The Woman's Club of Claymont opened a library in a shared space in Claymont's Old Stone School with just 600 books. They hoped that one day, the people of Claymont, the Ardens and the adjoining communities of the East Brandywine Hundred would have a state-of-the-art, freestanding library. Now, more than 80 years later, that day is almost here. Construction of a new 17,500-sqaure-foot library, located on 7.5 acres in Darley Green, is set to be finished in 2013.

Turning Over a New Leaf

The old library in the Claymont Community Center is very limited by size, design and location. But the new library will will accomodate:

• An improved and larger collection for all ages.
• An increased number of workstations for internet access and catlog searches.
• A seperate area just for children's library needs, story time and small group activities.
• An expanded young-adult area housing the teen collections, with space to allow teens to study, congregate and meet with tutors.
• Comfortable and inviting adult reading areas.
• Ample and varied public meeting rooms, including a large multipurpose meeting room.
• Handicap accessibility.
• Ample parking space.

The Next Chapter

New Castle County and the State of Delaware have authorized $8.29 million of the anticipated $9.54 million project. The Friends of the Claymont Public Library have started the Claymont Public Library Capital Campaign and have partnered with the county to raise the additional funds needed from the charitable foundations, corporations, local businesses and the public.

Helping Us Live Happily Ever After

We need your help - and there are many ways you can get involved:

You can contribute to the fundraising campaign, as well as fund one of the many naming opportunities that are available (e.g. tutoring rooms, meeting rooms, individual bookshelves, book collections, or outdoor benches). Your underwriting will be permanently recognized e.g. "The Andrews Reading Room", etc.

You can also become a permanent part of Claymont Library history by purchasing an engraved commemorative brick (4" x 8") for $100. The brick will be placed in Memory Lane - an attractive pathway leading up to the library entrance.

You can assist with fundraising and newsletter writing, event planing, plubicity, or clerical duties. It will take many talents to make this campaign successful.