Abbeville County Library
🏢 Abbeville County Library System · Abbeville, South Carolina
Abbeville County Library
Established by the WPA in 1936 and anchored since 1969 in Abbeville's restored historic Post Office, the Abbeville County Library is home to the nationally recognized Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Art — Pueblo pottery, Navajo textiles, and bronzes from 100+ Southwestern artists — and the William Nordan Local History Room.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1407 N. Main St., Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: (864) 459-4009
Website: abbevillecounty.org
Plus Code: 866V5HRX+6J (Abbeville, SC)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Abbeville County Library
The Abbeville County Library has served the South Carolina Piedmont since its founding in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project — one of the state's earliest publicly supported library efforts. Its WPA-era bookmobile brought countywide access long before a permanent building existed. In 1966 the system unified town and rural services into a single county library, and in 1969 moved into the handsome former U.S. Post Office on North Main Street, renovated with a federal LSCA grant. Today the system operates three branches serving roughly 25,000 residents and is celebrated statewide for housing the Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Art — a bequeathed assemblage of Pueblo pottery, Navajo textiles, paintings, and bronze sculptures from more than 100 artists of the American Southwest, donated in 1989 by Abbeville-born physician Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff. The library is a member of SCLENDS, giving cardholders access to the combined collections of 20 South Carolina library systems.
⭐ What makes this library special
- WPA origins: founded 1936 as one of SC's first publicly funded county library projects, initially served by bookmobile
- Housed since 1969 in the renovated historic U.S. Post Office on N. Main Street, remodeled with a federal LSCA grant
- Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Art: Pueblo pottery, Navajo textiles, paintings, and bronzes from 100+ Southwest artists, bequeathed 1989
- William Nordan Local History Room with non-circulating materials and a microfilm scanner (scan to USB or print $0.25/page)
- SCLENDS member: one card unlocks the combined holdings of 20 South Carolina library systems statewide
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Abbeville County cardholders can research, read, and learn free through South Carolina's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Circulation of 70,000+ items including books, large print, audio, and video
- Free public internet computers (34 system-wide) and Wi-Fi at all branches
- Interlibrary loan through SCLENDS (20-system statewide consortium)
- William Nordan Local History Room (non-circulating; microfilm scanner available)
- Genealogy research assistance via volunteer email service (genealogy@abbevillecounty.org)
- Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Art (on-site and viewable online at poliakoffcollectionofwesternart.org)
- Public copy, print, and fax services
- Free library cards for anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Abbeville County
🎸 Programs
- Annual Summer Reading Program (children, teens, and adults; book-themed prizes and activities)
- Children's story times (seasonal and themed)
- LEGO build events for children
- Homeschool Series: third Friday of each month, 11 AM, grades 3–6
- Teen events including game nights and themed parties
- Adult workshops (gardening, skill-based programming)
- ESL and adult literacy classes (2010 ALA American Dream Literacy Initiative award recipient)
📍 Nearby Libraries in the South Carolina Piedmont
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Abbeville · Browse all South Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Poliakoff Collection of Western Art, and can I see it at the library?
Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff (1919–1989) was an Abbeville-born physician who spent the 1980s collecting Pueblo pottery, Navajo textiles, paintings, and bronze sculptures from more than 100 Native American and Western artists — including works by Maria Martinez and Allan Houser. When he died in 1989, he bequeathed the entire collection to his hometown library. The pieces are housed at 1407 N. Main St. and portions are also viewable online at poliakoffcollectionofwesternart.org.
Is there a local history and genealogy service at the Abbeville County Library?
Yes. The William Nordan Local History Room holds non-circulating materials on Abbeville County and a microfilm scanner (scan to USB drive free, or print at $0.25/page). For genealogy research, the library runs a free volunteer service: email genealogy@abbevillecounty.org with your question and local volunteers will research and reply directly.
How did the Abbeville County Library start, and why is it in a former Post Office?
The library traces its roots to 1936, when a Works Progress Administration project established a bookmobile service for Abbeville County — one of South Carolina's earliest publicly funded library efforts. After consolidating into a county-wide system in 1966, the library acquired the former U.S. Post Office on North Main Street and renovated it with a federal LSCA grant, opening as permanent headquarters in 1969.
Can I borrow items from other South Carolina libraries with my Abbeville County card?
Yes. Abbeville County Library is a member of SCLENDS (South Carolina Library Electronic Network), a consortium of 20 library systems. Your card unlocks the shared catalog at scsl.ent.sirsi.net for holds from any member system. All Abbeville cardholders also access DISCUS — SC's Virtual Library — free 24/7, including databases, eBooks, and live Tutor.com tutoring.
📜 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.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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