Clayton honors library founders in light of 30th anniversary
CLAYTON, CA (Mar. 20, 2025) — Thank you Joyce Atkinson, Jeanne Boyd (posthumously) and Diana Bauer for dreaming big and making the hope of a library in Clayton a reality more than 30 years ago.
These women, with the help of the Clayton branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), decided in 1989 that the Clayton community needed to build a library. They formed a steering committee made up of many organizations across the community. In July of that year, the Clayton Community Library Foundation (CCLF) was created to raise money for the project.
Over the next five years, fundraisers included book sales and crab feeds. A multitude of grant applications resulted in one large grant of $2.8 million from Prop. 85 in 1991. The community held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 12, 1994, and later that year, the city approved $542,000 for a book collection.
After all of the hard work, extraordinary vision and determination, the Clayton Community Library opened its doors on March 4, 1995.
Because of the efforts of these three women and lots of other volunteers and donors who supported the library then and continue to do so today, we can celebrate 30 years of the Clayton Community Library this month.
Community space
Today, thousands visit each year. Besides a vast assortment of books and publications, activities and classes include Tai Chi, chair yoga and meditation, story time for children, art classes, teen events, book clubs and so much more.
To coincide with the 30th anniversary of the library, the city will be embarking on a refresh project later this year that will include new paint, carpeting, improved lighting, furniture and other design elements. CCLF is also hoping to have some celebratory events throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary. Meanwhile, save the date for the next book sale, May 17-18 – and May 16 for members only.
The Clayton Community Library stands as a testament to the strength, commitment and caring that so many of our residents perform day in and day out to make our community a better place. Thank you again Joyce, Jeanne and Diana for being shining examples of that.
Each month, the city gives an Unsung Hero Award to someone making a significant difference in our community. We honored Linda Pinder in January and Paul Jordan in February. In March, we will be honoring Joyce Atkinson, Jeanne Boyd (posthumously) and Diana Bauer.
If you have suggestions about future Unsung Heroes, please feel free to contact me at 925-673-7324 or kimt@claytonca.gov.