SCRANTON — About a year after facade issues were discovered at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library, commissioners awarded a construction contract last week for stone and masonry repairs above the entrance of the architecturally impressive library building on Vine Street.
D&M Construction Unlimited of Dalton submitted a $296,000 bid for the project, the lower of two the county received. That total cost reflects the sum of a $217,000 base bid to restore the building’s masonry sill and cornice and a $79,000 alternate bid for the restoration of the remaining second-story stone facade.
Pending repairs include replacing missing stones, resetting loose stones and repairing cracks in the masonry, county Engineer Frank Summa said shortly before commissioners’ voted unanimously to award the contract to D&M.
Lackawanna County awarded a contract for facade repairs at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library on Vine Street in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
While county officials opened bids for the project in late May, a cover sheet submitted with legislation authorizing the D&M contract says initial funding concerns delayed the award. The contract requires the work to be completed within six months, but, given the delay in awarding the project, an extension may be warranted if crews encounter “poor winter weather conditions,” per the cover sheet.
“As you know we’ve had scaffolding in front of that building since the winter, and it’s a building that should be inviting,” Scranton Public Library CEO Scott Thomas told the commissioners. “It doesn’t look that way (now), so we’re very happy about this to make it safe. When the work does begin we’ll work with the contractor to make sure people still have access to the building safely.”
Lackawanna County awarded a contract for facade repairs at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library on Vine Street in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
According to “History Set in Stone; A Guide to Downtown Scranton Architecture,” the county-owned Children’s Library, the neighboring Albright Memorial Library, the nearby Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple and Scranton’s Municipal Building (City Hall) and Central Fire Station are all among the downtown’s “Gothic District” properties.
The guide describes the Children’s Library building as a “wonderful example of Neoclassical Revival architecture” built for the First Church of Christ, Scientist in 1914 by architects R.W. Snyder and A.J. Ward. It was “converted for use as a welcoming children’s library” in 1987, per the guide.
Jack Lee, 5, of Waymart, digs through building pieces at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library in Scranton Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Newspaper records note the Children’s Library started as a small room in the Albright Memorial Library before moving into the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building next door in December 1987, to accommodate the growing number of families using its services.
When the facade work on the building might begin was not immediately clear.
MONDAY UPDATE
THEN: Facade issues at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library in Scranton were discovered last year.
NOW: Commissioners awarded a contract for stone and masonry repairs at the Vine Street building.