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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Ghost and Patina

In my opinion Jason Reynolds's work connects to everyone but especially kids in the same type of urban background that he himself is from. His style of writing draws people in regardless of age or race and that is something that I love in an author.

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Richland Library Main

Explore a New Hobby

If you're looking to try something new, our staff is sharing some ideas that can potentially turn into hobbies.

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Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in July 2020

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 July, 2020.

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Richland Library Main

iRead: Nnedi Okorafor

Nnedimma Nkemdili "Nnedi" Okorafor's body of work includes short stories, comics, and books for a variety of ages.  She has won multiple awards--everything from a World Fantasy Award (2011) to a Nebula and Hugo Award (2016).  Most recently, she was recognized by the Eisner Awards for her comic, LaGuardia (2020).  Ms. Okorafor continues to make her mark in the world of young adult and adult literature drawing on her African roots to imagine a truly brave new world.  

Staff Picks

New in Science

Most of these new science books are already available as ebooks, with print copies available or on order in some cases.  Needless to say, Debora MacKenzie’s COVID-19 and Meera Senthilingam’s Outbreaks and Epidemics have been getting a lot of notice.  Other intriguing titles include Paul Sutter’s
Staff Picks

Author Spotlight: Nnedi Okorafor

Nnedimma Nkemdili "Nnedi" Okorafor's body of work includes short stories, comics, and books for a variety of ages.  She has won multiple awards--everything from a World Fantasy Award (2011) to a Nebula and Hugo Award (2016).  Most recently, she was recognized by the Eisner Awards for her comic, LaGuardia (2020).  Ms.
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Richland Library Main

Hone Your Musical Genius

Making music is incredibly rewarding. You can tell your story in a million different creative ways, change moods, and create communities.

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Richland Library Main

Painting on the Patio

Watch artist Keith Tolen's painting process as he creates a unique portrait. Then head outside and try out some plein air painting for yourself. 

Staff Picks

2020 Eisner Award Winners

Check out the winners of the 2020 Eisner Awards, announced at San Diego Comic-Con. You can see a full list of categories, nominees, and winners here, as well as the broadcast of the awards hosted by Phil LaMarr here. Keep in mind that Eisner categories span across various creative roles, formats, and target age ranges.
Staff Picks

New Business Books

Most of these recently published business titles are already available in e-book format, with print copies on order in some cases.  Among the notable new books is Susanne Tedrick’s Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators, which one reviewer describes as “most valuable in its close focus on the realities of the tech world.”  Also getting a lot of buzz is
Staff Picks

The Dog Days of Summer

Too hot to go outside? Then stay in and chill with your favorite canine companion and one of these great reads! Not finding what you are looking for? Call us at 803-799-9084 for more great suggestions.
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The March Trilogy

On Friday, July 17, 2020, the world felt a little dimmer, as we lost Civil Rights leader and hero Congressman John Lewis. This was an immense loss that seemed to take away a light that shined so brightly, but we will always have this light.

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Richland Library Southeast

Making Your Way: Plein Air au Maison

Find a view that speaks to you, pick up your pencil, grab some paper and get yourself lost on your own magic carpet ride to somewhere beautiful. 

Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

You can place a hold on any of these new titles for pickup at one of our four locations with drive-through pickup windows (Ballentine, Northeast, Sandhills, and St.
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Richland Library Main

DIY: Pressed Flowers

From saving wedding bouquet flowers to just clipping a few blooms from your yard, pressed flowers make for an easy way to create beautiful art.

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Richland Library Ballentine

Visible Mending

Do your favorite jeans have a rip? Do you have a shirt you're bored with? Don't throw them out! Learn how to mend and embellish your clothing - and save money, too.

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Richland Library Main

Conversation Starters

Books to help you gain a better understanding of race and inclusion. 

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Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in June 2020

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 June, 2020.

Staff Picks

Season of Self Care

Although it is important to prioritize your body's health, it is especially important now more than ever. Included below are titles that range from meditation to other alternative ways of healing your mind, body and soul. Take a deep breath and know that you are not in this journey alone. Hope you enjoy!
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Richland Library Main

Donating Books During a Pandemic

While our libraries are focused on getting our physical materials in the hands of customers, we've temporarily taken a step back from accepting community donations but that doesn't mean there aren't some really great community organizations out there that would love to safely process your book donations. 

