Marian Wright Edelman Public Library
🏢 Marlboro County Public Library System · Bennettsville, South Carolina
Marian Wright Edelman Public Library
The Marian Wright Edelman Public Library honors a daughter of Bennettsville who became one of America's foremost civil-rights and children's advocates — Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund. The modern facility at 203 Fayetteville Avenue opened on February 22, 2010, replacing a county library system that has served Marlboro County since 1901.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 203 Fayetteville Avenue, Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479-5630
Website: edelmanpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 8762J879+XV (Bennettsville, SC)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Marian Wright Edelman Public Library
Marlboro County has had a public library since 1901, making it one of South Carolina's longest-running public library systems. The current building opened on February 22, 2010, and was named in honor of Marian Wright Edelman, who was born in Bennettsville on June 6, 1939, and went on to become a civil-rights lawyer and founder of the Children's Defense Fund. The library holds more than 50,000 volumes and circulates nearly 43,000 items per year from its home at 203 Fayetteville Avenue. It belongs to the Palmetto Library Consortium and SCLENDS, giving cardholders access to a shared collection of 3.5 million items across South Carolina. A National Family Place Library since January 2019, it runs programming for families and seniors and operates a bookmobile that visits apartment complexes on the first Thursday of each month.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Marian Wright Edelman, civil-rights leader and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, born in Bennettsville in 1939
- Modern facility opened February 22, 2010, carrying forward a county library tradition dating to 1901
- National Family Place Library since January 2019, with dedicated family and early-literacy programming
- Collection of 50,000+ volumes; SCLENDS member giving access to 3.5 million items statewide
- Bookmobile serves apartment communities on the first Thursday of each month
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Marlboro County cardholders can read, research, and learn for free through South Carolina's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Notary public services (free for county residents)
- 22 public computers, free Wi-Fi & wireless printing
- Mobile (remote) printing
- Tutoring services and meeting rooms
- Bookmobile stops — first Thursday each month at local apartment communities
- Interlibrary loan via SCLENDS (3.5 million items statewide)
- In-library Ancestry.com access
🎸 Programs
- Family Place Libraries early-literacy programming
- Senior Circle — weekly Wednesday sessions with crafts, health services, bingo and field trips
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library for children ages 0–5
- Summer reading for children, teens and adults
- Community programs and cultural events
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Pee Dee Region
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Bennettsville · Browse all South Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the library named after, and what is her connection to Bennettsville?
The library is named after Marian Wright Edelman, who was born in Bennettsville on June 6, 1939. She became a civil-rights lawyer, a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in 1973 founded the Children's Defense Fund, an advocacy organization focused on the welfare of American children. The library was dedicated in her honor when it opened on February 22, 2010.
How long has there been a public library in Marlboro County?
Marlboro County has had a public library since 1901 — one of the longest-running public library systems in South Carolina. The current Marian Wright Edelman Public Library is the modern home of that tradition, having opened in 2010 at 203 Fayetteville Avenue in Bennettsville.
Does the library have a bookmobile, and where does it go?
Yes. The bookmobile makes stops at apartment communities in Marlboro County on the first Thursday of each month, bringing library materials directly to residents who may have difficulty visiting the main branch.
What is the Family Place Libraries designation, and what does it mean for my family?
Family Place Libraries is a national early-literacy and family-support initiative. The Marian Wright Edelman Public Library earned the designation in January 2019, meaning it offers specialized programming for young children and parents — including interactive play-and-learn workshops, developmental screenings, and connections to community services for families with children from birth to age three.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
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