BINGHAM -- The Bingham Union Library on Main Street is the latest recipient of grant money from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.

The library, housed since 1922 in what was once a private home built in 1840, has received $50,000 from the King Foundation -- the highest amount awarded by the Bangor-based philanthropists.

Library Director Rachel Tremblay said the money will be used to renovate some small rooms at the front of the library, but most of it will be used to rebuild a rear section, currently being used for storage.

"We're going to do some renovations to a shed attached to the back and we'll be converting that space," Tremblay said Friday. "Since we're in a house, it was kind of difficult to work in the small rooms."

The Bingham Union Library serves about 2,000 people in Bingham, Moscow, Pleasant Ridge, Concord Plantation and Caratunk, all in Somerset County.

The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes strengthening and supporting communities and draws upon the values and spirituality of the founders, according to the foundation Web site.

The foundation has a special interest in organizations and people who have less recourse to usual channels of resources, focusing on community-based initiatives, especially in the state of Maine.

Over the past few years, the foundation has awarded grants to public libraries all across central Maine.

In 2007, the Waterville Public Library received $50,000 from the foundation toward its $3.1 million capital campaign to add new services and renovate the more than 100-year-old Elm Street facility.

The Skowhegan Public Library received a $50,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation in 2006.

The Benton Library Committee received a boost toward construction goals earlier this year from the foundation in the form of a check for $25,000.

In Clinton, the public library received a King Foundation grant for stone work on the existing walls last year.

Another went to the Oakland Public library in 2002.

Grants also have been awarded to public libraries in Fayette and to the Troy Central School Library over the past decade.

Tremblay at the Bingham Union Library said the library offers a knitting group for all ages every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. and will resume a Children's Story Time program this fall.

The library is open on Tuesday from 2-7 p.m., Wednesday from 2-6 p.m., and on Friday from noon until 3 p.m.

The Old Canada Road Historical Society will use some of the renovated space at the front the building to display some of its collection, Tremblay said.

Tremblay said she did the grant application work with assistance from the Friends of the Library group, whose members did fund-raising and outreach work. Member Terry Drummond also helped with the grant work.

In all, she said, the cost of renovations will be roughly $75,000.

Work on the foundation and electrical wiring will begin as soon as next week, Tremblay said.

Doug Harlow -- 474-9534 ext. 342

dharlow@centralmaine.com