Illinois residents donate books for damaged libraries

ROUND LAKE, Ill. (AP) - Residents in a northern Chicago suburb are donating books to the local school district after it lost two libraries in a summer flood.

The Round Lake Area School District says it has received at least 100,000 books so far to stock new libraries at Murphy and Ellis elementary schools.

Both schools lost their entire collections during storms on July 12 that flooded several classrooms and destroyed computer rooms. Along with damage at Round Lake Beach Elementary School, the total loss from the floods was estimated at $3 million.

Superintendent Connie Collins says the facilities will be rebuilt as upgraded learning spaces instead of libraries. She says the learning spaces will be designed to promote collaborative learning.

District officials hope to have the facilities revamped by October.