Abington, Jenkintown Libraries Awarded $830K for Upgrades

Funds will help improve facilities, accessibility, and energy efficiency at two local libraries.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:12pm

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The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded over $830,000 in grants to the Abington Township Public Library and the Jenkintown Library to fund facility improvements and master planning. The Abington library received $749,750 to design a more sustainable, accessible, and community-focused space, while the Jenkintown library was awarded $81,900 to develop a plan for upgrades to accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, and potential expansion.

Why it matters

Public libraries play a vital role in communities by providing educational resources, internet access, and programming. These grants will help ensure the Abington and Jenkintown libraries can continue serving local residents with updated, modern facilities tailored to their needs.

The details

The funding is part of an $11 million investment by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 27 libraries across 15 counties. The Abington library plans will focus on creating a sustainable, accessible, and efficient space, while the Jenkintown library will develop a master plan to address accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, maintenance, renovation, and potential expansion.

  • The grants were announced on April 4, 2026.

The players

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)

The state agency that oversees public education, including public libraries, in Pennsylvania.

Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL)

A division of the PDE that provides support and funding for public libraries across the state.

Abington Township Public Library

A public library serving the Abington Township community in greater Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Jenkintown Library

A public library located in the borough of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Carrie Rowe

The Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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What they’re saying

“Public libraries are a staple in communities throughout the Commonwealth, helping residents access critical services, resources, and programming, from educational materials to internet and more. The Commonwealth understands the important role libraries of all sizes play in their communities, and this funding will help Pennsylvania's libraries build, repair, and improve their facilities and operations to better serve visitors and patrons.”

— Dr. Carrie Rowe, Secretary of Education

What’s next

The Abington Township Public Library and Jenkintown Library will now begin the planning and design process for their respective facility upgrades using the awarded grant funds.

The takeaway

These grants demonstrate the Commonwealth's commitment to supporting public libraries as vital community hubs. By investing in modernizing library facilities, the state is ensuring residents in Abington and Jenkintown will continue to have access to essential educational resources and programming for years to come.