Homemade Love
Appalachian Elegy
Staff Picks

In Memoriam: bell hooks

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, December 16
The inimitable scholar, poet, critic, and activist bell hooks passed away on December 15, 2021 at the age of 69.  Celebrate the life of this groundbreaking thinker with one of her many works -- hooks wrote for all ages on topics ranging from feminism and gender to race and politics.  
The Beatles
The Beatles Anthology.
Staff Picks

Can't Get Enough Beatles?

  • Allison T.
  • Tuesday, December 14
After watching Get Back, Peter Jackson's film that reworks footage from the Beatles Let It Be sessions, are you craving more about the fab four? We have just the thing for you!
Buffalo Bird Girl
Child of the Flower-song People
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous and Native Biographies & History for Younger Readers

  • Thursday, December 02
Discover the true stories and history of Indigenous and Native people of the Americas in these picture book titles.   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.
This Indian Kid
#NotYourPrincess
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous and Native Biographies & History for Older Readers

  • Thursday, December 02
Discover the true stories and history of Indigenous and Native people of the Americas in these titles for middle grade and teen readers.   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.
Now Beacon, Now Sea
The Secret to Superhuman Strength
Staff Picks

New York Times Books of the Year: Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Sunday, November 28
The recently released list of the New York Times notable books of 2021 includes a number of compelling biographies and memoirs you won't want to miss.  Check these titles out from our collection.
Paradise
Black Fire
Staff Picks

These Books are on 🔥

  • Chantal W.
  • Tuesday, November 16
These books center around fire 🔥, literal and metaphorical. Find an incendiary read here.  
All Her Little Secrets
On Girlhood
Staff Picks

100+ Debut Authors for 2021 📚

  • Chantal W.
  • Tuesday, November 16
Looking for someone new to read?  Give these 2021 debut authors a try - you will find a fine selection of fiction and nonfiction, as well as some of the buzziest books of 2021.
#NotYourPrincess
Native American Voices on Identity, Art, and Culture
Staff Picks

Soaring Voices

  • Helene F.
  • Friday, November 12
Many First Nation voices, past and present tell us of their worlds, experiences and dreams.  Some of these titles are available as ebooks and other formats. You can also get personalized reading recommendations by email.
Apple
#NotYourPrincess
Staff Picks

YA Reads for Native American Heritage Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Friday, November 12
  November is Native American Heritage Month/American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This month celebrates the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and important contributions of Native people. It also educates the public about the unique challenges that Native people have historically and presently face.
Braiding Sweetgrass
The Botany of Desire.
Staff Picks

If You Like...Braiding Sweetgrass

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, November 08
📚Below you'll find a variety of books that share a theme or more with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Enjoy!🌱
The Bird Way
The Genius of Birds
Staff Picks

For the Birds

  • Sarah C.
  • Tuesday, November 02
Check out these great reads about our fine feathered friends and those who love to watch them!
It's Getting Scot in Here.
Cockatiels at Seven
Staff Picks

That's So Punny!

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, November 01
If you're looking for a bit of comedic relief, here are a few titles that will either make you groan, or make you laugh out loud and say "that's so punny!"
No One is Talking About This
Call Me by Your Name
Staff Picks

If you can't make it to the Charleston Literary Festival . . .

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 21
This year's Charleston Literary Festival, running from 5-14 November, features a stellar lineup of speakers, with an admirable mix of fiction and nonfiction authors, ranging from icons such as Paul Auster and Walter Isaacson to recent stars such as Yaa Gyasi and Patricia Lockwood. But if you can't make it to the festival, don't worry - Richland Library features many titles by the participating authors.  Check out the list below; given the variety of the author list, you're sure to find something to intrigue you.
The Most Fun We Ever Had
Honey and Spice
Staff Picks

Picks from Reese's Book Club 🌞

  • Megan M.
  • Wednesday, October 20
Check out these selections from Reese Witherspoon's popular book club. The April 2024 pick is The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo 
Hatchet
Alida's Song
Staff Picks

Remembering Gary Paulsen (May 1939 - October 2021)

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, October 14
            Gary Paulsen, a well-known YA fiction author, passed away on the morning of October 13, 2021.  A list has been created to recognized the amazing contributions he has made to many readers throughout the world. 
Battle Royale
The Hunger Games
Staff Picks

