The Poet X
The Poet X
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race for Teens & Adults

  • Children's Room
  • Friday, June 05
Talk about race and the black experience in America with these #OwnVoices titles for teens and adults.
America Divided. Episode 1, The System.
Being Black Enough, or How to Kill a Black Man.
Staff Picks

Racial Equity and Inclusion

  • Allison T.
  • Friday, June 05
Take some time to explore these films that address racial equity and inclusion at a critical time in history.
Blog
Richland Library Main

A Shameful History

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, June 03
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Create Your Own Track Record

  • Laura Bliss Morris
  • Monday, June 01
Take your Summer Learning Challenge to a whole new level this year by creating your own track record from right where you are.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in May 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, July 02
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Let's Talk About Race

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, June 01
If you're ready to start an honest, courageous conversation and really get to know yourself and your neighbors keep reading.
The Fire This Time
Our Black Sons Matter /.
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Becoming Actively Antiracist

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, June 01
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
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

5 Films for Free: Samurai Films

  • Jake D.
  • Friday, June 24
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.
No Exit
And then There Were None
Staff Picks

Locked Room Mysteries

  • Kristin A.
  • Thursday, May 28
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.
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

5 Films for Free: Birds, Bugs, and Botany

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Friday, June 24
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!
Tell Me a Story My Life with Pat Conroy
Before She Was Helen
Staff Picks

Set in SC

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, May 21
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Uncover These Mysterious Titles

  • Emily Stoll
  • Wednesday, May 20
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.

Read More | Access
Database

Academic Onefile

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

Read More | Access
Amnesty
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Asian & Asian-American Authors

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, May 14
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Switch up Your Summer Reading List

  • Emily Stoll
  • Thursday, July 02
Are you searching for a reading recommendation this summer? Our staff is ready to introduce some new titles to your home library.
Blog
Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Eccentric Leads On A Mission

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, June 24
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in April 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, June 01
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Virtual Book Clubs In The Times Of Social Distancing

  • Mona Verma
  • Sunday, May 10
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Family Frailties

  • Leighan C.
  • Friday, June 24
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!
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Crafty How-To: Canvas and Thread Wall Art

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Wednesday, May 27
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!
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Common Backyard Birds

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Wednesday, May 27
Learn about our most common backyard birds and how to identify the uncommon ones
Americanah
How the García Girls Lost Their Accents
Staff Picks

15 Multicultural Fiction Titles in Ebooks

  • Mona Verma
  • Tuesday, April 21
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"
Blog
Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Who are the real monsters?

  • Helene F.
  • Friday, June 24
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Because Libraries are Always Here for You

  • Laura Bliss Morris
  • Sunday, April 19
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

In Need of a Good Laugh?

  • Emily Stoll
  • Thursday, April 23
Enjoy a good laugh with these comedic book, music and movie recommendations from Richland Library staff.
Blog
Richland Library Main

5 Films for Free: Comfort Food Comedies

  • Sara M.
  • Friday, June 24
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!
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
North on the Wing
Staff Picks

Backyard Naturalist

  • Allison T.
  • Wednesday, April 15
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.
99 Homes
Adventureland
Staff Picks

Just One Person's Hoopla Watchlist

  • Allison T.
  • Monday, April 13
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!
Turn Right at Machu Picchu Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time
The Most Beautiful Walk in the World A Pedestrian in Paris
Staff Picks

Armchair Travel

  • Kristin A.
  • Friday, April 10
Did you know that your Richland Library card could be used as a passport? Travel the world without ever leaving your couch with a few simple clicks. Use your tablet or phone to download these titles and soon you'll be wandering through fields of lavender in Provence, hiking the Pacific Crest trail, or preparing fresh pasta in Italy. Just don't forget to send us a postcard!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in March 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, May 05
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 March, 2020.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Finding Meaning in Weird Times

  • Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, April 08
We're in the midst of a crisis, but for the luckier ones, it might just feel like a really weird time. How do we make meaning and find a purpose when the best thing we can do is stay put?
Seeing Stars
Life of the Party
Staff Picks

