Charleston’s largest library is due for a makeover.
The main library location on Calhoun Street, was built in 1998. It will soon be getting much-needed renovations after a $108.5 million referendum voters passed in 2014 which called for updates for all Charleston County Public Library branches.
Of the $9.5 million left in the referendum set aside for the main branch, $3.2 million is going toward architecture fees, permitting fees and contingency funding for emergencies and any unforeseen cost increases. With $6.3 million dedicated to the actual renovations, library executive director Angela Craig said the library needs an additional $1.5 million to complete all the renovations they have in mind.
Most of County Council agreed, recommending approval of the additional funds at a March 20 finance committee meeting with an 8-1 vote. Councilman Larry Kobrovsky voted against the request.
“I think (CCPL) did a great job renovating libraries all across the county,” Councilman Rob Wehrman, who represents the district the library is in, told The Post and Courier. “I’m glad to see that is coming to our flagship location downtown.”
A major part of the renovations include moving the teen section from the third floor to the second floor, making the second floor a dedicated “youth services” floor, Craig said. All adult content on the second floor will be moved to the third floor.
Switching the library sections will allow for kids to be a bit louder on the second floor, Craig said, and the third floor will have more quiet spaces for adults. The second floor will also have more dedicated space for library staff.
CCPL is also updating technology in the auditorium and meetings rooms. Craig said the main library staff currently must roll out projectors, but the upgrades will allow for better screens and projectors similar like other newly renovated libraries.
The library usually sees a boost in circulation and library card sign-ups after re-opening a newly renovated library, Craig said, which she attributes to a refresh of their collections and improved efficiency of the space.
“It really appeals to the public because it’s better organized,” Craig said.
There are 221,504 library cardholders throughout the county’s library system as of March 18.
Five brand new libraries were also built as part of the referendum: Wando Mount Pleasant Library, Baxter-Patrick James Island Library, Bees Ferry West Ashley Library, St. Paul’s Hollywood Library and the Keith Summey North Charleston Library.
During construction of the new libraries, existing ones were also renovated. The McClellanville Library, which opened back up to the public in May 2024, received new carpet and furniture, as well as more shelving.
The Poe/Sullivan’s Island Library is the most recent library to get fixed up — complete with new restrooms and upgraded technology. It closed in August 2024 and will open back up to the public March 25.
While the main branch is the last of the libraries to be renovated, Craig said they’ll be able to take what they learned from all the other library renovations and apply it to CCPL’s biggest library.
“It’s like having the ultimate toolbox,” she said. “We’re excited to take all that knowledge and invest it in (the main library).”
Once the main library renovations are finished, all funds from the 2014 referendum will have been spent. After that, Craig said they’ll have to wait and see how the newly constructed and renovated libraries operate before deciding if other areas in the county need a new library, or deciding they want to propose another referendum later on.
The library is still in the planning phase and is working with the architect Liollio. There are no current plans to shut down the library for renovations this year, Craig said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
