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 Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities program awards 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 grant award. 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 people across Pennsylvania.
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. The present report, pertaining to the period July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, meets that mandate.
When last year's legislative report was submitted, five projects from the 2019 Keystone grant round were on extensions varying between three and twelve months. The last of these extensions concluded on March 31, 2022. All 19 projects from the 2019 grant round are now complete.
The 2020 Keystone grant contracts concluded on March 31, 2022. Of the 18 projects awarded in that round, six were granted extensions varying between three months and nine months due to unforeseen delays in the progress of their work. The projects currently on extension are those in Braddock Borough, Burrell Township, Greenville Borough, Somerset Borough, Upper St. Clair Township, and Warren County.
In the 2021 Keystone grant round, OCL received 34 applications from municipalities on behalf of their public libraries. Twenty-one projects were approved for funding, with funds committed totaling $5,280,667. A summary of these projects is included in this report. This grant round was the first to use the eGrants platform for electronic application submission.
A new Keystone Grant cycle is expected to open July 18, 2022. The deadline for application submissions will be October 14, 2022. Our timeline anticipates the next awards will be announced in February 2023, with an expected grant performance period of April 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024.
Summary of 2021 Grant Cycle Projects
Grant Recipient: Albion Borough (Erie County)
Project: Albion Area Public Library
Granted $29,910 to replace a deteriorated ADA accessible ramp.
Total project cost: $59,910
Amount requested: $29,910
Matching funds: $30,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Borough of Ambridge (Beaver County)
Project: Laughlin Memorial Library
Granted $227,336.14 to replace roof, repair exterior, and upgrade systems.
Total project cost: $454,672.29
Amount requested: $227,336.14
Matching funds: $227,336.15
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Annville Township (Lebanon County)
Project: Annville Free Library
Granted $750,000 to construct an addition including accessible entrances and restrooms.
Total project cost: $1,704,969
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $954,969
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Boro of Bellwood (Blair County)
Project: Bellwood-Antis Public Library
Granted $5,250 to complete a building and site assessment report.
Total project cost: $10,500
Amount requested: $5,250
Matching funds: $5,250
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: City of Butler (Butler County)
Project: Butler Area Public Library
Granted $29,286 to upgrade flooring, ADA signage, and fixtures.
Total project cost: $58,572
Amount requested: $29,286
Matching fund: $29,286
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Cambria County
Project: Cambria County Library
Granted $364,100 to upgrade HVAC system with high-efficiency replacement.
Total project cost: $728,200
Amount requested: $364,100
Matching fund: $364,100
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Borough of Carnegie (Allegheny County)
Project: Andrew Carnegie Free Library
Granted $154,493 to renovate unimproved library space into meeting/program area.
Total project cost: $308,986
Amount requested: $154,493
Matching funds: $154,493
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Ephrata Borough (Lancaster County)
Project: Ephrata Public Library
Granted $32,470.91 to upgrade lighting with efficient LED replacements.
Total project cost: $64,941.82
Amount requested: $32,470.91
Matching funds: $32,470.91
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Erie County
Project: Blasco Memorial Library
Granted $117,757.50 to renovate 2nd floor area to add ADA restrooms, upgrade elevators.
Total project cost: $235,515
Amount requested: $117,757.50
Matching funds: $117,757.50
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Township of Haverford (Delaware County)
Project: Haverford Township Free Library
Granted $750,000 to fully renovate library including ADA compliance and energy efficiency.
Total project cost: $13,267,819
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $12,517,819
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: City of Lancaster (Lancaster)
Project: Lancaster Public Library
Granted $750,000 to finish the interior of a new library location building shell.
Total project cost: $4,700,644
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $3,950,644
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: City of Lock Haven (Clinton County)
Project: Annie Halenbake Ross Library
Granted $23,950 to replace the roof on part of the building.
Total project cost: $47,900
Amount requested: $23,950
Matching funds: $23,950
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Borough of Mount Carmel (Northumberland County)
Project: Mount Carmel Area Public Library
Granted $59,000 to upgrade the HVAC and boiler, improve lighting with LED, and correct a deteriorating exterior wall.
Total project cost: $118,000
Amount requested: $59,000
Matching funds: $59,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: North Wales Borough (Montgomery County)
Project: North Wales Area Library
Granted $90,000 to replace a roof.
Total project cost: $180,000
Amount requested: $90,000
Matching funds: $90,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: City of Philadelphia
Project: Free Library of Philadelphia: Frankford Library
Granted $750,000 to renovate library for accessibility and functionality.
Total project cost: $2,523,050
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,773,050
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Pike County
Project: Pike County Public Library: Milford Branch
Granted $120,000 to renovate lower level into a children's library.
Total project cost: $240,000
Amount requested: $120,000
Matching funds: $120,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Borough of Sewickley (Allegheny County)
Project: Sewickley Public Library
Granted $750,000 to replace roof, historic windows, and HVAC system.
Total project cost: $1,500,000
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $750,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: City of Sharon (Mercer County)
Project: Community Library of the Shenango Valley
Granted $162,113.50 for renovations including roof replacement, drop ceiling repair, and upgrades to the electrical and security/fire alarm systems.
Total project cost: $324,227
Amount requested: $162,113.50
Matching funds: $162,113.50
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Borough of Springboro (Crawford County)
Project: Springboro Public Library
Granted $10,000 to correct a deteriorating interior wall and damaged ceiling.
Total project cost: $20,000
Amount requested: $10,000
Matching funds: $10,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: Upper Darby Township (Delaware County)
Project: Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library
Granted $25,000 to conduct a planning study to determine the best way to modernize the three Township libraries.
Total project cost: $50,000
Amount requested: $25,000
Matching funds: $25,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Grant Recipient: County of York
Project: York County Libraries: Glatfelter Memorial Library
Granted $80,000 to make numerous upgrades for accessibility and energy efficiency, including ADA ramp, automatic entry doors, HVAC, lighting, security system, and roof.
Total project cost: $160,000
Amount requested: $80,000
Matching funds: $80,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2023
Summary of Reported Totals
The following is a summary of the cumulative totals for the 2021 Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund grant round, awarded in 2022 and contained within this report:
Total Project Costs: $26,757,906.11
Total Grant Amounts Requested by 2021 Awardees: $5,280,667.05
Total Grant Funds Committed to 2021 Awardees: $5,280,667.05