If You Like... Squid Game

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, October 01
Squid Game has taken the streaming world by storm. The mixture of gruesome survival games, social commentary, and colorful cast of characters means there's never a dull moment. Check out some of the titles below that are related to themes from the show.
Unbowed
The Basics of Ecology
Staff Picks

🌍World Environmental Health Day [September 26, 2021]🌍

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, September 20
Here is a list to jump-start your dive into learning more about the biosphere you live in, and the ecosystems surrounding you (and also living within you). In addition, for those that are familiar with environmental science, there are additional books to expand your knowledge while possibly making an activist out of you.
The Only Plane in the Sky
After the Fall
Staff Picks

Fall and Rise: 9/11, 20 Years On

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, September 07
As the nation prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, consider these titles from our collection to learn more about what happened on that day, both from the perspective of the immediate aftermath and from more-recently published accounts that incorporate new information.  This mix of histories, memoirs, and grap
The Women with Silver Wings
2013 Instrument Rating Test Prep
Staff Picks

Aspiring Female Pilots

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, August 25
✈️Zara Rutherford, a 19-year old Belgian pilot, may become the world's youngest female pilot to fly around the world to date. Currently the title is held by Captain Shaesta Waiz, an Afghan refugee, who completed the trip in 2017 at age 30. Rutherford mentioned a huge reason for doing this flight was to help encourage more girls/young women to go into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)✈️
The Many Lives of Mama Love
Say You're One of Them
Staff Picks

Picks from Oprah's Book Club

  • Megan M.
  • Tuesday, August 24
Check out this list of Oprah's Book Club picks.The most recent Oprah pick is The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin 
Detransition, Baby
Good Boy
Staff Picks

Fresh LGBT Titles for 2021

  • Amber J.
  • Thursday, August 19
Check out the newest LGBT titles!  Available for toddlers to adults.
Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure
Charlotte the Scientist is Squished
Staff Picks

Scientists Real and Imagined

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, August 17
Scientists have been learning about the world for hundreds of years. If you like to ask the questions “why?” and “how?” you’ll find the lives and stories of these scientists enthralling! Here are some great picture books and biographies of scientists--both real and imagined. 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. 
Killing the Black Body
Four Hundred Souls
Staff Picks

National Wellness Month: Black Women's Health

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, August 05
August is National Wellness Month⚕️ Here is a list on systemic racism and the history on the battle for control of black women's health throughout the centuries. Also, included are some wellness guides promoting self-care and healing. 
The Color of Money
The Little Black Book of Success
Staff Picks

Black Business Month

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, August 02
In honor of National Black Business Month, a list has been compiled of books, read and authored, by black entrepreneurs! Go support your local Black entrepreneurs!
Shutdown
Women Don't Ask
Staff Picks

New Business Books

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, July 22
As one might expect, business books examining the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy are now coming out.  Adam Tooze, author of the definitive account of the Great Recession’s worldwide impact (Crashed), is back with
Start Now!
Be the Change!
Staff Picks

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.
The Arbornaut
Fear of a Black Universe
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, July 15
New titles by best-selling authors Michael Pollan (This Is Your Mind on Plants), Peter Wohlleben (
The Olympics, A Very Peculiar History
Olympic Track and Field
Staff Picks

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.
How to Be Human
Notes on Grief
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, June 24
Featured in this roundup of new titles are memoirs by two authors with ties to the Midlands: Columbia native and Today Show anchor Craig Melvin, who writes of his complicated relationship with his father in Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father;
My Brother's Husband, Vol. 01
Stonewall
Staff Picks

Out and Proud Young Adult Books

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, June 18
From joy to heartbreak and LGBTQ+ history, these YA books explore many facets of queer life. 
Black Panther
The Black Panthers
Staff Picks

YA and Middle Grade Reads for Juneteenth

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Tuesday, June 15
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. The books recommend below showcase the continued fight for freedom.
Blazewrath Games
Clap When You Land
Staff Picks

YA and Middle Grade Reads 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. 
The Night Watchman
A Treatise on Stars
Staff Picks

2021 Pulitzer Prizes

  • Bland L.
  • Saturday, June 12
The winners of the 2021 Pulitzer Prizes have just been announced.  Check out the winners (and finalists) in the categories of fiction, history, general nonfiction, biography, and poetry from our collection.
The Sun Is Also a Star
Color Outside the Lines
Staff Picks

Celebrate Loving Day for Tweens & Teens

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 10
Celebrate Loving Day by checking out novels featuring stories of biracial teens & tweens or interracial first 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
Staff Picks

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.
Finna
Finna
Staff Picks

Read Proudly!

