Blog
Richland Library Main

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Club: Biased

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, November 02
Let's Talk Race DIY Book Clubs bring together the essential components of a good book discussion: an introduction to share, questions to prompt conversation and further reading.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Let's Pretend This Never Happened : A Book Review

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, October 31
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson is a completely hilarious, inappropriately outrageous and a truly courageous memoir. Miss Lawson details events from her unconventional childhood in Wall, Texas where she grew up poor with her sister Lisa, her loving mom and her eccentric yet endearing dad.
The Secret Lives of Planets
The Fragile Earth
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, October 27
Science writing has its own celebrities, and a few them have new books coming out. Astrophysicist Janna Levin is back with her fourth book, Black Hole Survival Guide, while famed biologist and #1 world “ant guy” Edward O. Wilson sums up a long lifetime of research and discovery with Tales from the Ant World.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Club: How to Be an Antiracist

  • Sarah Shuster
    Heather M.
  • Monday, October 26
Let's Talk Race DIY Book Clubs bring together the essential components of a good book discussion: an introduction to share, questions to prompt conversation and further reading. Many are recognizing for the first time that neutrality on racism is no longer an option. Many are seeking exactly what Dr. Ibram X. Kendi offers in How To Be An Antiracist—a deep dive into racist systems and policies, and a call to action for actively pursuing anti-racism personally and in our own spheres of influence.
Billion Dollar Loser
Better, Not Perfect
Staff Picks

Billion Dollar Loser (and other new business books you may enjoy)

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 22
Check out these new business titles recently added to our collection. Considering the news of the antitrust suit that the US Department of Justice has just brought against Google, Zephyr Teachout’s Break ’em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money is a timely read indeed.
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

#OwnVoices: Monday's Not Coming

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Thursday, June 23
Friends are like family. So, when your best friend goes missing what do you do. If you are anything like Claudia, you go looking for answers.
Killing the Black Body
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Staff Picks

The Brutal History of Black Bodies & Medicine

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, October 21
As with so much of American history, the field of medicine made advancements at the expense of numerous Black lives. Yet, this trauma did not end with emancipation. The stereotypes and inhumane treatment persisted through Jim Crow. The vestiges remain today and play out in racial health disparities that have come into even sharper focus with COVID-19.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Healing the Black Body (and Mind)

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, October 22
Find both national and local resources and initiatives that promote healing and health in the Black community.
My Vanishing Country
His Very Best
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, October 20
Several of these new titles have been getting rave reviews, for example Debora Harding’s Dancing with the Octopus, a shocking true-crime memoir, and Kerri Arsenault’s Mill Town, about the author’s return to her struggling blue-collar hometown in Maine.
John Constantine, Hellblazer. Vol. 01, Original Sins
Staff Picks

Comics For Fans of "The Boys"

  • Thomas M.
  • Thursday, October 15
If you've caught up on the subversive superhero series The Boys and are looking for comics in the same vein, check out the titles below. Whether you're looking for irreverent humor, icons falling from grace, redemption for imperfect heroes, or protagonists who fight dirty to take on dark evils, these series are for you. As an additional recommendation, click here to check out Irredeemable from Hoopla.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Career Development: Discover Yourself

  • Emily Barber
  • Thursday, December 10
Self-discovery is essential to making career decisions that will build a happy life. Here are four questions to help you discover yourself.
What to Eat when You're Pregnant
Nurture
Staff Picks

Educating and Preparing Yourself for Childbirth

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, October 14
Congratulations on your new addition! Listed below are a few informative books for the expecting mother and family. These topics range from what to eat while you're pregnant to the various birthing types. It's always good to brush up on some of the latest advice from current moms, but during this season of COVID it's more important than ever. Hopefully, some of these titles can be useful for you, or a loved one.
The Avengers
Black Panther. Vol. 01, A Nation Under Our Feet
Staff Picks

Year of the misfits

  • Helene F.
  • Tuesday, October 13
Misfits taking the stage Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? Have you wanted to step out of your comfort zone? Different people, becoming a family, in every sense of the word. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Staff Picks

Elections in the United States

  • Allison T.
  • Monday, October 12
Brush up on your knowledge of voting and elections in the United States using these resources.
Watchmen
Grass
Staff Picks

2020 Harvey Award Winners

  • Thomas M.
  • Sunday, October 11
The winners of the 2020 Harvey Awards, which are selected by comics industry professionals, have been announced across six categories. Check out some of the best recent comics below. The full list of nominees can be found here.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Learning at Home: Multisensory Spelling

