134th DISTRICT

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, recently announced Lower Macungie Library has been awarded a $500,000 Keystone Grant through the Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries, to fund the expansion of the current library space to create a separate children’s area, office space, meeting rooms and storage.

The library expansion would allow for a defined space for children independent from the rest of library, so as not to disturb other visitors. A family restroom would be added, along with renovating a portion of the existing library to provide a multipurpose room for programs, meetings or quiet space throughout the day.

The grant comes from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, which was established by an act of the General Assembly in 1993.

The Department of Education, through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Bureau of Library Development, administers the public library portion of this program which is funded by a portion of the realty transfer tax. Grants pay up to 50 percent of eligible costs in planning, acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of public libraries.