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, June 04
Celebrate Pride Month by reading these books by members of the LGBTQ+ community. 
Our Favorite Day of the Year
The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity
Staff Picks

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.   
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun. Vol. 01
The Osamu Tezuka Story
Staff Picks

Manga About Creating Manga

  • Thomas M.
  • Tuesday, May 25
Feeling meta? Manga stories about making manga can take you deeper into an artist's life, showing how masters of the craft became creative titans. They can also comment on the comics industry, winking at titles and tropes that fans recognize. These manga tend to be a bit of both, sharing the highs and lows of the illustrated life.
Voyaging Southward from the Strait of Magellan
Prague Pictures
Staff Picks

Travel Writing, Classic to Contemporary

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, May 11
As summer approaches and public health restrictions are eased, the prospect of travel, long denied for many, beckons invitingly.  If you are not quite ready to plan a trip yet, consider some of the best that travel writing has to offer, from classics like William Bartram’s exploration of the Southeast in the 1770s to the latest from best-selling travel writer/novelist Paul Theroux.  The following list leans heavily toward the literary travel-writing end of the spectrum (no Fodor’s or Rick Steves guides here).  Only one title per author is included, although severa
Bossypants
Talking to Strangers
Staff Picks

10 Books for Graduates

  • Brittany S.
  • Thursday, May 06
When the confetti falls and the celebration ends, what is next? Check out these helpful and inspiring titles as you enter a new chapter of your life. 
Maya Lin
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
Staff Picks

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.
Ladies Get Paid
Humor, Seriously
Staff Picks

Ladies Get Paid (and other new business books you might enjoy)

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, April 30
Check out these business and finance books recently added to our collection.  Popular titles include Ladies Get Paid, a manifesto on workplace equality by Claire Wasserman, and Black, White, and The Grey, a memoir by Mashama Bailey and John O.
The Killing Floor.
10,000 Black Men Named George.
Staff Picks

Movies for Workers' Day

  • Keith B.
  • Thursday, April 29
The first day of May has been celebrated as International Workers' Day since 1889 when labor activists were demonstrating and organizing for the eight-hour-day.  The following list is made up of dramatic features, documentaries, and educational series on the labor movement, unionizing, leftist political activism, economic inequality, and working conditions. Mostly focused on American culture and history, it nontheless includes films set around the globe, helping to illustrate the shared struggles of workers everywhere. 
Does My Head Look Big in This?
First Comes Marriage
Staff Picks

Biographies and Novels that Explore the Arab American Experience

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Tuesday, April 13
Let’s take the time to celebrate the history, contributions, and culture of the diverse population of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have roots in 22 countries located in the Middle East and North African regions and within all those countries, there are various languages, religions, traditions that are now part of the American story. Explore their stories though verse, memories, and more.     
Red Sparrow
Three Hours in Paris
Staff Picks

Female Spies

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, April 12
Female spies are more than just the femme fatales shown in moves and television. They must have ingenuity, talent, and more than just a little courage. From tales of real heroines from history, to espionage fiction inspired by the bravery of these women, these stories are full of intrigue, espionage, and thrilling edge of your seat storytelling at its best.
Crying in H Mart
The Best We Could Do
Staff Picks

25 Essential Books About Asian American Identity and Experience

  • Mona Verma
  • Tuesday, April 06
It is really unjust and unfortunate to see the sharp rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Books are a great way to educate oneself about the Asian American experience. Racism can be combated by reading these human stories and understanding that we are all more alike than different. 
Ernest Hemingway
Across the River and into the Trees
Staff Picks

One True Sentence

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, April 06
With Ken Burns's highly anticipated three-part documentary on Ernest Hemingway currently airing on PBS, now is a good time to dive into the works of this most celebrated of 20th century American literary masters, whose writing style profoundly influenced (for better or worse) many authors who followed him and whose literary sensibility is still something of a touchstone.  In addition to Hemingway's own fiction, nonfiction, and correspondence, the following list includes the definitive multivolume biography by Michael Reynolds, as well as Mary Dearborn's critically acclaimed 2017 bio.
Billie Holiday
Dianne Reeves
Staff Picks

