Chasing Me to My Grave
Refractive Africa
Staff Picks

2022 Pulitzer Prizewinners

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, May 09
The 2022 Pulitzer Prizes have just been announced.  Check out the following prizewinners and finalists in the categories of fiction, biography, general nonfiction, history, and poetry.
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Can YOU Identify Poison Ivy? (Part 1)

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Wednesday, May 25

Are you confident that you can identify poison ivy when you see it? Play along with this guessing game to learn about several native plants - and which ones are poison ivy!

Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Caterpillar Gardening

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Monday, August 29

Do you want to see more butterflies? Then feed caterpillars by creating a backyard caterpillar garden of your own! Visit Ballentine Library and see how many caterpillars you can find!

Blog
Richland Library Main

History of the Syrian-Lebanon Society in Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, April 29

The history of the Syrian-Lebanon Society in Columbia tells the story of a group of immigrants who came to South Carolina seeking opportunity, and who eventually blended the cultures from their homeland to that in their new-found home.

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A Magic Steeped in Poison
Inheritance
Staff Picks

Highly Anticipated Teen Reads for May

  • Kei G.
  • Wednesday, April 27
There’s always room left on your TBR list! From romances and mysteries to sci-fi and fantasy, there’s something for every reader to look forward to this Spring. Here are some of the most anticipated young adult books to watch out for in May. Reserve any of these titles today by placing a hold with your library card!
Blog
Richland Library Main

On the Streets Where We Live

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, April 27

If you’ve ever walked or biked around downtown Columbia, you’ve probably encountered impatience from drivers waiting for you to clear a crosswalk or pedal through an intersection.  The unspoken assumption in this scenario is that streets are primarily for cars, and any other uses take a back seat (so to speak) to this imperative.

The Beauty That Remains
Freaking out
Staff Picks

Teen Books for Mental Health Awareness Month

  • Lily W.
  • Monday, April 25
A recent study from the CDC found that 37.1% of teenage students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, often due to issues such as “school closures, social isolation, family economic hardship, family loss or illness, and reduced access to health care.” However, the report also found that “poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were less prevalent among those who felt close to persons at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic.”
The Heartbeat of Trees
National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America
Staff Picks

Arbor Day Reads

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, April 22
National Arbor Day is observed annually on the last Friday in April (4/29 this year), although South Carolina marks its own Arbor Day on the first Friday in December, since saplings planted at that time of year will have a better chance of becoming established before the brutal heat of summer arrives.
The Book of Mother
Cursed Bunny
Staff Picks

2022 International Booker Prize

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, April 19
The long list and short list titles were announced this month for the 2022 International Booker Prize.  This prize was created in 2004 to recognize works of fiction that weren't eligible for the regular Booker Prize (awarded to books by authors hailing from anywhere in the British Commonwealth).  The winner will be announced on 26 May, but in the meantime, check out these nominees from our collection.
Portrait of a Thief
The Startup Wife
Staff Picks

Novels by Asian and Asian-American Authors

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, April 19
Taking place everywhere from far and wide, to worlds built in fantasy, these titles written by authors of Asian descent are the perfect way to delve into a sliver of a different culture, background or experience. Don't forget to participate in the #BroaderBookshelf challenge or get more ideas about what to read by filling out a Personalized Recommendation form. 
Bellevue
CERTAIN PEOPLE
Staff Picks

True Tales of the Gilded Age

  • Sara M.
  • Tuesday, April 05
Are you all caught up on the HBO series The Gilded Age?  Check out these nonfiction books about the real people and places of New York society in the late nineteenth century.
My Son John
The New Jim Crow
Staff Picks

Help! My Adult Child Talks Like a Communist!

  • Keith B.
  • Tuesday, April 05
In Leo McCarey's Red Scare cult classic, My Son John, John (Robert Walker) comes home from college with a raft of radical ideas. His devout Catholic mother Lucille (Helen Hayes) and American Legion member father Dan (Dean Jagger) become increasingly uneasy, unable to relate to John's leftist views. In one of the best, and most certainly melodramatic depictions of the possible gulf between generations caused by political differences, Lucille begins informing on John to the FBI agent played by Van Heflin. 
The Bridge
Thirteen Reasons Why
Staff Picks

Suicide In Teen Fiction

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, April 01
According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24. Silence will not make the problem go away.
Rolling Thunder Revue
Don't Look Back
Staff Picks

Like the Wind Blowin' Through 1703 Taylor St.

