Richland Library is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Our collections, services and programming reflect the broad range of viewpoints and cultures that exist in our community, and we remain steadfast in our mission to provide customers with unfettered access to information and safe spaces for all. 

Below you will find a variety of recommendations from Richland Library staff as well as blog posts and upcoming events. Additional resources on Race, Equity and Inclusion can be found, here.

Antiracist Baby
The Talk
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race (as a Family...)

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, August 27
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.  
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)✈️
Black Sun
A Little Hatred
Staff Picks

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

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, August 23
📚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! 
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.
How Do You Wokka-wokka?
Tap Tap Boom Boom
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: How Do You Wokka-Wokka? Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, August 16
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. 
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: The Crossover

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23

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.

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 Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Bear and the Nightingale
Staff Picks

Popular BookTok books

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, August 04
Here is a list of what's currently trending on BookTok!
It Ends with Us
Sense and Sensibility
Staff Picks

Must Read Love Triangles❤️

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, August 04
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...! 🤔
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!
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.
Best of Japan.
Seeing Kyoto
Staff Picks

Japan 2021 for Olympics 2020

  • Helene F.
  • Wednesday, July 14
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.
Blog
Richland Library Lower Richland

#OwnVoices: The Impact of Mispronouncing a Name

  • Sandra A.
  • Thursday, June 23

A child's socioemotional well-being and worldview can be negatively impacted by someone's failure to pronounce their name properly and can even lead them to shy away from their own cultures and families. 

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.
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

Texting via Haikus

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Tuesday, July 13

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

Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Wednesday, June 30

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.

Blog
Richland Library Main

The Crossover: Sports Fiction

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, July 07

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.

Girls Like Us
Accused!
Staff Picks

SC Young Adult Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, June 23
"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.
Meals, Music, and Muses
What the Slaves Ate
Staff Picks

20 Books Which Celebrate African American Culinary History and Experience

  • Mona Verma
  • Saturday, June 19
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.
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. 
Legendborn
Kingdom of Souls
Staff Picks

#OwnVoices Teen Fantasy

  • Diamond T.
  • Wednesday, June 16
Looking for something other than the norm for fantasy? There may still be monsters, but they look and act a little different in these diverse titles. Whether it’s a demon king who hungers for souls, or specters who prey on the essence of endangered magical creatures, each title is unique in its own way. So look no further than these titles if you are looking for a fantasy with a fair share of things that go bump in the night.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, June 23

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.

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. 
A Story About Afiya
A Story About Afiya
Staff Picks

#OwnVoice Picture Books for Caribbean Heritage Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, June 14
Caribbean Heritage Month celebrates and honors the achievements and contributions of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, particularly in government, sports, entertainment, and the arts. Caribbean Heritage Month was first  officially  observed on June 5th 2006. The following recommended titles are all from OnwVoice authors. 
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Queenie
Staff Picks

Celebrate Loving Day for Adults

  • Richland Library
  • Friday, June 11
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.
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.
Black is Brown is Tan
The Case for Loving
Staff Picks

Celebrate Loving Day for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 10
Celebrate Loving Day by sharing stories of families brought together by love. "The “Loving” in Loving Day is actually the last name of Mildred and Richard Loving. The Loving Day Story begins when they were arrested for being married in 1958 because they were an interracial couple living in Virginia.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
Belle.
Staff Picks

Celebrate Loving Day in Media

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, June 10
Celebrate Loving Day by checking out or streaming a favorite film or TV show featuring an interracial love story. "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.
Black Brother, Black Brother
Things You Can't Say
Staff Picks

SC Junior Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

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

SC Children's Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, June 08
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
Return to Sender
Return to Sender
Staff Picks

Middle Grade books #ToImmigrantsWithLove

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, June 07
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.  
Don't Ask Me Where I'm from
Love, Hate & Other Filters
Staff Picks

Young Adult books #ToImmigrantsWithLove

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, June 07
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.    
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. 
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

#OwnVoices: Say Her Name

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Thursday, June 23

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

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.   
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

¡Que Rico!: Stuffed Honduran Pastelitos

  • Elisa D.
  • Friday, May 28

Bring the rich flavors of our community to life in your kitchen! Try our Stuffed Honduran Pastelitos—inspired by a recipe from one of our ¡Que Rico!: Community Cookbook contributors, Karin Cantarero.

Arsenic and Adobo
While Justice Sleeps
Staff Picks

Chiller-Thriller Reads to Beat the Heat

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, May 24
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!🤪
The Other Black Girl
Somebody's Daughter
Staff Picks

Goodreads Summer Reading List - JUNE 2021 releases

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, May 24
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!! 🔥🔥🔥
Watch over Me
The Education of Ivy Blake
Staff Picks

YA and Middle Grade Reads to Celebrate National Foster Care Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, May 17
National Foster Care Month has been observed during the Month of May in the United States since 1988 when President Ronald Reagan recognized  May as a month to show appreciation and gratitude to foster parents across the nation. The purpose of National Foster Care Month continues to evolve based on the needs of the time. For example, in 2019, the theme for National Foster Care Month was "Foster Care as a Support to Families, not a Substitute for Parents."
Aquaman
Battlestar Galactica. Season One
Staff Picks

Art Representing Asian American, Pacific Islanders

  • Helene F.
  • Monday, May 10
Graphic novels and manga, with the aid of movies and anime, have been great ways to bring cultures together.  Here is a list of some of my favorite titles with AAPI characters and artists.  Looking for more? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
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.
A Different Pond
The Best We Could Do
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Historical Asian & Asian American Titles for Children and Teens

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, April 30
Read the historical fiction and nonfiction titles below to learn more about the Asian and Asian American 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.
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. 
Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: Between the World and Me

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23

Angry. Scared. Tired. These are only a few of the words to describe how the Black community is feeling right now and how it has felt for the past four hundred years.

Our Time is Now
Our Time is Now
Staff Picks

Our Vulnerable Democracy: Past, Present and Future

  • Chantal W.
  • Friday, April 23
One of the many things that we learned in the year 2020 is that democracy is a fragile thing.   How do we as regular citizens combat white supremacy?  How do we go about demanding that the institutions that are the foundation of our democracy and government be fairer and actually represent all of us and not just some of us? 
Blog
Richland Library Main

Washington Street's Black Business District

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, April 20

Two downtown blocks on Washington Street were once known as Columbia's Black Downtown. View historic photographs of the district from the Walker Local & Family History Center.

East
The Mission Chinese Food Cookbook
Staff Picks

Food Brings Us Together: Asian and Asian American Cookbooks

  • Morgan R.
  • Friday, April 16
Vibrant fresh vegetables, tangy sauces, savory meats and a kick of heat can serve as the base of many Asian dishes and who can say no to that? Foodie or not, there's something in here for everyone.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Augusta Baker and the Art of Storytelling

  • Rebecca T.
  • Thursday, March 24

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

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.     
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Five Trailblazing Women of Richland County

  • Brittany S.
    Alex B.
  • Tuesday, April 27

Let's look at five amazing women leaders who not only have made a positive impact all across Richland County, but have broken down barriers while they were at it. 

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!
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23

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.