Making Way for Expansion, Free Books Flying Off Shelves at Library

Free books are going by the thousands at , as the library adds on a that will temporarily relocate the children's wing to the basement while construction is undergoing.

Library Director Dennis Fabiszak said 4,000 books - mostly hardcover novels, all adult books - were set out earlier this week and as of Wednesday afternoon, about half had gone.

"We needed them out of the way as soon as possible to get started on the demolition. I figured instead of throwing them away, we thought we'd give them away," he said. "People have been pouring in to take stuff off the shelves."

Fabiszak had to move the books, most of which have been donated over the years, in order for an expansion of the children's wing - - to get underway. Until then, he said, the books will be there.

"They will be there until the bulldozers tell me to get everything out of the way," he said, adding that he wasn't sure if that would be Thursday or Friday.

Fabiszak said he expects construction to take about a year.