Mt. Pleasant Library News
January 2026
Closure Notice
All CCPL branches will be closed
Thursday, January 1 and Monday, January 19
Notary Services Update
Effective January 1, due to limited notary availability, the library will adjust its notary services. We will no longer be able to notarize complex or time-intensive documents such as powers of attorney, trusts, or wills. Patrons are also required to bring their own witnesses, as the library cannot provide them. Thank you for your understanding.
Featured Programs
First Friday Lecture Series: Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War.
Friday, Jan. 2 at 11 a.m.
Rick Hatcher, former historian at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, will explore his book Thunder in the Harbor—the first modern study of Fort Sumter. Hatcher traces the fort’s history from its construction, through its pivotal role in the Civil War, to its transfer to the National Park Service in 1948. Books will be available for purchase.
 
Ukraine
Friday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m.
Join us for a presentation by Jon Gundersen, a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with over 50 years of service to the U.S. government and a board member of the World Affairs Council of Charleston. Mr. Gundersen will discuss Ukraine—its rich and complex history, its geopolitical legacy, and the ongoing challenges and developments shaping its role in the world today. 
 
Featured Book of the Month
Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin's War Against Ukraine by Owen Matthews
Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin's War Against Ukraine
by Owen Matthews

Winner of the Pushkin House Book Prize 2023*A Telegraph Book of the Year* A Times Best Book of Summer 2023*Shortlisted for the Parliamentary Book Awards*An astonishing investigation into the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war - from the corridors of the Kremlin to the trenches of Mariupol.
Upcoming in February: Great Decisions
America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
Thursday, Feb. 5, 12-2 p.m. & 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.
 
Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
Thursday, Feb. 12, 12-2 p.m. & 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Trump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?
 
U.S.-China Relations
Thursday, Feb. 19, 12-2 p.m. & 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options?
 
Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
Thursday, Feb. 26, 12-2 p.m. & 2:30-4:30 p.m.
U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration’s rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?
January Branch Newsletter
Children's Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events
Mt. Pleasant Library
1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
(843) 849-6161
https://www.ccpl.org