DOWNEY — Under a bright blue sky, when the trees around the Downey City Library are about to put forth green buds and leaves, a party was going on. The amazing blue ribbon library staff had invited kids and their parents, and had balloons and Spin The Wheel Games of chance with candy and books and puzzles as prizes. Finger painting on hither-to untouchable white walls.

And it almost looked like business as usual. In the Friends’ Used Book Room, sales were brisk. Book lover Mitch proudly held up his catch of the day, Marcella, one of Johnny Gruelle’s Raggedy Ann’s stories, Volunteer Marcia toted up his purchases while his wife Joy stood by, ready to pay.

But the Library is about to close for 15 months, and this new beginnings party was to celebrate the new phase of life for this beloved Downey institution.

In 1898, seven women residents of Downey met to found a social club – today’s Women’s Club Downey. One of their purposes was to establish a public library. When the Los Angeles County Library System opened a branch in Downey in September, 1915, the collection was turned over to it. Then in 1958, two years after the city of Downey was incorporated, the City Council voted to withdraw from the county library system and to accept responsibility for providing Downey with its own library.

The present building has not been renovated since 1979-80. But new funds were made available by Measure S, a sales tax approved by Downey voters in 2015. So far, the tax money has contributed to Parks and Recreation renovations, and street improvements. Now it’s the library’s turn. and a new internal configuration of the library’s services is about to take place.

One of the giveaways that something was different today was in the Computer Lab. All the furniture was gone and only one row of computers stood against the wall, but each screen was glowing, still in use.

In the Cormack Room, named for former Mayor Robert Cormack who just passed away earlier this month at the age of 99, a sign said “PAINT THE ROOM,” and here children were drawing and finger painting on the pure white walls. That had to mean that demolition was coming, and the wall was going to be torn down. What can be more fun than a party where you get to break a few rules?

Children’s Librarian and Literacy Coordinator Claudia Dailey and Library Director Ben Dickow walked together to greet the arriving guests, Claudia in a flowing coral and white print long skirt and matching coral silk blouse. Ben was in a blue polo shirt with the seal of the City of Downey, and running sneakers, appropriate for a busy man who wears two hats.

Blue and coral are the colors for Downey’s ubiquitous newly -branded street signs, and like them, Ben and Claudia were everywhere, Claudia making sure that each child had a balloon, even the ones in a carriage.

Later, Ben would be off to the Columbia Memorial Space Center, a few miles away by the Downey Promenade. “Juggling both the Space Center and Library has been fine,” said Ben, “because I have a fantastic staff at each location. They make the job easier. We’ve been working to stitch both a little closer together, making managing both a little more efficient.”

The Children’s Book Room was filled with busy families doing crafts. At one table sat Alice and her mother, Desiree, coloring with big crayons. Alice has been coming since she was a baby – she’s now four, as she showed me by holding up four fingers.

Also at the table was another fellow volunteer of mine, Eunice, who has worked in the Friend’s Book Store. Eunice was filling out a form to become a member of the Santa Fe Springs Library. We Downeyites will be temporary book-orphans, so delegates from nearby libraries staffed tables in the lobby, to make it easy to become a member. Patti, the librarian assistant from SFS, assured me, “plenty of free parking there.”

To get there, take Florence east; about a mile after crossing the 605, turn left on Pioneer for about half a mile, a few jogs and you’re there – consult your maps or GPS. Just north of the Clarke Estate, the library is part of the beautifully landscaped SFS Civic Center complex, which fronts on Telegraph Road, and Maggi’s Pub is a great place for a casual lunch, Brit style.

City of Commerce had a corresponding table, and was giving out handsome pens with “tutor.com - learn better” written on them.

“That’s our online tutoring program, free for any child who signs up,” said Scott Gurrola, librarian at City of Commerce. The C of C bookmark listed four locations, the main one, and three branches.

“Downey is bigger than City of Commerce,” I said, “and we have only one library.”

“One of the branches is for vets,” said Scott. The Rosewood Neighborhood Main Library, on Jillson, is only four miles up the 710 freeway, and then one mile east, using the Washington Blvd. exit.

The Patriot article by Eric Pierce on March 14 gave a thorough listing of where Downey Library programs will be conducted while the building is closed. All kinds of city venues and groups are lending a hand. For example, the Teen Mobile VR Unit will be stationed at Furman Park on Tuesday and Thursday, June 4- July 31, from 12 to 1 p.m.

Back in the Library lobby, Rahee knelt with her daughter, Gianna, age 4. Twin sister Amaya, and their brother, Deven, who is 5, were strolling with dad Bobby, who has been coming to the library for 30 years, said Rahaa.

“We come to the Children’s Story Hour. But we’re not sure where it will be,” she said. When informed that the City Hall had made the Council Chambers available for Pre-school Story Telling Time, 10:30 to 11:30 am on Tuesdays, her eyes brightened. Baby and Toddler Story Time will be Saturdays at 9:15 am inside the nursery at the First Baptist Church.

Many special library programs will continue as usual because the library staff is still functioning. A volunteer recognition lunch is set for Saturday, April 20, at the Rio Hondo Event Center. And National Library Week will be celebrated April 8 at the Space Center, with a children’s event and an author’s visit.

In an exclusive interview, Ben has explained that he will still be busy.

“I will remain as library director,” Ben said, “managing the many tasks that staff will be doing during the renovation. The library will continue to offer a suite of programs at various locations around the city; staff will be retagging and re-cataloging all the 100,000+ items in the collection; we will be implementing an extensive training program to get ready for new services in the renovated. We’ll be very busy. Plus, I’ll still lead the Space Center.”

“We recognize the very unique and powerful potential for impact,” Ben said, “that having these two organizations - a library and museum - working in concert can have. That keeps me, and all of us, motivated to make it all work smoothly. This tie-in will continue once the library renovation is done.” A Summer Reading Camp will be held Wednesdays from June 12 to July 11, at the Space Center.

Claudia took time from her busy schedule to show us how so many Downey organizations will be proxy-hosting for the library. Literacy program tutoring, which is near and dear to Claudia’s heart, is every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 2 pm at the First Baptist Church. Adult Communication Class will meet Mondays at 11 am at the Downey Women’s Club.

The Library’s book discussion club, Booked For Lunch, which has 20 or so active members, will meet Thursdays at 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church. Summer reading shows will be scheduled on Mondays in June and July at the Downey Theatre. Impressive.

“The renovation gives library staff an opportunity to pause,” Ben said, “and rethink how we work and what we offer. The construction gives us time to develop these programs.”

Afterward at home I looked over my “swag” from the morning: two new library cards, at City of Commerce and SFS; several pens and a bottle of water; a luscious almond-cream topped pastry from Amapola (the Dunkin Donuts were all gone), a bookmark, some glossy brochures and a flyer from the Whittier Library about their “Pancakes in Paris” themed series of programs, a museum trip and a restaurant visit. Memo to self: get a card from the Whittier Library too.

All this forward -looking action points to a busy interim while we wait for our new Downey Library to re-open its doors.

At the Downey Library, customers and staff look forward to new beginnings