New library gets loan, grant funds

$100,000 grant for renovation will not have to be repaid

Lori Falce

- For the CDT

PHILIPSBURG — The new home of the Holt Memorial Library in Philipsburg announced funding and received checks from donors at an open house Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously announced a $300,000 mix of loan and grant funding for the renovation of the former M&T Bank building to store books.

At the open house, USDA Area Specialist Gary Reed spoke about the split. A grant of $100,000, almost 25 percent of the total cost of the project, will not have to be repaid. The remaining $200,000 will be in the form of a low-interest loan.

Friends of the Library President Laura Bordas declined to comment on exactly how low that interest will be.

However, she did note that the group hopes to repay the 40-year note by the end of 2010, saving the organization thousands in interest payments.

“Everything seems to be falling into place right now,” Bordas said of the project which has been on the drawing board for three years, since the fire that left the corner of Front and Presqueisle streets with a gaping hole on a showcase corner.

While the plan had originally been to build on that lot, the group revised its plans as the economy slowed and the bank structure became available.

The $435,000 total price tag for acquisition and renovation of the bank will be more cost effective and ultimately grant the library its first permanent home, with 4,800 square feet of usable space on the first floor alone. Additional space on the lower floor will provide conference rooms and areas for storage and future expansion.

Architect Michael Haluga and engineer Chris Bohley were on hand to discuss the changes to the existing structure and how the space will be utilized.

Among the chief upgrades will be a strengthening of the concrete slab floor, supported by pillars on the lower level, to bear the weight of the library’s book collection. To increase the load-bearing strength by 50 percent, the floor will be coated with carbon fibers. Other changes will include building an entirely new stair tower to be in keeping with current standards and adding ADA-compliant bathrooms.

Haluga and Bohley noted that the excellent condition of the building is allowing them to spend the limited money on important additions rather than rebuilding the structure itself.

“This project wouldn’t be possible otherwise,” Bohley said.

That funding got an additional shot in the arm from two major donations.

The Centre County Community Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant from the Knight Foundation Fund.

Another $5,000 was received from the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership, the first of three identical checks pledged for the project.