A big boost for the effort to build a new East Moline Library. On Tuesday TBK Bank announced the gift of its downtown branch after construction is completed on its new building next door.
Library Director Laura Long says the current library, just across 16th Avenue, was built in 1935, and the last major renovation was in 1958, 60 years ago.
"The East Moline Library has over 100,000 visitors every year, making it one of the most used publicly-funded programs in East Moline. Something like that deserves something new and wonderful."
In the former bank, the libary will have more than double the space it has now, and much more space for meetings and community events.
John DeDoncker, President of the Midwest Division of TBK, says the bank is NOT leaving downtown East Moline.
"We will build this new building starting here in the next few weeks. Once we have the DOT approvals and the city approvals, we hope to be demolishing our drive-through here in the next three weeks or so. We hope to start construction sometime in May. "
And the new bank building could be ready by November.
Long says renovating and adding on to the former bank will cost about 7 million dollars - the libary has raised 2.2 million so far, the value of the gift is 1.5 million, so there's 3.4 million dollars left to raise to pay for the move - a capital campaign will begin soon.
