OAKLAND — Patrons and librarians at the Oakland Public Library’s Dimond branch have given way to carpenters, painters and other workers while the building undergoes a face-lift.

The branch at 3565 Fruitvale Ave. closed for renovation in December and is scheduled to reopen around the end of May.

This marks the first refurbishing of the building since it opened 36 years ago. Funds for the $600,000 remodeling project have come from donations and foundation grants. Friends of the Dimond Library, a volunteer group that assists the branch, has raised $40,000 of the $50,000 needed to buy new furniture, said supervising librarian Mary Schrader.

Workers will give the branch a new coat of paint and new carpeting and will create new spaces for programs serving adults, teens and children. A teen section will take over the back of the library which used to house the children’s department, Schrader said.

More shelving space will be available to store books written for patrons from 12 to 18 years old along with two computer stations and a white board that can be used for special projects.

A work table will also be part of the furniture along with a television monitor for video games that will replace the “big box TV” the library now uses, Schrader said.

The children’s section will move to the front of the library to take advantage of increased light generated by windows. Color-coordinated carpeting will help distinguish the kids zone from other areas of the branch.

A new information desk will highlight the remodeled library along with a pair of machines allowing patrons to check out books without the aid of a librarian. Such automation will free the library staff to concentrate on reference work and other one-on-one activities with patrons during time that would normally be devoted to checking out books, Schrader said.

Though self-checkout is available at the main Oakland library downtown, Dimond is the first branch to receive the technology, she said.

“It’s something we are committed to getting into all our branches, but we are starting out with Dimond,” she said.

In the meantime, patrons who have books they need to return can bring them to the Dimond site and place them in bins at the front of the building. Library staff is going to the site three days a week to pick up returned books.

Books and other materials that are being held at the Dimond branch can be obtained at the Cesar E. Chavez branch in Oakland at 3301 E. 12th St., Suite 271.

Patrons are encouraged to visit other library branches including: Lakeview, 550 El Embarcadero; Melrose, 4805 Foothill Blvd.; Montclair, 1687 Mountain Blvd.; and Rockridge, 5366 College Ave.

Donation checks for new branch furniture should be made out to the Friends of the Oakland Library, the library’s nonprofit sponsor and contain the note “Dimond Furniture Fund” on the check’s memo line.

Mail donations to FOPL/Dimond Furniture Fund 721 Washington St. Oakland, CA 95607. Online contributions can be sent to fopl.org/dimond. Please include “Dimond Library Furniture Fund” in the designation field.

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FYI

Books and other materials that are being held at the Dimond branch can be obtained at the Cesar E. Chavez branch in Oakland at 3301 E. 12th St., Suite 271.

Patrons are encouraged to visit other library branches including: Lakeview, 550 El Embarcadero; Melrose, 4805 Foothill Blvd.; Montclair, 1687 Mountain Blvd.; and Rockridge, 5366 College Ave.

Donation checks for new branch furniture should be made out to the Friends of the Oakland Library, the library’s nonprofit sponsor, and contain the note “Dimond Furniture Fund” on the check’s memo line.

Mail donations to FOPL/Dimond Furniture Fund 721 Washington St. Oakland, CA 95607.

Online contributions can be sent to fopl.org/dimond. Please include “Dimond Library Furniture Fund” in the designation field.

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