Staff Picks

LibraryReads Best of 2019

Every December, LibraryReads shares their top ten favorites for the whole year.  How many of these librarian favorites have you read?
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for December 2019

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in December 2019, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now! This month's LibraryReads features our own Rebecca K.!  She reviewed The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters, saying:
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LGBTQ+ Picture Books

Enjoy these diverse and wholesome books, each sharing a message of inclusiveness and acceptance. Subjects range from non-traditional families to a child's budding gender identity, and even a true story about a family of penguins.
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Children's Books for Adults

These works might have been written with children in mind, but there's something for everyone in these classics.
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Fiction for Foodies 🍴

Feast your eyes on these delicious books! If you crave stories that focus on food and how it affects our relationships with our selves and others, dig in . . . and come back for seconds!
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Washington Post's Best Nonfiction of 2019

The Washington Post recently published a comprehensive list of their book reviewers' favorite nonfiction of 2019.  Established authors such as Nobel laureate Svetlana Aleksievich and the prolific Bill Bryson show up on the list, but also new and notable writers such as The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino and memoirist Adrienne Brodeur.  Check out any of the following titles from our collection.
Staff Picks

Historical Turn of the Strange

Historical twists and turns   Ever felt there were things unseen?  Do you enjoy mixing history with the unusual?  Then soar to your local library or personal electronic device to check them out.  Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions.
Staff Picks

Award-Winning Animation

Animation isn't just for kids! This wide assortment of animated works are aimed at all sorts of audiences, with all sorts of themes as well. Enjoy 25 award-winning animated films from across the past two decades. 
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Richland Library Lower Richland

Mind-Bending Fiction

These tales of extreme circumstances and games of death lead you to wonder what exactly is going on...

Staff Picks

Sandhills Staff Picks of 2019

It's that time of year again when "Best Of" lists are everywhere you turn. Well, we are jumping on the bandwagon here at Richland Library Sandhills and have curated a very special list just for you of our favorites reads this year (with just a few from last year!)
Staff Picks

15 Best Self-Help Books of 2019

With 2020 around the horizon, its time to shed whats holding you back and work towards being a better and a happier person. Browse these empowering books published in 2019 which will help you introspect, take charge and move forward with your life. 
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#ReadAfricaWeek

This first week of December, readers, publishers, and educators will celebrate Read Africa Week.  Join in by reading books by African authors representing the diversity and breadth of African literature!
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Let Your Business Education Begin...

Don't have time to run out and get your MBA, but still interested in learning more about business?  Here is a list of business books that many consider "classics" that may help inform you as an entrepreneur, investor or lifelong learner.  So, read like a boss!
Staff Picks

Classic Children's Books

Classic books are a part of our society's literary heritage. For good or for ill, they have shaped the world we live in and inform our present while opening windows into our past. Classic books add a rich layer to a child's reading experience and can give teachable moments in the context of a story. Classic titles are also a great choice for advanced readers who are ready for longer books and more complex language. Choose one of these titles to read together or independently. 
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Cookbook Vacations

Cook globally!  These books will take you on a culinary vacation all around the world - and you don't even have to put your tray table in the upright and locked position.
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Toys, toys, and more toys!

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers Explore titles about making toys, the importance of play, and great picture books that show the magic of simple playthings. 
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Richland Library Main

Faces at the Carillon Parade

Columbia has hosted the Carillon Parade annually since 1953, both to usher in the holiday season and to showcase the area’s bands and talent. The library’s Local History Digital Collections allows us to see the evolution of the parade and to catch a glimpse of the smiling faces it inspired.

Staff Picks

Add These Audiobooks to Your Holds List November 2019

Looking for a stellar audiobook listening experience?  Think about adding these titles, available in Book on CD and eAudiobook formats, to your "to be listened to" pile.
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15 Novels Set in The Carolinas

You can specially relate to novels set in the Carolinas if you grew up in this part of the world. Browse through these best selling novels which have local and nostalgic backdrops such as the low country, the Citadel,  beaches in Charleston, North Carolina marshlands, mountains and much more.
Staff Picks

Southeast Staff Picks Pt. 3

Have you ever wondered what we're checking out? Take a look at what titles Richland Library Southeast and Lower Richland's staff have picked as their faves. There's definitely a variety to choose from!
Staff Picks

