Penn Hills Library is gearing up for roughly $1.5 million in upgrades that would swap out aging heating and cooling systems and add a new tech-heavy creative space for teens. The plan is largely funded by two fresh grants, with a required municipal match, and still needs a green light from Penn Hills council before any contractor sets foot on the property.
In April, the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries awarded the library a $750,000 Keystone grant to renovate the entrance, upgrade HVAC and lighting and add solar panels, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency also listed an approximately $282,000 BOOST award to expand the library’s out-of-school-time youth programming in its FY2025-26 funding announcement. Those awards, combined with a municipal match, will underpin a roughly $1.5 million renovation project, according to Penn Hills Library.
New Space Aimed Squarely at Teens
Library leaders plan to direct part of the funding to a dedicated teen area stocked with technology and creative workstations. Board President Larry Choby described plans for a teen space with tech and creative areas for teenagers, and youth-services coordinator Megan Bettenhausen said “it’s funds to expand on the work we’re already doing,” as reported by TribLIVE. The goal is to give local teens a place that feels like it is actually theirs, not just a corner borrowed from the adult stacks.
Unsexy but Essential System Upgrades
The Keystone award specifically lists HVAC and lighting upgrades and solar panels among eligible improvements, and those mechanical fixes are at the top of the library’s to-do list, the department notes. Replacing or modernizing older systems is expected to make the building more reliable and, over time, cheaper to run, even if new ductwork is not as flashy as a fresh teen makerspace.
Why Now and the Timeline
Library officials told TribLIVE that much of the building equipment has been in service for more than 20 years. Last summer, the branch had to close on some days because the air conditioning failed, and it was forced to close on a few occasions last winter because the heating system could not keep up. Not exactly ideal conditions for curling up with a book.
Choby called the work necessary improvements that need to be done and said the project will move forward only after a motion by Penn Hills council. Some grant conditions require certain portions of the work to begin by Aug. 21, which means council’s decision will effectively set the clock on when construction can start.
Big Boost for Youth Programming
The PCCD BOOST application and award describe plans to expand STEAM, engineering, digital-media and maker-space programming, with an estimate that the initiative could reach roughly 6,000 youth each year, according to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The award is structured to cover staff, supplies, equipment and transportation so the library can scale its out-of-school-time offerings across Penn Hills and nearby neighborhoods.
Community Payoff and What Happens Next
Library leaders point to rising program attendance and a strong teen advisory program as signs that earlier investments in youth space and staffing are working. Program participation and circulation have both climbed in recent years, according to the Penn Hills Library 2025 report.
Once council signs off on the municipal match and the grant timelines are locked in, staff expect to phase construction so the building can stay open while work proceeds. Officials say they intend to line up system repairs with new programming so that children and teens see benefits quickly, both in more reliable heating and cooling and in expanded activities. A council vote will set the precise schedule and determine when the project officially moves from planning to construction.
