Glass Houses
Undead and Unwed
Staff Picks

Run away Van Helsing or Dracula

  • Helene F.
  • Wednesday, May 01
Women with their own style! Want characters that don't fit any mold?  These women are not reflective of anyone else!  Soar to your local library to check them out. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions.
American Like Me
Brothers in Arms
Staff Picks

Nonfiction by Celebrity Authors

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, April 30
When they're not performing, some of your favorite celebrities are writing nonfiction books. Check out these titles, covering topics like parenting, animals, history, self-help, and more.
Sunset Beach
Storm Cursed
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for May 2019

  • Sarah C.
  • Monday, April 29
Each month, LibraryReads lists the top ten reads recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in May 2019, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now! Check out libraryreads.org for annotations from librarians and archives of past favorites.
The Ecology Book
Down from the Mountain
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, April 26
Check out these science titles recently added to our collection.  David Quammen’s The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life and Frans De Waal’s Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Teach Us About Ourselves have both made the New York Times nonfiction best-seller list, but the other titles listed here are equally worthy of your attention, including the latest from naturalist E.O.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm
Wish You Were Here
Staff Picks

Move over Sherlock

  • Helene F.
  • Friday, April 26
There are new detectives in town!  These women are trailblazers!  Hurry to the library help crack the case along with them.  Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!   
Playground
Mycroft and Sherlock
Staff Picks

Fame and Fiction: Celebrity Authors

  • Rebecca K.
  • Thursday, April 25
You may know their names from sports, tv, movies, and music, but did you know these famous folks have written books too? Here are some fiction titles from celebrity authors. 
Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Container Gardening
Container Garden Idea Book
Staff Picks

Container Gardening

  • Megan M.
  • Monday, April 22
Live in an apartment or lack space in your yard for a garden? Check out these books to get your container garden started.
Blog
Richland Library Main

What Was Our Son Trying to Say?

  • Emily J.
  • Thursday, April 18

How connecting with other parents helped us discover Columbia's wealth of organizations committed to helping children with language development, reading, and much more. 

Frederick Douglass
The Road Not Taken
Staff Picks

2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, April 15
The 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners have just been announced.  The winners in the various categories are: Fiction: Richard Powers, The Overstory History: David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
50 Years of Rolling Stone
It's Bigger Than Hip-hop
Staff Picks

History of Pop Music

  • Sarah C.
  • Monday, April 15
Explore the story of popular music in America from early roots to today's hits with these great reads!
Never a Lovely So Real
Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field
Staff Picks

What's New in Biography

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, April 15
If you're pondering your next read, consider one of these biographies and memoirs recently added to our collection.  Of some note is Robert Caro's Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing, recently excerpted in The New Yorker.  Caro, who is nearing completion of his decades-in-the-making multivolume biography of LBJ, reminisces about his days in New York journalism and how he was drawn to the kind of meticulous biographical research for which he is now celebrated.
The Poet X
Children of Blood and Bone
Staff Picks

What's New in Multicultural Fiction for Teens

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, April 13
The world today is quickly changing and society is becoming distinctly diverse. Teens and young adults can learn about their peers from different cultures through multicultural fiction. Reading these interesting books can lead to freedom from bias, prejudice and misinformation. The books explore stories of  teens from racial and ethnic minorities, who are trapped between two different worlds.
Infertility Treatments
What Every Woman Should Know About Fertility and Her Biological Clock
Staff Picks

Books on Infertility

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, April 13
 Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in America. Books in this list are excellent guides to learning more about what to expect when you cannot conceive. Read about personal stories, IVF treatments, support systems and several other Infertility resources to equip you with knowledge and options.
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Ask a Flower (April 2019)

  • Lindsey T.
  • Wednesday, June 05

Do you have questions about the garden at St. Andrews, gardening, or plants in general? This blog series is focused on what you want to know! 

Women Who Rock
Violence Girl
Staff Picks

Women in Music

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, April 11
Explore the lives of women who rock with these great titles! This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Open Mic Night (April 2019)

  • Lindsey T.
  • Thursday, April 18

More than 15 performers came out to St. Andrews to celebrate National Poetry Month!

