Northland Public Library secures bump in funding for staffing costs; renovation nears completion

Municipalities in the North Hills are agreeing to a slight increase in funding for Northland Public Library’s 2026 budget, which will help keep staff pay competitive and cover rising health care costs.

The library’s 2026 $3.5 million budget reflects an overall 5.7% increase.

“This budget will help us to continue our sought-after services and collections through increasing funding for our superior staff in times of uncertain library funding at the state and national levels and increased costs for health care,” said Amy Steele, director of Northland Public Library, located on Cumberland Road in McCandless.

A recent full salary review revealed that, in comparison with other local public libraries, many positions at Northland needed pay increases, including a higher entry rate.

“The vast majority of our positions are more than 10% below market value for comparable positions,” said Steele in an Oct. 13 presentation to McCandless Council.

She hopes the increase will expand the pool of candidates applying for jobs there.

“Like everybody else, we are seeing a lot less applications for vacant positions,” she said.

The increase also will help fund rising health care costs, which are expected to rise 7% for the library staff.

A 10% increase in utility costs also is expected for the new year.

To help fund these efforts, a funding request, representing a 4.8% increase over 2025, was presented to each of the municipalities the library serves — including Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall, McCandless and Ross.

The municipal funding requests are based on population, assessed valuation and usage from the previous year, reflecting from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, for this budget.

While Marshall, McCandless and Ross already have approved their portion of the budget, Bradford Woods was scheduled to vote at its Nov. 10 meeting, according to Nicholas Yon, spokesperson for Northland Public Library. Franklin Park was expected to vote on its new level at its 7 p.m. Nov. 19 meeting, according to council President Uday Palled.

“Northland is so fortunate to have municipal partners who are passionate about supporting the library’s mission and our place in the community. We’re so appreciative of their continued support,” Yon said.

Municipality funding for 2026 includes Franklin Park at $405,205, compared to 2025’s $377,873, and Marshall at $239,365, compared to $227,787 in 2025. McCandless has the highest contribution at $717,063, compared to $692,151 in 2025, and Ross at $594,085, up from $569,692 in 2025.

Bradford Woods is voting on a $27,905 funding request for 2026, up from $24,879 in 2025, but still less than 2024 when it was $29,300.

Internally generated revenue is helping to offset rising operating costs, Steele said.

The library now is able to rent out meeting rooms, with the renovation project adding a new conference room on the upper level. Discounts for these rooms continue to be available to residents, she said.

The new cafe vendor, Commonplace Coffee, on the first level of the two-floor library also is renting its space.

The nonprofit Northland Public Library Foundation also has increased its contribution for the current fiscal year and for 2026.

In addition, the foundation has provided extra funds toward the library’s renovation project, including a $250,000 grant for the project and fundraised $76,000 to cover furniture in new parts of building. It donated about $40,000 in signs, made possible through selling pavers, naming rights opportunities and other donations, according to Steele.

For the $4.1 mllion renovation project, the library was able to bring in $2.8 million in external grant funding, and the NPL Foundation contributed the previously noted $368,000. The remaining projected $1.2 million will come out of the library’s capital savings, she said.

“So, there’s no debt at all involved in this project, and we are very proud of that,” Steele said.

R3A Architecture was the architect for the project, while FMS Construction Co. served as the general contractor. Sargent Electric and Vrabel Plumbing Co. also were contracted for the project.

In addition to support from the municipalities, the project is supported, in part, through grants from The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Department of Education, with funds provided from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority; the Federal Covid-19 ARPA Pandemic Response Program under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development; the federal Department of Treasury, under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. The project also is supported by a one-time grant for libraries from the Allegheny County Regional Asset District (RAD).

The library is hoping for at least flat funding from the state. The Allegheny Regional Asset District has not finalized its budget, but Steele said there may be a small funding increase.

The library is looking to reduce its own costs, including changing its Bookmobile stop at Marshall Elementary School from weekly to every other week, saving approximately $5,800. Beginning Jan. 1, it will be every other Friday, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the school. The schedule will be available Dec. 1, according to the library website.

The library remained open throughout the renovation process, closing certain portions or making temporary spaces of its current offices and service desks.

The plan was for a fall opening, and it’s not too far behind.

“With any project of this size and scope, they’ve worked through unanticipated items and constructions delays,” Yon said.

In addition to the library, Commonplace Coffee and a newly designed ADA restroom also will open soon.

“We’re so excited for the New Northland to open and to welcome patrons and the communities we serve. The new space will help to further the library’s position as a true third space for the community. We’re finishing up final details and inspections, and we’re getting close to ‘opening the doors,’ ” Yon said.

He advises the public to “stay tuned” to the library’s social media channels or visit its website at northlandlibrary.org for continued updates.