The Charleston County Public Library began operations in 1931 as the Charleston Free Library with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Rosenwald Fund.

[2] Segregation began to gradually loosen in the early 1960s and was formally abolished in 1965.

[2][3] The main branch of the library was moved from the Routledge Avenue location to a new facility on Marion Square, adjacent to the state arsenal, in 1960.

[4] In 1998 it moved to its fourth, and — as of 2024 — current location at 68 Calhoun Street.

[7] The library is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Charleston County Council.