The new and improved Claremont Library is set to open Monday, and workers are making moves.

Library employees spent much of last Monday moving books and furniture back into the Claremont Library, ahead of its grand re-opening on November 26. About 40 to 50 boxes full of books were moved from the temporary express library in the Alexander Hughes Community Center to the library, according to Senior Maintenance Worker Aram Galfayan.

By 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, the tiny room that served as the library headquarters for months was empty. Customers could still be seen walking in to turn in books that were due.

The move from the Hughes Center was quick, taking roughly 45 minutes to pick everything up and load them on library-owned maintenance trucks.

Around 2 p.m., the trucks pulled up and the workers unloaded boxes of books—as well as assorted furniture such as tables, chairs and desks—back into the library.

The rest of the library was still, save for a few volunteers receiving the books and furniture to place back into the facility. That will all change on November 26.

The new library promises to have something for everyone. The scope of the project included creating brand new restrooms, including some that will be gender-neutral and just for families; installing a new HVAC system and renovations to the adult and circulation areas.

Drought-tolerant landscaping has also been added around the exterior, and the parking lot was also resurfaced in anticipation of the grand re-opening.

Claremont Library Director Amy Crow spoke at last week’s city council meeting about the news, sharing that by the council’s next session, “I’ll only have to walk across the street,” to city hall.

She thanked the city for their support, especially the Human Services Department and the Hughes Center staff for allowing the library to operate in the community center throughout the seven-month construction process.

“We literally could not have continued library services without you, so thank you so much,” she said.

The grand re-opening will feature an entire day’s worth of activities for Claremont kids, including MakMo Fun with Ozobots at 10 a.m., Arty Loon’s Exploratorium at 3:30 p.m. and the Teen Tumbling Towers challenge at 5 p.m.

The Friends of the Clarmeont Library will host its  Fine Book Sale where hundreds of additional titles will be available for purchase on Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members receive a 10 percent discount that day. Cash, check, credit cards accepted.

On opening day, copies of the Claremont On the Same Page community read, The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen will be available for sale, and participants can pick up a full color lawn sign, illustrated by Naomi Howland and designed by Joel Cinnamont. The library is located at 208 N. Harvard Ave., Claremont. More information can be found at lacountylibrary.org/claremont-library.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com