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Bloomington library rejects mover bids and sets groundbreaking date

Bloomington Public Library
Ralph Weisheit
/
WGLT file
The Bloomington Public Library is set to undergo a 21,000-square-foot expansion.

Bids to move Bloomington Public Library books and other materials for a planned expansion came in too high.

So, Director Jeanne Hamilton said staff will do part of the job — the packing.

The library’s Board of Trustees rejected two bids because the lowest bid was close to $80,000 over budget.

Hamilton said the library needs to get the materials out of the library because different parts of the building will be off-limits during construction.

“Staff worked out a detailed moving plan where we can as a staff team pack boxes and put them in one single location to then hire movers to take those to offsite storage,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said moving library books and other materials is highly specialized to ensure collections stay in order, and that's why the library hires movers.

Hamilton added the materials are being moved off site because half of the building will remain open during each phase of the $25 million expansion. It will add 21,000 square feet to the library.

The library board had budgeted $180,000 for movers. The lowest bid was $258,000. Hamilton said the library plans to rebid the project with the more limited scope.

Groundbreaking

Bloomington Public Library officials plan to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on June 2 at 10 a.m.

“This will be a way to celebrate this project that the community has really come together and made possible,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said preconstruction work is already underway at the library and renovation work is expected to continue until the fall of next year.

Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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