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Richland Library Ballentine

Create Your Own Jump Rope

Jumping rope is an iconic summer activity. It is great exercise and has a long and award-winning history in South Carolina. Follow along with this tutorial to learn how to make your own jump rope out of plastic bags and help save the environment at the same time!

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Richland Library Main

Who's Ready for Some Sports?

If you're looking for a little dose of sports, our staff has some great titles that may be up your alley.

Staff Picks

Books You Can Read in a Day

Not ready to tackle another 500 page novel? Looking for a quick read that still packs a big punch? We've got you covered. Each of these great titles is 100 pages or less, but will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. The perfect size for a lazy afternoon on the couch. 
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Online

World Refugee Day: Create Your Own Atypical Doll

Celebrate the strength and courage of refugees worldwide with artist Diana Farfan. In her doll making workshop, she will lead you through the creation of symbolic textile and mixed media characters, exploring the concepts of identity and belonging.

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Richland Library Main

Welcoming Refugees

Celebrated annually on June 20, World Refugee Day commemorates the anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which established specific criteria for what a refugee is and is not, as well as the rights and responsibilities of those seeking asylum, and of the nations providing that asylum.

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Richland Library Main

iRead: Coming-of-Age Stories for Tweens, Teens & Adults

iRead features the best ebooks and eaudiobooks for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. 

Delve into these stories of growing up and self-discovery set in a world filled with judgment and possibility.  

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Richland Library Main

5 Films For Free: Nature and Nurture

This weekly blog series, published each Friday evening, features five films from streaming services which you can access for free using your library card. 

Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: 50 Fiction Books to Add to Your TBR Pile

Here are some fiction titles that focus on the theme of race.  Most of these titles are by #OwnVoices authors, with a few books written by white authors who are exploring the topic of race and trying to understand their biases better.  An #OwnVoices author is defined as typically being "from a marginalized or under-represented group writing about their own experiences/from their own perspective, rather than someone from an outside perspective writing as a character from an underrepresented group." 
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Richland Library Main

5 Films For Free: Bollywood Calling

This weekly blog series, published each Friday evening, features five films from streaming services which you can access for free using your library card. The five selections this week are from Bollywood.

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Richland Library Main

Let's Talk Race: Podcasts

Explore a variety of viewpoints and voices on race with these podcasts. 

Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Poetry

Check out these titles to explore race through the voices of poets.
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Memoirs and Biographies

Biographies and memoirs are raw, real and riveting. We can learn so much about race from these personal narratives where human stories intersperse with history, culture and the political climate. We get perspective and insight into racism and how it impacts the lives of people and brings about social change. These books are also very inspiring and empowering.
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race for Teens & Adults

Talk about race and the black experience in America with these #OwnVoices titles for teens and adults.
Staff Picks

Racial Equity and Inclusion

Take some time to explore these films that address racial equity and inclusion at a critical time in history.
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Richland Library Main

A Shameful History

As curator to Richland Library’s historic photograph collection, I have come face to face with evidence of South Carolina’s shameful history of police violence and unequal justice for African Americans.

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Richland Library Main

Create Your Own Track Record

Take your Summer Learning Challenge to a whole new level this year by creating your own track record from right where you are.

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Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in May 2020

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 May, 2020.

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Richland Library Main

Let's Talk About Race

If you're ready to start an honest, courageous conversation and really get to know yourself and your neighbors keep reading. 

Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Becoming Actively Antiracist

It is one thing to say, "I'm not a racist", but it is entirely another thing to be an antiracist. It takes active listening, reading to learn (and unlearn), self-reflection, and educating oneself. Here are a few books to help you begin the work of becoming an antiracist. Here are a few more collections that may interest you: Race Matters book list
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Richland Library Northeast

5 Films for Free: Samurai Films

This weekly blog series, published each Friday evening, features five films from streaming services which you can access for free using your library card. The five selections this week highlight Japanese director's use of samurai culture as a springboard to tell very human stories about honor, duty, selflessness, violence, intrigue and love.

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Niche Academy Tutorials

Find tutorials here to guide you through using Richland Library's many online offerings including  Flipster, Hoopla, Kanopy, LinkedIn Learning and more.

