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Library director reports Port Royal progress and near‑$1M materials year
Summary
At a Beaufort County Library Board meeting, Director Amanda Dickman showcased summer programs, StoryWalks and Port Royal branch progress and said the system had a record year for materials purchases, reporting social media growth and plans to exceed $1 million in materials spending next year.
Amanda Dickman, director of the Beaufort County Library System, told the Board of Trustees that Port Royal branch preparations are nearing completion and highlighted a busy summer of outreach including StoryWalk installations, author events and a summer‑reading kickoff that drew large crowds.
Dickman showed photos of shelving, landscaping and lockers at Port Royal and said staff are “plowing through” picture books and preparing the branch for public opening, while noting a small number of loose ends remain and that an official opening date will be announced once county communications are coordinated.
She also reviewed the library’s strategic plan and said the system has grown its social presence since February, adding 431 Facebook followers and growing Instagram from zero to 216 followers. “Since his coming on to our staff and since launching Instagram, our Facebook followers have grown, 431 new followers in the past, since February. And we went from 0 Instagram people to 216,” she said.
Dickman told the board the system had a record purchasing year for materials to stock branches, saying the system spent “almost $1,000,000” on items that will circulate to cardholders, with a substantial portion used to fill Port Royal’s shelves. She asked board members and the community to visit the new StoryWalk at the Naval Heritage Skate Park and to attend an upcoming photo exhibit of an artist‑in‑residence program.
The presentation also included recognition of volunteers and partners: the Friends of the Beaufort Library, which provided funding and support for StoryWalks and other programs, and community groups that help run summer lunch distribution at library sites.
The board did not set a firm Port Royal opening date during the public report; Dickman said she was hesitant to give a date until a few remaining items are resolved and the public information officer coordinates an announcement.
The next procedural step noted in the meeting was continued finishing work at the branch and a forthcoming opening announcement; no formal board action or vote was taken on branch opening timing during the public meeting.
