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Be the Change!
List

Make Every Day a Mandela Day: Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult Books That Take Action and Inspire Change

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Saturday, July 17
International Nelson Mandela Day is July 18th and celebrates Mandela's legacy as a  human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.  The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the U.N ask that you spend 67 minutes of your time helping others in honor of Nelson Mandela 67 years of public services.
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

The Grilled Peaches You Didn't Know You Needed

  • Caroline B.
  • Wednesday, July 14

This grilled peach with strawberry goat cheese recipe combines the sweetness of peak season peaches with the tanginess of goat cheese blended with strawberries.  Topped with toasted walnuts and honey, this quick low-fat dessert is a great finish to a summer meal. 

The Olympics, A Very Peculiar History
Olympic Track and Field
List

Tokyo Olympics 2020

  • Helene F.
  • Tuesday, July 13
Tokyo Olympics 2020 games are about to begin!  The trials for the USA team members are going on now.  You can pick and choose which parts of the games you watch, the gymnastics, track and field, soccer, equestrian, or one of the new sports like surfing.  Looking for more? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
Blog
Richland Library Main

The Crossover: Sports Fiction

  • Heather M.
  • Monday, June 28

I did not play sports.  I was a theatre kid and a book kid all the way.  But I have an appreciation for sports, for athleticism and teamwork. 

So I reached out to my friends and colleagues who did play sports to find out what I missed.

Rainbow Stew
Fry Bread
List

StoryWalk®: Rainbow Stew Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Saturday, June 19
Did our Rainbow Stew StoryWalk® at Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood leave you hungry for more good books? Check out this list below for more inspiration to get you moving, growing and cooking together!   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. 
A Story About Afiya
A Story About Afiya
List

#OwnVoice Picture Books for Caribbean Heritage Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, June 14
Caribbean Heritage Month celebrates and honors the achievements and contributions of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, particularly in government, sports, entertainment, and the arts. Caribbean Heritage Month was first  officially  observed on June 5th 2006. The following recommended titles are all from OnwVoice authors. 
How Plants Work
A Closer Look at Plant Classifications, Parts, and Uses
List

Get Outdoors: Learn More About Plants

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, June 11
Time to get outside and go on an adventure! Here are a list of books to help you explore your surroundings. Learn more about plants and even go on a foraging trip!
Black is Brown is Tan
The Case for Loving
List

Celebrate Loving Day for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 10
Celebrate Loving Day by sharing stories of families brought together by love. "The “Loving” in Loving Day is actually the last name of Mildred and Richard Loving. The Loving Day Story begins when they were arrested for being married in 1958 because they were an interracial couple living in Virginia.
The Boy Who Grew a Forest
The Proudest Blue
List

SC Picture Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, June 09
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
Black Brother, Black Brother
Things You Can't Say
List

SC Junior Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, June 09
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
Mañanaland
Once Upon an Eid /.
List

SC Children's Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, June 08
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
The Proudest Blue
Mommy's Khimar
List

Read All About It: Children's Books Featuring Muslim Characters

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Saturday, June 05
Take a look at the titles below to learn more about the Muslim religion and to read captivating stories about the Muslim Experience. Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
When Sue Found Sue
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins.
List

Read All About It: Dinosaurs & Fossils

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 03
Dig into these books all about dinosaurs and fossils.  Discover how we learned about dinosaurs from their bones and what they left behind.  Find out about paleontologists like Mary Anning and Barnum Brown.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. 
Our Favorite Day of the Year
The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity
List

CSMCL's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, June 01
The following books were all named in the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020 . This list offers a variety of picture books, novels, and nonfiction for children and teens. 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

Making Summer Count

  • Richland Library
  • Tuesday, June 01

Avoid the Summer Slide with a summer full of reading and learning thanks to expert book suggestions, the Summer Learning Challenge and, of course, school reading lists. 

Aug 12 10:00 a.m.

Event
Richland Library Northeast

Outdoor Family Storytime/ Cuentacuentos en el Patio de Northeast

Jul 29 10:00 a.m.

Event
Richland Library Northeast

Outdoor Family Storytime/ Cuentacuentos en el Patio de Northeast

Get Outside Guide
Backyards for Kids
List

Homeschooling in the Summer

  • Laura Rogers
  • Monday, May 24
Homeschooling can take place year-round. If you are wanting to get in some school days this summer, try unit studies. Pick a hot summer topic and explore it together. Bugs, camping, backyard science... the summer is full of great opportunities for learning!  

