These days when Quinn Haydt takes a trip to the Lehighton Area Memorial Library, it’s tough to want to leave its cozy confines.

Especially with all the new amenities the library now sports thanks to its recently completed 1,400-square-foot building addition.

“I love going to the library,” said Quinn, 9. “I check out all of the animal books, and I like doing book reports on them.”

A fourth-grade student at the Lehighton Elementary Center, Quinn said there’s so much more to see and do at the renovated library.

“It’s wonderful to look at all of the toys and play with them, and all of the children’s books are right here,” she said. “I like that there’s fiction books, as well as nonfiction books.”

From the wide assortment of books, to the mind-stimulating toys, Quinn said there’s just so much to love about the updated library.

“I do like reading fiction about mythology, preferably Greek mythology; I also love Roman mythology and Egyptian mythology,” she said. “The toys, I think, are the best; I really like the blocks.”

Quinn’s grandmother, Jan Haydt, who is a library board member, said she enjoys the look on each child’s face as they enter the new addition.

“It’s just so nice to have this space, and now they can just spread out; it lets you think and relax,” Haydt said. “It’s just such a welcoming place, and I love seeing their face; they just light up.”

New look for library

The library’s 1,400- square-foot addition includes a youth services area, a community room, two ADA-compliant restrooms, and a renovated front entrance, according to Melissa Hawk, library director.

“The addition doubled our public space,” Hawk said. “The community room also has free Wi-Fi, and we are allowing that with restrictions, call for details.”

Hawk said the library serves an area of over 17,000 people, and noted computer use, program attendance and the number of daily visits have grown steadily.

She said the library presents story times, STEAM programs, summer reading events, crafting programs, author visits and more.

Additionally, Hawk said the library also provides one-on-one help with job applications, ancestry searches, retrieving online documents, and many other technological needs.

“The library is continuing to serve the community with Wi-Fi, computer access and human contact, which are some of the things that will help us get through these challenging times.”

As an example, Hawk cited an instance where the library recently helped an 80-year-old man who uses his tablet to stay in contact with his family.

“We are still helping and are vital,” she said. “We are doing what we’ve been doing, which is adapt, and we are an important part of the community and are always here to help.”

Hawk noted that visitors are required to wear masks and practice social distancing per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

“We are here to help them, so don’t be put off by the need for an appointment; we will try to make sure you get the help you need.”

Hawk said the plan is to eventually host community groups once larger gatherings are allowed per the CDC guidelines.

“The community room will be used for groups, or as a quiet time for projects or collaboration,” she said, adding that right now people can reserve the room, but the number of people is restricted. “They can really explore and make messes.”

Additionally, Hawk said the library will be hosting online programs like story time, and providing bags with activities for children and adults. Visit the library’s website or Facebook page, or call the library for more information.

How it came to be

Hawk said the library used a Keystone Recreation Park and Conservation Fund Grant it received in 2018 from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries in the amount of $169,699 toward the building addition. She said matching funds were obtained through grants, donations from community groups, bequests and gifts from local families.

In February, board members, school board members, borough council members, and others gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the library.

Also at that time, the library launched its capital campaign, which will help equip the building and replace some of the funds that will be taken from its operating reserve.

In January, borough council awarded the bid for the library expansion project to R.C. Construction Associates Inc. in the amount of $391,122.

The project had to be bid out a second time after borough council in November 2019 rejected the bids that were received after they came in between $100,000 to $200,000 over the library’s budget.

Hawk said words can’t describe how excited she is for the public to visit the library and see its transformation firsthand.

“I absolutely love what I do, and to be able to work on a project like this is a dream,” she said. “I am beyond pleased with how it turned out, and it will change the way we can service the public, change the way people will see us, and we hope it will bring more people to the library.”