Jazz Appreciation Month: Women in Jazz

  • Chantal W.
  • Monday, April 05
Jazz is a male dominated field, but women have contributed significantly since it began.  Most of the women of Jazz that are well known to most of us (especially those of us who are not aficionados of the genre) do tend to be the vocalists, rather than the instrumentalists.  Here is a list of books, music and film to help you learn more about both.
Forever Young, Gifted, & Black
Nina
Staff Picks

Jazz Appreciation Month: Nina Simone

  • Chantal W.
  • Friday, April 02
"She was one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, an icon of American music. She was the consummate musical storyteller, a griot as she would come to learn, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of works...She was who the world would come to know as Nina Simone." ~ Source: Official Home of Nina Simone (https://www.ninasimone.com/biography/) 
Brazen
Drawing Power
Staff Picks

Women's History Month: Graphic Novels For YA Readers

  • Thomas M.
  • Monday, March 29
Women History Month is a time to celebrate and examine women’s history, issues, and contributions. Our team's contributions this month will be providing a quality booklist every Monday featuring strong female characters, movements, and historical figures. 
Back to Front and Upside Down!
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay
Staff Picks

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 ra
The Making of Asian America
Internment
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: The Asian & Asian American Experience

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, March 19
Reading books is a great way to begin working on becoming more anti-racist, and the words on a page can help provide insight into the thoughts, feelings, fears, pain, hopes, and wishes of another human being. Below is a list of titles about the Asian and Asian American experience, to get you started on having a better understanding of what it means to be of Asian heritage in America and how to be a better and more vocal ally.  Also, take a look at these past Richland Library booklists for more recommendations:
The Truths We Hold
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Staff Picks

40 Inspiring Biographies of Remarkable Women

  • Mona Verma
  • Monday, March 08
Biographies and memoirs are raw, real and riveting. We can learn so much about the lives of these strong women from books where human stories intersperse with history, culture and the political climate. Do read and get empowered.
Between Two Kingdoms
Undaunted
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, March 01
Check out the latest biographies and memoirs added to our collection.  Among the titles receiving a lot of buzz are Between Two Kingdoms, a memoir of cancer survival by Suleika Jaouad, and Just as I Am, by screen and stage legend Cicely Tyson, who died on January 28.
The Woman Who Smashed Codes
Lighting the Fires of Freedom
Staff Picks

Celebrating Strong Women

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, March 01
Celebrate the amazing women who have made history. From scientists to historians, actors, and writers, we're taking a look at their remarkable achievements.
Nelson Mandela
Staff Picks

Black History In Comics

  • Thomas M.
  • Thursday, February 25
Black history is rich with fascinating people whose names and lives deserve to be celebrated. Some of those stories are included below, representing different eras and walks of life. The power of art in nonfiction comics comes from how artists choose to depict the world and people in it. Experience some of that power for yourself by checking out one of these graphic novels in print or online.
My Best Friend's Exorcism
Magic Bites
Staff Picks

Ballentine Staff Picks

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, February 08
Check out some of these great titles recommended by the Ballentine branch staff.
What Do Firefighters Do?
Fire Engine.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Firefighters & Fire Trucks

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, February 06
Firefighters work hard to keep us safe.  Find out more about how they keep us safe, what they wear to keep them safe and the equipment they use (especially fire trucks) by reading these fiction and nonfiction titles about these first responder heroes. If you want to know how to keep yourself safe around fire, check out Read All About It:  Fire Safety.  
Barracoon
The Best American Magazine Writing 2020
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: A Book List Inspired by 1619

  • Richland Library
  • Tuesday, February 02
Inspired by the New York Times' 1619  audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, each title in this list corresponds to the thematic elements of an episode. For episode 3, listen to our curated playlist in Freegal.  
Standing on Her Shoulders
Because I Was a Girl
Staff Picks

Women Making History for Tweens & Teens

  • Heather M.
  • Monday, February 01
From Vice President Kamala Harris to Michaela Goade, the first BIPOC woman to win a Caldecott medal, these are just a few of the women making history in 2021.  Let's be clear.  Women have always made history.  Sadly, they have been overshadowed, overlooked or just plain erased from many history books.  But no more. 
Explorer
The History of Ancient Egypt.
Staff Picks

Booklist: Exploration for fun

  • Helene F.
  • Thursday, January 28
Exploration Generation   Do you want to explore history and geography, whenever you want?  Then welcome to a new way of thinking of generations. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Unsinkable
Britain at Bay
Staff Picks

