The South Carolina Room at the Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) will close temporarily for eight to 10 weeks beginning May 1 as the Calhoun Street library prepares for renovations later this year.
Services, collections, and in-person research assistance will not be accessible in the South Carolina Room after May 1, library staff said. The room will reopen temporarily, however, at 248 Camp Road on a date to be announced.
The South Carolina Room is CCPL’s primary local history and genealogy research department, preserving and providing access to materials that document the history and people of Charleston County and South Carolina.
Its collections include historical documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts, newspapers and other archival resources that support scholarly research, family history and community exploration.
This temporary relocation will allow continued preservation of materials while renovations at the main library are underway.
Renovations of the Main Library at 68 Calhoun St. will mark the final phase of the referendum-funded project voters approved in 2014. The main library, CCPL’s largest location with more than 100,000 square feet, is scheduled to close in the fall with construction beginning in the last quarter of 2026.
Designed with families and accessibility in mind, the renovation will relocate children and teen services to the same floor, making it easier for families to use the library together. The project plans also include refreshed public spaces and enhanced programming areas.
To ensure uninterrupted service on the peninsula, CCPL has secured a nearby temporary location at 1142 Morrison Drive. It is expected to open near the time of the main library’s closure.
“This renovation is a major milestone for CCPL and the final step in fulfilling the vision voters supported in 2014,” CCPL executive director Angela Craig said.
“We’re reimagining the main library to better serve our community, with more accessible, family-friendly spaces and modern features that reflect how people use the library today,” she said. “While construction is underway, our temporary location will keep core services available and our patrons connected.”
The temporary facility will offer core library services, including the ability to browse and check out materials, pick up holds, use public computers, access wi-fi and participate in select programs. Additional service details will be announced later this year.
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