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, 2019 to June 30, 2020, meets that mandate.
Three 2016 Keystone projects were on extension when last year's legislative report was submitted. Bethel Township's contract expired June 30, 2019 and those monies were returned to the Keystone fund. Oakmont Borough and Indiana Borough have completed their projects.
The Keystone 2018 cycle was completed on March 31, 2020. Seven projects from that cycle were granted extensions of time to complete their projects. Township of Derry, Somerset Borough, and Yeadon Borough were granted extensions to June 30, 2020. Ambler Borough, Lower Merion Township, and Middletown Township were granted extensions to December 31, 2020. Lehighton Borough received an extension to March 31, 2021.
In 2019, OCL received 32 applications from municipalities on behalf of their public libraries. Nineteen of these library projects were approved for funding, with funds committed totaling $3,249,529.81. These contracts will terminate March 31, 2021. A summary of the 2019-initiated projects is included in the report.
In January 2020, a Keystone Grant cycle was announced with a deadline for applications postmarked no later than April 10, 2020. Due to COVID-19 shutdowns, this deadline was extended to May 15. Thirty-six applications were received and are currently in the review process. Awards are expected to be announced in early fall, with contracts expected to begin Oct.1, 2020.
Summary of 2019-Initiated Projects
Grant Recipient: City of Aliquippa (Beaver County)
Project: B.F. Jones Memorial Library
Granted $39,911 to replace boiler with efficient system.
Total project cost: $79,822
Amount requested: $39,911
Matching funds: $39,911
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Borough of Brentwood (Allegheny County)
Project: Brentwood Library
Granted $61,750 to replace roof with efficient solution.
Total project cost: $123,500
Amount requested: $61,750
Matching funds: $61,750
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: County of Bucks
Project: Bucks County Free Library—Levittown Library
Granted $87,735 to replace windows with energy-efficient models.
Total project cost: $175,470
Amount requested: $87,735
Matching funds: $87,735
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Clinton Township (Butler County)
Project: South Butler Community Library
Granted $14,425 to replace HVAC with energy-efficient system; replace fluorescent lights with LED; add security features.
Total project cost: $28,854
Amount requested: $14,425
Matching funds: $14,429
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Dallas Borough (Luzerne County)
Project: Back Mountain Memorial Library
Granted $129,845 to renovate meeting room for accessibility and additional space.
Total project cost: $259,690
Amount requested: $129,845
Matching fund: $129,845
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Forest County
Project: Marienville Area Library
Granted $282,997 to replace and expand library building with efficient and accessible structure.
Total project cost: $565,994
Amount requested: $282,997
Matching fund: $282,997
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: City of Franklin (Venango County)
Project: Oil Region Library Association—Franklin Public Library
Granted $75,672 to replace three roofs on building.
Total project cost: $166,325
Amount requested: $75,672
Matching funds: $90,653
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Luzerne County
Project: Wyoming Free Library
Granted $27,500 to install automatic doors for accessibility; replace two HVAC units with one efficient system; replace lighting with LED.
Total project cost: $55,000
Amount requested: $27,500
Matching funds: $27,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Morrisville Borough (Bucks County)
Project: Morrisville Free Library
Granted $52,500 to replace slate roof.
Total project cost: $105,000
Amount requested: $52,500
Matching funds: $52,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Mount Joy Borough (Lancaster)
Project: Milanof-Schock Library
Granted $26,577.50 to replace roof and gutters; improve lighting with LED fixtures.
Total project cost: $53,155
Amount requested: $26,577.50
Matching funds: $26,577.50
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Municipality of Mt. Lebanon (Allegheny County)
Project: Mt. Lebanon Public Library
Granted $215,164.06 to replace HVAC system; replace flooring; add security access controls to interior and exterior doors.
Total project cost: $435,414.06
Amount requested: $216,114.06
Matching funds: $220,250
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Borough of New Cumberland (Cumberland County)
Project: New Cumberland Public Library
Granted $241,681.50 to replace roof and gutters; replace damaged flooring.
Total project cost: $483,363
Amount requested: $248,699.50
Matching funds: $241,681.50
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Township of Northampton (Bucks County)
Project: Free Library of Northampton Township
Granted $225,000 to replace automatic entrance doors; replace flooring; repair cupola windows and atrium; upgrade electrical wiring; replace HVAC units.
Total project cost: $450,000
Amount requested: $225,000
Matching funds: $225,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Borough of Oxford (Chester County)
Project: Oxford Library Company
Granted $10,392.75 to replace HVAC system in original library building.
Total project cost: $20,785.50
Amount requested: $10,392.75
Matching funds: $10,392.75
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)
Project: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh—Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
Granted $750,000 to renovate first floor for accessibility and efficiency; exterior renovation including storefront windows and relocating main entrance.
Total project cost: $2,745,600
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,995,600
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Borough of Riegelsville (Bucks County)
Project: Riegelsville Public Library
Granted $80,735 to replace slate roof; replace single-pane windows; repair masonry and interior water damage.
Total project cost: $161,470
Amount requested: $80,735
Matching funds: $80,735
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: City of Shamokin (Northumberland County)
Project: Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library
Granted $127,644 to install chair lift for second-floor accessibility; replace windows; repair ceiling; replace boiler; replace fluorescent lighting with LED.
Total project cost: $334,244
Amount requested: $127,644
Matching funds: $206,600
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: Tredyffrin Township (Chester County)
Project: Tredyffrin Township Libraries
Granted $50,000 to replace 1st floor lighting with LED.
Total project cost: $100,000
Amount requested: $50,000
Matching funds: $50,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Grant Recipient: County of Union
Project: Public Library for Union County
Granted $750,000 to construct children's wing addition including family restroom; reconfigure public spaces; update HVAC and lighting.
Total project cost: $2,540,006
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,790,006
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2021
Summary of Reported Totals
The following is a summary of the cumulative totals for the 2019 Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant awards, initiated in 2019 and contained within this report:
Total Project Costs: $8,883,692.56
Total Grant Amounts Requested by 2019 Awardees: $3,257,497.81
Total Grant Funds Committed to 2019 Awardees: $3,249,529.81