MOVIN', MOVIN', MOVIN', ALL THE BOOKS ARE MOVIN'. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library is temporarily closed amid a temporary move.

In preparation for its remodeling and expansion, The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library is temporarily moving services to 2725 Mall Drive in Eau Claire. The temporary location, located inside a building currently occupied by United Health, is near Savers Thrift Store and Festival Foods.

As library staff begin the transition to the temporary location, all library services were paused as of April 12. The library’s website is actively updating throughout the moving process, but staff will be unavailable to answer questions through April 25. Because of the pause on services, no library materials will be due for the duration of the move.

Deputy Library Director Shelly Collins-Fuerbringer says the move will be a “massive undertaking … from roughly 60,000 square feet of space to approximately 35,000 square feet of space.”

The temporary location will provide access to the library’s collection of books, public computers, and reference services. Once the Mall Drive location is open, library staff plan to resume paused services such as Park & Pickup. The most recent website update states more planning is required to determine an opening date for the temporary location.

Once the 400 Eau Claire St. building cleared out, construction is scheduled to begin in May. The remodeling and expansion plans include an event space on a brand-new third floor, updated study rooms, a drive-through pickup window, and energy-saving building systems. The project is expected to last approximately 14 months with a reopening expected in autumn of 2022.

Learn more about the big move here.