Staff Picks

If You Like... Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer is tearing up the manga and anime charts like a force of nature. Below are some more supernatural manga about hunting demons, protecting loved ones, and family life threatened and transformed by horrors. 
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Middle Grade Reads for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Celebrate by checking out these Middle Grade titles. Looking for more great reads to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with? Check out this list or use our Personalized Recommendations form to find your next great read!
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YA Reads for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Celebrate by checking out these teen titles. Looking for more great reads to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Check out this list or use our request  Personalized Recommendations form to find your next great read!
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage

To some, 1967 seems like it was so long ago, but that was only fifty-four years ago. Only fifty-four years ago, Richard and Mildred Loving were fighting the state of Virginia to recognize their marriage. Only fifty-four years ago, two people (who just happened to be different races) had to fight to legally show their love to the world. 

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Fall and Rise: 9/11, 20 Years On

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
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Read All About It: Family History in Picture Books

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. 
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Let's Talk Race (as a Family...)

Having "The Talk" can feel daunting.  Whether it's sexuality, staying safe or race--it can be difficult to know where to begin. By talking about these important topics early and often, parents and caregivers can increase the whole family's comfort and skill in conversation, making these discussions part of their family culture.  
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Aspiring Female Pilots

✈️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)✈️
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Picks from Oprah's Book Club

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 
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LibraryReads for September 2021

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in September 2021, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
Staff Picks

NPR's 50 Best Sci-fi and Fantasy of the Decade

📚NPR ran a Summer online poll to see what the top 50 Sci-fi and Fantasy reads were for the decade. Their list included multiple book series and some standalone novels.  📚Below you will find all the books in each series. Most of the formats listed are in physical books, but be sure to click on the titles if you prefer another format such as eBook, eAudio, and/or Audiobooks. 📚Find your next adventure! 
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Scientists Real and Imagined

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. 
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Teen Sci-Fi Adventures

Vast space, high-tech inventions, missions to far off planets, time travel escapades, alien encounters, and more fill these teen science fiction adventures. 
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StoryWalk®: How Do You Wokka-Wokka? Read-Alikes

Pick up a copy of How Do You Wokka-Wokka?, one of our StoryWalk® titles, at one of our Richland Library locations and get your family moving and grooving while enjoying a great story.  Next, check out some of these good books to continue the fun at home!  Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. 
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Dark Academia

The new-ish genre of dark academia is characterized by a school setting, a moody and mysterious atmosphere, and dark themes.  Sound like your cup of tea?  Check out some of these titles!
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Back to School for Middle Grade Readers

Starting back to school for all students can cause a mix of emotions from excited to nervous. But entering or starting back to Middle School can be down right scary! This list of books for middle grade readers may be able to help ease fears about surviving middle school with some relatable experiences about homework, the school cafeteria, bullies, crushes and more.
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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: The Crossover

Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books. These discussions will build our capacity for talking about race and define our roles in fighting against both every day and systemic racism.

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National Wellness Month: Black Women's Health

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. 
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Popular BookTok books

Here is a list of what's currently trending on BookTok!
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Must Read Love Triangles❤️

Whether you're here because of a book suggestion from Tik-Tok or for a bit of fun, we have just the list to keep you entertained with a hint of drama! Decisions...Decisions...Decisions...! 🤔
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Black Business Month

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!
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Herbal Aficionado

With the season of Summer beaming down on us and more time outdoors, grab a hold of a fiction read that will encourage a little foraging in the woods.🍃
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New Business Books

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
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for August 2021

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in August 2021, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
Staff Picks

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

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.
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New in Science

New titles by best-selling authors Michael Pollan (This Is Your Mind on Plants), Peter Wohlleben (
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Japan 2021 for Olympics 2020

We now get to see Japan, her culture and history after seeing China and Korea present their cultures in previous Olympic Games.  What do you want to learn about first, anime, manga, the language, the food, and the places they all come together in?  Looking for more, and in different formats? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
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Richland Library Eastover

Texting via Haikus

Let's explore Kwame Alexander's usage of Haikus to depict text messages in the novel in verse The Crossover.

Staff Picks

LibraryReads for July 2021

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in July 2021, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

This 2014 John Newbery Medal Winner and Coretta Scott King Honor title poetically and rhythmically tells the story of twelve-year-old Josh Bell, also known affectionately as Filthy McNasty, who is a star on his school's basketball team.