National Poetry Month

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, April 01
April is National Poetry Month and while we are currently #AloneTogether, we can still enjoy some of the simple things in life, like a great poem to take us out of the now and into the artistic world of a poet's mind. Check out Cloud Library, Overdrive, and Hoopla for even more great poetry that you can download instantly.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Join Forces with Staffing Agencies for Successful Employment

  • Sylvie G.
  • Friday, April 10
Now more than ever, you don’t have to go it alone to find essential and life-sustaining work. You can partner with staffing agency recruiters whose job it is to find potential employers seeking your specific valued skill set and experience.
Chappelle's Show. Season 3.
Key & Peele. Season 1.
Staff Picks

Reality Break: Funny TV on Hoopla

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, March 31
They say laughter is the best medicine, so why not take a break from reality by trying one of these TV comedies available on Hoopla and laugh the day away. Also, check out The Last O.G. with Tracy Morgan, and Search Party with Alia Shawkat.
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Drawing
Creative Pep Talk
Staff Picks

Reality Break: Get Creative Edition

  • Morgan R.
  • Friday, March 27
Stuck at home? Starting to go a little stir-crazy? Why not use this time to learn a new skill like how to repair a flat bicycle tire, or get lost in a new-found hobby like paint pouring? Take a moment for some self-care action by making your own sugar scrub, or declutter your space so you can focus on what's important. Check out this small sampling to get those creative juices flowing, break out of the Netflix binge, (maybe change out of your pajamas?) and let yourself experience something new!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Learning Computer Basics at Home

  • Megan M.
  • Wednesday, December 08
In-person classes are postponed, but that’s no excuse to stop learning! Check out these digital resources for learning computer basics.
Road to Riverdale Volume 1
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Staff Picks

Comics Connections For Live-Action Series

  • Thomas M.
  • Monday, March 23
A lot of popular shows are inspired by or spun off into graphic novels these days, including the titles below. Explore the comics roots and adaptations of several hot live-action shows via Hoopla. These titles are immediately available for digital checkout with no wait times!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Resources for Jobseekers During COVID-19

  • Sylvie G.
  • Friday, August 07
Our Business and Careers team put together this great list of resources to help you find employment now, prepare you for online applications and interviews, and equip you with tools to earn supplemental income or find out if you qualify for unemployment.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Working Remotely Like a Boss

  • Sarah Shuster
  • Thursday, March 26
Look no further for tips for working remotely and tools you can use to connect with your team.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Hyperbole and a Half
Staff Picks

E-Books Guaranteed to Make You Laugh

  • Kristin A.
  • Friday, March 20
In this time of uncertainty we are all in need of a good belly-rolling, tears streaming down our cheeks, gasping for breath laugh. Practice your social distancing with this list of e-books, available for free with your Richland Library card, that are certain to whisk you away to a world of comedic comfort all without ever leaving your couch.
Chocolat
Emma
Staff Picks

Girls' Night In!

  • Jennifer N.
  • Friday, March 20
Chill out with some fun, easy romantic comedies. All the titles below are PG or PG-13, and are available 24/7 on Hoopla with no wait list! Did you know that you can view Hoopla on your computer, phone, tablet, or TV? Watch using the Hoopla app for smart devices, AppleTV, Chromecast, FireTV, or Roku. Need help? Contact us at 803.799.9084 or Ask Us online.
The Complete Phonogram
Mind MGMT Omnibus. Part 1
Staff Picks

How To Find Big Comics On Hoopla

  • Thomas M.
  • Thursday, March 19
Whether you're in the mood for a nice, long comic on Hoopla or are simply looking to maximize your last checkout for the month, here are some search terms that will go the distance in the search field: “Book One,” “Omnibus,” “Complete,” and “Deluxe Edition.” Some great examples of the results are listed below. Settle in and enjoy!
The Art of Anthem
The Art of Splatoon 2
Staff Picks

Art Books For Gamers On Hoopla

  • Thomas M.
  • Thursday, March 19
Go beyond the surface of your favorite videogames with these art books and visual guides, often including commentary from the original creative teams.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Whatcha Got Cookin'? 👩🏽‍🍳

  • Chantal W.
  • Monday, March 23
Perhaps one of the things you can do with all this extra time on your hands is devote yourself to learning to prepare a new dish, cooking with the kiddos, and enjoying a leisurely home cooked meal with the family.
Blog
Richland Library Main

I Want My MTV - That is, I Want My Mystery Television 📺 !

