By the end of the year, patrons at Sharpsburg Community Library will be able to order a book for remote pickup, much like they order clothes or other items for delivery to Amazon lockers.
Leaders said the initiative will address barriers to library services, including limited transportation. Many people in the library’s footprint either don’t drive or don’t have access to a vehicle, a survey found.
The project will enable people to retrieve books or other library items at their convenience, said Jill McConnell, executive director of Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its Sharpsburg branch.
One set of lockers will sit outside the Sharpsburg library along Main Street, and the other set will be near the Jersey Mike’s sub shop on Freeport Road in Blawnox.
Work will be paid through a $78,000 grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
Specifically, money will be made available through RAD’s Transformative Community Library Fund, launched in 2022 to support change-making projects at libraries within the county library association.
“We are immensely grateful to the RAD for their support of our projects that aim to break down barriers to library service in the communities we serve,” McConnell said.
The Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg libraries boast a collection of more than 70,000 items, including books, movies and unique options of musical instruments, small tools and appliances.
The RAD grant follows a survey of Fox Chapel Area School District residents that determined areas of greatest need.
Along with lack of transportation, respondents to the survey said they hoped to feel more included in the branch library community.
McConnell said a portion of the grant will be used to renovate the Sharpsburg library’s courtyard to foster a sense of belonging.
Brick pavers will be replaced with a concrete patio, and new furniture will be purchased. A local artist will gather input from the community on ideas for a vibrant mural.
Remaining funds will be used for a study to help determine ideal operating hours.
Those projects will happen next year, McConnell said.
Rich Hudic, RAD executive director, said libraries do important work to serve everyone.
“These latest investments will help our libraries provide more opportunities for residents,” Hudic said.
RAD is the largest funder of libraries in the Pittsburgh region. Earlier this year, RAD provided a $3.1 million grant to purchase computers at every RAD-funded library in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Library Association systems.
In April, Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg sites received $80,000 in new computers and software.