CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) will close the Main Library, located at 68 Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston, on Saturday, Aug. 1 to begin renovation. The final day of public service will be Friday, July 31. This marks the final phase of the referendum-funded project approved by voters in 2014. Renovation work is expected to take approximately 18 months.
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. Plans also include refreshed public spaces and enhanced programming areas to support how the community learns, creates, and connects.
“This closure marks the beginning of an important transformation for our Main Library,” said CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig. “While this location will be temporarily unavailable, the investment allows us to create a more functional, accessible, and welcoming space for the future. We remain committed to serving our community throughout construction, with continued access to essential services and resources at our temporary location and across our library system.”
CCPL will continue serving the downtown peninsula at a temporary site at 1142 Morrison Drive, with an opening date to be announced soon. The temporary facility will offer core library services, including (but not limited to):
Browsing collections for children, teens, and adults
Interlibrary Loan support
Limited space for events and programs
Holds pickup
Exterior materials return
Public computers for all ages
Staff assistance
Trident United Way’s Center for Strong Families, currently housed inside Main Library, will also continue at the temporary site, where families can access wraparound support.
A community meeting will be held on Monday, May 11, from 6–7 p.m. at Main Library to provide updates on the renovation project and offer the public an opportunity to ask questions. For more details, visit ccpl.org or contact Main Library at 843-805-6930.
Ahead of Main Library’s closure, the South Carolina Room closed on May 1 and will remain unavailable for approximately eight to 10 weeks during the transition. Services, collections, and in-person research assistance will not be accessible during this time. The department will reopen in a temporary location at 1248 Camp Road, with an official reopening date to be announced. For more information, visit ccpl.org/south-carolina-history.