‘Perfect’ East Moline library has grand opening

James A. Hoffman remembers as a child getting his first Dr. Seuss book at the East Moline Public Library. He remembers turning 12 and being allowed to check out books for adult readers. And on Monday, Sept. 12, he added another memory – the official grand opening of the library in its new home at […]

James A. Hoffman remembers as a child getting his first Dr. Seuss book at the East Moline Public Library. He remembers turning 12 and being allowed to check out books for adult readers. And on Monday, Sept. 12, he added another memory – the official grand opening of the library in its new home at 745 16th Ave., East Moline, in the remodeled former TBK Bank building. More than 100 people attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the library in the new Louis E. Woodworth Public Library building.

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The $7.3 million library renovation project has been in the works for more than 10 years, but went into high gear in 2019 when TBK Bank donated its bank building and land for development of a new library. (TBK has since opened a new branch office in the same block at the corner of 7th Street and 16th Avenue.) “I am happy we could preserve it (the former bank building) and turn it into a beautiful library,” said Mr. Hoffman, who serves as president of the East Moline Public Library Board. During the grand opening event, which featured a Quad Cities Chamber ribbon cutting, many speakers, such as Mr. Hoffman, thanked the people and groups that helped make the library project possible.  Some of those “thank you” messages were directed at TBK Bank for donating the building; Mr. Woodworth, a former East Moline native who donated more than $1 million to the library project; former East Moline Mayor Bill Ward; City of East Moline and State of Illinois officials; John DeDonker of TBK Bank; the Friends of the Library; as well as library staff members and volunteers, and Laura Long, the library director. “Laura Long was the key to our success. … Day to day, she was swinging the bat to get things done,” Mr. Hoffman added. Ms. Long said she and library users have been very happy with the new facility, which has been open to the public since this spring. They especially like the fact there is more space in the new building, space for meetings and studying, a laptop computer lending program, a self-checkout system and many books and other items for patrons. “The people love it. It’s such a different space,” she added. In a previous interview with the QCBJ, Ms. Long called the former library building (located across the street) a good building, “but it’s just not set up for modern library services.” The East Moline Public Library opened in the former building in 1935. The last major addition was about 1950, she said. Some of the people using the new library space on Monday were two youngsters – Abraham Velasco, 13, and his friend Gabriel Hoffman, 11, who were using computers on the second floor of the library during the grand opening events. “We like the computers. It’s a lot of fun. It’s just a perfect place,” said Abraham. Gabriel added that he likes the study and meeting rooms on the second floor. “You can go in those rooms if it gets too loud out here,” he added. Here are some features of the library:

• The new library building has about 20,000 square feet of usable space, said Ms. Long. In its old building, the library hosted more than 100,000 patrons a year. The new, bigger facility is expected to increase its use by 25%, according to the library’s website.
• One of the unique features to located on the first floor is the former bank vault, which has been turned into a teen meeting room, complete with a TV and seating area. During a tour of the room on Monday, one visitor jokingly asked: “Is that the safe zone?”
• The second floor of the new library features a study room, meeting area, computer stations, magazines, DVD movies and music CDs.
• The library basement has more meeting areas, more books, seating areas and tables.

Check out the QCBJ’s print edition on Monday, Sept. 19, for more details on the new East Moline library.