Keith Summey North Charleston
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

CHARLESTON, SC – Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) welcomes the public to the grand opening of the new Keith Summey North Charleston Library (KSNC), located at 3503 Rivers Ave., on Thursday, April 20. The public is invited to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. along with special events beginning immediately after the ceremony, approximately 10 a.m. Free refreshments and light bites will be provided by North Charleston-based restaurants.

Activities are planned throughout the day to celebrate the opening. The ribbon cutting ceremony will include speakers from the library and Charleston County Government, as well as other elected officials including the library’s namesake, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. In addition, patrons will have the opportunity to attend several events. See flyer attached for the list of all programs including chef demonstrations, special guests, and giveaways.

The 20,000-square-foot building provides public spaces, technology, and special features designed to enrich the lives of the community. The facility will feature services and programs designed for food literacy including a Charlie Cart mobile food kitchen and classroom for culinary demonstrations and classes.

The Library will also feature a hands-on hydroponic garden, growing fresh herbs and vegetables that will be used in the Library’s culinary program as well as STEM-related educational opportunities. The garden was made possible by a grant from The Center of Resilience Excellence South Carolina (CORE SC), a statewide consortium developing solutions to resilience challenges facing South Carolina. It is this nexus between local, state, and federal organizations that leads to actionable outcomes, improving community and societal resilience throughout South Carolina.

“The goal of CORE SC’s grants program is to provide funding for projects that enable organizations to develop innovative solutions to the state’s resilience challenges that are scalable, replicable, and sustainable,” said Kevin Limehouse, CORE SC’s program administrator.

“The hydroponic garden at the new library is one way of improving the lives of our residents by allowing them to interact with a STEM activity that is addressing food insecurity in a practical and tangible way.”

CORE SC is a consortium whose members include the College of Charleston, the South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston County Government, Dominion Energy, and the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA).

Other features of the library include:

• Community and study rooms (bookable online and at the branch)
• Outdoor reading areas
• Self-Check kiosks and Automated Materials Handling
• Creative Studios/Makerspace
• Storytime room
• Dedicated children and teen areas
• Children’s computers
• Gaming systems for teens
• Learning (computer) Lab
• Cooking Classroom
• Interactive historical display

The KSNC library was built on the site of the original Cooper River Memorial Library, which opened in 1948. The new branch was designed to incorporate a portion of the original library’s building into its structure. To honor this history, the branch will also feature a unique, interactive history wall that tells the story of the original branch’s inception in the 1940s, all the way through the building of the new library.

“We’re thrilled to bring the latest library resources, services and technology to this area, while also honoring the history and impact of the former Cooper River Memorial Library that once sat on this site,” said Executive Director Angela Craig. “We hope the community will join us in celebrating the opening of this brand-new hub for knowledge and connection.”

This facility is the last of five new libraries to open after the passing of a $108.5 million referendum in 2014 that called for new facilities, renovations, and updates throughout Charleston County libraries. For more details on the referendum and construction projects, visit ccpl.org/construction.

The KSNC branch was designed by architects McMillan Pazdan Smith and was built by M.B. Kahn. Construction of the 20,000 square-foot facility began with a groundbreaking in May 2021.

The library will provide the following services and programs:

• Browsing and borrowing of library materials including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and Blu-Rays. *
• Borrowing of laptop computers and mobile hotspots (holds may be placed for pickup at this location). *
• Borrowing of attraction passes and other non-traditional materials (holds may be placed for pickup at this location). *
• Access to public computers, internet, and Wi-Fi.
• Low-cost printing and copying.
• Notarizations.
• Meeting Room bookings for non-profit, civic, educational/cultural organizations and official government entities.
• Programs and events for children, teens, adults, and seniors including:
o Storytimes: Click for Schedule
o One-on-One Technical Help
o Book Clubs/Discussions
o More

*Library card required for services with asterisk.

A special thanks to all our local sponsors, partners, and supporters:

• Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits
• Chef Amethyst Ganaway
• Charleston Friends of the Library
• Charleston County School of the Arts
• Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
• Coastal Chamber Music
• CORE SC
• Creech’s Florist
• Daddy’s Girls Bakery
• Evo Bakery
• Fresh Future Farms
• Holy City Brewing
• Jamaican Grill
• Liberty Hill Historical and Genealogical Society
• Liberty Hill Improvement Council
• Military Magnet High School’s JROTC
• New York Pizzeria
• Orange Spot Coffee
• Roadside Blooms
• S.C. Stingrays

For more information about this library branch and updates on the construction of the other facilities, please visit ccpl.org/construction or call 843-805-6890. You may download the Opening Day Events Flyer below.