State Historical Library to close July 26 for move into Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library    

[JULY 24, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois State Historical Library, beneath the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield, will close to the public starting Monday, July 26, so the process of moving into the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library may begin.

"This is no simple operation," said Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Director Richard Norton Smith. "All of the library's 12 million historic items, including its unparalleled 47,000-item Lincoln Collection, will be moved over a period of six weeks or so. We hope to be finished before the end of September, and we will keep the public informed about our progress."

Bids from professional moving firms were opened this week to determine who will help move the library's collections, furnishings and staff.

In existence since 1889, the Illinois State Historical Library contains more than 175,000 books, 90,000 reels of Illinois newspapers on microfilm, 6,000 maps and broadsides, 200,000 prints and photographs, and 10.5 million manuscripts.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, at the southeast corner of Sixth and Jefferson streets in downtown Springfield, will be the new location and name of the State Historical Library, and once the move is complete will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. free of charge.

The Illinois State Historical Library is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
news release]