The Palmerton Area Library has received a $468,000 grant to repair masonry and replace windows as part of a lofty ongoing restoration project.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield informed borough council at last week’s meeting she received an email notifying her of the grant.

Christine DeSousa, library director, said the Local Share Account grant came from the state Department of Community & Economic Development.

“When I found out we were receiving this grant, I was ecstatic,” DeSousa said. “This will take us to about $1 million going toward our restoration project.

“We still have a little bit to go, but at least this takes care of a big chunk of the exterior renovations and major problems.”

DeSousa added that the library isn’t done pursuing funding.

“We have been very diligently applying for grants the last couple of years, and we just put a few more out,” she said. “This was a really fantastic moment, and a win for the library.”

DeSousa said the library highly anticipates moving forward with the next phase of the restoration project in the months to come.

“The library is looking forward to starting the (restoration) project this spring and summer for the exterior of the building,” she said. “(So) be aware there will be lovely restoration changes coming to the library.”

DeSousa said that currently, the cost of the restoration project is estimated between $1.3 million to $1.4 million.

In May, the library received a $100,000 grant through the Monroe County Contiguous Local Share Account for library renovations.

Those funds will be used to repair the deteriorating facade of the library to prevent water damage.

DeSousa said the estimation for getting the masonry work done to the outside of the building remains at just over $600,000 (work that has yet to be done).

She added that the $100,000 grant that was received will likely go toward that part of the larger building restoration project.

DeSousa said that in 2024, the library had over 30,000 users.

In March, Debbie Miller, library board member, attended Lower Towamensing Township’s board of supervisors meeting and expressed how appreciative the library is for the support it receives from Lower Towamensing, Palmerton, Bowmanstown and Towamensing Township.

Miller told Lower Towamensing supervisors that the library is in the process of writing grants to try to pull in well over $1 million.

In February, Jack Woginrich, treasurer for Palmerton Area Library, expressed much the same sentiment to Palmerton Borough Council during his visit.

Woginrich said the library was also looking to raise money, which has been an ongoing problem for it.

Phase 1 of the restoration project, the portion of the west wall, has been completed, and cost about $75,700.

Marian Hoffner, vice president of the library’s board of trustees, said in 2023 the renovation project would likely cost about $1 million.

In addition to the grants, Hoffner said the library was also looking to raise money locally, as it isn’t just the building program it has to deal with, but also funding for the library in general.

Hoffner added that along with looking to finance the building project, the library also wants to not only be able to maintain the services that it offers, but also expand them.

Woginrich previously told Palmerton Borough Council that the library had been putting a “band aid” on building damage for roughly the last decade, spending about $100,000.

The parapet top stone was slated for removal, and a water diversion system installed that will channel the rainwater from dripping down the parapet wall to the roof membrane and then to the drain.

Also, the stones on the outside of the building would be cleaned and restored, plus the silicone joint compound would be removed and replaced with a sand-based grout that will breathe and release water instead of sealing it in.