Newly renovated West Ashley Library welcoming back patrons to check out books and much more
by Jenny Peterson | News Editor
“Fabulous!”
“So wonderful!”
“Wow!”
It’s the common reaction among those who walk through the doors of the newly-renovated West Ashley library, located in the South Windermere shopping center behind Earth Fare grocery store.
The library closed for renovations in December 2022. When the Charleston County Library held a ribbon cutting for the new space on March 18, it was the first time patrons had stepped into the library in a year and three months.
The renovation visually opened up the space, moving the children’s area to a back corner with a life-size dollhouse and string lights on a paper mache tree sprouting out of a corner.
The new look is an airy, clean and open floor plan that can accommodate many size gatherings with designated working and reading spaces and rolling furniture that can be configured into many different arrangements. A streamlined computer and printer area anchors the center of the space.
The small but well-appointed library has all the amenities of the previous library and much more, with added enthusiastic and attentive staff to maximize what the library can offer.
The West Ashley Library has leaned into its role as a neighborhood library—many patrons arrive via bicycles and golf carts—and has made extra efforts to engage children and teens in after-school activities. For adult patrons, the library hired an adult services staff member who helps create programming and outreach (adult movie nights and book clubs coming!)
The new library also added a free “seed library”—packets of seasonal local herbs, vegetables and flower seeds that anyone can take home for free, a partnership with Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service.
CHILDREN, ‘IN-BETWEENERS’ AND TEENS WELCOME
Following the renovation, the West Ashley library hired a full-time teen associate staff member to add programs for teens and plan afterschool activities. The library is on the school bus dropoff line for many area elementary schools.
“We have St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science (students)… Charleston County School of the Arts and C.E. Williams Middle School has a bus stop near us…a couple of Montessori schools as well,” said Sarah Milner, West Ashley Branch Manager. “Before the renovation, about 15-20 kids would come afterschool and there wasn’t a space for them and not enough computers.”
A more open space for these students as well as robust afterschool programming now includes themed events like “Slime Mondays” and “Lego Tuesdays,” where kids can have a fun activity while waiting for their parents to pick them up. Children as young as nine years old can be unaccompanied at the library; those ages 8 and under must have a guardian of age 16 and up.
“There are also a lot of passive activities like mazes, bookmarks and puzzles,” Milner said.
A new “In Betweener” club for fourth through sixth graders aims to engage kids that are transitioning from children’s books to more young adult books.
“It’s to bridge them into young adult (books) and not lose them (as readers),” Milner said. “It’s to get them used to coming into the teen area and hopefully they’ll keep coming in after sixth grade and remember that we’re doing cool stuff over there. There are already several people who have signed up.”
The renovated library is arranged so that books for the youngest readers are near the dollhouse and gradually get more grade-level appropriate until it reaches the young adult and teen section across the entire back wall.
The library has added teen-centric books, including stocking the library with books about Taylor Swift, book bundle packs with a theme such as “popular on TikTok,” book bundles as well as a “Go on a blind date with a book!” theme that is popular among tween girls.
Spearheaded by West Ashley Library’s teen coordinator Amy Dewing, the next bundle will be mystery books. The library also has a large selection of graphic novels, which combine artwork and words on the page.
“Teens can finish reading those books quickly and have the accomplishment of finishing a book,” said Dewing. “Once kids reach their teenage years, their visits kind of drop; they have sports and other things, so it’s a hard age group to engage with, but they’ve been coming in and it’s fun to plan programs and gain more interest.”
One success story was a teen who was dropped off by the school bus who sat on the bench outside. After ten days of sitting outside, the staff was able to entice him inside to participate in their activities and enrichment.
The library is planning a robust summer reading program with a summer reading kickoff, tailored to specific grades and ages.
More Than Books
While there are certainly books of all kinds—history, cooking, popular novels, poetry and more—patrons of all ages can enjoy the library’s offerings, even without walking the aisles.
While there are no private rooms, there are a bank of desks with outlets along the center aisle, perfect for laptops and homework. There’s lightning-fast Wi-Fi and wireless mobile printing from a smartphone.
“One patron sent a bunch of documents to the printer one morning through our wireless mobile printer, printed off 100 pages, and then went off to work,” Milner said.
The library also has a variety of magazines and newspapers for patrons to read, delivered daily. At least one patron comes by every day to read the latest news, sitting at one of the library’s many clean and comfortable tables.
While the library is smaller than other area libraries, a popular feature is for patrons to get books “transferred” to the West Ashley library—some as soon as two days later. Through the library’s website and Libby app, patrons can check out a book that is at another branch and get it transferred to the West Ashley Library free of charge.
The holds section was moved right by the entrance, alphabetized by last name. A patron can easily pop in, get their book from a shelf and check it out on a self-service kiosk, all in under 30 seconds.
A Neighborhood Library
The library is a beloved staple in the West Ashley community.
“There had been a few ideas about merging with James Island to get a bigger library, but folks who live in the neighborhood said, ‘please don’t do that,’” Milner said.
The renovations helped reinforce the building and included adding an epoxy floor that is resistant to flood water, a common problem in the area when it rains.
“When we do get water—it’s not an ‘if’ (it’s when)—we can scrub it out and bleach it and call it a day,” Milner said.
The library also added a barrier across the front doors to be put up during weather events that aims to keep water out.
The mission of the library is to be a welcoming, engaging and safe place for everyone in the community. Staff members are always open to new ideas and feedback and Milner said they are very flexible in adapting to the needs of the community.
“We can host story time in the morning, host kids in the afternoon, host a movie for adults and accommodate all ages borrowing books in one day,” Milner said. “We are many things to many people.”
West Ashley Library is located at 45 Windermere Blvd.Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.m Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Sunday.
