About the Lending Library

The Sam Nickles Memorial Library housed at the Harriet Hancock Center contains 2500+ LGBTQ-oriented books including adult fiction and non fiction, children’s picture books, and young adult novels. Our library provides a quiet space for reading and reflection.

Browse our Collection

Book Donations

Important Note about Donations: We are limited on space, so we can’t accept all donations into our collection. If you wish to donate to the collection please contact us at info@harriethancockcenter.org in order to process requests and arrange times for delivery. You may also visit our Amazon Wish Lists to donate desired books.

Browse our Amazon Wishlist

About Sam Nickles

Samuel Lindsay Nickles was born in Hodges, SC to W.A. "Al" and Martha Jean Anderson Nickles of Hodges, SC, where his father served many years as the Mayor. He graduated from USC and worked at Policy Management Systems where he was named Outstanding Employee of the year in 1989. He was a member of Columbia's Unitarian Universalist Congregation, was co-founder of 'AmPositive BePositive' and a sustaining member of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. He passed away at the age of 35 on July 16, 1995.

Harriet Hancock LGBT Center

Named after longtime activist and co-founder of the South Carolina Pride Movement, the Center provides a safe and welcoming space for South Carolina’s LGBT community and its allies.

Our facility offers a variety of resources including a free lending library, meeting spaces for LGBT-supportive groups, and a directory of LGBT-friendly businesses, organizations, and counselors while also serving as the headquarters for the South Carolina Pride Movement.

The resources provided at the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center are free and available to everyone during operating hours. These times may vary depending on the availability of center staff and volunteers.