1984
April and the Extraordinary World
Staff Picks

Just Checked In

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows some of the latest items that have been checked in at the library.
Bluey Season 3
The Shaggy Dog
Staff Picks

Coming Soon for Children

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
The Black Girl Survives in This One
Four Eids and a Funeral
Staff Picks

Coming Soon for Teens

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
5 Centimeters Per Second
47 Days With Jesus
Staff Picks

Coming Soon for Adults

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
5 Centimeters Per Second
47 Days With Jesus
Staff Picks

Coming Soon

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
The Women
The Meaning of Marriage
Staff Picks

Most Popular

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 25
This list is regularly updated and shows 500 of the most popular items being checked out at the library.
Promise Boys
Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Staff Picks

Teen Murder Mysteries

  • Alex B.
  • Wednesday, April 24
Put on your deerstalker hat and get into these murder mysteries for young adults. 
The Hive and the Honey
The King is Always Above the People
Staff Picks

20th Anniversary of The Story Prize

  • Savannah G.
  • Friday, April 05
The Story Prize is an annual book award that honors the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction. 2024 marks 20 years of (something). This year's winner is The Hive and the Honey by Paul Yoon.
The Collectors
Family Lore
Staff Picks

What We're Reading: April 2024

  • Leighan C.
  • Monday, April 01
Check out what the members of the Richland Library Team are reading this month! We can help you discover great titles for adults, teens, and children.All titles linked here are in print format, but other formats may be available. Check the catalog and the monthly What We're Reading Libby shelf for eBooks and eAudiobooks. 
My Pocket Bathroom
The Reading List
Staff Picks

What We're Reading: March 2024

  • Leighan C.
  • Friday, March 01
Check out what the members of the Richland Library Team are reading this month! We can help you discover great titles for adults, teens, and children.All titles linked here are in print format, but other formats may be available. Check the catalog and the monthly What We're Reading Libby shelf for eBooks and eAudiobooks. 
Versed
Ozone Journal
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Pulitzer Prize in Poetry

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, February 15
Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2024 Broader Bookshelf prompt "Read a book by a Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winning author".  These books were all awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
Interpreter of Maladies
March
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Pulitzer Prize in Fiction

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, February 01
Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2024 Broader Bookshelf prompt "Read a book by a Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winning author".  These books were all awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction or Novel.This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
Go Ask Alice
Go Ahead in the Rain
Staff Picks

What We're Reading: February 2024

  • Leighan C.
  • Thursday, February 01
Check out what the members of the Richland Library Team are reading this month! We can help you discover great titles for adults, teens, and children.All titles linked here are in print format, but other formats may be available. Check the catalog and the monthly What We're Reading Libby shelf for eBooks and eAudiobooks. 
We Were Once a Family
Tremor
Staff Picks

2023 National Book Critics Circle Award Winners

  • Megan M.
  • Friday, January 26
This year's winners include:Fiction: I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore Nonfiction: We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian Biography: Winnie and Nelson by Jonny Steinberg How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Debating Darcy
Debating Darcy
Staff Picks

Austen-tacious: YA Adaptations of Jane Austen

  • Alex B.
  • Wednesday, January 24
There's no rizz like Jane Austen rizz. Perhaps that's why Jane Austen retellings have enduring appeal to young romantics. Check out this list curated by my colleage Hannah C. and me for a Valentine's read.  
None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive
Halal if You Hear Me
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Books with If in the title

  • Adele C.
  • Wednesday, January 24
Check out one of these titles and fulfill the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge prompt, "Read a book with If or When in the title".This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
Before Freedom, when I Just Can Remember
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Books with When in the title

  • Adele C.
  • Wednesday, January 17
Check out one of these titles and fulfill the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge prompt, "Read a book with If or When in the title".This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
Angels in America
Three Tall Women
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Pulitzer Prize Winning Drama

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 04
If you love reading plays, fulfill the "Read a book by a Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winning author" with one of these books, all of which won the Pulitzer in the Drama category.This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers
Living Nations, Living Words
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2024 - Poetry by Indigenous Authors

