SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) – Books, study rooms and electronics are all part of Dorchester County’s newest library, a state-of-the-art 20,000-square-foot building waiting to used by people of all ages.
The facility, located on Bacons Bridge Road right across from Ashley River Park, features a STEM lab, teen center with gaming systems, a quiet room and walking trail around the building.
“Drones and robots and a 3-D printer and everything is going to be available to them in the STEM lab,” Dorchester County Library Executive Director Robert Antill said. “It’s not a free-for-all, but a trained professional is going to be teaching the kids the how and hopefully the why.”
Officials say this was a great need because the county is growing fast and people living in the Ashley River area wanting to visit a library were turning to the one on Trolley Road, which is older and doesn’t have enough parking.
Library officials say the Dorchester County Library on the Ashley River is going to be a game-changer for area families. One mom of four said she couldn’t be more excited for what it has to offer and the convenience of its location.
“We haven’t really been utilizing the offerings of other libraries because of the geographic location where we live, where our sports are, school and everything else,” Jessica Parisi said.
“To learn, to interact, to study, to provide things, and in some cases areas that people can’t afford to have this, this gives them that opportunity,” Dorchester County Vice-Chairman David Chinnis said.
Dorchester County Councilman Jay Byars said the plan is to eventually connect the library to the park for easy access and outdoor learning opportunities.
“We’re going to be building a connector bridge underneath Bacons Bridge to connect the park to the library but also to expand the park further upriver because we have another 200 acres of land up the river beside this park so we can expand the park and the library is going to be a part of that,” Byars said.
The library officially opens to the public on Tuesday afternoon. It is located at 2824 Bacons Bridge Rd.