Dacus Library's Archives Will Move to Former Bookworm Building

Quick Facts

The Archives covers 7,500 square feet now and will move to a location with nearly 20,000 square feet.

Moving archives will free up more than 10,000 square feet in Dacus, allowing the creation of an environment more consistent with 21st century library functions.

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Mark Herrring

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Louise Pettus Archives will move this summer from the basement of Dacus Library to the former Bookworm location at the intersection of Charlotte Avenue and Cherry Road.

Mark Herring, dean of Dacus Library, said the move should be completed before the start of the fall semester.

He said the larger space will allow room for the Pettus Archives’ six million items, enabling the consolidation of its current holdings in Dacus from nearly a dozen different locations throughout that building. The Archives covers 7,500 square feet now and will move to a location with nearly 20,000 square feet. Further, the move will provide opportunities for town and gown collaborations, more development opportunities and more ready access for community patrons. The move also will mean the relocation of three staff members to cover the Pettus Archives’ expanded hours of operation.

Moving archives will free up more than 10,000 square feet in Dacus, allowing the creation of an environment more consistent with 21st century library functions. Herring said that in order to continue providing library services now expected by students, some needed upgrades are required in the more than 40-year-old Dacus building.
Student survey results in the fall of 2010 provided unequivocal priorities for that vacated space: 24-hour access, group study rooms and more individualize study areas.

Work is underway now to develop plans for the Dacus improvements that will incorporate these and other changes by taking advantage of space freed by moving the Archives, and by the strategic use of compact shelving, Herring said.

The groups study rooms will go from one to 10 and individual study rooms from none to eight.

Both the Archives and Dacus changes will provide for naming opportunities of group study rooms, individualize study areas, collection rooms and more.

“We are excited about these changes and the prospect for better and more efficient service to our patron communities,” Herring said. “When completed, we will have expanded space and accessibility for our Archives while Dacus will be a transformed facility for all users.”

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