Schlow Memorial Library is $1.1 million away from the $3 million needed for a new facility, Patricia Best, the library's campaign community chair, announced Saturday.

Originally, the library, 100 E. Beaver Ave., was required to earn $4 million of the estimated $9.2 million needed for the building project, Best said. Upon realization of that goal, the Centre Region Council of Governments would match the amount, she added.

On Dec. 20, former Gov. Mark Schweiker announced that the library would receive a $2.5 million grant, decreasing the amount needed from private fund raising.

The $1.9 million already collected came from contributions by library employees, board members and "those who knew the need for expansion most intimately," Best said.

Saturday's announcement came during a community event to celebrate the new library held in both the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., and Schlow.

Library officials are confident going into the next phase of their fund-raising campaign.

"People that I have contacted are very receptive," said David Lee, vice president of Schlow's board of trustees.

The library serves many people and will eventually be accepting all sizes of contributions from community members, making it possible for anyone to be involved, Lee said. "We have a lot of momentum right now," he added.

The new library will keep some of the physical features of the old library, but will also offer a variety of new services and features to the community, Elizabeth Allen, library director, said.

The community is asking for better technology, a larger collection of books and more space within the library, Allen said. "We're going to end up having more of everything," she added. "We're going to try to do a better job in every area."

Fund raising will continue through 2003, and the library is expected to move into temporary quarters in the old municipal building, 118 S. Fraser St., in 2004, while construction begins on the new structure, Allen said. Completion of the project should take one to two years, she said.

The new library will feature separate areas for children and adults, with larger reading rooms for each. There will be a free, 70-space parking lot, increased shelving for books and wheelchair accesibility. There will also be heightened technology with a flexible design to make the library easily upgradable in the future. Increased space for computers with a computer lab designed for community classes will be included.

The event featured speakers, free food, free massages and music by a variety of local groups. Children participated in activities and gift baskets were raffled off at the end of the day.

Local businesses donated everything for the event, including the gift baskets, Amy Neil, the library's spokeswoman, said.