Construction will soon begin for a new library in downtown East Moline. Ground was broken Thursday at the former branch of TBK Bank - it will be remodeled, with an addition.
Library Director Laura Long says the current library is more than 80 years old, and the last major update of any kind was in the 1950's.
"This library was built to the standards of the early 20th century. It doesn't have any flexible space for collaboration or for group projects, it doesn't have any study rooms, and it's just very outdated."
The new library, on 8th Street at 15th Avenue, will have more than 22,000 square feet of space, more than double the size of the current library.
The cost will be seven million dollars, and Long says nearly all of that money has already been raised. It includes a 2.6 million dollar grant from the state of Illinois and 1.4 million from a local private donor. That means no tax increase will be needed to pay for it, and the libary will not have to take out any large loans to pay for it.
It's expected to open next February.