Mistletoe and Mayhem : Christmas Mysteries 🎄

If you find yourself humming "Jingle Bells" and having visions of sugar plums, it's time to curl up with one of these Christmas-themed mysteries!
Staff Picks

Cookbooks Sin Carne: Vegetarian Cooking

Whether you've been a vegetarian for years, just started Meatless Mondays, or want to learn a few tricks to increase the variety of green things on your plate, there's something here for you in these cookbooks.  
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Richland Library Main

Handmade Holiday: Festive Finishes

Instead of run-of-the-mill holiday packaging, I thought I’d try my luck at some more decorative finishes this year. I’ve got time, right?

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Richland Library Main

Pachinko - A Book Review

The reason why Pachinko has resonated so deeply with its readers is that the seemingly simple themes of family, faith, fate, and identity are also profoundly universal.

Staff Picks

Essential Cookbooks

These are the essential cookbooks every home cook needs close at hand - classics you can reach for and depend on for a variety of cuisines.  From Madhur Jaffrey to Julia Child, try cooking a new favorite today!
Staff Picks

Southeast Staff Picks Pt. 2

Have you ever wondered what we're checking out? Take a look at what titles Richland Library Southeast and Lower Richland's staff have picked as their faves. There's definitely a variety to choose from!
Staff Picks

Southeast Staff Picks Pt. 1

Have you ever wondered what we're reading? Check out titles that Richland Library Southeast and Lower Richland's staff have had on their reading list. There's definitely a variety to choose from!
Staff Picks

50 Years of Great Memoirs

Earlier this year The New York Times Book Review's critics compiled a list of their 50 favorite memoirs published in the last 50 years.  (Upon close examination, the list is actually heavily weighted toward more-recent releases, but no matter....)  Most of them are available from Richland Library's collection - check out the titles below.
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Adulting is Hard

Adulting is hard - make it easier on yourself by learning how to cook, fix your car, wash your clothes, keep an eye on your money, and more - all for free at the library!
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Celebrate!

If you need a little inspiration when you're planning holiday parties and family gatherings, these books are full of good tips for entertaining like a pro! 
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Richland Library Main

Handmade Holiday: Gift Ideas

This year, instead of spending a fortune on a last-minute run to the store, I thought I’d try my luck at some handmade gifts—something with a little more Hygge vibe. 

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I Like My Characters Quirky

Do you prefer interesting, unique characters? Check out this curated list of quirky, likeable, and relateable characters. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll want to read them over and over. Not finding what you are looking for? Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for November 2019

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in November 2019, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
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Ten Terrifying Comics

Fans of the grotesque, gory, and macabre will feel right at home in these comics for mature readers, while regular readers will quickly feel squeamish.
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Community Wide Reads

Its wonderful when diverse people connect by shared reading. One Book One Community is a book selected to be read by the whole community. Its the biggest and best local book club. The 2019 book selection is Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. The reading culminates in an author event at Richland Library Main. 
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Like it's 1999

Travel back to 1999, one of the great years in movie history.   Witness the imaginative flights and dramatic heights of the end of the second millennium with fresh perspective.  Revisit beloved blockbusters. Join the cult of a favorite you might have missed. 
Staff Picks

Passport to Cinema: India

From Bollywood to Tollywood India produces over 1,000 films a year, in Hindi, Bengali and several other languages. Take a journey into the subcontinent, home of many epic musicals and the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. 
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Richland Library Main

What We're Reading 📚: October 2019

Look what we've been reading!   You should totally check these titles 📘 out to read in print📖, ebook📱, or audio book🎧

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Richland Library North Main

Blood Sugar - A Review

"This book will sit heavy with you and leave you wondering about your sense of humor and the need to watch bad things happen."

Staff Picks

Books with Bite - Zombie Edition

Some romance included *shudder*.  Fast zombies, slow zombies, partial zombies - we got 'em.  Enjoy the books that bite!
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Books with Bite - Werewolf Edition

Some romance included.  All scary beasts all the time.  Enjoy the terror that comes with a bite.
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Books with Bite - Vampire Edition

No romance included.  All scary beasts, all the time.  Enjoy the terror that comes with a bite.
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Caper & Heists

Like your crime fiction with a dash of audacity? Check out these high jinks... 
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Richland Library Main

Publisher’s Business Model Will Limit Access to eBooks

We want to alert you to some upcoming changes by Macmillan Publishers, one of the largest book publishers, that will impede access and the ability for public libraries to offer readers popular eBooks in a timely manner.

