Through grant funding, Allen Memorial Public Library in Hawkins will be getting a makeover this spring.

The library received a Tocker Foundation grant of $52,556 to go toward refurnishing to give the building a more modern look. Local volunteers will be painting for the library.

Tocker works with small, community libraries in Texas to address needs in the community.

“We can remake the library with minimal cost to the city and taxpayers. We’re very excited about it. In order to be relevant and current, we needed to make some changes,” said library director Norma Hallmark. She added that the grant will pay for all the furniture expenses.

Hallmark said this is a new grant for the library, but it has been in the works for years. A consulting group was used to determine the furniture and its exact costs.

“We’re very thankful for organizations like the Tocker Foundation for small, rural libraries like us because otherwise nothing would change without these grant opportunities,” she said.

The project is expected to be completed in the spring; hopefully in April.