Coastal Carolina University has announced it will open The Center for Military and Veterans Studies in January.

The center is partnering with the U.S. Library of Congress to collect and preserve the memoirs and records of local military veterans, while encouraging public appreciation for veterans and their contributions to the nation.

The center will be located at the university's Foundation Center on Highway 501. Officials say the center will host interviews with veterans and accept donations of oral history, memoirs, documents and photographs.

All of the items will be cataloged and preserved as permanent collections of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. The center will also establish a veterans association for students, faculty and staff.

Veterans who wish to donate documents, photographs and memoirs, or be interviewed should contact the new center at 843-234-3431.