  • Chantal W.
  • Thursday, March 26
Stuck at home and didn't have a chance to load up on your favorite mysteries, thrillers, and crime drama TV on DVD or don't have access to streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and the like? Then you should definitely think about giving hoopla, one of our Stream and Download services, a try! #WatchFreely
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Support for Small Businesses

  • Sarah Shuster
  • Wednesday, December 15
Small and local businesses are working through COVID-19 with creativity. We've pulled together a list of assistance and resources for small business owners, and several ways the community can help during this time.
Jedi Search
A Crash of Fate
Staff Picks

Visit a Galaxy Far, Far Away

  • Jennifer N.
  • Wednesday, March 18
With a new game, the entire Skywalker Saga streaming online, and even more in the works, it's the perfect time to jump into the Star Wars Universe (without leaving home!). Below are some of my personal favorites, from both current canon and the 'Legends' titles. May the force be with you!
American Honey
Death in Paradise [DVD]. Season 1
Staff Picks

Staff Picks: Sandhills

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, March 18
Enjoy this collection of books, music, movies, and more from the staff at Richland Library Sandhills.
Minority Leader
Dare to Lead
Staff Picks

Leadership for the New Decade

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, March 18
Workplaces are rapidly changing, from how we communicate, to our physical spaces, to how we are evaluated and promoted. Try one of these titles on leadership for this new decade. Also, check out our eresources for thousands more titles- Overdrive, CloudLibrary and Hoopla!
I'm Judging You
The Silence of the Girls
Staff Picks

Reality Break: eaudio Edition

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, March 16
Reality got you down? Take a break from the news and the COVID-19 panic with these eaudiobooks available for free with your Richland Library card. The best part- you don't even have to leave your house, so social distance yourself and get lost in a good (eaudio)book!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Stuck at Home? 👀

  • Laura Bliss Morris
  • Monday, March 30
14 things that just might get you through an extended homestay
Loonshots
Starting an Online Business All-in-one for Dummies
Staff Picks

Loonshots, Wildpreneurs, and Selling Naked

  • Bland L.
  • Saturday, March 14
If you think business books are boring, you might want to take a look at some of the new business titles in our collection. Learn how to craft a rewarding entrepreneurial future for yourself (Wildpreneurs) or build a direct-to-consumer online business (Selling Naked). Read about how seemingly crazy ideas can lead to innovative breakthroughs (
Ender's Game
Here and Now and Then A Novel
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf: Sci-Fi eReads

  • Morgan R.
  • Friday, March 13
Worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Instead of putting yourself at risk coming into contact with deadly germs, check out an ebook or eaudiobook from our downloadble collections from the comfort of your own home. Overdrive (Libby), Cloud Library, and Hoopla are great resources to keep yourself entertained during times of quarantine, or anytime! Try one of these titles to check off one of the prompts to get you closer to the tote bag raffle that is being offered to all who finish the #BroaderBookshelf challenge.
These Fevered Days
Spirit Run
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, March 11
Check out this varied slate of new biographies and memoirs recently added to our collection. Standout titles include a new graphic-novel adaptation of Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

In Defense of DNF: The Case for Quitting Books

  • Emily Barber
  • Tuesday, March 10
There are two types of readers: those who persist and those who DNF — or "do not finish." Although many folks insist on completing every book they begin, quitting could help you be a better reader.
Undercover Bromance
The Red Lotus
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for March 2020

