Beaufort County Library — Beaufort Branch
🏢 Beaufort County Library System · Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort County Library — Beaufort Branch
Situated in the heart of historic downtown Beaufort — one of the oldest cities in South Carolina — this flagship branch is the hub of the Beaufort County Library System, offering a MakerSpace, local history archive, and free state park passes alongside its 50,000-item collection.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 311 Scott Street, BEAUFORT, SC 29902
Phone: 843-255-6456
Website: beaufortcountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 864XC8JH+VM (BEAUFORT, 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 Beaufort County Library — Beaufort Branch
Beaufort, founded in 1711, is among the oldest European settlements in North America, and its public library reflects that deep sense of place. The Beaufort Branch at 311 Scott Street serves as the headquarters of the county-wide library system, which also operates branches in Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and St. Helena Island. The building sits steps from the antebellum waterfront district and houses the Beaufort District Collection — a curated archive of local history materials including an online obituary index and historical documents spanning centuries of Lowcountry life. The library's MakerSpace gives community members access to creative technology, while a unique lending collection includes blood pressure monitoring kits, ukuleles, and WonderBooks alongside traditional print materials. Paid parking is available through ParkBeaufort lots and street meters nearby.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Beaufort District Collection — local history archive covering one of America's oldest cities, including an online obituary index
- MakerSpace — creative technology workspace open to the public
- State park passes lending — borrow free or discounted passes to South Carolina state parks
- Unique lending items — ukuleles, blood pressure kits, and WonderBooks available alongside books and DVDs
- System headquarters — flagship of a four-branch county system covering Bluffton, Hilton Head Island & St. Helena Island
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Beaufort County card connects you to DISCUS statewide databases and a full digital lending shelf — free for all South Carolina residents.
📚 Services
- Computer lab & public internet access
- Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Printing, copying & scanning
- PC lab and study rooms
- Meeting room rentals
- MakerSpace
- Curbside service
- Local history research assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Teen programs and events
- Adult programs and author events
- Community outreach and partnership programs
- Local history research workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in the South Carolina Lowcountry
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in BEAUFORT · Browse all South Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Beaufort District Collection?
The Beaufort District Collection is the library's curated archive of local and regional history materials, covering Beaufort County and the broader South Carolina Lowcountry. It includes historical documents, photographs, an online obituary index, and research materials relating to one of America's oldest cities. Staff can assist with genealogical and historical research queries; call the Reference Desk at 843-255-6458.
Can I borrow state park passes at the Beaufort County Library?
Yes — the Beaufort Branch participates in the library's state park passes lending program, allowing cardholders to borrow passes for free or discounted access to South Carolina state parks. Availability varies; contact the library at 843-255-6456 for current pass inventory.
Does the Beaufort branch have a MakerSpace?
Yes — the library offers MakerSpace access for community members to work on creative and technology projects. Contact the library at 843-255-6456 or check beaufortcountylibrary.org for current equipment, hours, and booking procedures.
Is parking available at 311 Scott Street?
Street parking and paid lots are available near the library in downtown Beaufort. The library's website directs visitors to ParkBeaufort (parkbeaufort.com) for information on metered and lot parking options in the historic district.
📜 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 lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms 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.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.