Staff Picks

New Essay Collections

These hot new essay collections all came out this year - they're all well reviewed and they all count for your #BroaderBookshelf challenge!
Staff Picks

Passport to Cinema: Latin America

Explore the rich diversity of Latin American culture and history through films set in the region.  
Staff Picks

Nobel Laureates in Literature, 2009-2019

Prolific Austrian novelist and playwright Peter Handke has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in literature.  Check out his novels The Afternoon of a Writer and The Moravian Night from our collection.  You may also be interested in works by other recent recipients of the prize, a sampling of which are listed below.
Staff Picks

Women in Blue

Looking for mysteries or thrillers that have a strong female lead who carries a badge and solves the crime?  Then try these books and authors!
Staff Picks

2019 National Book Award Finalists

The finalists for the 2019 National Book Awards have just been announced.  Check out these great titles in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature.
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for October 2019

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in October 2019, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now! This month's LibraryReads features our own Mahogany S.!  She reviewed Joe Hill's Full Throttle, saying: 
Staff Picks

Southern Authors

From the South Carolina coastal waters, to the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, these authors are sure to make you feel right at home! Not finding what you are looking for? Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Staff Picks

Van Gogh and His Inspirations: A Colorful Life

Check out this list of companion titles for the Columbia Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition: Van Gogh and His Inspirations (October 4, 2019 - January 12, 2020). This list includes both books about Van Gogh, titles that inspired the artist and title inspired by the artist, setting and time period.
Staff Picks

Van Gogh and His Inspirations: Paris

Check out this list of companion titles for the Columbia Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition: Van Gogh and His Inspirations (October 4, 2019 - January 12, 2020). This list includes both books about Van Gogh, titles that inspired the artist and title inspired by the artist, setting and time period.
Staff Picks

Van Gogh and His Inspirations: Half Monk/Half Artist

Check out this list of companion titles for the Columbia Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition: Van Gogh and His Inspirations (October 4, 2019 - January 12, 2020). This list includes both books about Van Gogh, titles that inspired the artist and title inspired by the artist, setting and time period.
Staff Picks

Van Gogh and His Inspirations: Artistic Cultivation

Check out this list of companion titles for the Columbia Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition: Van Gogh and His Inspirations (October 4, 2019 - January 12, 2020). This list includes both books about Van Gogh, titles that inspired the artist and title inspired by the artist, setting and time period.
Staff Picks

Van Gogh and His Inspirations: Museum of the Mind

Check out this list of companion titles for the Columbia Museum of Art's upcoming exhibition: Van Gogh and His Inspirations (October 4, 2019 - January 12, 2020). This list includes both books about Van Gogh, titles that inspired the artist and title inspired by the artist, setting and time period.
Staff Picks

Unsolved: True Crime

By the time you read these books, they may be out of date!  New DNA data sources and technology have recently identified the Golden State Killer, the Norcal Rapist, and Texas murder victim Orange Socks, among others.  Enjoy these books about unsolved cold cases (some of them very cold indeed!)
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Richland Library Main

Hiring Help

How to Get your Time Back and Scale Your Small Business

Staff Picks

It's Over: Completed Fantasy Series

Ever breathlessly turn the last page of a book and find out, to your dismay, that it's the first in a trilogy and the next book hasn't been written yet?  Worried your favorite author is going to die before finishing your favorite series?  Still angry at George R. R.
Staff Picks

Here Be....Mermaids

If you have a hankering for some fantasy, and want to take a break from Dragons, here are some Mermaid stories sure to entertain you.  Also make a Mermaid craft or two, and interpret your dreams when the Mermaids swim their way through.
Staff Picks

Locked Room Mysteries

You'll recognize the Locked Room scenario from many murder mystery books and TV shows: An impossible murder takes place in a sealed room (or train!) with no possible escape route for the perpetrator.  Check out these traditional and not-so-traditional Locked Room mysteries and find out who dunnit!
Staff Picks

