The Islamic State (IS) blew up the Mosul Public Library on Sunday, destroying more than 10,000 books and 700 rare manuscripts.

Reports said that the terrorists used improvised explosive devices to destroy the building, which contained maps and books from the Ottoman Empire, collections of Iraqi newspapers from the 19th century, and other historical items. 

The militants took over the northern Iraqi town last year, and broke the locks on the library in January. 

Leaving behind Islamic texts, the men rounded up children's books, poetry, health books, and other literature and put them in pickup trucks. 

"These books promote infidelity and call for disobeying Allah," a man announced, according to a witness. "So they will be burned."

Civilians allegedly gathered what books they could in flour sacks. Those caught hoarding books have been threatened with death. 

A University of Mosul professor reported that other cultural institutions have been targeted by IS since December, including the Sunni Muslim library, the library of the Latin Church and Monastery of the Dominican Fathers, and the Mosul Museum Library.

A US Central command official told reporters details of the White House's plan to take Mosul away from the militants in a highly unusual teleconference held last week. Some 20,000 to 25,000 Iraqi troops currently in training will help carry out the attack in April or May, the official revealed. 

The terrorist group, led by Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, has increased in power substantially since the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in December 2011.

IS controls the Iraqi cities of Mosul, Baiji, and Fallujah, as well as parts of Syria, and have killed thousands. Millions more have been displaced because of violence and persecution.