Mack Library, Bob Jones University, Greenville SC

[LIB0895]

Uses for old Carnegie Library Buildings

This just in from the Beaufort (SC) District Collection Collections and the South Carolina Digital Library:

"Andrew Carnegie was a great builder of libraries between 1886 and 1916, including the former Beaufort Township Library, on the corner of Craven and Carteret Streets. Like many of the former Carnegie Library buildings, the Beaufort Township Library has been adapted for use. When the Beaufort County Library moved across Craven Street in 1964, the the City of Beaufort took over the building. Given that the City has new quarters at the head of Ribaut Road, what should be done with the Carnegie Library now? A number of ideas have been floated. A recent AL Direct electronic newsletter carried a short article about bed and breakfasts. I wonder if anyone has given thought to having another bed and breakfast in town?"

Great question, not only for the Carnegie Libraries, but also many other architecturally beautiful early 20th century libraries that have outlived their practical usefulness as libraries. If your community has adapted their out-of-date libraries to some innovative purpose, why not contact BDCC and let them know! gracec@bcgov.net OR ashorthouse@bcgov.net.

Carnegie Library, Anderson, South Carolina

[LIB3210]

Post card of the Anderson County Library built in 1908 by the Carnegie Foundation. [SOURCE]

1941 Home of Library Society, Walterboro, SC

The Walterboro Library Society Building, constructed in 1820, is significant in the areas of architecture, literature and history. This building has served since 1820 as a center of literary activity for the Colleton County area. At the time of its nomination, the building was noted as being adaptively used as headquarters for the Colleton County Historical Society. The strong influence of the library society was evidenced by the town boundaries being fixed as “3/4 of a mile in every direction from the Walterboro Library” when Walterboro was incorporated in 1826. The library is a small, white, frame Federal style building with a side-gabled roof. The front façade’s Palladian-style door surround contains double, four-paneled doors with four-paned sidelights and a simple entablature capped by a fanlight. The sidelights and fanlight, in addition to the standard windows on either side of the entrance, have green louvered shutters. The small building’s remaining elevations each contain a similar Palladian-style window with green louvered shutters. Listed in the National Register October 14, 1971. [SOURCE] [LIB2650]

Muldrow Ccoper Library, Clemson University SC

"The multi-million-dollar library is located in the geographical center of the campus and is the academic heart of the university. Completed in 1966, the facility houses the James F. Byrnes collection, the South Carolina collections, and over 3,000 rare books and documents. The library honors the late Robert M. Cooper, who served as president of the Clemson Board of Trustees."

Clemson Libraries

[LIB1920]

Furman University and Carnegie Library, Greenville, South Carolina

[LIB0923]

Furman University Website