The South Carolina State Library builds trust with the community through accountability and transparency in managing public funds.
As a state agency serving the citizens of South Carolina, we believe that open communication and easy access to information are essential to maintaining public trust and promoting effective governance.
FOIA Requests
South Carolina Law provides that knowingly obtaining or using personal information from a public body for commercial solicitation is a crime pursuant to S.C. Code §30-2-50.
Pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), the South Carolina State Library (SCSL) will provide copies of public records in its custody unless the records are exempt from disclosure under S.C. Code §30-4-40 or other state and federal laws.
Upon receipt of a request for records under FOIA, SCSL will review the request to determine whether the records are available and send formal acknowledgement to the Requestor within ten (10) business days for records less than two (2) years old, or within twenty (20) days for records more than two (2) years old. Business days do not include Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays.
If the request is granted, the records will be furnished or made available for inspection or copying no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the formal acknowledgement was provided, unless the records are more than two (2) years old, in which case they will be made available no later than thirty-five (35) calendar days from the date on which the formal acknowledgement was provided. If a deposit is required, the records will be furnished or made available for inspection or copying no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the deposit is received, unless the records are more than two (2) years old, in which case they will be made available no later than thirty-five (35) calendar days from the date on which the deposit was received to fulfill the request.
Fee Schedule
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-30(B), fulfillment of FOIA requests is subject to fees for search, retrieval and redaction, as well as fees for providing copies of documents. A deposit of twenty-five (25%) percent of the reasonably anticipated total cost for fulfilling the request may be required prior to searching for or making copies of records. The full amount of the total cost must be paid at the time of the production of the request.
SCSL’s schedule of fees is as follows:
Search, retrieval, and redaction of records – Actual hourly salary of lowest paid employee who has the training and skill to respond to the request
Black-and-white photocopies – $0.10 per page
Color photocopies – $0.20 per page
Large quantities of documents or oversized documents may be sent to an outside business for copying which charges requestor the actual dollar amount for work.
View the full State of South Carolina Freedom of Information Act Code of Laws. FOIA requests may be submitted in writing to the Associate Deputy Director at brsmith@statelibrary.sc.gov.
Earmark Transparency
In accordance with Executive Order 2022-19 and Proviso 117.21, provided below is all available information related to entities receiving designated earmarks that were allocated to the South Carolina State Library for disbursement and their intended use.
Entities are required to fill out and return the Earmarked Appropriations Disbursement Request Form before receiving any disbursements.
Information on this page, including completed forms, will be updated as it is reported to the South Carolina State Library.