The New Oxford Annotated Bible
The New Testament
Staff Picks

The Many, Many Reading Recommendations From NashiCon 2019

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, April 10
Richland Library was at NashiCon asking attendees what they're reading. The responses available in our catalog are listed below, including plenty of manga and novels for all kinds of readers.
Reconstruction
Reconstructions
Staff Picks

Reconstruction Reconsidered

  • Wednesday, April 10
With the April 9 premiere of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s new PBS television series Reconstruction: America After the Civil War, interest is high in this controversial period in American history.  Check out these absorbing titles (several by historians featured in the program, including Gates himself) on Reconstruction and its lingering consequences.
Xo Orpheus
A Song for Ella Grey
Staff Picks

Mythological Makeovers

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, April 09
Revisit your favorite Greek myths, full of adventure, betrayal, and captivating characters, in these retellings.
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me
Rags & Bones
Staff Picks

Inspired by Folklore: Reimagined Fairy Tales

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, April 09
Fairy tales aren't just for children. Check out these retellings of beloved classics, and see which magical tales will become your new favorites!
First, Break All the Rules
The Millionaire Next Door
Staff Picks

40 Best Books for Success in Business

  • Mona Verma
  • Wednesday, April 03
Being successful at business requires a highly motivated mindset. Read these business bestsellers which will inspire you and guide you to be a better version of yourself. This book list is an eclectic mix of classic and new business books, all of which are excellent resources designed to help you achieve your personal and business goals.
I, Robot
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Staff Picks

Robots in SciFi

  • Becky P.
  • Tuesday, April 02
I don't know what fascinates me about robots, maybe it was growing up watching CP3O and R2D2 in Star Wars or later watching Data in Star Trek Generations or reading Isaac Asimov's Robot Series books, but put a robot on the cover of a book or in a movie and I’m going to give it a chance. In the last year, I’ve noticed that I’ve read quite a few SciFi books with robot themes, so I’ve created a list of books that I have really enjoyed.
Beginner Gardening Step by Step
Encyclopedia of Garden Plants for Every Location
Staff Picks

Can You Dig It? Books to Help You Get Your Garden Growing

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, April 01
It's that time of year again. Maybe you have planted a few seeds, moved your potted plants back outside, and done a little weeding. Now it's time to sit back, relax and watch your blossoms bloom, right? It may take a little more effort than that but we have you covered with these great gardening tips, perfect for novice gardeners and those with a green thumb. Check out these books to find out what the plants really crave. 
The Beaches of Agnes
The Beaches of Agnès
Staff Picks

10 Films by Agnès Varda 1928-2019 

  • Keith B.
  • Friday, March 29
The great director made her first film, La Pointe Courte, in 1955 and her last, Faces Places, in 2017. The mother of the French New Wave, she earned a well deserved late career resurgence with her lovely, inventive documentary The Gleaners and I.  She was the first woman director to be recognized with an honorary Oscar, which she received at the 2018 Academy Awards where she was also nominated for her work on Faces Places.
Freefall
The Suspect
Staff Picks

45 Psychological Thrillers for Fans of 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl on The Train'

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, March 16
Psychological thrillers are addictive, diabolical and mysterious with twists and turns and endings that leave you gripping the edge of your seat.  Gone Girl was a bestselling novel which catapulted this genre to new heights of popularity and made way for many more books which have some permutation and combination of suspense, mystery, terror and complex characters who may or may not be mentally stable.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Becoming: A Book Review

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, March 16

  In a reading guide to her memoir, Michelle writes, “My main hope was to create something that could be useful to other people, to give them something they could use in their own lives. So I focused on telling my story as honestly as I could. I’m not settling scores or giving a political play-by-play.”

Born in the Bronx
The History of Gangster Rap
Staff Picks

The History of Hip Hop

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, March 12
From the early days in the Boogie Down Bronx, see where hip hop got its start and how it inspired future generations of risk-takers and beat-makers.
Radioactive!
The Madame Curie Complex
Staff Picks

Women in STEM

  • Rebecca K.
  • Saturday, March 09
Check out these stories of women who thrived in male-dominated STEM fields.
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Open Mic Night (March 2019)

  • Lindsey T.
  • Wednesday, March 20

  Check out the local teen talent from March's Open Mic Night at St. Andrews!

Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel. Vol. 01, Earth's Mightiest Hero. Vol. 1
Staff Picks

Flying Higher, Further, Faster With Captain Marvel

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, March 06
Looking forward to the Captain Marvel movie? Take flight with Carol Danvers, noted air force pilot, cat lover, and superhero, across several of her comics adventures listed below.
Serpent King
His First Lady
Staff Picks

Celebrating Local African American Writers

  • Heather M.
  • Monday, March 04
Celebrate local African American writers by checking out some of these titles from Richland Library's Local Author Collection.  These authors offer something for everyone--from science fiction to cookbooks.  Discover a new favorite or get inspired to write your own story.   
The Art of the Con
Fraud
Staff Picks

FYRE and Other Disasters

  • Rebecca K.
  • Friday, March 01
If you couldn't get enough of the FYRE Festival scandal, try these other tales of hoaxes, scams, liars, and frauds.
Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl
The Chemistry of Tears
Staff Picks

Robot Companions

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, February 26
We've all heard the terrifying stories of robot uprisings, but these books explore other potential relationships with technology. Imagine a future with robots as companions, and discover more about what it means to be human.
Anchors Aweigh
Charade
Staff Picks

Celebrating the Work of Stanley Donen

  • Keith B.
  • Monday, February 25
Stanley Donen, Columbia's greatest filmmaker, 1924-2019 A frequent collaborator of Gene Kelly (with whom he made his directorial debut at the age of 25) he made a string of hit musicals in the 50s a several memorable dramatic films in the 60s. Winner of an Honorary Academy Award in 1998 "In appreciation of a body of work marked by grace, elegance, wit and visual innovation."
Here and Now and then
Paradox Bound
Staff Picks

Time Warp: Stories About Time Travel

  • Rebecca K.
  • Sunday, February 24
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a chrononaut, this list is for you. Check out these books, and discover the possible consequences of time manipulation. Time flies when you're having fun, but watch out for temporal loops and paradoxes!
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Seal

  • Laura Bliss Morris
  • Friday, February 22

A quick, yet insightful breakdown of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Seal designed in 1974 by the internationally known artist Lev Mills.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Hot Stuff
Staff Picks

Music and Culture

  • Sarah C.
  • Friday, February 22
It's no secret that music both reflects and creates culture.  Check out these great reads to explore that fascinating connection!
Mad Science
StarTalk
Staff Picks

Full STEAM Ahead

  • Rebecca K.
  • Wednesday, February 20
Do you want to explore the math and science of everyday things? Are you interested in combining technology and art? Maybe you want to see how science can help you in the kitchen. If you want to learn more of these concepts outside of a textbook, check out these fun, STEAMy reads! 
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Sew Blessed

  • Lindsey T.
  • Thursday, February 21

WLTX stopped by St. Andrews to see how Sew Divine is a benefit to our community!

Naked Came the Manatee
Best. State. Ever.
Staff Picks

Florida Man: Offbeat Florida Books

  • Sara M.
  • Wednesday, February 20
Okay, technically Florida people aren't any weirder than people anywhere else - the Sunshine State just has strong sunshine laws that allow journalists much easier access to crazy crime reports.  But there are a lot of slightly skewed, offbeat books set there for you to enjoy! This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Blog
Richland Library St. Andrews

Lettuce Celebrate

  • Lindsey T.
  • Wednesday, February 20

  Romaine calm y'all (pun intended), WIS TV was here. 

Best. State. Ever.
Wiregrass Country
Staff Picks

Swamp Stories: Florida History

  • Sara M.
  • Monday, February 18
From Ponce de Leon to Walt Disney, Florida's history has always been a little bit different from its neighbors.  Check out some books to learn a little more about what makes the Sunshine State unique. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

Through His Lens

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Tuesday, February 19

In a sit-down interview with self-taught professional photographer Michael Dantzler I got to pick his brain...

Portrait Photography
Fine Art Photography
Staff Picks

Photography 101

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Monday, February 18
Thinking about becoming a photographer and don’t know where to start. These books will teach you about the art of photography and help jump-start your creative career.  
Chainmail Bikini
Woke Gaming
Staff Picks

Level Up: Non-fiction for Gamers

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, February 12
Be at the top of your game with these books that celebrate the rich history, diversity, creativity, and evolution in video game culture. 
Insurrecto
The Night Tiger
Staff Picks

What's New in Multicultural Fiction

  • Mona Verma
  • Monday, February 11
These are some of the intriguing and bestselling new Multicultural fiction titles. Divakaruni's Forest of Enchantments is an empowering tale, told from the point of view of Sita, the protagonist's wife in the famous Indian epic Ramayana. The original epic focuses on King Rama, his bravery, his virtuosity and his ideals as a dutiful son. Divakaruni's novel gives a powerful voice to Sita and lets us know what she is thinking and how she perceives her life and the lives of those which intersect with hers.
Blog
Richland Library Blythewood

They're Not Just For Kids!

