Libraries and Collections

Home to the oldest freestanding college library in the U.S., our university libraries build on that tradition with special collections ranging from early medieval manuscripts to modern literature and politics.

Libraries

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  Thomas Cooper Library

  Thomas Cooper Library is our main library and is open 24 hours a day during the fall and spring semesters. The library provides access to hundreds of online research databases, thousands of online journals and ebooks, and millions of volumes in print. Thomas Cooper has laptops and iPads available to checkout, a coffee shop, and comfortable study rooms.

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  Coleman Karesh Law Library

  With more than 500,000 volumes, we are South Carolina's largest law library and one of the larger in the Southeast. You will be able to find answers to almost any question of law, regardless of its complexity. We serve our students and faculty as well as the larger university community and all South Carolinians.

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  Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library

  Hollings Library is home to three of our special collections: Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, South Carolina Political Collections, and Digital Collections. This state-of-the-art facility features rotating exhibits from the collections as well as a reading room, seminar rooms, and a large program space.

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  Music Library

  We have one of the largest collections in the Southeast of books, scores, print and electronic journals, audio and video recordings and special collections. You can check out circulating audio and video recordings or view and listen in the library.

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  School of Medicine Library

  Our library is your connection to more than 28,000 biomedical electronic journals, 400 electronic textbooks and 80 biomedical databases. Our print collection has more than 116,000 volumes. Most of our services and resources can be accessed through our website. We also are home for the Center for Disability Resources library collection.

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  South Caroliniana Library

  The oldest freestanding college library in the U.S., this library is the repository of the Palmetto State’s documented history and literature. With five major research divisions – published materials, manuscripts, university archives, oral history and visual materials – it is a vital resource for researchers from around the world. 

Collections

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  Digital Collections

  In an effort to bring more information to more people, we have undertaken a project to make many of our volumes available in digital formats. Our work includes the production, maintenance, delivery and preservation of digital resources for our scholars and students and for the general public.

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  Educational Film Collection

  We have an extensive collection of videotapes, 16 mm films and DVDs for classroom and educational uses. Our staff can help students, faculty and staff select the best films for a wide range of subject areas. 

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  Government Information and Maps

  The Government Information and Maps Department is a regional depository library of Federal government publications as well as a depository of European Union publications. The department’s collections also include maps, atlases and the largest collection of South Carolina aerial photos available for research.

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  Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

  These collections include 150,000 items and more than 50 archival collections, ranging from early medieval manuscripts to modern literature and historical scientific works. We are located in the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library inside Thomas Cooper.

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  Moving Image Research Collections

  This collection began in 1980 with a gift of the Fox Movietone News Collection. Since then, our archival holdings have increased to an estimated 6,000 hours of material, including local television news and commercials, home movies, micro-cinematographic nature films and fiction and documentary films from the People's Republic of China. 

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  South Carolina Political Collections

  Our collections include the papers of South Carolina lawmakers, congressional leaders, political parties and other movers and shakers on the political front. We are located in the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library inside Thomas Cooper.