Charleston County Public Library’s Main Branch at 68 Calhoun Street, a 104,000-square-foot flagship facility built in 1998, will undergo major renovations starting early 2026, funded partly by a 2014 referendum and additional fundraising like Project: Main targeting $12.4 million for $21 million total. The library seeks approval from the Charleston County Finance Committee on December 4, 2025, at 5 p.m. at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, to lease two temporary spaces during construction: 1142 Morrison Drive (public services) and 1248 Camp Road (staff offices and document storage). Funding for leases draws from the library’s operating budget and fund balance through December 2027, with completion hoped by 2027.​
Key Renovation Features
Enhancements centralize children’s and teen areas on the second floor, upgrade technology, expand the South Carolina Room for genealogy, and add career/education support spaces to match newer branches like Wando Mount Pleasant. Officials note the building needs a “facelift” to restore its role as the system hub amid rising construction costs since 2014 plans. This aligns with the user’s interest in Charleston-area community services and local government updates [user-information].​​
Temporary Operations
Morrison Drive (formerly ILA Building) will host public access downtown, while Camp Road handles sensitive materials, ensuring continuity during the full closure. Executive Director Angela Craig emphasized community benefits, and Main Manager Laura Gramling expressed excitement for modernized features post-renovation. The multi-branch system, part of a $108.5 million referendum effort, has already renovated others like John’s Island.
