THE huge task of packing up and moving 85,000 books to Southend’s new £27million library is under way.

Southend Central Library, in Victoria Avenue, closed on August 17 to allow time for the transfer of stock to the Forum in Elmer Square.

Specialist removal firm Premier is undertaking the work of moving around 500 crates of books a day from 500 shelves.

A total of 56,000 books from the second floor of Central Library and 2,000 reference materials are being moved in the first phase for the first floor of the new building.

About 39,000 items from South Essex College are also being moved into the new library.

It will all be completed and about 150,000 books in place for the Forum to open on Monday, September 30. Professor Brian Cox will host talks at the new library and tickets are already sold out.

Southend Council is providing £12.5million towards the cost of the project, with the university contributing £10.4million and the college £4million.