283,755 Books and Counting

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, January 14
With 283,755 English-language books published to date on World War II, you might think the subject, great and multifaceted as it is, had been thoroughly mined and exhausted by now.  Instead, the war, a perennial favorite topic for nonfiction fans, continues to receive fresh treatment at the hands of historians with new insights gleaned from access to previously unexamined primary sources and archival material.
Jonny Appleseed
New Poets of Native Nations
Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Native American Authors

  • Kristin A.
  • Wednesday, January 13
Looking for a new great read? Try a book by a Native American author. Some of their works will shed light on activism, culture, and history while others expose the challenges of living on reservations or establishing an identity in the modern world. 
The Queen of Katwe
The Joy Luck Club.
Staff Picks

Books similar to "The Queen's Gambit"

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 21
So, you enjoyed the Netflix show The Queen's Gambit, and now you're ready to conquer the world of chess! Okay, maybe not. Maybe you're just looking to be captivated and entertained by something chess-themed. Here are a few selections to get you started. Happy reading!
Agent Running in the Field
The Little Drummer Girl
Staff Picks

Remembering John le Carré

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, December 15
British writer John le Carré, who died on 12 December, leaves behind a legacy of some of the most highly regarded spy novels of the Cold War era and beyond.  Born David Cornwell in 1931, le Carré worked for the British domestic and foreign intelligence agencies (MI5 and MI6) in the 1950s before turning full-time to writing after the international success of his third novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, published in 1963.
The Midnight Library
Clap when You Land
Staff Picks

Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Books of 2020

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, December 08
The 12th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers, posted the winners December 8, 2020--after three rounds of voting that started late October 2020. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig won overall best book of the year. Listed below are the winners for all 20 categories ranging from Fiction, Humor, Memoir & Autobiography, Food & Cookbooks, Graphic Novels, Debut Novels, Picture Books and many more. 
Mexican Gothic
A Knock at Midnight
Staff Picks

Amazon Editors' Top 20 Best Books of 2020

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 07
Every year Amazon's Editors select 100 titles they deemed as the best books to represent that year. Titles vary from literature and fiction, mystery, thriller, and suspense, romance, cooking, food, and wine, children's books, and many many more. 
The Vanishing Half
Ring Shout
Staff Picks

Sandhills Staff Picks of 2020

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, November 30
December is one of my favorite months because it is the time of year when everyone puts out their "Best of" lists. Here are the top picks curated by staff at the Sandhills location. 
The Dead Are Arising
Leave the World Behind
Staff Picks

2020 National Book Awards

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, November 19
The winners of the 2020 National Book Awards have just been announced:
With the Fire on High
With the Fire on High
Staff Picks

YA Books about Family and Self Discovery

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Wednesday, November 18
Blood bound, blended, or chosen family can get complicated. Delve into the family secrets, rivalries, and, time honored traditions in the following novels. Looking for more?  Check out our personalized recommendations form or call us at 803-799-9084.
Where the Light Enters
The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou.
Staff Picks

Jill Biden's Reading List

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, November 18
Dr. Jill Biden, former Second Lady of the United States and soon to be First Lady, is also an accomplished English professor and champion of community colleges. In her memoir, Where The Light Enters, she quotes a bunch of authors across a spectrum of genres. Here is a reading list made up of the works she cites.
Written in the Stars
The Office of Historical Corrections
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for November 2020

  • Sarah C.
  • Tuesday, November 10
Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in November 2020, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
Billion Dollar Loser
Better, Not Perfect
Staff Picks

Billion Dollar Loser (and other new business books you may enjoy)

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 22
Check out these new business titles recently added to our collection.  Considering the news of the antitrust suit that the US Department of Justice has just brought against Google, Zephyr Teachout’s Break ’em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money is a timely read indeed.
Killing the Black Body
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Staff Picks

The Brutal History of Black Bodies & Medicine

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, October 21
As with so much of American history, the field of medicine made advancements at the expense of numerous Black lives.  Yet, this trauma did not end with emancipation.  The stereotypes and inhumane treatment persisted through Jim Crow.  The vestiges remain today and play out in racial health disparities that have come into even sharper focus with COVID-19.
My Vanishing Country
His Very Best
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, October 20
Several of these new titles have been getting rave reviews, for example Debora Harding’s Dancing with the Octopus, a shocking true-crime memoir, and Kerri Arsenault’s Mill Town, about the author’s return to her struggling blue-collar hometown in Maine.
Watchmen
Grass
Staff Picks