Jul 28 10:30 a.m.

Event
Online

NiA presents: The Little Garnet Gamecock (and The Mr. Darion Who Cried Tiger)

Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

DIY Egg Carton Flower Bouquet

  • Taelor J.
  • Friday, May 07

Ready to plant the seeds of creativity in your kiddo? Grab these common household items and usher in a burst of color and creativity.

Maya Lin
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
List

Read All About It: Asian & Asian American Biographies for Children

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, April 30
Celebrate the amazing accomplishments and stories of Asians and Asian Americans of yesterday and today, by reading the wonderful and powerful titles below.  Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
Blog
Richland Library Main

AiR Presents: Local Artist Directory!

  • Ashley Warthen
  • Thursday, April 29

Let’s give our local artists as much of the spotlight we can! With the pandemic and other issues facing our community, I’m elated to share that One Columbia’s artist directory now lives here on Richland Library.com

Pitch
Bad News Bears
List

Batter Up for the Next Season of Baseball

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, April 16
Whether you watch on TV or attend the games in person, it's time to gear up and get your head back in the game. There's a mixture of books, videos, and eOption material for spectators and the aspiring/training athlete. Batter UP!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Augusta Baker and the Art of Storytelling

  • Rebecca T.
  • Wednesday, April 14

"Storytelling at its best is mutual creation. Children listen and, out of the words they hear, create their own mental images; this opening of the mind's eye develops the imagination." - Storytelling: Art and Technique by Augusta Baker and Ellin Greene

Anansi the Spider
Folk Tales & Fables of Asia & Australia
List

Good Folk Tales and Fairy Tales for Storytelling

  • Rebecca T.
  • Friday, April 09
In their well-respected book, Storytelling: Art and Technique, Ellin Greene and Augusta Baker tell us: "A good story for telling is one that has something to say and that says it in the best possible way." Check out some of these books to learn more about the traditional art of storytelling and to find folk tales and fairy tales that have something to say and are written in the best possible way!
Blog
Richland Library Main

April is National Poetry Month: Ode to the Onion

  • Kate B.
  • Friday, April 09

What do an onion, a sock, a hummingbird, and ironing all have in common? Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote odes to each of these. Learn more about elemental odes and write one yourself.

A Place Inside of Me
Ellington Was Not A Street.
List

Read All About It: African American Experiences in Poetry

  • Richland Library
  • Friday, April 02
"for there is love inside me true love deep down inside of me I am in love with my people"-- A Place Inside of Me:  A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott   These #OwnVoices collections, picture books and novels for older readers explore themes of community and connection, family and faith, racism and resilience.  These books give poetic voice to African American experiences and history and should be read and shared by everyone.  
Blog
Richland Library Main

She Changed Her Name

  • Helene F.
  • Monday, March 29

Many generations work together to reveal how Sojourner Truth fits in our history or herstory.

Blog
Richland Library Southeast

Mini-Retreat: Play Birdsong Hero

  • Amy A.
  • Sunday, March 28

Wish you could identify birds by their songs? Try this simple game and turn "someday" into "today" for your bird watching bucket-list daydreams. 

Back to Front and Upside Down!
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay
List

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - Recommendations for Younger Readers

  • Jenny D.
  • Saturday, March 27
March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “The encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Developmental disabilities include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, down syndrome, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and affect a person's growth and/or cognition. The aim of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is to raise awareness a
Stella Diaz Has Something to Say
Anna Hibiscus
List

Read All About It: Ramona & Friends

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, March 26
In the spirit of Ramona Quimby, these girls are the stars of their own stories all while sharing their (mis)adventures, making us laugh and introducing us to their family and friends.   These friends of Ramona may be new, but they are sure to find a place on your family's bookshelf and in your family's heart.  
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: My Happy Life Book Series

  • Leslie Tetreault
  • Friday, March 26

In the spirit of Ramona Quimby, meet Dani, a young girl who has faced sadness but still looks for happiness in her life.  

Born Curious
Joni
List

Trailblazers: Inspirational Women Throughout History

  • Taelor J.
  • Thursday, March 25
“Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” —Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House This booklist features books that share the stories of amazing women; their strength and courage to overcome barriers and bravery that helped pave the way for future generations of females.