Commissioners apply for grant to complete library’s lower level

The county commissioners on Oct. 13 approved the filing of the Pike County Library’s Keystone Grant application to complete the library’s lower level.

Library director Rose Chiocchi said the library has been working on this grant for about five years. The money already raised to staff the lower level allows the library to apply for the grant now. She said the library has raised about $120,000 and expects the project to cost about $250,000.

“The grant is matching, so we’re just about there,” Chiocchi said.

She said the library will have to do more fundraising to buy furnishings for the new children’s room, to be about 41,000 square feet, on the lower level. The library will have two additional study rooms downstairs, plus computers. There also will be a low-rise stage for children dedicated to the memory of Gayle Shuster, whose family raised money for it.

Moving the children’s area downstairs will give the library much more space upstairs, which Chiocchi said is badly needed.

“We’re very excited to give the kids their own section,” Chiocchi said. “Right now, they really don’t have a place to play and learn. So, we’re really excited about that.”

The library has had a difficult two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic and hasn’t been able to fundraise in the way it usually does. The library has had to rely on federal grants and local donors.

“We’re so thankful, but the struggle continues,” Chiocchi said. “Hopefully next year, we will see some of our fundraising back in place. But for now, we’re really dependent on our local community.”