Last summer, the Bellwood-Antis Library purchased a four-unit apartment building which is situated directly beside the library, with plans to expand the existing building and add a 3,200 square foot children\u2019s area.
\nIn a previous article, librarian Hazel Bilka said, \u201cWe knew we needed to purchase that building. We\u2019re pretty much landlocked here with the railroad tracks behind us, Main Street in front and the borough building on one side.\u201d
\nShe said they didn\u2019t think the building would come up for sale so soon but it did and the library purchased the apartment building from the Bellwood-Antis Community Trust.
\nFor those who have been traveling down Main Street recently, they probably have noticed that work on the site is moving along.
\nConstruction at the site began during the last week of February and the project is expected to be done by the end of May.
\n\u201cWe would like to have it done in time for the summer reading program,\u201d said Bilka.
\nAs far as funding for the project, Bilka said, \u201cWe\u2019re hoping to receive support from area businesses along with the community.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re also trying to get the kids involved in the project as well. We already have a Brownie troop that has agreed to help.\u201d
\nShe said they are also looking at possibly working with the school district and to get more kids involved.
\nCurrently, volunteers have put together a letter to be mailed out, asking area residents and businesses for help raising funds for the addition.
\nIn order to complete the new addition, funds in the amount of $325,000 are needed. An anonymous donor stepped forward early on in the planning process and agreed to match any funds raised, up to $100,000.
\nThe letter also states donations in the amount of $1,000 or more will be permanently recognized on a special plaque in the children\u2019s addition.
\nIndividuals interested in donating also have the option of paying over the next four years. For example, an individual may wish to donate $1,000 to the project. With the four -year option, that individual would be able to pay $250 each year.
\nAccording to Bilka, over 30 organizations use the library, whether it is to hold a monthly meeting or to share presentations with the public.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re hoping local organizations who use the library will each help raise funds,\u201d said Bilka.
\nShe explained if each of the 30 organizations held one fundraiser, a lot of money could be raised for the addition.
\nA private breakfast was held yesterday at the library to invite area businesses to become a sponsor.
\nThe plans for the children\u2019s area include a story area, computer area, projection area and child-sized bookshelves surrounding the entire room.
\nA lot of child-sized furniture and toys have already been purchased for the new area, thanks to a Family Place grant received by the library.
\nThere will be new computers, strictly for the children up to fourth grade.
\nOne special toy will be a train for children to enjoy as they sit near the large window facing the train tracks.
\nBilka explained the children love to see the trains go by and this will provide the opportunity for that to happen.
\nThere will also be an area for sofas near the window and another area with rocking chairs for storytelling. One section will accommodate several child-sized tables, one with a map of the United States and other with a map of the world.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re very excited about the children\u2019s addition and we feel it will be such an asset to the area,\u201d said Bilka, \u201cand we\u2019re really hoping the community will join in our efforts to raise money for this project.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last summer, the Bellwood-Antis Library purchased a four-unit apartment building which is situated directly beside the library, with plans to expand the existing building and add a 3,200 square foot children\u2019s area. In a previous article, librarian Hazel Bilka said, \u201cWe knew we needed to purchase that building. We\u2019re pretty much landlocked here with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news-in-the-tyrone-pennsylvania-area"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41549\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}