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 04
Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2024 Broader Bookshelf prompt "Read a book by or about someone from an Indigenous culture".This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2024 Reading Challenge. Find more lists here.
The Last White Man
On Girlhood
Staff Picks

Quick Reads

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, November 30
Love to read but short on time? Trying to complete a yearly reading goal like the #BroaderBookshelf Reading Challenge? In a reading slump? Check out one of these quick reads to get you back on track and feel accomplished! Need more inspiration? Try our Personalized Reading Recommendations. 
Seoulmates
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces
Staff Picks

Gift Guide: Books for Your K-Pop Obsessed Teen

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, November 10
In a same vein as the "British Invasion" cultural phenomenon of the 1960's, Korean culture has significantly influenced Gen Z's tastes and trends . From K-dramas (Korean soap operas), K-beauty (Korean beauty products), to K-pop (Korean pop music), Korean cultural influence has been all the rage with the youth. If you have a young person in your life who loves K-pop, these might be some good titles to extend that interest into reading. 
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home
Call Me by Your Name
Staff Picks

2023 Charleston Literary Festival Authors

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, October 03
The Charleston Literary Festival, which will run from 3 to 12 November, has entered the lit-fest big leagues, to judge from the roster of writers participating this year.  In addition to contemporary fiction stars such as Rebecca Makkai and Claire Keegan, luminaries such as Lorrie Moore, Richard Ford, and Margaret Atwood are also on the list.  Nonfiction is well represented too, with noted historians Simon Schama and Simon Sebag Montefiore, public TV regular Lucy Worsley, perennial best-seller Tracy Kidder, and New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik
Western Lane
A Spell of Good Things
Staff Picks

2023 Booker Prize Longlist

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, August 01
The longlist for the 2023 Booker Prize has just been announced.  This major award recognizes English-language fiction published in the UK and Ireland.  The winner will be announced in November; in the meantime, check out the following longlist titles from our collection.
Our Best Intentions
A Likely Story
Staff Picks

2023 First Novel Prize Longlist

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, July 27
The longlist for the 2023 First Novel Prize has just been announced.  This prize, created by the Center for Fiction to honor the best debut novel of the year, was first awarded in 2006.  This year's prizewinner will be announced in December.  In the meantime, check out these longlist titles from our collection.
A Touch of Jen
Finna
Staff Picks

Look in the (Black) Mirror

  • Alex B.
  • Monday, July 03
Enjoy these books inspired by Black Mirror, the Netflix show that explores the pros and cons of a technology-driven society. 
Anything but Typical
Anything but Typical
Staff Picks

Disability Pride for Middle Grade Readers

  • Alex B.
  • Saturday, July 01
According to the American Bar Association, July is Disability Pride Month "a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another’s voices and be heard." These books for middle graders center disabled people's voices and celebrate their experiences. 
500 All-time Great Recipes
Ancient Israel
Staff Picks

The Selden K. Smith Holocaust Collection, Part 1

  • Leighan C.
  • Friday, June 30
Richland Library welcomes items from the personal Holocaust collection of Dr. Selden K. Smith. Housed primarily at Richland Library Main the collection includes over 250 items.
Time Shelter
The Gospel According to the New World
Staff Picks

2023 International Booker Prize

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, June 27
Bulgarian novelist Georgi Gospodinov's Time Shelter has won the 2023 International Booker Prize.  This prize was created in 2004 to recognize works of fiction that weren't eligible for the regular Booker Prize (awarded to books by authors hailing from anywhere in the British Commonwealth).  Check out this prizewinning title, as well as these other nominees for the 2023 prize.
Mr. B
Easy Beauty
Staff Picks

2023 Pulitzer Prizes

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, May 08
Check out the 2023 Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists in the categories of fiction, history, biography, memoir/ autobiography, poetry, and general nonfiction.
Dear Librarian
The DEFA Film Library's (East) German Film Collection.
Staff Picks

Love your library!

