The items that comprise our Special Collections are individual time capsules, as well as first editions and earliest printings of novels. Without conservation and preservation, the treasures and antiques of the collection are at risk of deterioration. Whether you wish to donate to aid in general preservation efforts, or select an individual work, there are ample opportunities to get involved.
Donations to this fund are essential to the ongoing operations of the library, with the flexibility to meet our most pressing needs. The engaging speaker events, musical performances and programming that we all love, are made possible and further developed by your generous support. Your gift will expand opportunities and help shape an ever relevant intellectual and cultural space for members and visitors alike.
Endowment & Planned Giving
Through planned giving or contributions to our endowment, you aid toward securing the future of the South’s oldest cultural institution and sustaining its mission and furthering its intellectual impact. Additionally, the history and treasures stored within the walls of the Charleston Library Society leave ample opportunity for planned giving and dedications. For these incredibly generous considerations, we welcome a conversation to better understand your desires and ideas. Please email our Director of Development and Membership, Jennifer Comer at (843) 723-9912 x 106. We are honored by your interest, thank you.
Thank you for making a donation in support of the Charleston Library Society. Your gift makes a meaningful difference in the community by helping to shape the future of this pivotal cultural lodestar. We look forward to the next 275 years–and more–of adventure, discovery and lifelong learning. To make a donation online, please click here.
Or, if you’d prefer to mail your donation, please send it to:
Charleston Library Society
Attention: Heather Rivet
164 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
We also accept the following means of making a donation:
(1) Donor Advised Funds
(2) Securities (stocks, etc.)
(3) Real Estate
(4) Corporate Matching Programs
Before moving forward with any of the above options, please contact Rachael Yon at the Charleston Library Society at 843-723-9912 x 114.
“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.
– Henry David Thoreau ”
A Worthwhile Mission
The story of the Library Society is one of gritty survival, from the devastating hurricane of 1753, to fires and earthquakes, wars and economic depression and even a global pandemic. Yet we are still here, evidence of the relevance we provide on a daily basis. Your generosity ensures that future generations continue to enjoy the Library as we do.
The Library Society has served as a cultural, intellectual and social oasis in the historic district for over a hundred years. What makes it extraordinary is the magic that takes place within its walls. Our Main Reading Room provides a home where people congregate to share ideas, music, books and conversation–a home that offers intellectual and cultural feast served up by leading thinkers. We have a rich history, begun over 275 years ago by young people who cared about the written word and the learning process.
Now it is our responsibility to preserve it.