  • Keith B.
  • Friday, April 01
Did you leave a Bob Dylan concert mystified, unsure of what you just heard? Did you find his voice rough and his manners rowdy? Were you intrigued by his literary lyrics and the fanatical spectacle? Take a deeper dive into Dylanology with this selection of materials.   Bob Dylan Setlists for Shows at The Columbia Township Auditorium 2022-03-29 
The Memory Police
The Good Son
Staff Picks

Without Borders: Books in Translation

  • Kristin A.
  • Tuesday, March 29
Books have no borders. Without reading translated books, we only experience a tiny sliver of the literature that the world has to offer. Authors are writing incredible books in a variety of languages throughout the world, but only a very small percentage are translated into English. By reading books published in other countries, you are able to delve deep into that author's culture in a way you wouldn't otherwise be able to do without a passport. So broaden your bookshelf and try one of these translated books today.
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Great Big Family Quarantine

  • Lindsey T.
  • Monday, March 28

Quarantine can be difficult if you're not a single-person household. Here are some answers to common questions about quarantining as a family. 

Hard Reboot
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Staff Picks

Robots, Love, and Queer People!

  • Garrett W.
  • Monday, March 28
Books for teens and adults featuring robots, space flight, and rogue artificial intelligence. 
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Interview with Councilwoman Jesica Mackey

  • Brittany S.
  • Wednesday, March 30

I had the honor of chatting with Richland County Council Vice-Chair, Jesica Mackey, (District 9) about her leadership, community, and the importance of Women's History Month.

Your Money or Your Life
Get Good with Money
Staff Picks

Personal Finance Books By Women

  • Thomas M.
  • Sunday, March 20
The history of money is full of barriers to women. For example, until 1974, American banks could refuse to issue credit to unmarried women and require a husband's signature for married women. Today, many of those barriers have been broken and anyone can attain financial freedom. For Women's History Month, here is a list of personal finance books packed with good advice, all authored by women.
Everything is Illuminated
Fahrenheit 9/11
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #9 - Starting with 'Eva Luna')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 15
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Columbia Women: A Walking Tour

  • Heather B.
  • Monday, March 14

Grab your walking shoes for a brief stroll and learn more about a few of the women who have made huge impacts and continue to advance Columbia, the South, and our nation. 

Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Why Banning LGBTQ+ Books Hurts All Kids

  • Matthew C.
    Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, March 16

Removing LGBTQ+ literature from libraries doesn't remove them from the world, but only deprives readers of the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Budgeting for a New Salary

  • Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, March 09

When your income changes substantially, it’s time to revisit the way you manage your money. Read more for some tips on how to reassess!

Eloise at the Plaza
Emma.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #8 - Starting with 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 08
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Blog
Richland Library Cooper

In Defense of Short Stories

  • Charlotte D.
  • Friday, June 30

Short stories sometimes get a bad rap - but these collections just might change your mind about the writing form.

The Girls Who Stepped out of Line
The Unwomanly Face of War
Staff Picks

Her Story: Women Heroes of WWII

  • Kristin A.
  • Thursday, March 03
Women have always served their countries in many ways during wartime, but the sheer scope of World War II demanded more of them than ever — and they answered the call. Around the world, women served as military nurses, pilots, resistance fighters, codebreakers, spies, and served in other roles. For decades, their stories went untold. For Women's History Month, we're celebrating these courageous women and the important role they played during this time. Thrilling and inspiring, these books will shed new light on the women who answered the call to serve their country. 
Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood.
Driving Miss Daisy.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #7 - Starting with 'Deenie')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 01
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OWNVoices: Blackout Book Review

  • Cassie G.
  • Thursday, June 23

Are you looking for #Blackgirlmagic for Black History Month? If so, Blackout is the book for you! Take a look at my review of the novel and see if entices you to read it.  

Sister Outsider
Light From Uncommon Stars
Staff Picks

LGBTQ eAudiobooks We Loved

  • Zita R.
  • Tuesday, February 22
Hoopla and Overdrive have lots of LGBTQ titles to listen to as Audiobooks but here is a short and fun list of Staff Picks that Richland Library workers loved listening to this past year.
The Crimson Petal and the White.
Crucible
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #6 - Starting with 'The Crimson Petal & The White')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, February 22
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
How to Be Fine
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
Staff Picks

Mental Health Month

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, February 21
If you are feeling depressed, lonely, or are just having a bad day, try one of these titles and let reading briefly take you out of reality. Whether you are looking for something to make you laugh, an out-of-this-world sci-fi, or need a little self-help action, we've got you covered. For personalized recommendations, click here. You are not alone. These resources may help you:
Dune
Dune.
Staff Picks

What to Read If You Like: 'DUNE'

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, February 18
So, you've finally seen the movie and/or read the book. Great! Check out the rest of the Dune series or other series of similar themes!  Be careful with how much spice you consume...
Mister Miracle
Naomi Season One.
Staff Picks

Black Superheroes (2022 Update)

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, February 16
Following 2019's list of Comics With Black Protagonists, here are some recent releases featuring black superheroes. Some are from big, established universes, while others star in their own fantasy series.
Blog
Richland Library Southeast

