Landmark SC library packs up treasures during renovation

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Workers at the 175-year-old South Caroliniana (Kahr-uh-LIN-ee-AN-uh) Library are packing up its treasured documents, artworks and mementoes while one of the nation’s oldest university libraries is being renovated.

The refurbishment may take several years to protect the library’s collections from fire and deterioration.

In the meantime, librarians want to make sure people have access to its millions of items, many dating back to before America’s founding.

The library holds the largest collection of South Carolina newspapers anywhere. It also has papers from U.S. President Andrew Jackson, Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion and Civil War-era diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut.

The collections are being sent to several sites at its home school, the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Librarians can procure items for scholars and readers if people give enough notice.