Press Release
Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) and Charleston County Government are hosting a virtual forum to update the community on the progress of the building of the new Keith Summey North Charleston Library, which is set to replace the current Cooper River Memorial Library. This along with the display of the new building's renderings at the current Cooper River branch, located at 3503 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, will provide insight into the future of the facility, which is expected to break ground in May.
The virtual community forum will take place on Wednesday, March 17 at 6 pm on Zoom. The public may register starting today. Community members will also be able to access the live video stream from the public computers of Cooper River Memorial or any other open library location providing public computer access during the program and may view the recording after at any library with public computer access. Printed renderings of the building's design will also be available at the current Cooper River location starting March 17.
Cooper River Memorial is expected to close in late April. A closure date will be announced at a later time. The Library will open a temporary location that is on Cherokee Street/Rivers Avenue in April. An opening date for that location will be announced at a later time.
“Many of the patrons of our North Charleston community have come to rely on the library for internet access, computer use and access to other resources,” said CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig. “Therefore, to reduce service interruption in this area of high need, we ensured there was a temporary location open and available to the community during the library's construction.”
Limited services will be provided at the facility including browsing and borrowing of materials including books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, computer and Wi-Fi use, pick up of materials placed on hold, and copying/printing. Services will be provided at the temporary location until shortly before the opening of the Keith Summey North Charleston Library. Construction is expected to take about a year.
To register for the Virtual Forum, click here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEocu2prToqEtOkVPtqPU2FjcrLvEyedXLq
The Keith Summey North Charleston Library was designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and being constructed by M.B. Kahn Construction. The building will be 20,000 square feet. It is one of five constructed after the passing of a $108.5 million referendum calling for new facilities and the renovation and update of the existing branches. The referendum was approved by 74% of Charleston County voters in 2014.
Visit ccpl.org/construction for details and building project updates.