  • Kelly H.
  • Wednesday, February 13

  It’s my favorite season of the year. No, not spring. It’s South Carolina Book Awards season!

12 Years a Slave
Acrimony
Staff Picks

Films by Black Directors

  • Keith B.
  • Friday, February 08
While cinema is a collaborative art form, the director is the creative force at its heart much like an author or composer. Explore the rich variety of genres, styles and techniques marshalled by such artists as Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Ousmane Sembène, Marlon Riggs and Euzhan Palcy.  
African-American Classics
Bingo Love. Volume 1
Staff Picks

Comics With Black Protagonists

  • Thomas M.
  • Tuesday, February 05
Check out the list below for print and digital comics featuring black protagonists, including superheroes, historical figures, and fiction of all sorts.
African-American Classics
Bingo Love. Vol. 01
Staff Picks

Comics With Black Protagonists

  • Thomas M.
  • Tuesday, February 05
Check out the list below for print and digital comics featuring black protagonists, including superheroes, historical figures, and fiction of all sorts.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Small Great Things: A Book Review

  • Mona Verma
  • Monday, February 11

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Jodi Picoult named her novel “Small Great Things” as a tribute to this saying.

Another Country
An American Marriage
Staff Picks

Fiction Books About Racism Against African Americans

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, February 02
Racism is still a part of everyday life in America, especially in today's political climate. In these fiction titles,the themes of bias and discrimination are interwoven in soulful stories with twists and turns that will make you aware of the stark realities of racism.The settings of these novels range from historical backgrounds like slavery and the American underground railroad to the modern day African American couple and the obstacles they face in their American marriage.
Spineless
Reef Life
Staff Picks

Under the Sea

  • Sarah C.
  • Tuesday, January 15
Explore the vast depths of the oceans with these great reads!  Scuba gear not included. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge. Find more lists here.
The Zookeeper's Wife
The Crime and the Silence
Staff Picks

The Banality of Evil: Holocaust Nonfiction

  • Sara M.
  • Monday, January 14
Take a wider view of the horrors of the Holocaust with these nonfiction books.  (A list of personal Holocaust survivor memoirs can be found here.) This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
The Outlaw Youngers
Real Pirates
Staff Picks

True Crime - Outlaws

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 10
Your money or your life!  These books are all about outlaws - highwaymen, pirates, and mutineers.  Be prepared to shiver your timbers and reach for the sky! This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
The Nazi Officer's Wife
The Seamstress a Memoir of Survival
Staff Picks

Survivor Stories: The Holocaust in Memoir

  • Sara M.
  • Wednesday, January 09
The stories of Holocaust survivors give a personal perspective into the realities of the Shoah.  These memoirs and fictional books based on real life experiences are powerful, immediate, and unforgettable. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
The Woman in the Dunes
Ring
Staff Picks

If You Like...Haruki Murakami

  • Megan M.
  • Tuesday, January 08
Do you think the prolific Japanese master can't write fast enough? Try some of these read-alikes.
Soulsville, U.S.A.
Lost Sounds
Staff Picks

The Great Studios

  • Sarah C.
  • Monday, January 07
Explore the iconic recording studios that shaped the face of popular music with these great titles! This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge. Find more lists here.
Alice's Restaurant
Amazing Grace
Staff Picks

Deep Dive Into Film

  • Allison T.
  • Thursday, January 03
As many DVD distributors cut back on releases of older films, Olive Films, a theatrical and home video distributor, offers first-rate editions of films long unavailable.
Bind, Torture, Kill
Why We Love Serial Killers
Staff Picks

True Crime - Murder Most Multiple

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 03
Do you enjoy trips into the darkness?  Like your true crime bloody?  These are for you: book about serial killers and mass murderers guaranteed to keep you up at night. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
People of the Book
Modern Girls
Staff Picks