2020 Harvey Award Winners

  • Thomas M.
  • Sunday, October 11
The winners of the 2020 Harvey Awards, which are selected by comics industry professionals, have been announced across six categories. Check out some of the best recent comics below. The full list of nominees can be found here.  
Going Down Home with Daddy
Going Down Home with Daddy.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Kelly Starling Lyons

  • Rebecca K.
  • Friday, October 09
Award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, surrounded by creativity and artistic expression.  She has now written more than a dozen books for children, from picture books to beginning readers to chapter books, focusing on the African-American experience and giving young people stories to reflect their own lives and culture.
Rock Your Mocs
Una Huna
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous & Native People in Picture & Board Books

  • Saturday, October 03
Understand and celebrate the stories, culture, traditions and history of indigenous and native people of the Americas in these beautifully illustrated picture and board books.   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.
Dirty Wars and Polished Silver
The Mammoth Book of Combat
Staff Picks

The First Casualty

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 01
The first casualty of war, it has been famously said, is the truth, which is why war correspondents have played such a crucial role throughout history.  And it hasn’t been just a “boys’ club” – Martha Gellhorn, Rebecca West, and others made a name for themselves reporting from zones of conflict.  More recently, Marie Colvin (tragically killed in Syria in 2012) and Clarissa Ward (author of a new memoir, On All Fronts) have done the same.
I Dissent
American Women Activists' Writings
Staff Picks

Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Mahogany S.
  • Monday, September 21
From The Notorious RBG to I Dissent, explore the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg with these books and movies that span all age ranges.
Ruth Objects
On the Basis of Sex
Staff Picks

RIP RBG

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, September 21
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday, Sept.
The Heart Calls Home
But That's Another Story
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Joyce Hansen

  • Children's Room
  • Friday, September 11
Joyce Hansen is the author of many novels and nonfiction works for children and young adults.  Her books are a mixture of contemporary and historical fiction, and she has also written and contributed to several works of non-fiction focused on African American historical subjects.
Our Time is Now
Our Time Is Now
Staff Picks

The Power of the Vote

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Voting is a fundamental right for every adult citizen in a democracy.  This right has not always been guaranteed or given to every citizen.  Discover the history and the people who fought and continue to fight for the power of the vote.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Lillian's Right to Vote
Election Collection
Staff Picks

The Power of the Vote for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Voting is a fundamental right for every adult citizen in a democracy.  Sharing books together is a great way to introduce our civic responsibility, the history and the power of the vote.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
The Job
The Globotics Upheaval
Staff Picks

Labor and Its Discontents

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, September 03
The world of work was being upended even before the coronavirus pandemic drove the US unemployment rate to record highs.  The “gig economy,” robotics, and offshoring, to name but a few factors, have reshaped traditional employment in ways that are not yet fully understood.  As we observe Labor Day, this is a good time to take a look at how we got here and what may be in store for us in the labor market.  The books listed below offer a range of views on the subject, from critiques of Silicon Valley’s role in degrading work life to constructive advice on finding mea
Lift As You Climb
Dreams of Freedom
Staff Picks

The Power of Protest for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, August 22
Inspire your future leaders with these stories of people who made a difference.  Discover how these activists found their voice, fought for their rights and used the power of protest to create change.   You can also take action with our DIY Storytime:  Get Up, Stand Up.  
Kamala Harris
Almost Zero
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Nikki Grimes

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, August 21
Born and raised in New York City, Nikki Grimes has earned several accolades for her writing and poetry. Ms. Grimes has said that reading and writing helped her get through her darkest times as a child.  Helping children process grief through stories is a significant part of her writing. She wants children to see themselves in literature. 
When They Call You a Terrorist
John Lewis
Staff Picks

The Power of Protest

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, August 20
Black protest has power.  The power to change minds, laws, even nations.  Black protest shapes history and leaders.  Learn more about the triumphs and the struggles of black protest and activism by checking out these titles today.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
I Saw Your Face
Soul Looks Back in Wonder
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Tom Feelings

  • Leslie Tetreault
  • Friday, August 07
Tom Feelings made his mark as one of the most important and influential artists and illustrators in all of children’s literature. He was dedicated to drawing black people, and especially children, so they would see themselves as beautiful and proud.