Archibald Library reopens Sept. 13

When I first heard that the Archibald Library was getting a face lift, I thought it'd just be a little Botox around the laugh lines. After a visit today, I realized it's more like reconstructive surgery.

The remodeling project, which started in June will wrap up this month with a grand opening at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 13. Library employees Melissa Myers, left, and Irene Weiss are seen in this pic putting back some of the books that were moved while the library got new carpeting and furniture. There will be more computers for adults and children and a new space for computer classes on the first floor.

The thing I'm most excited about are the two lit columns that will be filled with water and bubbles to be stationed in the children's area. They were still covered with protective wrap today but in my imagination, they look like colorful lava lamps twice my height.

Robert Karatsu, the assistant library director who has been keeping a remodeling blog, told me that the borrowing didn't slow down this summer just because the Archibald Library was closed. He said about 85 percent of the patrons went over to the Biane Library, which was opened seven days a week, during this transition.

The city opened a satellite library at Central School thinking that bookworms might not want to drive out to Victoria Gardens. I thought that was odd. The city is not that big, and even if you live on the west side of town, the Biane Library shouldn't be that out of the way. I've gone to check out items at the Biane Library and I live in Pomona.