Clayton celebrates completion of the Hocutt Ellington Memorial Library renovation; reopening set for July 6

Clayton officials and library staff onstage at a public ceremony celebrated the completion of the Hocutt Ellington Memorial Library renovation and said the building is scheduled to reopen to the public on July 6.

"Libraries are often described as the heart of a community and I truly believe that," Mayor Jody McLeod said, thanking the staff, volunteers and elected officials who supported the project.

Melissa Poole, the library manager, said the renovated building is designed to "make it simpler to browse collections" and to offer "more comfortable places to sit, stay, and enjoy the space." Poole described three features visitors will notice immediately: an easier-to-navigate layout, increased seating and new collaboration spaces for programs and learning.

Chris Gallaher, the capital program manager, said the town invested "two and a half million dollars" guided by a comprehensive facility study to modernize the 1981 building. He thanked Davis Cain Architects and Vortex Construction for their roles in planning and construction and called the project a long-term investment in Clayton's future.

Council member Gretchen Williams emphasized the library's role for young people and students, noting the building's proximity to Clayton High School and describing the renovated space as "a place where children grow into readers, readers become learners, and learners become leaders." She and other officials encouraged new partnerships with schools, businesses and nonprofits to expand programs.

Representatives of the Friends of the Library presented a check during the ceremony and noted the group's 50th anniversary as an incorporated organization. A Friends representative said the donation "represents the Friends' ongoing commitment to supporting the mission of the library."

Event organizers asked elected officials and volunteers to join a group photo and thanked library staff for moving collections and continuing services during the renovation. The ceremony included applause and celebratory remarks from community members.

The library manager and town officials said the renovated facility will support expanded programming, technology access and more comfortable public spaces when it reopens. The town did not provide a line-item funding breakdown at the ceremony; speakers identified the total investment amount but did not specify individual grants or funding sources.