A building addition at the Lehighton Area Memorial Library could cost nearly $400,000.

Three companies turned in bids to the borough on Monday for the proposed building addition at the library at 124 North St.

R.C. Construction submitted the apparent low proposal of $399,677, which was $88,040 less than the next lowest bid of $487,717 by Multiscape Inc., and $95,850 less than the $495,527 bid from Miller, Miller and McLachlan.

Borough manager Nicole Beckett said the engineers will review the bids with the Lehighton Area Memorial Library Board and make a recommendation for a bid award.

Beckett said the bid award could be made when borough council meets at 7 p.m. Monday.

Library director Melissa Hawk said it looks like the library will be able to break ground on the addition in the spring.

“We’re really pleased that we got a bid that’s within our budget,” Hawk said. “We have the funding in place, but we are going to be launching a capital campaign within the next couple of weeks to help equip the building and replace some of the funds that we’re taking from our operating reserve.”

Hawk said there will be naming opportunities available for those with loved ones they would like to memorialize.

“The building is going ahead, we have the funds; we’re just going to ask for people to just really be a help to the project,” she said. “We’re taking donations, and have had a local family step forward to provide funds to furnish the children’s area of the new addition.”

Proposed work will include the construction of a proposed 29-by-50-foot addition.

The proposed improvements will also include all the required site improvements; the construction of a new ADA access ramp; and all necessary utility service connections.

Hawk said the library plans to use a Keystone Recreation Park and Conservation Fund Grant it received in the amount of $169,699 toward the building addition. She said it’s a matching grant, and the library will have to contribute to help meet the project cost.

The grant will be used for the construction project, which includes the 1,433-square-foot addition for youth services, community room, two ADA restrooms and a renovated front entrance.

Hawk said the addition will give the library many more options as far as programs are concerned, more space for the programs, and make it easier for people to come and spend time at the library.

She said it will also allow the library to move all of the children’s items into another area, give the library more room in the current area for adults to stay and be able to read, and the community room will give them a private place to meet.

Hawk said the library will also be open to community groups so that they also have another option of where to meet in the community.

“It’s a big project,” she said. “Once it’s done, we’re going to have so much more space.”

Hawk noted that the library has an average of just under 100 people coming through the building a day.

“They don’t always stay, but now we’ll have more room for them to stay,” she said.

Hawk said the library board has been working on the project for years.

“Luckily we had some funding come through and we received a grant so that at this time when we really need to expand, we can do it,” she said. “It wouldn’t have happened without the amount of work the board has put into the plan.”

Hawk said the library is pleased to be associated with the project.

“We’re really excited with all the wonderful things happening in the downtown, and being a part of the growth that’s happening in the downtown area,” she said.

This marked the second time the project was bid out after borough council in November rejected the bids that were received after they came in between $100,000 to $200,000 over the library’s budget.

The borough received three bids at that time, including CMG Easton, $496,215; Bracy Construction, $548,500; and Multiscape Inc. $576,821.

As a result, Beckett said that the borough, in conjunction with the library, requested a 12-month extension from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Twenty-seven public libraries in 18 counties were awarded $6.8 million in Keystone Grants to use toward improving physical facilities.

The Lehighton Area Memorial Library is open from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays, 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.lehightonlibrary.com.