The Library was organized and chartered in 1898 under the guidance of Judge C.A. Woods.  H.C. Graham, William Murchison, E.H. Byars, W.H. McLucas, S.W. Norwood, W.J. Montgomery, and J.W. Johnson joined Judge Woods in establishing a corporation known as “Marion Public Library” for the “improvement of the moral, social and intellectual condition of the people of Marion County”.

The Library was opened in four rooms on the second floor of the Bank of Marion building.  One room was designated for the circulation of books to the public.  One had to be a member to enter the Ladies’ Reading Room or the Men’s Smoking Room or the Billiard Room.

Miss Kate Lilly was the first librarian.

In 1905, the original part of the present building was completed.  Columbia architect C.C. Wilson drew the plans based on a Pittsburg, PA library branch building.  W.J. Wilkins of Florence, SC was the contractor.  Andrew Carnegie contributed $7,500.00 to the project.

The Greek revival influence is shown in the recessed portico with ionic columns.  It has “Union Jack” windows that were carefully reproduced in the new addition.

The Library was the third in the SC to employ the Dewey Decimal System of classification.

In 1912, it became part of the Marion School District by act of the state legislature, and taxes were levied for its support, the first tax supported library in SC.

The Marion Library also became the first library in SC to offer a mobile service to rural areas of the county in 1913, although mule and wagon transported the books at that time.

There was a devastating fire in 1929 that closed the library for a year.

It became part of the Marion County library system in 1970.

Click here to visit the Marion County Library website for more information.