  • Emily J.
  • Monday, October 19
Many times, children have trouble identifying the separate letter sounds or phonemes in words. Fingerspelling is a handy multisensory strategy to help children learn how to spell. They learn to pull apart words into separate sounds (segmenting) and to associate a letter’s sound with the letter’s written form.
Poems 1962-2012
Nativity Poems
Staff Picks

Nobel Poetry

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 08
American poet Louise Glück has just been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in literature. Despite poetry’s status as the “oldest” literary genre, this most distinguished of literary prizes has more often gone to fiction writers than to poets in recent years. If you’re curious to explore Glück’s poetry, as well as that of other remarkable poets who have received the Nobel in the past fifty years, check out any of the titles listed below from our collection.
The Wolf Gift
Bitten
Staff Picks

Witches and Werewolves

  • Kristin A.
  • Wednesday, October 07
Something wicked this way comes. Dust off your broom and check out these books about witches and werewolves that you can really sink your teeth into. They're sure to put a spell on you.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in September 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, October 08
With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in September, 2020.
Blog
Richland Library Main

SC Science Standards: Plant Growth and Survival

  • Emily J.
  • Friday, October 30
Plants tell an important story about the environment. Take time to explore and investigate the plants in the backyard with your kindergartener. Visit local gardens and discuss the types of plants in the area. Ask questions about how the environment provides plants with the resources they need to survive, water and sunlight
The New Annotated Dracula
Northanger Abbey
Staff Picks

Gothic Literature

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, October 05
Featuring windswept moors, crumbling towers, abandoned castles, and maybe a ghost or two, Gothic Literature is all about atmosphere. From English manors to Southern mansions, these often supernatural tales merge deep passions with chill dread. Just be sure to read them with the lights on and don't answer the strange knocking at your door.
Dirty Wars and Polished Silver
The Mammoth Book of Combat
Staff Picks

The First Casualty

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 01
The first casualty of war, it has been famously said, is the truth, which is why war correspondents have played such a crucial role throughout history. And it hasn’t been just a “boys’ club” – Martha Gellhorn, Rebecca West, and others made a name for themselves reporting from zones of conflict. More recently, Marie Colvin (tragically killed in Syria in 2012) and Clarissa Ward (author of a new memoir, On All Fronts) have done the same.
Gideon the Ninth
The Crow.
Staff Picks

None More Goth

  • Sara M.
  • Wednesday, September 30
For some people, spooky season is just starting - but for others, spooky season never stops! Embrace the goth aesthetic with these classic and modern books, movies, and music and seek beauty in the darkness.
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

Halloween Egg Hunt: A Social Distanced Trick-or-Treat Tutorial

  • Shinelle P.
  • Wednesday, September 30
Keeping our distance doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun! A Halloween Egg Hunt is a playful way to keep the Halloween spirit, whether you organize a neighborhood event or just hide the eggs around your home for the kiddos to find. This two-for-one tutorial is a great craft for kids and preparation for a fun Halloween event!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2019

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, September 28
The American Library Association tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Overall, 566 books were targeted. Here are the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2019.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Your Privacy + The Census 

  • Zita R.
  • Friday, September 25
The easiest way to prevent a Census worker from knocking on your door is to fill out your Census online now. But what if you are worried about your privacy?
Let It Snow
Let It Snow
Staff Picks

YA Novels to Film

  • Brittany S.
  • Thursday, September 24
The pages of the following novels came to life in movies and television shows. Check out the epic stories that started it all.
What if It's Us
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
Staff Picks

Must Read YA Realistic Fiction Novels

  • Brittany S.
  • Thursday, September 24
See Realistic Fiction at its finest. Walk down a school hallway, enter a pageant, and take a life altering trip while delving into these stories.
Six of Crows
Graceling
Staff Picks

YA Fantasy Gold Mine

  • Brittany S.
  • Thursday, September 24
Take a trip to another realm with adventure around every corner in the following novels.
The Remaking
The Boatman's Daughter
Staff Picks

It's Spooky Season

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, September 23
Grab your sweater, a hot beverage of choice, and cozy on up with a good book because it's officially Fall, y'all! Here are a few horror novels to get you into the #SpookySzn mood.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: Toning the Sweep

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
If you've visited the library, you've likely had one of our library staff emphasize the importance of not only reading but that reading builds empathy.
Blog
Richland Library Main

OFF BOOK: Crush Rush

  • Richland Library
  • Friday, June 24
Arts Librarian Ashley Warthen goes off book with photojournalist, Crush Rush to kick off his library residency.
I Dissent
American Women Activists' Writings
Staff Picks

Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Mahogany S.
  • Monday, September 21
From The Notorious RBG to I Dissent, explore the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg with these books and movies that span all age ranges.
Better Homes and Gardens Wonder Pot
The Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook.
Staff Picks

Food to Fall For

  • Rhonda H.
  • Monday, September 21
Does the chill in the air make you crave hardier fare? Then check out one of these delectable delights!
Ruth Objects
On the Basis of Sex
Staff Picks

RIP RBG

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, September 21
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday, Sept.
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree
The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
Staff Picks

2020 National Book Awards: The Long Lists

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, September 18
The long lists for the 2020 National Book Awards have just been announced. The winners will be announced on November 18. Check out the following titles from our collection in the award categories of fiction, nonfiction, literature in translation, young people's literature, and poetry.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Latinos/as, Hispanics, LatinX in the Census

  • Mayte Velasco Nicolas
  • Thursday, September 17
The first Latinos in the United States of America settled in Florida in 1565 but the U.S. Census did not recognize this population until 1980--leaving their identity in limbo.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat

  • Ronisha J.
  • Thursday, June 23
This autobiography lets us know that we do not have to remain in our circumstance. If we want better, we can work to achieve better. It is OK to get help from others along the way.
Blog
Richland Library Main

All About Reading

  • Emily J.
  • Tuesday, August 31
Many of us have started homeschooling for the first time this year, whether it’s a virtual option through our school districts or we’ve decided to take on the role of classroom teacher ourselves. Richland Library’s Education Studio has reading curriculum to help guide you through your new position as homeschool teacher or reading tutor
Blog
Richland Library Main

Voting in Columbia, a historical perspective

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, September 28
The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, granting the right to have a voice in our society. For anyone deprived of these rights, the struggle to secure them has been worth the fight. Explore some historic touchpoints that converge around the evolution of the right to vote in Columbia.
Amnesty
Destination Wedding
Staff Picks

31 Outstanding Fiction Books by Indian Authors

  • Mona Verma
  • Monday, September 14
Mark Twain has said, "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most artistic materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!" Apart from travel,the next best way to learn about a country and its people is through its books. India has several accomplished and award winning authors who have weaved magical works of fiction.
Black Sunday
Clap when You Land
Staff Picks

2020 Kirkus Prize Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, September 10
The finalists for this year's Kirkus Prize have just been announced. The prize, which was created in 2014, goes to books in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature. The winners in the three categories will be announced on November 5. Check out the finalists listed below from our collection.
Great Women Artists
Indian Architecture
Staff Picks

Indian Art

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, September 10
Explore the world of Indian art and its vast history, interpretations, and celebration of culture.
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Census Through The Centuries

  • Dusty R.
  • Tuesday, September 29
Because of the “72 year rule,” the 2020 Census will not be available for genealogists until 2092. When it is released, will your descendants be able to find you in the 2020 Census?
All About Reading, Level 1, Teacher's Manual
All About Reading, Level 2, Teacher's Manual
Staff Picks

Reading Curriculum: All About Reading

  • Emily J.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Looking an easy to follow reading curriculum? All About Reading is a one-stop shop for quality reading materials. Find all of these titles and more in Richland Library's Education Studio. Questions? We are here to help. Contact the Richland Library Education Studio and we'll help you find the best materials to suit your needs.
Our Time is Now
Our Time Is Now
Staff Picks

The Power of the Vote

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Voting is a fundamental right for every adult citizen in a democracy. This right has not always been guaranteed or given to every citizen. Discover the history and the people who fought and continue to fight for the power of the vote. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Power of the Vote

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Voting is a fundamental right for every adult citizen in a democracy. Richland Library's staff is working to make sure that every resident has the information and resources they need to successfully engage in the political process, ensuring their voice is heard.
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Virtual Job Interview

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, December 15
Job interviews conducted via videoconferencing programs such as Zoom and Skype were already in wide use before the coronavirus pandemic, but for understandable reasons they are now more popular than ever. Just as for an in-person interview, you should carefully prepare beforehand, but there are other considerations specific to virtual interviewing that you will need to keep in mind.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Staff Picks

Author Spotlight: Mariko Tamaki

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, September 04
Mariko Tamaki was born in Toronto, Ontario. Her writing often deals with the inner turmoil of teenagers, especially in titles such as Skim and This One Summer, both illustrated by her cousin Jillian Tamaki, as well as Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, illustrated by Rosemary Valer-O’Connell. Tamaki’s protagonists are marked by her talent for writing authentic flaws and personal conflict.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Mariko Tamaki

