Riddik Fowler
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — York County residents haven’t had access to the county’s Main Library branch in Rock Hill for several months due to renovations, which included upgrades to the building’s electrical system.

The York County Library system announced this week, via social media, that the Rock Hill branch will reopen on Monday, April 13.

The library has been closed since October, “undergoing essential electrical upgrades to improve lighting, energy efficiency and technology throughout the building,” according to the York County Library website.

“These improvements will support better service and a more comfortable environment,” according to the site.

The closure has disrupted the routines of many community members, who rely on the library as a space for working, studying and relaxation.

“I like how quiet it was (at the Rock Hill branch) and usually I can just go in and do my work or just sit there when I don’t want to be in my room,” said Lamonte James, a sociology major at Winthrop University. “Because honestly I don’t really like talking to people (when working), but I can’t really do that right now,” because the branch has been closed.

Local businesses have also seen changes in demand during the closure.

At the Liberty Book Company in Rock Hill, manager Rayne Rickrode said there has been a significant increase in inquiries, typically handled by the main branch.

“There has been a huge uptick in calls for simple resources, directions, calls from writers in the area looking for local guidance on how publishing works or how to get editing for their books,” Rickrode said.

Library officials say they worked to accommodate patrons by redistributing resources across the other branches.

Stacy Williams, marketing manager for the York County library system, said that services have been adjusted to accommodate displaced patrons.

“The hotspots that were at the Rock Hill location, we reallocated those devices to the other branches, so that they would have more devices,” Williams said.

“We have seen an uptick in traffic at the Fort Mill location and in York. So, some of our Rock Hill patrons are going out to the other branches to get those resources that they needed while we’ve been closed,” she said.

While the library will reopen next week, a grand reopening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to the library website, more details about the event will be made available soon.

* Editor’s note: This story was filed before the York County Library announced the date the Rock Hill branch would open.