That Chapin Memorial Library is the only city-owned library in South Carolina?
A public library originally opened in 1939 on North Kings Highway in the old Chamber of Commerce building, which was unused at the time. The library started with 501 books. During World War II, the library moved to the Chapin Company building as part of the government recreation program for soldiers. The library returned to the Chamber building following the war, but relocated in May 1947 to the old USO building in the 1200 block of North Ocean Boulevard, before briefly moving back to the Chapin Company. In August 1948, the Chapin Foundation provided $40,000 for a library building on city parkland and $2,000 more for landscaping. The citys Chapin Memorial Library opened June 1, 1949, in its current location and has been expanded four times.
