EAST MOLINE, Ill. — East Moline Library completed a crucial step in its big building relocation project: moving books.
Tens of thousands of books were hauled out on Wednesday to their new home, the old TBK Bank building on 8th Street.
The process took just one day, with a crew of 15 movers transporting the library's entire collection.
"We do so many libraries, so these guys are well-versed at how it works," project manager Richard Benda said.
The movers measured each section of books on every shelf, then tagged each group to keep track of where they will go on the new shelf.
The movers and library staff joked they could have just wheeled boxes of books right across the street at the library's new location, but hauling them via truck made things nice and easy.
"Getting the opportunity to see how it all works and how they sticker all the shelves and count the collection and do all that sort of stuff is really neat," East Moline Public Library Director Laura Long said. "We're going to meet our goal, and we're going to be ready to work out of this building starting Friday."
The $7.1 million project was aimed at creating more space for the community to gather and to hold the library's materials.
The library's new spot, donated by TBK Bank, will have digital areas, children's learning spaces and even use a former bank vault as a meeting room.
East Moline Library closed its doors on Jan. 15 to prepare for the move. Staff said they are hopeful the new location will open sometime in March.