Switching to LECA: Another Way to Grow Houseplants

  • Brianna K.
  • Tuesday, March 15

In the fall of 2021, I decided to change my houseplants' growing medium from soil to LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate). At that time, I had over 30 houseplants and found it challenging to keep up with their watering schedules and pest control. Then, one day, I came across a video on YouTube about LECA.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Love & Money

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, January 04

There are no perfect solutions in love or money, but there are some simple ways to increase your chances of success.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Signs of Segregation from Columbia's Past

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, February 21

Discover places in downtown Columbia that once held signs of segregation through these "then and now" images constructed from historic photographs in our archives.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Count of Monte Cristo (2002.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #5 - Starting with 'The Code of the Woosters')

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, February 11
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Turn Right at Machu Picchu
It's What I Do
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - True Travel Tales

  • Sara M.
  • Friday, February 11
Fulfill the "Read a book about a journey" prompt for this year's Broader Bookshelf challenge with one of these nonfiction travel books.  Travel writing can take you all the way around the world from the comfort of your living room! Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Anansi Does the Impossible!
Staff Picks

A Year of Black History

  • Helene F.
  • Thursday, February 10
A Year of Black History Continues   Folktales, comics and history ... here we are!  Also, Hoopla is allowing 15 checkouts for the month of February, as well as bonus borrows.  Hoopla offers many comic book/graphic novels to choose from!  Please, enter your email address and password associated with Hoopla.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Narrative Nonfiction: The Truth Can be Stranger Than Fiction

  • Kate B.
  • Thursday, February 10

If you’re a fan of novels, narrative nonfiction is a great way to introduce yourself to nonfiction reading or broaden your reading repertoire. Narrative nonfiction is a true story (hence the nonfiction part) written in the style of a novel (hence the narrative part).

Nothing but Blackened Teeth
Taaqtumi
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Folk Horror

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, February 10
Did you really love Midsommar?  Want more of The Wicker Man?  Then you want more folk horror in your life!  Folk horror takes some element from folklore - nature spirits, Fair Folk, Japanese oni  - and incorporates it into a horror narrative.  Whether it's a creepy cult, the darkest part of the forest, or an animal that doesn't look quite right in the broad daylight, folk horror delivers the scares.  
Orwell's Roses
A Little Devil in America
Staff Picks

2021 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, February 10
The finalists for the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Awards were recently announced.  Given annually since 1976, they are the only major book awards selected by critics.  The winners will be announced in March.  Check out the following finalists from our collection, in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry, and criticism.  (The list also includes the finalists for the NBCC's John Leonard Prize for Best First Book.)
Blog
Richland Library Main

Hybrid Work: It’s Here to Stay

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, February 09

The consensus in the business/HR community is that hybrid work arrangements, involving working both in the office and remotely, will remain in place even after the coronavirus pandemic is finally in the rear-view mirror.

Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Staff Picks

Teen Dark Academia

  • Alison B.
  • Friday, February 04
Dark academia is on the rise. Not sure what it is? Think tweed blazer and plaid skirt uniforms, sprawling gothic architecture campuses and boarding schools, and mysteries with dark and morbid origins. Whether it's joining a secret society, witnessing a murder, or caving under the immense pressure of classes, these students might have to risk it all to accomplish their goals. 
The Sparrow
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Fantastic Voyages

  • Sara M.
  • Friday, February 04
Fulfill the "Read a book about a journey" prompt for this year's Broader Bookshelf challenge with one of these fantasy, sci-fi, or horror books!   Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
The Luminous Dead
World War Z
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Sci-Fi Horror

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, February 03
Do you like your horror to come with a sci-fi frame?  Here are some books that cross genres to give you a little bit of both! Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Black-Owned Newspapers in Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, February 01

Over the years, there have been several newspapers published in Columbia covering news and events for Black readers. Let’s take a look at some of these titles and find out where you can access them.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Coraline
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Horror for the Easily Frightened

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 27
So you saw that we're asking you to read a horror book for this year's reading challenge, and your immediate response was "nope, not this fraidy cat!"  If you don't read horror because you don't want to be too scared, here are a few options for you.  Some are older classics, which tend to be a little less scary to modern eyes, and some are modern books with a lower chill factor.  Keep in mind that horror is subjective - what's terrifying to one person doesn't even move the needle for another, so your mileage may vary!
Not the Witch You Wed
Count Your Lucky Stars
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for February 2022

  • Sarah C.
  • Wednesday, January 26
Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in February 2022, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
A Lot Like Adiós
Have We Met?
Staff Picks

Romance Novels by Authors of Color

  • Morgan R.
  • Saturday, January 22
Whether you are looking for something to read while getting cozy by the fire, or catching some rays at the beach, these books are sure to heat things up.