The House's first draft of the upcoming state budget included an additional $2 million for the state's electronic library system shared by colleges statewide called PASCAL, an acronym for Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries. The director explains what the network does and why it's a good investment. (File photo by Catherine McQueen/Getty Images)
Every college student in South Carolina — whether they attend a large university or a small rural college — depends on access to high quality academic resources.
And they get it thanks to the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries, or PASCAL.
Academic libraries are at the center of these resources, enabling students to build research and critical thinking skills while developing digital literacy in an increasingly complex information environment.
They not only support today’s students but prepare tomorrow’s workforce through access to specialized resources for high-demand fields like nursing, teacher education, and manufacturing.
For more than two decades, member libraries at South Carolina colleges and universities have been strengthened through the PASCAL, a consortium that includes 54 public and private institutions and facilitates collective purchasing, shared technology, and coordinated services.
By connecting libraries across the state, PASCAL ensures that more than 250,000 South Carolina students — no matter where they are enrolled — have access to the academic tools they need to succeed.
PASCAL is also highly cost effective for institutions and the state, leading to savings of more than $11.7 million in fiscal year 2025 alone, and a staggering $221 million since its inception in 2003.
And while many programs that reduce expenses often diminish the services or options provided, PASCAL does the exact opposite.
For example, the shared library system allows students to search for books, articles, and other materials from libraries across the state using a single, easy-to-use search tool. When an item isn’t available on a student’s campus, our PASCAL Delivers service connects them to materials from other campuses.
Students can request books and materials from libraries across South Carolina and have them delivered directly to their campus — or increasingly, to their screen. Whether students are learning online, on campus, or transferring between member institutions, they can count on consistent, reliable access to the resources they need.
PASCAL also subscribes to resources on behalf of all 54 member libraries, bringing a collective purchasing power that greatly reducing the cost of access to more than 25,000 journals and over
700,000 e-books across all disciplines.
This supports instruction, research, and student learning.
By working together, PASCAL libraries can provide more resources at a lower cost than any one institution could achieve on their own, allowing campuses to stretch financial resources while continuing to support students and academic programs.
Students may not realize PASCAL is working in the background.
They just know whenever they need academic resources, they’re at their fingertips.
PASCAL is one of South Carolina’s most effective tools for supporting students — from their first research assignment to their transition into the workforce.
It’s a practical, effective approach that continues to deliver value for students, institutions, and the state.
Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
