Staging is in process for facade renovations at a time-honored structure in downtown Palmerton.

The building scaffolding at the Palmerton Area Library began last week, said library director Christine DeSousa.

“Scaffolding is going to be up for a few weeks; this is the next part of our restoration project,” DeSousa said. “We are moving forward with the north side of the building, which is the facade, and we are super exited to see it be renovated and restored for everything we need for this project to move forward.”

DeSousa noted that the library will be open during the restoration, and that any guests are more than welcome to ring the door bell on the side door to be let into the building.

Last month, borough council on a 6-0 vote Thursday agreed to award the first phase of the library renovation contract to Masonry Preservation Services Inc., in the amount of $292,000.

A walk-through at the iconic building in Palmerton was attended by local lawmakers in July who helped secure funding for its rehabilitation.

State Sen. Dave Argall and state Rep. Doyle Heffley visited the Palmerton Area Library at that time to tour the progress of the library’s restoration project.

DeSousa led the tour and noted the first phase of the restoration project had been put out to bid.

DeSousa said at that time the bid package that was out covers the masonry work for the exterior, and added the library hopes to start in the spring.

She said then that the project as a whole does not have a completion date due to the nature of the work that needs to be completed.

DeSousa explained that the library is trying to preserve the historical integrity of the building.

Since 2024, the library has received $1,586,000 in state funding for the project.

In June, Palmerton Borough Council on a 5-0 vote agreed to advertise for bids for the library renovations funded by two Local Share Account grants the library previously received.

In April, the library received $600,000 in grants to assist with water damage repairs and restoration to its building.

The library was awarded the funding through the Keystone Grant for Public Library Facilities program.

The program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries, supports projects that improve library infrastructure, including upgrades for accessibility, energy efficiency and essential building systems, as well as renovations and expansions of public spaces.

In December, the library received a $468,000 grant to repair masonry and replace windows as part of its ongoing restoration project.

At that time, DeSousa said that the cost of the restoration project was estimated between $1.3 million to $1.4 million.

Phase 1 of the restoration project, the portion of the west wall, has been completed, and cost about $75,000.

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.