  • Lisa G.
  • Wednesday, February 01
As we celebrate our library's 30th anniversary this month, we thought we would highlight some streaming videos about libraries. Check out these awesome titles. Happy Valentine's Day!
Number the Stars
Hitler Youth
Staff Picks

Tween Books for International Holocaust Remembrance Day

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, January 27
The United Nations observes January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day as it's the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Six million Jews died through systemic persecution under the Nazi regime 1933-1945. Now more than ever, it's crucial to talk to kids about important events in history. Check out these books for kids aged 9+ for age appropriate fiction and nonfiction books about the Holocaust.   Visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website for more information: https://www.ushmm.org/ 
All This Could Be Different
When We Were Sisters
Staff Picks

2022 National Book Award Longlists

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, September 16
The 2022 National Book Award longlists have just been announced.  The finalists will be named on 4 October.  In the meantime, check out these contenders in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young people's literature, and translated literature.
Post-traumatic
Brown Girls
Staff Picks

Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize Longlist

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, August 01
The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize was created in 2006 to honor the best debut fiction of the year.  The longlist for this year's prize has just been announced.  Check out these exciting new first novels from our collection.
Project Hail Mary
The Penny Dreadfuls
Staff Picks

Favorite Reads of The Teen Center Creative Writing Club

  • Thomas M.
  • Tuesday, July 12
Enjoy some fond favorite reads from members of the Teen Center's creative writing club, known as Prompt & Circumstance. Science fiction, horror, fantasy, manga, poetry, Russian literature, and picture books collide in this fun mash-up of influences. You are sure to find a great read or even inspiration in this list.
The Donkey and the Rock
Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Asian Folklore Titles for Youth

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, June 10
Read and celebrate the amazing Asian folklore stories about grand heroes, exciting adventures, and fantastical places 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.
Her Stories
African Folklore in the New World
Staff Picks

A Tale to Tell Thru Time: BIPOC Oral Literature

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Wednesday, May 18
Most people's first experience with oral literature or folk literature was most likely a lullaby, nursery rhyme or an urban legend. Oral literature is handed down orally through the word of mouth from one generation to another and serves to communicate ideas,  knowledge, cultural practices, emotions, beliefs, and the appreciation of life. Oral literature much like oral tradition is preserved by speaking, listening, and remembering.  The following booklist highlights African, African American, and indigenous people oral literature.  
Chasing Me to My Grave
Refractive Africa
Staff Picks

2022 Pulitzer Prizewinners

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, May 09
The 2022 Pulitzer Prizes have just been announced.  Check out the following prizewinners and finalists in the categories of fiction, biography, general nonfiction, history, and poetry.
The Book of Mother
Cursed Bunny
Staff Picks

2022 International Booker Prize

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, April 19
The long list and short list titles were announced this month for the 2022 International Booker Prize.  This prize was created in 2004 to recognize works of fiction that weren't eligible for the regular Booker Prize (awarded to books by authors hailing from anywhere in the British Commonwealth).  The winner will be announced on 26 May, but in the meantime, check out these nominees from our collection.
Rolling Thunder Revue
Don't Look Back
Staff Picks

Like the Wind Blowin' Through 1703 Taylor St.

  • Keith B.
  • Friday, April 01
Did you leave a Bob Dylan concert mystified, unsure of what you just heard? Did you find his voice rough and his manners rowdy? Were you intrigued by his literary lyrics and the fanatical spectacle? Take a deeper dive into Dylanology with this selection of materials.   Bob Dylan Setlists for Shows at The Columbia Township Auditorium 2022-03-29 
The Memory Police
The Good Son
Staff Picks

Without Borders: Books in Translation

  • Kristin A.
  • Tuesday, March 29
Books have no borders. Without reading translated books, we only experience a tiny sliver of the literature that the world has to offer. Authors are writing incredible books in a variety of languages throughout the world, but only a very small percentage are translated into English. By reading books published in other countries, you are able to delve deep into that author's culture in a way you wouldn't otherwise be able to do without a passport. So broaden your bookshelf and try one of these translated books today.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Count of Monte Cristo (2002.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #5 - Starting with 'The Code of the Woosters')

