Lexington County Public Library marked a significant milestone in 2012 as it celebrated a century of dedicated service to the residents of Lexington County. Over the course of this one-hundred-year journey, the library has evolved in tandem with the changing landscape of the world, the nation, the state, and the county it calls home. As Lexington County transformed from its predominantly rural roots into a thriving suburban hub in the heart of South Carolina’s midlands during the 20th century, the library emerged as an integral pillar of the community.
In its beginnings in 1912, the library took root under the auspices of the Batesburg Woman’s Club, initially housing a modest collection of 325 books. Today, the library system boasts an impressive array of assets, including 10 physical libraries, a mobile library, an extensive array of online databases, virtually limitless downloadable resources, multiple meeting spaces and an annual circulation exceeding two million items. Additionally, the library hosts a multitude of diverse programs catering to both children and adults, numbering in the thousands each year.
The Batesburg Woman’s Club started a library with 325 books in the Batesburg Town Hall.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
Batesburg Library received a grant from the Community Service of the Work Projects Administration to expand the library operations.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
The Faith Cabin, a separate library opened for the Black community, was opened in the town of Lexington.
Lexington, South Carolina
The Batesburg Woman’s Club deeded the library to a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, and it became a free public library. Lorena Miller, one of the first public librarians in the state to receive a Professional Certificate from the South Carolina State Library, became the first library director.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
The State Assembly authorized the library board. The Batesburg-Leesville Public Library was reorganized and became the Lexington County Circulating Library. The new library moved into a remodeled carriage barn and remained there for almost 20 years.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Circulating Library was opened in the town of Lexington in a building beside the Town Hall.
Lexington, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Circulating Library was opened in the town of Chapin in a remodeled guardhouse of the old jail.
Chapin, South Carolina
The Lexington County Circulating Library established its first mobile library, a remodeled pickup truck with covered shelving offering outdoor library service.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Circulating Library was established in the Brooklyn-Cayce Municipal Building to serve the residents of Cayce and West Columbia.
Cayce & West Columbia, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Circulating Library was established in Robert’s Grocery Store in Swansea.
Swansea, South Carolina
The Lexington County Circulating Library purchased its first dedicated Bookmobile. It was a modern walk-in style bookmobile and it was the first in the state of South Carolina to be air-conditioned.
Lexington County, South Carolina
A dedicated building built in Batesburg for the Headquarters of the Lexington County Circulating library was opened, and it is currently still in use as the Batesburg-Leesville Branch Library.
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
The Central Midlands Regional Planning Council published a study entitled, "A Facilities Plan for the Public Library Systems of the Midlands Region," which included an assessment of the library needs of Lexington County in anticipation of the population growth projected to continue through the end of the 20th century.
Lexington County, South Carolina
The South Carolina General Assembly passed Act Number 564, which amended Title 4, Chapter 9 of the South Carolina Code of Laws enabling counties to establish county libraries on a uniform basis.
South Carolina
The Lexington County Council passed an ordinance designating the library system as a part of county government. The Lexington County Circulating Library was renamed the Lexington County Public Library.
Lexington County, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Public Library was established in the Town Hall of Gaston.
Gaston, South Carolina
A branch of the Lexington County Public Library was established in the town of Pelion in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage.
Pelion, South Carolina
The Lexington County Library Board used The Central Midlands Regional Planning Council’s studies to formulate its goals and objectives for the following two decades. These included relocating and enlarging library facilities, increasing staffing and hours of operation, upgrading professional requirements for branch librarians, and establishing a courier system for inter-branch deliveries.
A branch of the Lexington County Public Library was established in the town of Gilbert in the old Town Hall.
Gilbert-Summit
The R.H. Smith Branch, which had provided service to the Cayce-West Columbia area from 1960-1992, was closed and the new Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library was established in the old Compton’s Department Store on Highway #1 in West Columbia, and it is currently still in use.
Cayce & West Columbia, South Carolina
The Lexington County Council approved a $9.7 million bond for the construction of libraries in Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, Gilbert and Gaston, as well as a renovation of the library in Batesburg-Leesville.
Lexington County, South Carolina
The Lexington County Council passed an ordinance (No. 96-1) that made the Lexington County Public Library a full department of Lexington County government.
Lexington County, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Gilbert-Summit Branch Library was opened in February, and it is currently still in use.
Gilbert-Summit, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Gaston Branch Library was opened on March 4, 1996, and it is currently still in use.
Gaston, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Chapin Branch Library was opened on October 20, 1997, and it is currently still in use.
Chapin, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Lexington Main Library was opened, and it became the new headquarters of the Lexington County Public Library. It's currently still in use.
Lexington, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Irmo Branch Library was opened in March, and it is currently still in use.
Irmo, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Pelion Branch Library was opened on June 1, 2000, and it is currently still in use.
Pelion, South Carolina
A dedicated building built for the Swansea Branch Library was opened in June, and it is currently still in use.
Swansea, South Carolina
Lexington County Public Library established a branch in South Congaree-Pine Ridge. A dedicated building built for the South Congaree-Pine Ridge Branch Library was opened, and it's currently still in use.
South Congaree, South Carolina
Lexington County Public Library celebrated 100 years of services to the citizens of Lexington County with celebrations throughout the county culminating with a celebration at the Lexington Main Library.
Lexington, South Carolina