  • Sarah C.
  • Tuesday, March 10
Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country. All these books will be published in March 2020, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
The Sea
A Week in Winter
Staff Picks

The Luck of the Irish

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, March 09
Try your luck with these works written by Irish authors. They are as lush and captivating as the Emerald Isle itself. Or, ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
The Art of Racing in the Rain
A Dog Year
Staff Picks

For the Love of Dogs

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, March 09
Whether you are dog-obsessed or just dog-curious, there's a little something for everyone on this list. Sit. Stay. Read!
A Ballerina's Tale
Black Girls Rock!
Staff Picks

#BlackGirlMagic

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, March 09
The #BlackGirlMagic movement took off in 2013 and has since "become a rallying cry and affirmation for black women all over", says originator CaShawn Thompson. Check out these out to keep the magic alive. It's just a tiny sampling of what Richland Library has to offer!
Blog
Richland Library Main

For the Love of Dog(s)

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, March 26
My journey of losing a beloved family pet and finding a new purpose as a foster dog mom.
Memory Piece
A Likely Story
Staff Picks

Picks from the Belletrist Book Club

  • Megan M.
  • Wednesday, March 04
Check out these picks from Emma Robert's Belletrist Book Club. The April 2024 Pick is Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
The Book of the Moon
Cosmological Koans
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, March 04
What are science writers pondering these days? How about the genetic superiority of women, plant migration, and exploding stars? These are some of the fascinating topics explored in new books in our collection (some are currently on order, but you can place holds on these). Scan the following list to see what intrigues you most.
Blog
Richland Library Main

March on Sisters!

  • Martha Brim
  • Monday, March 09
In this moment, full of potential, in March, the month that comes in like a lion and is National Women’s History Month, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and to shine a light on five of the lionesses who have inspired and supported me.
Americanah
Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy
Staff Picks

Strong Female Protagonists

  • Kristin A.
  • Friday, February 28
Celebrate National Women's History Month with these great reads featuring strong female leads. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Phonemic Awareness in Young Children
Playful Learning
Staff Picks

Letter Recognition and Phonemic Awareness

  • Emily J.
  • Thursday, February 27
Looking for ways to help your preschoolers with letter recognition and phonemic awareness? This booklist is full of playful and developmentally appropriate ways to help preschoolers at home. Want more books? Ask your librarian for their recommendations or call the Children's Room at Richland Library Main (803.929.3434). We can send books to your closest Richland Library location.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Why Should I Care About the Census?

  • Sharita S.
  • Monday, August 31
We are long-gone from traditional households, traditional family make-ups. More than a melting pot, we have become an all you can eat salad bar.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Moments in Local Women’s History

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, February 27
Celebrate National Women’s History Month with a look back at events that shaped women’s roles in our community. Some moments moved us forward, others bring the glass ceiling into relief. In all we meet women who have made strides in expanding the role of women in our community.
Mercy House
The Bear
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for February 2020

  • Sarah C.
  • Friday, February 21
Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country. All these books will be published in February 2020, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

The Joy of Color: Alma Woodsey Thomas

  • Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, February 19
From the classroom to the canvas, educator and painter Alma Woodsey Thomas was a force of encouragement, growth, and inspiration for her community in Washington, D.C.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Talking to Children about Tragedy

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, February 19
Books are one of the best ways to open the door on a topic, to start a discussion with your children about tough issues.
Sailing to Capri
Minding Frankie
Staff Picks

I've Read Everything by Danielle Steel...

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, February 17
Read everything by Danielle Steel and don't know what to read next? Check out some of these read-alike authors and titles to find your new favorite! Ask your local librarian or check out Novelist for even more suggestions!
Black Panther. Long Live the King
Luke Cage
Staff Picks

Graphic Novels In Living Color

  • Helene F.
  • Friday, February 14
In Collaboration with Avery Harrison Enjoy these graphic novels that celebrate African American History Month, as well as the month of March. Make your way down to your local library or personal electronic device to check them out. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions.