Volunteers move U. of Iowa library books

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 14 (UPI) -- Hundreds of volunteers passing books from hand to hand up staircases moved much of the University of Iowa library's contents out of the reach of floodwaters.

Nancy Baker, the head librarian at the main library in Iowa City, told National Public Radio Saturday library staff began moving boxes of manuscripts out of the basement Wednesday.

She put out a call for volunteers and got an overwhelming response from the university and community. The volunteers worked through 9 p.m. Friday.

"Hundreds of people showed up, hour after hour," she said.

The library staff was concerned about anything likely to be damaged by humidity and mold, Baker said.

"The third floor of our library looks like a bunker," she said. "We moved as much as we could possibly save."