Northland Public Library closes in on fundraising goal toward renovations

Nearly 70% of a $75,000 fundraising goal toward the major renovation at Northland Public Library has been reached, and the team hopes to exceed that amount.

The public library along Cumberland Road in McCandless has been undergoing an extensive building renovation construction project since the groundbreaking in September.

The $75,000 goal reflects the sale of engraved pavers and naming rights for new spaces and items. The funds raised as of Feb. 26 total $52,500.

“It’s exciting to be close to our initial $75,000 fundraising goal, and we hope to surpass it,” said Alexis McKinley, director of the Northland Public Library Foundation.

She added they were “thrilled to receive several large grants” to help fund the majority of the $4 million New Northland project.

“In addition to support from our municipalities, this 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; (and) the federal Department of Treasury, under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. This project (also) is supported by a one-time grant for libraries from the Allegheny County Regional Asset District,” said Amy Steele, the library’s executive director.

According to Steele, these grants include the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Multi-Purpose Community facilities Program at $650,000; Local Share Account at $500,000; Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund at $150,000; Keystone Grant for Public Library Facilities at $750,000; Covid-19 ARPA Pandemic Response Grant Program at $250,000; Allegheny Regional Asset District One-time Grant to Libraries at $200,000; and North Boroughs Rotary at $10,000.

The Northland Public Library Foundation also provided a one-time grant of $250,000 in support of the New Northland Project, said McKinley, who also serves as director of development for the library. This is in addition to the money raised through the fundraising campaign of engraved pavers and naming rights.

Renovations will include a brand-new, lower-level entrance, increased accessibility, an open lower lobby and service areas, a renovated layout, extended social spaces and a cafe space.

Aside from the grants, a significant portion of the construction costs will be paid from the library’s capital savings, McKinley said.

Construction is estimated to be completed in early summer.

“All the money we raise from the New Northland Fundraising Campaign will be directly applied to construction project expenses and offset costs that would otherwise have to be withdrawn from the library’s capital savings. We are fortunate to have many generous Northland donors who have embraced this renovation project, and the library is very grateful for their support,” McKinley said.

A total of 270 engraved pavers to be placed in an outdoor patio space were sold, generating a profit of about $50,000, after expenses.

Fundraising opportunities included naming rights to project spaces throughout the library.

These fundraising donors can be individuals or organizations, and they will be recognized with plaques or other large-scale signage depending on the scope of the naming opportunity, McKinley said.

Project-naming opportunities still available, as of Feb. 26, include the stairway for $150,000, the cafe at $100,000, the teen space at $50,000, the Book Nook Used Bookstore at $30,000, an upper-level new meeting room at $20,000, the Cafe Nook seating area under the stairs at $7,500, two outdoor benches at $5,000 each, an indoor built-in bench at $5,000, two digital displays at $2,500 each and book or display units at $1,500 each.

There is a Naming Rights Policy with the library, establishing the broad requirements for any grant of naming rights with respect to library facilities. Each grant of a naming right will be documented in an agreement between the donor and the library setting forth the duration, cost and scope of the opportunity, she said.

“New Northland Project Naming Opportunities will be available for the foreseeable future — or until they are all claimed. We are excited for our library patrons to see these new spaces when the renovation is complete,” she said.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are always available for events such as the upcoming Garden Gala on April 26, as well as the Children’s Gala and Murder Mystery fundraisers, both happening in September.

Ongoing giving opportunities for new outdoor furniture, the Giving Tree and the Wish Tree also are available with information available at www.northlandlibrary.org.

Library staff is looking forward to sharing the selection of the vendor for the cafe space, which is expected soon, according Nicholas Yon, Northland’s communications director.

Northland, the second-largest library in Allegheny County, is part of the Allegheny County Library Association. The library receives funding from the five municipalities it serves, including Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall, McCandless and Ross.