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Council backs library’s plan for building addition

The Lehighton Area Memorial Library has received the green light to move forward with a building addition.

Borough council unanimously approved a resolution to apply for a Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Grant in the amount of $200,000.

Melissa Hawk, library director, asked the borough to join the library in submitting an application for the grant to help the library construct an addition to the facility.

Hawk said the addition will house a youth services area, accessible restrooms and a community room.

She said the library was seeking to partner with council and to receive its administrative assistance during the project, but that it was not requesting additional funding from the borough.

In order to apply for the grant, a sponsoring municipality and the board of the library must submit an application that is developed jointly and signed by the borough manager and the president of the library board of trustees.

Hawk said it is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and noted that the library has the matching funds on hand.

In a letter sent to council, Hawk said, “This is an exciting time for the library and for Lehighton. Like you and many others, we are seeking to improve life for borough residents.”

Hawk added, “We are adding new programs and resources, partnering with local organizations and taking our services out in the community to reach more people.”

“However, as we work to meet the changing needs of the community, we are limited by our lack of space,” she said. “This project will allow us to offer even more services and to become a true community center.”