Library History

February 1989 through March 1993 marked an unparalleled library expansion program. From a 60,000-square-foot system, Richland County Public Library grew approximately 240,000 square feet to more than 300,000 square feet. At the end of the four year period, the system had a state-of-the-art main building and new branches serving the growing county population. February 14, 1993 heralded the grand opening of the new Main Library on the corner of Assembly and Hampton Streets, four years to the day that the residents had approved the bond issue. In addition, the county now had two entirely new branches in Blythewood and Sandhills, while the five oldest branches occupied brand new buildings. Today, the system consists of the new Main Library, nine branch libraries and the bookmobile. Three of these branches, strategically located in St. Andrews, Southeast, and Northeast, are designated as Regional Libraries.

The keystone for the whole system, the Main Library, is a modern, magical building designed by a man who believes the library is the most important building in town, Eugene Aubrey. The building resembles a big box-a shape deliberately chosen for both service accessibility and future growth-but a box unlike any anywhere else. Standing on a corner in the heart of downtown, two walls of green glass reflect busy city life and offer an always changing panorama of the evolving urban streetscape. Inside, four levels are connected by an atrium escalator well that rises to a gigantic translucent skylight. The curved sides of this atrium, inspired by a classic Alvar Aalto vase, form balconies on each of the upper levels. The skylight allows natural light to flood the central core of the building. The curves of the vase are repeated along the outer edges of the first floor balcony that opens to a below ground garden filled with ficus trees and Alexander palms. This below ground arboretum provides a bit of outdoors for the Children’s Room. It blends into the large mural, Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, the distinguished author and illustrator. This rendering of Sendak’s art was the first and only time Mr. Sendak allowed such use of his art. Park benches circle the trees while tables and chairs sit in their shade, providing children and parents enchanting space in which to read and play. Heavily used by the community, the large auditorium and six conference rooms offer pleasant surroundings for meetings and cultural events. The three above ground floors include a glass fronted room displaying films and cassettes; a young adult center with current books; an immense fiction and biography selection plus a collection of nonfiction books covering a wide range of interests; a large periodicals section; and separate reference areas. The General Reference area concentrates on the humanities; Business Reference is known as one of the best in the state, while the Local History Room chronicles more than 200 years of Midlands history. Private gifts embellish all these functional aspects, making this library an enticing place to be.