Lee County Public Library
🏢 SC LENDS Consortium · Bishopville, South Carolina
Lee County Public Library
Founded in 1901 in a building described as 'too small to be a barbershop,' the Lee County Public Library has anchored Bishopville's downtown for over a century — surviving multiple relocations, a 1935 WPA bookmobile era and a 2006 move into a distinctive exposed-brick former hotel, while connecting its patrons today to 2.9 million items through the SC LENDS consortium.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 200 North Main Street, Bishopville, SC 29010
Phone: (803) 484-5921
Website: leecountylibrarysc.org
Plus Code: 866X6Q93+H2 (Bishopville, SC)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lee County Public Library
The Lee County Public Library is the public library of Lee County, South Carolina, located at 200 North Main Street in Bishopville, the county seat. The library began in 1901 in a small Main Street building near the Bishopville Opera House. After decades of financial struggles and multiple relocations, a landmark moment came in 1935 when the Board of Education partnered with the Works Progress Administration to launch a countywide bookmobile service, bringing books to residents and students throughout rural Lee County. In 1953 Hosea Woodward donated the Woodward Memorial Library building to honor his wife, which served patrons until 1979. The library moved to its current downtown home in 2006 — an inviting space featuring exposed brick walls in what was originally the Lee Hotel, one of the most distinctive library interiors in South Carolina. In 2012 it joined the SC Lends Consortium, connecting cardholders to over 2.9 million items across 61 branch locations statewide. The library's motto is 'Read. Imagine. Discover.'
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1901 — one of Lee County's oldest civic institutions, starting in a room near the Bishopville Opera House
- 1935 WPA bookmobile program extended library service to all rural corners of Lee County for the first time
- Current home (since 2006) is a distinctive exposed-brick building, originally the Lee Hotel — one of SC's most characterful library interiors
- Member of SC LENDS since 2012, connecting patrons to 2.9 million items across 61 South Carolina branches
- Genealogy resources including HeritageQuest, Fold3 and Heritage Hub for researching Lee County and South Carolina family history
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lee County cardholders access South Carolina's statewide digital collections at no cost:
📚 Services
- Physical collections for adults, teens and children
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and faxing (send and receive)
- Document lamination
- Conference room available for reservation
- SC Works Career Coach (first Thursday 9am–4pm and other Thursdays 1pm–4pm)
- Genealogy research support with online databases
- Interlibrary loan through SC LENDS (2.9 million items, 61 branches statewide)
- Reference and reader's advisory
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading program via Beanstack
- 52 Book Club Challenge
- Virtual author talks
- Holiday Story Stroll events
- Tech skills workshops
- Community resource referrals
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central South Carolina
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Bishopville · Browse all South Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Lee County Public Library move into the current building on North Main Street?
The library moved into its current home at 200 North Main Street, Bishopville, in 2006. The building is a beautifully restored former hotel featuring exposed brick walls — an interior described as unique within South Carolina. It replaced the Woodward Memorial Library building that had served patrons from 1953 to 1979 and the subsequent interim location.
What is SC LENDS and how does it benefit Lee County cardholders?
SC LENDS is the South Carolina Library Network for Effective Delivery Services, a shared library consortium. Lee County Public Library joined in 2012, connecting its cardholders to over 2.9 million items across 61 branch locations statewide. That means you can request books, DVDs and other materials from libraries across South Carolina and pick them up in Bishopville.
Does the library have genealogy resources for researching Lee County families?
Yes. The library provides access to HeritageQuest, Fold3 (military and historical records), and Heritage Hub through its digital subscriptions. These databases support research into South Carolina family history, census records, vital statistics and military service records.
Is the Lee County Public Library open on Saturdays or Sundays?
The library is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. For questions, call (803) 484-5921.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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