Armchair Travel

Books can take you places!  A well written travel memoir can make you feel like you've climbed to the top of Mount Everest or thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.  Travel the world without leaving your reading nook with one of these great books.
Staff Picks

American History- Without All The Sugar

America's history is deep, complicated, and pretty uncomfortable to talk about at times. These books delve into the complexities of America, its troublesome past, its noble accomplishments, and hopes for a brighter future. While these selections only scratch the surface, there are thousands more to be found at your local Richland Library location, or at your fingertips through our eResources apps.
Staff Picks

Now Fill In the Details: Learn to Draw

First, draw an oval.  Then, draw another oval.  Connect the ovals with a rectangle.  Now, fill in the details!  Did you ever try to learn to draw that way?  Did anybody actually learn to draw that way?  Try these books instead - real drawing technique, whether you want to draw lifelike portraits, comics, or caricatures.
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Richland Library Main

OFF BOOK: Markie Gaddis

Artist, maker and costume designer, Markie Gaddis goes off book to kick off her library residency.  

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Richland Library Main

My Mom Has Dementia

My daughter is four and my mom is seventy-four. Sometimes they are more similar than they are different.

Staff Picks

Low-Key: How to Keep (or Find) Your Cool

Self-care is all the rage, and while you may think it is a self-centered millennial obsession, there is power in nurturing your whole self, beginning with your mind. Sometimes life gets crazy. Sometimes stress gets the best of us. Sometimes we need to find our inner calm before we totally lose it. Try these titles and start living that low-key life!
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Richland Library Main

Back to Cool 🎶

Channel your inner back-to-school nostalgia with our throwback Freegal playlist Mix Tape: Back to Cool.

Staff Picks

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) is a time to recognize and celebrate the diverse heritage, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans.  Inspire your own celebrations by checking out some of these great titles from Latinx authors!
Staff Picks

Are You Ready for the Country?

If you’re one of the many people looking forward to the first episode of Ken Burns’s documentary Country Music, to air on PBS on September 15, you might want to supplement your viewing with some of Richland Library’s books on this most American of music genres.  Whether your tastes run toward classic country, alt-country, Americana, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered!  You can even
Staff Picks

Scary Stories to Keep You Up All Night

It's almost fall, the perfect time for dark, eerie, spine-tingling tales! Don't be afraid to pick up one of these horror story collections, full of enough thrills and chills to give you nightmares. 
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Richland Library Main

Required Reading Refresh

Pique your teen reader’s interest by recommending these fresh takes on the required reading from your glory days.

Staff Picks

What's New in Space Exploration

The past few years have been big in unmanned space exploration - a rover found organic matter in Mars rocks, we landed a robot on an asteroid, new exoplanets are popping up all the time!  Here are some recent books on what's going on way above our heads and what it means for us here on Earth.
Staff Picks

Talking with Teens About Dementia

Books are one of the best ways to open the door on a topic and start a conversation with your teen about tough issues like a dementia diagnosis. While there are many books out there, below are some of our staff's recommendations to help get the conversation started for your family. For more on dementia, visit RichlandLibrary.com/Access.
Staff Picks

Talking with Children About Dementia

Books are one of the best ways to open the door on a topic and start a conversation with your children about tough issues like a dementia diagnosis. While there are many books out there, below are some of our staff's recommendations to help get the conversation started for your family. For more on dementia, visit RichlandLibrary.com/Access.
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Richland Library Ballentine

What Can You Do In Ballentine's MakerSpace?!

What's most important, in my opinion, are the connections between people and their ideas that happen in these spaces. And that you are making a thing - something you can hold and be able to say, "I made this!

Staff Picks

Black Widows: Fictional Female Killers

Female serial killers, spree killers, vengeance killers - find them all in this list! Spoiler warning: in some of these books knowing that the killer is female may be a spoiler.  Proceed at your own risk.
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Richland Library North Main

Coming Full Circle with Music

"Joining different people with different ideas and gifts to contribute is truly beautiful...."

Staff Picks

Celebrating Dorothea Benton Frank

Dorothea Benton Frank, beloved author of Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms, passed away on Monday, September 2 at the age of 67.  Celebrate the life of this South Carolina author by re-reading your favorite titles or checking her out for the first time.