The Adams County Library System will receive $750,000 in state funding to support plans for a new Gettysburg library facility, part of more than $11 million awarded to public libraries across Pennsylvania.
The funding comes through the Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries. In total, 27 libraries in 15 counties received grants aimed at improving accessibility, energy efficiency, and overall library infrastructure.
In Adams County, the funding will be used to design and develop a purpose-built library on a new site in Gettysburg, a project long discussed as a way to better meet growing community needs.
Miranda Wisor of the Adams County Library System said the award represents an important step forward.
“We are honored to be a recipient of the PA Keystone Grant for Public Libraries,” Wisor said. “This grant is an important step toward our future goals of strengthening the Adams County Library System’s capacity to serve the whole of Adams County.”
State officials said the grants are part of a broader effort to invest in community resources. Since 2023, the program has distributed $23.5 million to 76 library projects statewide.
Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe emphasized the role libraries play in providing essential services, from educational materials to internet access, and said the funding will help modernize facilities to better serve residents.
The Gettysburg project is expected to support expanded services and improved public space for Adams County residents as planning moves forward.
Sincerely, libraries are great. It’s truly astounding that such things actually exist still. But, I feel like they should be privately funded through donations, not tax money.
I’m assuming the state wasn’t gifted the $23.5 million it then distributed out to all the libraries over the past few years. It was taken from people through some form of non-voluntary taxation. If we can’t start cutting back on state theft of wealth for things that could be easily and rightly privately funded, how are we going to cut back on more difficult and complex things.
Oh…unless your goal is to eventually take 100% of what’s left after the federal gov’t steals their portion of what people earn and have a few state ‘representatives’ spread it around as they see fit. I prefer and have more faith in individuals’ choices.