The Charleston County Public Library’s Main Library on Calhoun Street will undergo a full renovation in 2026, requiring its closure for about two years. During this time, a temporary facility will open at 1142 Morrison Drive in the former International Longshoreman’s Association building to continue providing public services.
Renovation Details
The renovated Main Library will feature a youth floor on the first level catering to children and teenagers ages zero to 18 and their caregivers, along with adult services on the second floor, including business innovation space, fiction and non-fiction books, and the South Carolina room.
“We’re going to be moving the teen room from the second floor to the first floor. That is a youth floor for children ages zero to 18, also for parents and caregivers,” Craig said. “Then, on the second floor, that will be where the adult services are. That will be the business innovation area, the adult book’s fiction [and] non-fiction, and then we also have the South Carolina room too.”][/translate]
Temporary Facility
The new temporary location will offer a smaller fiction and non-fiction collection, computers, and a children and teen area. It is conveniently located on several bus lines to ensure easy access for regular downtown library patrons without requiring long travel.”The new temporary location is set to be at 1142 Morrison Drive, located on the upper peninsula and in the former International Longshoreman’s Association building. Officials said it will be a modified version of the Main Library offering a small fiction and non-fiction collection, computers, a children and teen area and more. For patrons who may be worried about accessing the library, officials said the facility is located along several bus lines.”[/translate]
County Council member Jenny Costa Honeycutt emphasized the importance of the temporary site’s proximity, saying it allows users to maintain access to familiar services without needing to travel farther.”So, having a facility nearby that folks who are regular users of the downtown library can access will enable them to access the services and needs that they’re used to, accustomed to in a nearby location,” Jenny Costa Honeycutt, council member for Charleston County, said. “As opposed to have to travel over a bridge or to a different part of the city.””[/translate]
The lease for the temporary site will start in January 2026 and end in December 2027. Public notifications will precede the Main Library’s shutdown for renovations. This project will conclude the library renovations initiated by the 2014 referendum.”The lease agreement begins in January 2026 and ends in December 2027. CCPL officials said they will inform the public when they plan to shut down the Main Library branch. This is the final library to undergo renovations in the 2014 referendum.”[/translate]