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, February 11
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Orwell's Roses
A Little Devil in America
Staff Picks

2021 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, February 10
The finalists for the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Awards were recently announced.  Given annually since 1976, they are the only major book awards selected by critics.  The winners will be announced in March.  Check out the following finalists from our collection, in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry, and criticism.  (The list also includes the finalists for the NBCC's John Leonard Prize for Best First Book.)
We Shall Overcome
Soul Food Sunday
Staff Picks

CSMCL's Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2021

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, February 01
The following picture books were all named in the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2021. Want to learn more about diverse books? Check out this blog post. 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!  
Patricia Highsmith
Redeeming Justice
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, December 29
Notable new releases include Chinese artist/activist Ai Weiwei’s 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows and Indian economist (and prolific author) Amartya Sen’s Home in the World.  Carole Angier’s
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
After Henry
Staff Picks

Remembering Joan Didion

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, December 27
Joan Didion, who died at age 87 on 23 December, astutely sized up American culture from the 1960s onward in a series of nonfiction and fiction works that met with both critical and popular acclaim.  The prolific Didion is perhaps still best known for her first two essay collections, Slouching Towards Bethlehem and
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.  
Carrie
Carrie.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #4 - Starting with 'Carrie')

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 13
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Beloved
Bel Canto
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #3 - Starting with 'Bambi')

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 13
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
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.
The Other Black Girl
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part IV

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Mexican Gothic
Americanah
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part II

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
The Vanishing Half
The Power
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part I

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
A Spindle Splintered
That We May Live
Staff Picks

Speedy Reads

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, November 18
Are you rushing to complete your reading challenge for the year? Short on time? Check out one of these speedy reads that are under 250 pages and get back to crushing your reading goals. 
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 Promise
A Passage North
Staff Picks

2021 Booker Prizewinner

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, November 05
South African novelist/playwright Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize, England's most prestigious literary award, for his epic novel The Promise, the intergenerational story of an Afrikaner farming family torn apart by an unfulfilled bequest of the family matriarch.  (Galgut has twice before been shortlisted for the prize.)
All That She Carried
A Little Devil in America
Staff Picks

2021 National Book Award Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, November 02
The 2021 National Book Award finalists in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature have recently been announced.  While you're waiting to learn who the winners will be (to be announced on 17 November), check out these finalists from our collection. 2021 National Book Awards
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 
Feed
Conjure
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Poetry)

  • Mahogany S.
  • Tuesday, October 12
Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Poetry titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
A Thousand Ships
The Penelopiad
Staff Picks

Mythological Retellings

  • Kristin A.
  • Friday, September 10
Mythology and folklore are full of strange characters, bizarre circumstances, grand journeys and revenge plots gone horribly wrong. And while the classics will always remain the classics, every so often a writer comes along with a fresh take that can make us see a familiar story in a completely different way. They place these legends in new times and places.
This is the Rope
Alma and How She Got Her Name (read Along.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Family History in Picture Books

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, September 03
Learning about the people who came before you can be a fascinating, exciting, and emotional adventure. It helps you gain more knowledge about your family, as well as who you are. Below are wonderful picture books about different families and what makes them special and unique. 
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 Proudest Blue
Mommy's Khimar
Staff Picks

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.
Finna
Finna
Staff Picks

Read Proudly!

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, June 04
Celebrate Pride Month by reading these books by members of the LGBTQ+ community. 
Anansi the Spider
Folk Tales & Fables of Asia & Australia
Staff Picks

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!
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.
A Place Inside of Me
Ellington Was Not A Street.
Staff Picks

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.  
Artemis
Reynard the Fox
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - Antihero's and Villains as the protagonist

  • Mahogany S.
  • Thursday, April 01
Do you believe there's always an "other" side to each story?  Well here they are. Read some titles that talk about the perspective of the villain or an antihero. Some are tricksters and some are downright murderers. All are darkly enjoyable.   Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
1, 2, 3. Play with Me!.
1, 2, Trees!.
Staff Picks

