The Union Carnegie Library has received a $140,000.00 grant from the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio to renovate public areas of the library. The Timken Foundation is a private, family foundation begun by the Timken family in 1934.   Since that time, the Timken Foundation has awarded over $280 million dollars in grants to public charities, including over $1.1 million dollars to Union County since 2005.  Grants are made to capital projects in Timken Company plant communities primarily in the areas of Education, Health & Hospitals, Civic & Community, Arts & Culture and Human Services & Recreation.

Nancy Rosenwald, Director the Union County Library, and Jennifer Alexander, Chair of the Union Carnegie Library Board of Trustees, were instrumental in the pursuit and submission of the grant.  The Union Carnegie Library plans to use the grant to renovate the library entrance, adult computing areas and book stacks, and to create a larger, separate teen area with computers, areas for book displays and additional work spaces.

“It is extremely exciting to announce the awarding of this grant by the Timken Foundation to the Union Carnegie Library, stated Eric Holland, Timken Human Resources Manager and local Timken Foundation contact.  “Investment in the local community is vital and the Union Carnegie Library is recognized as a valuable community resource in so many ways.  I congratulate Nancy, Jennifer and the Carnegie Library Board of Trustees for their vision and their hard work to secure this funding for such a high impact and far reaching capital project.  The Timken Foundation is proud to lend its support.”  

Carnegie Library Director, Nancy Rosenwald noted the significance of the Timken Foundation grant to the library during difficult economic times. “The Timken Foundation grant will allow us to provide comfortable public areas that the library has needed for many years. We can’t wait to see the positive results this grant will bring to our library and our community. The Timken Foundation has provided wonderful support to organizations bringing quality of life to Union County.”

Construction should be begin in 2010 and is expected to be completed over a four to six month period with minimal disruption to library services.

For more information, contact Nancy Rosenwald at 864.427.7140.