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Richland Library Main

The Crossover: Sports Fiction

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.

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New in Biography and Memoir

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;
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SC Young Adult Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

"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.
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Richland Library Main

Books + Music Pairings

We think these book and album pairings were meant for each other. See if you agree!

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StoryWalk®: Rainbow Stew Read-Alikes

Visit Richland Library's Rainbow Stew StoryWalk® at Hyatt Park or pick up the book from your neighborhood library and get your family soaring and gliding while enjoying a great story.   Check out this list below for more inspiration to get you moving, growing and cooking together!  
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20 Books Which Celebrate African American Culinary History and Experience

African American food history is rich and it has intrinsically influenced the development of American cuisine. Any discussion of the culinary heritage of America cannot be complete without noting the contributions of Black people. Very often, these significant contributions are overlooked or minimized when they should be appreciated and recognized. Here are a few books which celebrate the flavorful African American cuisine and its history.
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Debut Authors of 2021 (So Far)

You have your favorite authors, and by now you've read everything by them, right? Time to try someone new! The best part is that checking out up to 60 books with your Richland Library card is absolutely free, so branch out and experiment with a new genre or writer. 
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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Take a journey with Bree Matthews, in this OwnVoices read, as she struggles with life after her mother's death, and prepares to embark on a journey at the University of North Carolina in their Early College program--a journey that will alter how she views the world and herself.

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YA and Middle Grade Reads for Juneteenth

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.
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YA and Middle Grade Reads for Caribbean Heritage Month

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. 
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#OwnVoice Picture Books for Caribbean Heritage Month

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. 
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2021 Pulitzer Prizes

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.
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Celebrate Loving Day for Adults

Celebrate Loving Day by checking out novels featuring stories of interracial 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.
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Get Outdoors: Learn More About Plants

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!
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Celebrate Loving Day for Tweens & Teens

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.
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Celebrate Loving Day for Families

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.
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SC Picture Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

"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.
Staff Picks

SC Junior Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

"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.
Staff Picks

SC Children's Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

"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.
Staff Picks

Middle Grade books #ToImmigrantsWithLove

Immigrant Heritage Month is a time to reflect and honor the contributions that immigrants have made to our communities across the country and their integral role in the American story.  
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Young Adult books #ToImmigrantsWithLove

Immigrant Heritage Month is a time to reflect and honor the contributions that immigrants have made to our communities across the country and their integral role in the American story.    
Staff Picks

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

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.
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Read Proudly!

Celebrate Pride Month by reading these books by members of the LGBTQ+ community. 
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Read All About It: Dinosaurs & Fossils

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. 
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Romantic Beach Reads

Fall in love this summer!  Enjoy this list of Romantic fiction that's great for your Beach getaway!❤️🤟💕
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Historical Beach Reads

Get lost this summer, and travel back in time!  Enjoy this list of Historical fiction that's great for your Beach getaway! 🌊⛵🏖️
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Richland Library Eastover

#OwnVoices: Say Her Name

In this YA non-fiction, Elliot graced us with a beautiful collection of poetry that showcased the intersectionality of being black and a woman.

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Richland Library Main

Up Lit: The Hug You Didn't Know You Needed

For every mood or emotion there is a book to match - and sometimes you just need a good hug from the story you're reading. Here are some titles to help you feel cozy and cared for when you're feeling a bit blue.

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CSMCL's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020

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.   
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Games, Gamers, Gaming: Nonfiction Works About Games and the People Who Love Them

If you're like me, you grew up surrounded by video gaming, which led to a lifelong passion for interactive experiences. This collection of works are all about games, and the people like us who love them dearly. From narrative nonfiction about arguably the most influential game of the 1990s, to a deep dive on the culture of contemporary game design, these picks will surely satisfy any gamer (or nongamer's) curiosity.
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Manga About Creating Manga

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.
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Chiller-Thriller Reads to Beat the Heat

Ready to enjoy some of the heat of the Summer, with a hint of fun? Check out these riveting and thrilling books that are guarantee to take you on a ride. Enjoy!🤪
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Goodreads Summer Reading List - JUNE 2021 releases

Join in on the fun with Goodreads Summer Reading list. Check out June 2021's book releases. Grab a copy, and get ahead of the heat that's following these top Summer Reads!! 🔥🔥🔥