Playaway Launchpads for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Wednesday, March 24
Have you tried our Playaway Launchpads for children yet? These tablets are pre-loaded with content for children, designed with a simple, easy-to-use interface. No need to worry about download time and or Wi-Fi. There are all kinds of tablets to try - interactive learning, stories, math, science, STEAM, short movies, languages - there is something of interest to every child. Fun for road trips or just an afternoon at home - try one today. 
The Removed
Love After the End
Staff Picks

Books by Indigenous Authors

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 16
Listed below are works by Indigenous authors and their various formats. 
D is for Dragon Dance
A Gift
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Lunar New Year

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Saturday, January 02
On February 12 of this year, Lunar New Year will begin and will introduce the Year of the Ox. Every lunar new year is a time of celebration throughout Asian countries and the Asian American community to bring in the coming twelve months, according to the traditional Chinese calendar or lunar calendar. Lunar New Year typically begins on the lunar calendar's first new moon and ends fifteen days later on the lunar calendar's full moon. Read the stories listed below to learn more about the Lunar New Year celebration!
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. 
This is How You Lose the Time War
The Shining Girls
Staff Picks

Time Travel

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, November 23
If you could travel to any point in time, what would it be? Would you go back in time...or forward? While time travel is not yet a reality, we can experience it vicariously through the lives of different fictional characters. Choose your time machine carefully though because you never know where you might end up.
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:
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.
Firefly. The Complete Series
Stranger Things.
Staff Picks

Friendship

  • Helene F.
  • Saturday, November 14
Friendships near and far Connecting with friends and family, we are able to listen to each other's experiences.  Let these items show us that we are not alone in how it feels to be human.    Looking for more? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
A Big Mooncake for Little Star
Freedom Soup.
Staff Picks

Fry Bread, Bi-Bim-Bop, & More!

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, October 02
While we all have our differences, one thing we can all agree on is food! There are so many cultures and countries all over the world that have delicious dishes that everyone can enjoy. From kimchi to tamales, our tastebuds await the next yummy surprise and insight into both familiar and new worlds.  Read these stories to learn more about different types of tasty cuisines, the unique characters behind these cuisines, and how these cuisines bring us all together.
Dreamers
Dreamers.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Hispanic Heritage Month in Picture Books

  • Children's Room
  • Thursday, October 01
Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration of the countless contributions of Hispanic culture.  Check out these picture books to learn more about how Hispanic culture has influenced our literature and our lives.  And don't miss our Hispanic Heritage Month in Novels book list!
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree
The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
Staff Picks

2020 National Book Awards: The Long Lists

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, September 18
The long lists for the 2020 National Book Awards have just been announced.  The winners will be announced on November 18.  Check out the following titles from our collection in the award categories of fiction, nonfiction, literature in translation, young people's literature, and poetry.
All About Reading, Level 1, Teacher's Manual
All About Reading, Level 2, Teacher's Manual
Staff Picks

Reading Curriculum: All About Reading

  • Emily J.
  • Wednesday, September 09
Looking an easy to follow reading curriculum?  All About Reading is a one-stop shop for quality reading materials. Find all of these titles and more in Richland Library's Education Studio.  Questions? We are here to help. Contact the Richland Library Education Studio and we'll help you find the best materials to suit your needs. 
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. 
The Overstory
Americanah
Staff Picks

Literary Fiction

  • Kristin A.
  • Thursday, August 13
Known for its complex form, language, and style, Literary Fiction often explores the facets of the human condition and aims to provide insight that creates a stronger understanding of the world.  Looking for more great titles? Find your new favorite title using our Personalized Reading Recommendations.
All My Friends Are Dead
We Should All Be Feminists
Staff Picks

Books You Can Read in a Day

  • Kristin A.
  • Wednesday, June 24
Not ready to tackle another 500 page novel? Looking for a quick read that still packs a big punch? We've got you covered. Each of these great titles is 100 pages or less, but will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. The perfect size for a lazy afternoon on the couch. 
The Poet X
Honeyfish
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Poetry

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, June 11
Check out these titles to explore race through the voices of poets.
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