The Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library will close at 6 pm Saturday April 2 for nine to twelve months.

During that time the entire building will be renovated and seismically strengthened. When the branch reopens, it will have 350 more square feet of space, a new reference desk, a more open and inviting lobby, a separate, sound-proofed teen room, a new picture-book alcove for children,  more chairs for reading books and new windows and skylights to let in more natural light.

Starting April 11, Claremont patrons will be able to request that their reserved books be brought to the neighborhood in the BranchVan, which will be parked in front of St. John’s Church on College Avenue and Derby (see map, left).  The BranchVan will be there during these hours:

Mon and Fri: 10:00 – 1:00
Tue and Sat: 2:30 – 5:30
Wed: 4:30 – 7:30
Thu: 12:00 – 3:00

 

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman...