Demolition of the Atherton Library began Tuesday, Nov. 20, to make way for a $22.8 million rebuild of the library.

Those stopping by the Atherton Civic Center will find construction fencing, trucks, dust and noise as the old building at 2 Dinkelspiel Lane is razed, according to a town blog post. Demolition will take place on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Library and Public Works Department equipment, artifacts, desks and other items the town no longer needs are up for auction.

The contractor, Central Valley Environmental, has 30 working days – nonholiday workdays – to complete the demolition, Marty Hanneman, the town's project manager, said in an email.

The library moved to a temporary portable building next to the former library building in October; that facility opened on Oct. 22.

The library is giving away books that it could not fit into its temporary quarters, according to the town. The books are in boxes in the town hall lobby at 91 Ashfield Road. A majority of the books are for ages 13 and up. You can claim the free books between 8 a.m. and noon and 1 and 5 p.m. on normal business days.

The long-awaited new civic center complex will be home to Atherton's new library, town administration buildings, police department, building department and public works. The town wants to rebid the project in early 2019, with construction slated to begin in the spring.

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