You Are Your Child's First Teacher
The Well-trained Mind
Staff Picks

Homeschooling from A to Z

  • Laura Rogers
  • Thursday, May 16
When I started homeschooling twenty years ago, I read everything I could get my hands on about home education. From Montessori to Waldorf, from Charlotte Mason to John Holt, I wanted to dive deep and find out which path was right for my family. While our educational road has had many twists, turns, and even some dead ends, there is nothing like crafting a homemade education. Below is a wide variety of educational options to explore. Grab your library card and dig in! 
Rabbit Ears Treasury of African American Heroes
The Story of the World. Volume 1
Staff Picks

Ear Reading Favorites for 6, 7, and 8 Year Olds

  • Laura Rogers
  • Wednesday, May 15
Nothing transports you like a good story. These favorite audio titles are perfect for riding in the car, curling up on the couch, or keeping kids occupied in the waiting room at the dentist.   
The Guest Book
Furious Hours
Staff Picks

Books to Get You Pumped for Summer Reading

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, May 14
It's time to start building your summer reading list! Whether you'll be sitting poolside, beachside, or just anywhere with A/C, these books are sure to help beat the summer heat. Here are a few titles to look out for in the coming weeks to get you pumped up for Summer.
The Girl on the Velvet Swing
Unnecessary Roughness
Staff Picks

Murder by the Book – True Crime at Richland Library

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, May 10
If true crime is your favorite genre, consider some of these titles recently added to our collection.  Casey Cep’s Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee is the story of how the author of To Kill a Mockingbird obsessively followed the case of an Alabama murderer in the hopes of writing her own true-crime classic.  In The Last Stone, Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down, Hu
The Broad Fork
A Girl and Her Greens
Staff Picks

Eat Your Veggies!

  • Rebecca K.
  • Friday, May 10
If you want to discover fresh, new ways to enjoy your favorite vegetables, pick up one of these cookbooks today for inspiration!
Mad Hatters and March Hares
Hatter M
Staff Picks

Inspired by Alice

  • Rebecca K.
  • Sunday, May 05
If you can't get enough of the absurd fantasy world and peculiar characters of Lewis Carroll's classic Alice tales, try these modern books, inspired by the magic of Wonderland. 
The Latte Factor
The Visual MBA
Staff Picks

An Economist Walks Into a Brothel (& other new business titles that might interest you)

  • Bland L.
  • Sunday, May 05
The new business titles recently added to our collection include a study of risk management in daily life, advice for building a thriving “tiny business,” and personal-finance tips from the likes of Jill Schlesinger and Jean Chatzky.  In The Prosperity Paradox, Clayton Christensen makes the case for fostering business innovation in developing countries as a means of reducing poverty, while Shoshana Zuboff explores how the digital economy compromises our privacy in
American Like Me
Brothers in Arms
Staff Picks

Nonfiction by Celebrity Authors

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

LibraryReads for May 2019

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

New in Science

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

Container Gardening

  • Megan M.
  • Monday, April 22
Live in an apartment or lack space in your yard for a garden? Check out these books to get your container garden started.
Frederick Douglass
The Road Not Taken
Staff Picks

2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners

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

History of Pop Music

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

What's New in Biography

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

Books on Infertility

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, April 13
 Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in America. Books in this list are excellent guides to learning more about what to expect when you cannot conceive. Read about personal stories, IVF treatments, support systems and several other Infertility resources to equip you with knowledge and options.
Women Who Rock
Violence Girl
Staff Picks

Women in Music

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, April 11
Explore the lives of women who rock with these great titles! This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
Reconstruction
Reconstructions
Staff Picks

Reconstruction Reconsidered

  • Wednesday, April 10
With the April 9 premiere of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s new PBS television series Reconstruction: America After the Civil War, interest is high in this controversial period in American history.  Check out these absorbing titles (several by historians featured in the program, including Gates himself) on Reconstruction and its lingering consequences.
First, Break All the Rules
The Millionaire Next Door
Staff Picks

40 Best Books for Success in Business

  • Mona Verma
  • Wednesday, April 03
Being successful at business requires a highly motivated mindset. Read these business bestsellers which will inspire you and guide you to be a better version of yourself. This book list is an eclectic mix of classic and new business books, all of which are excellent resources designed to help you achieve your personal and business goals.
Beginner Gardening Step by Step
Encyclopedia of Garden Plants for Every Location
Staff Picks

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

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

The History of Hip Hop

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

Women in STEM

  • Rebecca K.
  • Saturday, March 09
Check out these stories of women who thrived in male-dominated STEM fields.
Serpent King
His First Lady
Staff Picks

Celebrating Local African American Writers

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

FYRE and Other Disasters

  • Rebecca K.
  • Friday, March 01
If you couldn't get enough of the FYRE Festival scandal, try these other tales of hoaxes, scams, liars, and frauds.
Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Hot Stuff
Staff Picks

Music and Culture

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

Full STEAM Ahead

  • Rebecca K.
  • Wednesday, February 20
Do you want to explore the math and science of everyday things? Are you interested in combining technology and art? Maybe you want to see how science can help you in the kitchen. If you want to learn more of these concepts outside of a textbook, check out these fun, STEAMy reads! 
Naked Came the Manatee
Best. State. Ever.
Staff Picks

Florida Man: Offbeat Florida Books

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

Swamp Stories: Florida History

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

Photography 101

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

Level Up: Non-fiction for Gamers

  • Rebecca K.
  • Tuesday, February 12
Be at the top of your game with these books that celebrate the rich history, diversity, creativity, and evolution in video game culture. 
12 Years a Slave
Acrimony
Staff Picks

Films by Black Directors

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

Under the Sea

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

The Banality of Evil: Holocaust Nonfiction

  • Sara M.
  • Monday, January 14
Take a wider view of the horrors of the Holocaust with these nonfiction books.  (A list of personal Holocaust survivor memoirs can be found here.) This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
The Nazi Officer's Wife
The Seamstress a Memoir of Survival
Staff Picks

Survivor Stories: The Holocaust in Memoir

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

The Great Studios

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

Deep Dive Into Film

  • Allison T.
  • Thursday, January 03
As many DVD distributors cut back on releases of older films, Olive Films, a theatrical and home video distributor, offers first-rate editions of films long unavailable.
Resistance. Vol. 01
Mike's Place
Staff Picks

Moving Pictures: The Jewish Experience in Graphic Novels

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

Positive Vibes Only

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Friday, December 28
These books are sure to help you curate the perfect affirmation to keep you motivated and focused on your goals each day.
A Town of Empty Rooms
Hot Pursuit
Staff Picks

Kosher Cornbread: The Jewish Experience in the South

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

The Science of Music

  • Sarah C.
  • Friday, December 21
Explore everything from the natural origins of music to the way sound affects the human brain with these fascinating reads! 
Bushcraft 101
The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, & Cooking in the Wild
Staff Picks

Building Your Nature Skills

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, December 20
Get the most out of your outdoor time with these great books!  Learn everything from basic wilderness survival skills to identifying the birds you see in your backyard to making art in nature. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf2019 reading challenge. Find more lists here.  
American Heart Association Instant and Healthy
The "I Love My Instant Pot?" Keto Diet Recipe Book
Staff Picks

Healthy Eats

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Wednesday, October 10
Taking control of your health can be a struggle but you are not in it alone. Check out these cookbooks to help give you new recipe ideas that are easy and will keep you healthy and strong.