardees: $6,851,597.36
Total Grant Funds Committed to 2018 Awardees: $6,851,597.36