Different from All Other Nights: Jewish Non-Holocaust Historical Fiction

  • Sara M.
  • Tuesday, January 01
There are many beautiful, moving historical fiction books about the Holocaust.  None of them are on this list!  If you'd like to read some fiction about the many other periods in Jewish history, this list is for you.  (Some of these may have characters with memories of the Holocaust or partially take place in World War II, but the Holocaust experience is not the main focus.)
Resistance. Vol. 01
Mike's Place
Staff Picks

Moving Pictures: The Jewish Experience in Graphic Novels

  • Sara M.
  • Monday, December 31
From Superman to Maus, comics wouldn't be the same without Jewish creators.  Enjoy this list of graphic novels about the Jewish experience and nonfiction books about Jewish contributions to sequential art. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Badass Affirmations
The Happiness of Pursuit Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
Staff Picks

Positive Vibes Only

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Friday, December 28
These books are sure to help you curate the perfect affirmation to keep you motivated and focused on your goals each day.
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

3 Ways To Keep Your New Years Goals On Track

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Friday, December 28

With the New Year just days away we are all focused on our goals and how we plan to obtain them. Here are a few things I use to help me stay on track and knock out my goals.

Silver Spoon. Volume 1
Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction. 1
Staff Picks

New Manga of 2018

  • Thomas M.
  • Thursday, December 27
With 2018 winding down, let's take a look back at all the new manga titles and series that came out in the past year. These debuts range from fantasy and science fiction to romance and drama. Every "Vol. 1" is an invitation to try something new.
Spider-Verse
Spider-Men
Staff Picks

If You Liked: Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, December 26
If Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse made you want to add more Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, and wider Spider-Verse stories to your reading web, we've got easy access to comics and readalikes. No wallcrawling required.
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes. Aquaman Rage of Atlantis
Aquaman. Vol. 01, The Drowning
Staff Picks

If You Liked: Aquaman

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, December 26
Would you like to take a deep dive into the world of Aquaman, especially after seeing the new movie? Whether you're just dipping your toe into legends of Atlantis or looking to make a splash into all things Atlantean, Richland Library is your pipeline for good comics.
A Town of Empty Rooms
Hot Pursuit
Staff Picks

Kosher Cornbread: The Jewish Experience in the South

  • Sara M.
  • Saturday, December 22
Shalom, y'all!  The South has been home to vibrant Jewish communities for centuries.  Enjoy this list of fiction and non-fiction books about the Jewish experience south of the Mason-Dixon line. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
The Jazz of Physics
The Universal Sense
Staff Picks

The Science of Music

  • Sarah C.
  • Friday, December 21
Explore everything from the natural origins of music to the way sound affects the human brain with these fascinating reads! 
The Thrilling Adventure Hour. A Spirited Romance
The Book of Esther
Staff Picks

Wandering Star: Jewish Speculative Fiction

  • Sara M.
  • Friday, December 21
Rich traditions of Jewish folklore, culture, and history inform these science fiction and fantasy books.  They feature Jewish characters, themes, and stories. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Bushcraft 101
The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, & Cooking in the Wild
Staff Picks

Building Your Nature Skills

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, December 20
Get the most out of your outdoor time with these great books!  Learn everything from basic wilderness survival skills to identifying the birds you see in your backyard to making art in nature. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge. Find more lists here.  
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Checked-Out Movies (2018)

  • Emily Stoll
  • Tuesday, January 29

Richland Library is recapping what caught the attention of our customers in 2018. It's your access to the most checked-out items over the last year.

 

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Checked-Out Music (2018)

  • Emily Stoll
  • Friday, January 04

Richland Library is recapping what caught the attention of our customers in 2018. It's your access to the most checked-out items over the last year.

 

All You Can Ever Know
In Pieces
Staff Picks

15 Bestselling Biographies of 2018

  • Mona Verma
  • Wednesday, December 19
Biographies are riveting reads as they tell the real story. People carry their untold stories with them till they are ready to share their experiences. Writing a memoir is very cathartic. These books are inspiring and empowering. Michelle Obama’s Becoming is the best-selling hardcover book of 2018. She writes with remarkable honesty and candor about the grief of infertility and how marriage with Obama was not always easy. Biographies make us aware that nobody’s life is picture perfect.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Checked-Out Adult Books (2018)

  • Emily Stoll
  • Monday, February 25

Richland Library is recapping what caught the attention of our customers in 2018. It's your access to the most checked-out items over the last year.