Summary
A transformative investment to enhance accessibility, modernize public spaces, and better serve the evolving needs of the community
A transformative investment to enhance accessibility, modernize public spaces, and better serve the evolving needs of the community
Sewickley Public Library is proud to announce it has been awarded a $750,000 Keystone Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support a comprehensive redesign and renovation of the library’s first floor. This significant investment represents a major step forward in enhancing the accessibility, functionality, and overall experience of the library for the entire community.
The Keystone funding will support a full renovation of the first floor, with a focus on creating more open, flexible, and user-friendly spaces. Planned improvements include reconfiguring and modernizing public areas to improve accessibility and flow, expanding and relocating the teen and tween area, and constructing new small meeting rooms to accommodate programs, virtual activities, and community use. The project will also explore relocating and rebuilding first-floor restrooms to better meet accessibility needs, installing new flooring throughout the space, and replacing aging, heavily worn furniture with durable, ADA-accessible furnishings.
This project addresses long-standing challenges within the current layout, which no longer reflects how the community uses the library or the diverse needs of its patrons. The redesign aims to remove barriers for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers with young children, while also improving navigation and reducing congestion in high-traffic areas. In alignment with the library’s strategic plan, the renovation will create more welcoming and adaptable spaces for all ages, with a particular emphasis on serving teens and tweens.
The Keystone Grant provides $750,000 in matching funds toward the project. The Library’s Board of Trustees has committed the required matching funds, ensuring that the renovation can move forward without impacting core library services. In total, $1.5 million has been secured through a combination of state funding and the library’s capital reserves. A feasibility study, set to begin in May, will explore opportunities for additional community-supported funding, as the full scope of the project may reach up to $2.5 million.
Planning and design work are already underway. The project will be guided by the Library’s Board and Executive Director, with architects, engineers, and a professional fundraising consultant joining the effort as the process advances. Staff input and previously identified community needs have played a key role in shaping the project, and staff will continue to have opportunities to provide feedback throughout multiple phases of planning.
“This grant is a major investment in our region’s future,” said Executive Director Ruth M. Neely. “It allows us to reimagine the library’s first floor so that it is more accessible, more welcoming, and better aligned with how our community uses the library today. We aim to move forward in our service while preserving and honoring the historic building we all care so deeply about.”
The Library will continue to share updates as planning progresses and key milestones are reached, including details about construction timing and any potential impacts on services. Community members are encouraged to follow along and stay informed by visiting the library’s website at sewickleylibrary.org.
With this transformative project, Sewickley Public Library reaffirms its commitment to serving as a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking resource for the entire community.