About Us

Mission:

To champion literacy, inspire learning, and foster community connection

Vision:

To be Greenville County's first choice for exploration, discovery, and information

 

YEAR IN REVIEW

July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Library Statistics

 

PEOPLE & PROGRAMS

  • Over 1.2 million total visits across the Library System's 12 locations.
  • 191,483 registered borrowers.
  • 118,366 people attended 2,853 Library System programs.
  • Over 2.2 million visits to www.greenvillelibrary.org.
 

COLLECTION & BORROWING

  • Over 2.9 million circulations of physical items.
  • Over one million electronic items downloaded.
  • 710,966 books and 139,463 audiovisual materials are available system-wide.
  • 48,913 books and 6,043 audiovisual materials were added to the collection.

History

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Greer branch, 1925.
Simpsonville branch, 1930s.
Main location, Brawley Garage Building, 1937.
Augusta Library called "So Big", 1941.
Mauldin Langdon Cheeves branch, 1960s.
Simpsonville branch, WPA Building, 1967.
Main Library, College Street, 1970.
Main Library, College Street, 1970s.
Simpsonville branch, 1978.
Travelers Rest branch, 315 Main St., 1980s.
Taylors branch, Wade Hampton, 1980.
Pelham Rd. branch, 1990.
Mauldin Langdon Cheeves branch, 1991.
1 / 13 Greer branch, 1925.
2 / 13 Simpsonville branch, 1930s.
3 / 13 Main location, Brawley Garage Building, 1937.
4 / 13 Augusta Library called "So Big", 1941.
5 / 13 Mauldin Langdon Cheeves branch, 1960s.
6 / 13 Simpsonville branch, WPA Building, 1967.
7 / 13 Main Library, College Street, 1970.
8 / 13 Main Library, College Street, 1970s.
9 / 13 Simpsonville branch, 1978.
10 / 13 Travelers Rest branch, 315 Main St., 1980s.
11 / 13 Taylors branch, Wade Hampton, 1980.
12 / 13 Pelham Rd. branch, 1990.
13 / 13 Mauldin Langdon Cheeves branch, 1991.
 

The Greenville County Library System traces its beginnings to 1921 when the library consisted of some 500 volumes in a vacant store room on East Coffee Street. Thomas F. Parker, a local businessman and philanthropist who initially garnered community support for this public institution, served as Chairman of the Board. In 1923, Mr. Parker purchased a three-quarter-ton truck, and had it fitted with glass doors, thus introducing the first ever Bookmobile in the South to meet the needs of Greenville County's mill communities. Introduced into service on October 10, 1923, the Bookmobile has been making rounds throughout the county for nearly 100 years.

Today, the Library System has grown to twelve locations. And the Bookmobile makes weekly stops delivering books and fond memories. The Library remains dedicated to providing free access to materials, experiences, and resources to communities throughout Greenville County.

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