Carnegie Library Of Homestead

CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD PHASE 2 LIBRARY RENOVATION PROJECT [THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD (CLOH) REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS TO ITS HISTORICAL STRUCTURE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE LIBRARY HAS INITIATED A MULTI-YEAR $15 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. THESE EFFORTS STARTED WITH MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO THE MUSIC HALL AND LOCKER ROOM (PHASE ONE). CLOH IS REQUESTING $500,000 IN FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES? INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANT - CAPITAL PROJECTS TO ASSIST WITH PHASE TWO ACTIVITIES OF THIS CAMPAIGN WHICH FOCUS ON LIBRARY RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OF PHASE TWO RENOVATIONS INCLUDE ADA UPGRADES, HAZARD ABATEMENT, DEMOLITION, GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, STRUCTURAL WORK, AND PLUMBING WORK WHICH WILL RECTIFY INFRASTRUCTURAL DETERIORATION OVER THE 123 YEARS OF OUR BUILDING?S EXISTENCE.]

CONTINUED ACCESS TO HUMANITIES RELATED COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2022 AT THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD [THE HISTORIC CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD (CLOH) IS APPLYING TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE HUMANITIES? AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANT FOR $200,000. THESE FUNDS WILL GO TOWARDS THE SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS OF SENIOR STAFF WHO OVERSEE THE LIBRARY?S HUMANITIES-RELATED COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMMING. ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO DIGITIZE MICROFILM OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, THE ONLY RECORDS IN MANY CASES, THAT WERE INACCESSIBLE WHILE THE LIBRARY FACILITIES WERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC IN 2020.] [PURPOSE:  THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO RETAIN SIX STAFF POSITIONS INCLUDING THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AND?TWO?LIBRARY CLERKS, WHO WILL PRESERVE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS AND DEVELOP HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.  ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:  THE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE DIGITIZING HISTORIC LOCAL NEWSPAPER MICROFILM AND HOLDING COMMUNITY HUMANITIES PROGRAMS SUCH AS EVENTS CELEBRATING NATIONAL POETRY MONTH AND WEEKLY BOOK CLUBS FOR ADULTS AND TEENS.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE DIGITIZATION WILL MAKE ACCESSIBLE 232 ROLLS OF HISTORIC LOCAL NEWSPAPERS FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  IN ADDITION, THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND THE LIBRARY?S SUBSCRIPTIONS TO HUMANITIES ONLINE RESOURCES AND SUSTAIN ACCESS TO ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS DOCUMENTING LOCAL ETHNIC HISTORY.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES:  THE RETENTION OF KEY LIBRARY STAFF WILL ENHANCE ACCESS TO LIBRARY SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT WILL BENEFIT RESIDENTS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF PITTSBURGH, INCLUDING HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN PARTAKING IN HISTORY AND ART-RELATED PROGRAMMING HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY AND ATTENDEES TO ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF HUMANITIES-RELATED ACTIVITIES HELD EVERY YEAR, AS WELL AS SCHOLARS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC INTERESTED IN CONDUCTING REGIONAL HISTORICAL RESEARCH.  SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:  THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. ]

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD IN MUNHALL, PENNSYLVANIA, WILL EXPAND ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASE ACCESS TO LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. TO MEET COMMUNITIES' DEMANDS FOR BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING AND BETTER PREPARE FOR FUTURE SPIKES IN COVID-19, THE LIBRARY WILL CREATE HYBRID VERSIONS OF THE ONLINE PROGRAMS DEVELOPED WHEN THE PANDEMIC MANDATED THE LIBRARY'S CLOSURE. MONTHLY PROGRAMS WILL INCLUDE STEAM CLASSES, CLASSES ON HEALTHY COOKING AND GARDENING, AND BOOK CLUBS. FOR THOSE PATRONS WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE, THE LIBRARY WILL DISTRIBUTE TAKE-HOME KITS WITH ALL NECESSARY MATERIALS. THE LIBRARY ALSO WILL PROVIDE FREE INTERNET ACCESS AND COMPUTER SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS AT HOME.