The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has been awarded $2 million in state funding for renovation of the Hanley Library.
The funding, announced Friday afternoon in a press release by state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and state Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville, will be used for demolition and construction, including replacing and adding doors, renovating the foyer, creating a new stairwell and installing sidewalks to enable easy passage from the newly constructed engineering building to the library and to create another public entrance for patrons.
The lawmakers also indicated in their press release that construction will include foundation and general construction, HVAC modifications to accommodate the new design, electrical changes and other updates including energy-efficient lighting and necessary plumbing retrofits.
The university has been planning for the renovations since before the beginning of the year. In January, the McKean County commissioners approved submission of an application for funding through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
Funding for the project was authorized by lawmakers in the Capital Budget Project Itemization Act and awarded through the RACP.
“We are fortunate to have such a great educational institution right here in McKean County to serve not only our students but also students from around the country and around the world,” Causer said. “I am pleased to support the university in its efforts to continue to improve and expand to meet the needs of our students, including through the renovation of the library.”
Dush added, “Receiving this highly competitive funding demonstrates that the impact and value of Hanley Library extends far beyond the physical boundaries of the Pitt-Bradford academic community. As expertly stated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, ‘The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds.’”
Rick Esch, president of the university, said, “We’re grateful for the support we received from Rep. Marty Causer and Sen. Cris Dush in helping to secure this funding, which will enable us to enhance and expand student support services in Hanley Library.”
Hanley Library, built in 1988, has not seen renovations since that time. The university indicated in January that a first phase of the project would include a new building entrance on the east side of the library, which faces the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building.
A stair tower would included in the new entrance, while there would also be an enhancement of student support services.
The library has approximately 124,000 volumes, a computer lab, private study rooms, an archive and electronic resources available within the University Library System. It is staffed with a library director, three faculty librarians, two full-time staff, two part-time staff and student assistants.
Hanley Library is named in honor of T. Edward and Tullah Hanley, late Bradford philanthropists.
RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
Such projects are judged to have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are funded by the state and cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.