  • Thomas M.
  • Sunday, September 06
Mariko Tamaki was born in Toronto, Ontario. Her writing often deals with the inner turmoil of teenagers, especially in titles such as Skim and This One Summer, both illustrated by her cousin Jillian Tamaki, as well as Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, illustrated by Rosemary Valer-O’Connell. Tamaki’s protagonists are marked by her talent for writing authentic flaws and personal conflict.
The Silence of the Girls
Milkman
Staff Picks

2020 International Dublin Literary Award: The Short List

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, September 04
The short list for this year's International Dublin Literary Award has just been announced. Established in 1994, this is one of the largest literary prizes around, at €100,000, and is awarded to a novel written or translated into English. The winner will be announced on October 22. In the meantime, check out the ten short list titles from our collection. (Seven of the ten have already won other major literary prizes.)
Dune
Foundation
Staff Picks

Space Opera

  • Kristin A.
  • Thursday, September 03
Craving dramatic, large-scale science fiction adventure and characters you won't soon forget? Travel the stars with these Space Opera titles and discover your new out of this world read. Looking for more great titles? Find your new favorite title using our Personalized Reading Recommendations.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

Stand Up and Be Counted! : Four Facts for Census 2020

  • Mahogany S.
    Sarah C.
  • Tuesday, September 08
Census 2020 ends on September 30 and it isn’t too late for you to take part! Read on to find out how you can participate and learn a few facts to help understand why a complete count is so important.
The Job
The Globotics Upheaval
Staff Picks

Labor and Its Discontents

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, September 03
The world of work was being upended even before the coronavirus pandemic drove the US unemployment rate to record highs. The “gig economy,” robotics, and offshoring, to name but a few factors, have reshaped traditional employment in ways that are not yet fully understood. As we observe Labor Day, this is a good time to take a look at how we got here and what may be in store for us in the labor market. The books listed below offer a range of views on the subject, from critiques of Silicon Valley’s role in degrading work life to constructive advice on finding mea
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in August 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, October 06
With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in August, 2020.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Crown

  • DJ Barber
  • Thursday, June 23
Derrick Barnes captures one of the most pivotal moments of a black boy’s life: his first haircut.
The Ballad of Black Tom
Kindred
Staff Picks

After Lovecraft

  • Sara M.
  • Monday, August 31
Check out this list of books that engage with Lovecraftian cosmic horror ideas and with Lovecraft's xenophobia and bigotry.
Blog
Richland Library Main

How to Vote Absentee in the General Election

  • Allison T.
  • Thursday, October 22
While voters in South Carolina could place their vote via absentee ballot in the primary in June, simply due to the presence of the virus, this is not the case for the general election in November. Voters have to meet certain criteria and there are guidelines for who can vote absentee and how.
The Discomfort of Evening
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree
Staff Picks

2020 International Booker Prize

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, August 27
The International Booker Prize was created in 2004 to recognize fictional works that weren't eligible for the regular Booker Prize (awarded to authors hailing from anywhere in the British Commonwealth). This year's winner is Dutch author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld for her debut novel, The Discomfort of Evening, about a young girl from a farming family who blames herself when tragedy befalls them.
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Power of Protest

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Injustice calls for action. If you are ready to take a stand, Richland Library is here connect you with resources and knowledge.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Children of Blood and Bone

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, June 23
Seventeen-year-old Zélie, her older brother Tzain, and rogue princess Amari fight to restore magic to the land and activate a new generation of magi, but they are ruthlessly pursued by the crown prince, who believes the return of magic will mean the end of the monarchy.
When They Call You a Terrorist
John Lewis
Staff Picks

The Power of Protest

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, August 20
Black protest has power. The power to change minds, laws, even nations. Black protest shapes history and leaders. Learn more about the triumphs and the struggles of black protest and activism by checking out these titles today. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Between the World and Me
The Water Dancer
Staff Picks

Thought Leaders to Read

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, August 19
Thought leaders are the go-to people that we turn to to get inspiration for a movement; their ideas and actions are influential and substantial.Here are a few folx who are leading the charge of race, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Give their books a read, follow them on social media and then feel free to share key takeaways, interesting articles, or your personal experiences on our Let's Talk Race padlet.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Vanishing Half - A Review

  • Mahogany S.
  • Thursday, June 23
The Vanishing Half is a bittersweet look into the lives of twin sisters and how they deal with separation, betrayal, abuse, and a changing world. The sisters deal with the oppressive weight of being black in a time where lynchings were still commonplace as children, where light skin is seen as preferential and passing for white is as taboo as it is desirable.