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 planning, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation matching grants to municipalities that sponsor state-aided public libraries.
Grants are awarded for up to fifty percent of eligible costs for projects in state-aided public library facilities. A dollar-for-dollar match is required for each grant, with a maximum award amount of $750,000. The General Assembly, by establishing funds to make critical repairs, improve existing spaces, or construct new buildings, has ensured better public library 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, 2022, to June 30, 2023, meets that mandate.
One 2020 Keystone grant awardee, Burrell Township, whose original contract concluded March 31, 2022, has requested a second extension to June 30, 2023, to complete reimbursable project work.
The 2021 Keystone grant round contracts will conclude September 30, 2023. Twenty-one projects were funded in this grant round, with awards totaling $5,280,667. At the time this report was compiled, no extensions had been requested.
Our program administration timeline moved benchmark activities by several months last year. This prompted us to call the subsequent grant round 2023 to bring the name into alignment with the year the grant is awarded.
The 2023 Keystone Grant round received 24 applications from municipalities on behalf of their public libraries, requesting a total of $4,969,174. Twenty-one of these projects were approved for funding, with committed funds totaling $4,127,467. A summary of these projects is included in this report.
The next Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities application is expected to open in July of 2023, with applications due in October. Applicants will be notified of their award status in February of 2024. Awarded projects will have a grant performance period from April 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
Summary of 2023 Grant Cycle Projects
Grant Recipient: Bucks County
Project: Bucks County Free Library – Doylestown Branch
Granted $539,660 to replace and upgrade roof.
Total project cost: $1,079,320
Amount requested: $539,660
Matching funds: $539,660
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Concord Township (Delaware County)
Project: Rachel Kohl Community Library
Granted $190,398.31 to add accessible doors and renovate space to library use.
Total project cost: $380,796.63
Amount requested: $190,398.31
Matching funds: $190,398.32
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Darby Borough (Delaware County)
Project: Darby Library
Granted $728,726 to add an elevator to historic building and make masonry and other repairs.
Total project cost: $1,457,452
Amount requested: $728,726
Matching funds: $728,726
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: DuBois City (Clearfield County)
Project: DuBois Public Library
Granted $72,950 to replace the air conditioning system.
Total project cost: $145,900
Amount requested: $72,950
Matching funds: $72,950
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Erie County
Project: Erie County Public Library
Granted $41,608.50 to create meeting room space and add security features.
Total project cost: $83,217
Amount requested: $41,608.50
Matching fund: $41,608.50
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Evans City Borough (Butler County)
Project: Evans City Public Library
Granted $13,480 to remodel entrance and repair roof.
Total project cost: $26,960
Amount requested: $13,480
Matching fund: $13,480
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Linesville Borough (Crawford County)
Project: Linesville Community Public Library
Granted $31,750 to replace siding and insulation, repair stairs, and add portico.
Total project cost: $63,500
Amount requested: $31,750
Matching funds: $31,750
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Lock Haven City (Clinton County)
Project: Annie Halenbake Ross Library
Granted $82,800 to replace third-floor air conditioning unit and install UV filters.
Total project cost: $165,600
Amount requested: $82,800
Matching funds: $82,800
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Malvern Borough (Chester County)
Project: Malvern Public Library
Granted $35,489.50 to upgrade lighting to LED.
Total project cost: $70,979
Amount requested: $35,489.50
Matching funds: $35,489.50
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Marshall Township (Allegheny County)
Project: Northland Public Library
Granted $750,000 to replace entrance for accessibility and reconfigure public service area.
Total project cost: $1,529,625
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $779,625
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Middle Smithfield Township (Monroe County)
Project: Eastern Monroe Public Library
Granted $80,000 to install rooftop solar array.
Total project cost: $180,000
Amount requested: $80,000
Matching funds: $100,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Mifflin County
Project: Mifflin County Library
Granted $499,000 for interior improvements, restroom upgrades, and replacement of elevator and entrance.
Total project cost: $998,000
Amount requested: $499,000
Matching funds: $499,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Munhall Borough (Allegheny County)
Project: Carnegie Library of Homestead
Granted $299,529 to make ADA, infrastructure, and safety system improvements.
Total project cost: $2,057,000
Amount requested: $299,529
Matching funds: $1,757,471
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Norwood Borough (Delaware County)
Project: Norwood Public Library
Granted $14,811 to create an accessible entrance.
Total project cost: $29,742
Amount requested: $14,811
Matching funds: $14,931
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Oakmont Borough (Allegheny County)
Project: Oakmont Carnegie Library
Granted $173,475 to replace the HVAC system.
Total project cost: $346,950
Amount requested: $173,475
Matching funds: $173,475
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Pottsville City (Schuylkill County)
Project: Pottsville Public Library
Granted $117,000 to replace roof and HVAC system.
Total project cost: $234,000
Amount requested: $117,000
Matching funds: $117,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Radnor Township (Delaware County)
Project: Radnor Memorial Library
Granted $47,000 to replace shingled portion of roof.
Total project cost: $94,000
Amount requested: $47,000
Matching funds: $47,000
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: West Providence Township (Bedford County)
Project: Everett Free Library
Granted $43,253 to add automatic doors, make roof repairs, and replace flooring.
Total project cost: $86,506
Amount requested: $43,253
Matching funds: $43,253
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Whitpain Township (Montgomery County)
Project: Wissahickon Valley Public Library
Granted $182,622.50 to replace roof.
Total project cost: $365,245
Amount requested: $182,622.50
Matching funds: $182,622.50
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Wilkes-Barre City (Luzerne County)
Project: Osterhout Free Library
Granted $157,500 to replace windows and flooring and repair roof.
Total project cost: $315,000
Amount requested: $157,500
Matching funds: $157,500
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Yeadon Borough (Delaware County)
Project: Yeadon Public Library
Granted $26,415 to replace doors and windows.
Total project cost: $52,830
Amount requested: $26,415
Matching funds: $26,415
Contract expiration date: 9/30/2024
Summary of Reported Totals
The following is a summary of the cumulative totals for the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant round awarded in 2023 and contained within this report:
Total Project Costs: $9,762,622.63
Total Matching Funds: $5,635,154.82
Total Amount Requested by Awardees: $4,127,467.81
Total Grant Funds Committed to 2023 Awardees: $4,127,467.81