New Baxter-Patrick James Island Library opening with several big programs

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) will open the Baxter-Patrick James Island Library, located at 1858 South Grimball Road, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. The library has put together a list of events for kids, teens, and adults that features special storytimes, Creation and Digital Studio demonstrations, author talks, and programs focused on the history of the site of the new library and James Island. 

The day starts with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The ribbon cutting ceremony will include speakers from the library and Charleston County Government, as well as elected officials. The ceremony will also feature the dedication of portraits of long-time James Island educators Nan C. Baxter and Anna S. Patrick. The new library, as well as the elementary school that formerly occupied the library site, were named for Mrs. Baxter and Mrs. Patrick to honor the impact they had on the surrounding community.

Keynote events: 

Owlbert Storytime (10:30 a.m.)
Meet Owlbert, and enjoy stories, songs and activities during this fun storytime session! Children in attendance will receive free Owlbert goodie bags, while supplies last. 

Evergreen Cemetery Panel Discussion (11 a.m.)
Listen to library staff and James Island community members present information and answer questions about the Evergreen Cemetery that's adjacent to the library. This panel will be moderated by CCPL Deputy Director Darlene Jackson. 

Makerspace Demo (11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.)
Preview the equipment in our makerspace, and learn how you can utilize these resources for your own projects.

Bingo for Adults (12:30 p.m.)
Play bingo for the chance to win a prize. Special guest Charleston County Councilwoman Anna Johnson will moderate the game. 

Young Adult Q&A with Author Corrie Wang (1 p.m.)
Join us for a fun, fast-paced Q&A session with Corrie Wang, the Charleston-based author of popular YA novels such as "The Takedown" and "City of Beasts." Pizza and refreshments will be served. 

Silent Disco (2:30 p.m.)
Borrow a pair of wireless headphones, and dance at the disco! 

The Historic Landscape of the New Baxter-Patrick James Island Library (4 p.m.)
Over the past three centuries, the land around the new Baxter-Patrick library has hosted a number of diverse residents whose collective experiences form a unique window into the community's past. From the first farm of a potential ex-pirate to the antebellum plantation of the Grimball family, enslaved people worked the land and persevered through the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the era of Jim Crow. Descendants of those people still populate the neighborhood, and enrich the community by preserving the memory of ancestors buried within Evergreen Cemetery. Join CCPL's historian, Dr. Nic Butler, for an illustrated overview of the historic landscape surrounding Charleston County's newest library. Light refreshments will be served.

All-Day Events:

Green Screen Photos
Experiment with some of the equipment from our digital creation studio, and take a fun green screen photo.

Stranger Things Scavenger Hunt
Drop in throughout the day to complete a scavenger hunt, and learn stranger things about your new library. When the hunt is over, make your own Will Byers missing poster or a Scoops Ahoy hat! 

Art Cart: Days of Gratitude
Drop by the Teen Space anytime during the month of November to create your own artistic masterpiece based on the monthly theme.

Opening Month Events:

Opening Day kicks off a month of special events that include a special Smithsonian poster exhibition and discussion on World War I, an author discussion with a retired U.S. Marine, and guided walks through the Evergreen Cemetery. Check out the events calender for a full listing of upcoming events.