Staff Picks

Locked Room Mysteries

A murder has taken place, but the door is locked from the inside and the murderer is nowhere to be found. Do you have what it takes to solve an impossible murder? Practice your social distancing and amateur sleuth skills with these e-books and e-audiobooks, available for free with your Richland Library card, that are certain to have you guessing not only whodunit, but howdunit until the very end.
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Richland Library Ballentine

5 Films for Free: Birds, Bugs, and Botany

This weekly blog series, published each Friday evening, features five films from streaming services which you can access for free using your library card. The five selections this week are nature documentaries - just because we're stuck inside doesn't mean we can't still enjoy some of the wonders of our world!

Staff Picks

Set in SC

Sometimes it's nice to read something and know exactly where the author is taking you, whether its your favorite restaurant in Charleston, or a dusty road in Six Mile. Try one of these new(ish) titles that take place in South Carolina. 
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Richland Library Main

Uncover These Mysterious Titles

Richland Library staff is recommending some thrillers that are full of loaded questions and may just leave you on the edge of your seat.

Database

Business Insights

Business Insights transforms business research with interactive tools and in-depth analysis of the history, performance, and opportunities of thousands of companies and industries.

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Academic Onefile

This premier periodical resource provides millions of articles from scholarly journals and other authoritative sources with extensive coverage in multiple subject areas.

Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Asian & Asian-American Authors

You've read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, and Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, now what? Enjoy these amazing fiction and poetry titles by Asian and Asian-American authors, most of which were published within the last year.
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Richland Library Main

Switch up Your Summer Reading List

Are you searching for a reading recommendation this summer? Our staff is ready to introduce some new titles to your home library.

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Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Eccentric Leads On A Mission

This weekly blog series, published each Friday evening, features five films from streaming services which you can access for free using your library card. The five selections this week follow magnetic leads with highly specific goals outside the norm.

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Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in April 2020

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 April, 2020.

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Richland Library Main

Virtual Book Clubs In The Times Of Social Distancing

Virtual Book clubs have always been there to connect book lovers across the globe. These online book clubs are gaining more significance now when people are staying at home and they have more time to read. Stuck at home, they also have a deeper desire to communicate and converse with other humans about what they are reading.

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Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Family Frailties

The 5 films chosen for this week highlight the fraught (and sometimes downright scary!) relationships that exist in families.  After watching these, you'll be happy that you're quarantined with your own people, and not these fictional clans!

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Richland Library Ballentine

Crafty How-To: Canvas and Thread Wall Art

Learn how to make piece of art for your wall! This craft is suitable for anyone who can safely hold a needle and use a ruler!

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Richland Library Ballentine

Common Backyard Birds

Learn about our most common backyard birds and how to identify the uncommon ones

Staff Picks

15 Multicultural Fiction Titles in Ebooks

Reading Multicultural fiction is like travelling vicariously to faraway lands. The characters may differ from us in ethnicity and yet we connect with them as regardless of race, human emotions are universal and similar. Do browse these titles which can be accessed electronically from home. They range from the explosive bombshell of a book, "My Sister, The Serial Killer" to the tale of two friends who grew up in India but now live across oceans in "Sister Of My Heart"
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Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Who are the real monsters?

This is a list of films that are a kaleidoscope of life that happens to everyday people like us.  Each film is available to stream for free with a Richland Library card.

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Richland Library Main

Because Libraries are Always Here for You

In honor of National Library Week (April 19 - 25, 2020), we decided that there's no better way to celebrate than by shining a light on the courageous and innovative work our colleagues around the country are doing during this unprecedented time. 

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Richland Library Main

In Need of a Good Laugh?

Enjoy a good laugh with these comedic book, music and movie recommendations from Richland Library staff.

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Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Comfort Food Comedies

The five selections this week are comedies, because laughter may not always be the best medicine but it can certainly distract you from the fact that you're running out of toilet paper!

Staff Picks

Backyard Naturalist

Now that we're all stuck at home, we've probably paid a lot more attention to the creatures in our own backyard. Maybe we've become a bit more curious about their lives. Here are some ebooks to find out more.
Staff Picks

Just One Person's Hoopla Watchlist

I love to make lists of things to watch after I've read a good review or seen a performance by an actor or work by a director that I enjoyed. These are films that caught my eye and made it on my Hoopla list. Hope you find something to add to your list to watch that you didn't know about before!