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.

Staff Picks

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Graphic Novel Recommendations for YA Readers

March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities "the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential." Developmental disabilities include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, down syndrome, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and affect a persons growth and/or cognition. The aim of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is to raise aw
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Richland Library Cooper

Paving the Way: Celebrating Women's History Month

Few people are labeled the "first", but Navy Lt. j.g. Madeline G. Swegle is not your average sailor. As of July 31, 2020, she's officially the Navy's first Black female tactical air pilot, marking a significant milestone for naval aviation. Find out more about her and check out these books featuring women in uniform; their stories, achievements and determination.

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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

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.

Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race: Historical Fiction List Inspired by Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You

“But what some folks want you to be and what you is...well, sometimes they gonna be two different things. But you will always know who is in here. Got me? This is who you are.”--Karyn Parsons, How High the Moon Inspired by Stamped:  Racism, Antiracism and You, these books shed light and humanize history by allowing readers to go beyond dates and facts to get to know the true story.  
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Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Class Act

New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, is now joined by Jerry Craft’s powerful Class Act.

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Richland Library Edgewood

Read Woke Across America Week

Let’s show out children a world where everyone does not look the same, worship the same, or even think the same—and that this is the beauty of the world. Let’s teach them that in spite of our differences, we’re more alike than different, and learning brings us closer together. Let’s join together and Read WOKE Across America!

Staff Picks

Read Woke Across America Week: Woke Books for Tweens & Teens

Are you looking for a way to #ReadWoke Across America? This booklist will help guide you to finding great books for tweens and teens that challenge the status quo and gives representation to the underrepresented and/or oppressed. Read Woke Across America Week starts the first week of March in honor of Zero Discrimination Day. 
Staff Picks

Read Woke Across America Week: Picture Books

"So many picture books have powerful messages about immigration, racism, and other social justice issues. From English Language Learners to high school students and those with learning disabilities, all can benefit from picture books." -Cicely Lewis (Read Woke creator) Read Woke Across America Week starts the first week of March in honor of Zero Discrimination Day. 
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Richland Library Main

iRead: Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds is an author and poet who grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Inspired by Queen Latifah and the other rappers he listened to in his youth, he began writing poetry at the age of 9. 

In January 2020, Jason Reynolds was named as the Library of Congress’s national ambassador for young people’s literature, a position designed to encourage young people to develop an interest in reading.

Staff Picks

Black History In Comics

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

A Little Something Extra From Hoopla

When Ten Titles Is Not Enough Would you like to check out more graphic novels than 10 a month through Hoopla?  For the month of February you are able to search for titles under More Bonus Borrows.  Check back the first day of March for More Bonus Borrows.  You can then search for only comics under the Format bar on the left side of the screen.  Call your local librarian for more suggestions. (803) 799-9084.
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Undefeated

Unforgettable. Undeniable. Unflappable. Unafraid. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe this Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-Winning book by author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Kadir Nelson.

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Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: A Story About Afiya

DIY Storytimes are curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook, songs and activities.  

Children and adults alike will be mesmerized by the sweet story of Afiya and her dress, written by the late Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Jamaican poet, James Berry, with fresh illustrations by Anna Cunha.

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Richland Library Edgewood

Stamped: Who Were They Really?

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. Racist ideas are woven into the fabric of this country, and the first step to building an antiracist America is acknowledging America's racist past and present.

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Richland Library Edgewood

African Americans in Art: Beverly Buchanan

There is much more to Black history than civil rights activists and inventors. This project explores the cultural contributions of African American artist, Beverly Buchanan, and gives you the opportunity to make your own artwork inspired by her! Beverly Buchanan was born in Fuquay, North Carolina, but grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She is best known for her shack structures which explore the Southern vernacular through architecture

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Richland Library North Main

Stamped: This is Not a History Book

"This is not a history book...." There's so much packed in that one profound statement that Jason Reynolds reiterates at the beginning of Stamped: Antriracism, Racism, and You by Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.

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Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Black History Is American History

Black History Month should not be just a time to celebrate African Americans who have paved the way for us all to thrive. It should be a time to challenge the stubbornly persistent tendency to teach Black History as a footnote to American history.

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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: One Crazy Summer

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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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Bring On the Blessings (Book #1 of Blessings series)

When a post-Reconstruction African-American community succumbs to a desperate need for funds and purpose, its mayor puts the small town up for sale and finds a buyer in Bernardine Brown, who believes the town's sale to be a sign from God. 🏠🏠

Staff Picks

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

Inspired by the New York Times' 1619  audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, each title in this list corresponds to the thematic elements of an episode. For episode 3, listen to our curated playlist in Freegal.  
Staff Picks

Women Making History for Tweens & Teens

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

Booklist: Exploration for fun

Exploration Generation   Do you want to explore history and geography, whenever you want?  Then welcome to a new way of thinking of generations. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Women of Brewster Place - A Review

Weaving together the truths and the myths of their lives, Gloria Naylor creates a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in today's America. - Penguin Publishing

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Richland Library Main

#OWNVoices: Hip-Hop Lollipop

Teeth brushing

Music crushing

Bass thumping

Shoulders pumping

Head rotation

Jubilation!

Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Children's Middle Grade Books of 2020

As important as it is for young children to see themselves in pictures books, it is equally important for older children to be able to read stories with characters they can relate to. Diverse books are greatly needed for middle grade readers. Below you can find a list of books for older children written by African Americans. “What diversity advocates are working for is an industry that honestly, accurately and equitably represents the world we live in.”—Mike Jung, author of Unidentified Suburban Object
Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Picture Books of 2020

All children should be celebrated in children's books. For young people, seeing themselves reflected on the pages they turn is such an important and meaning experience. We desperately need more diverse books and more #OwnVoices authors and illustrators to represent the black and brown community. Below you can find a list of picture books published in 2020 written and/or illustrated by African Americans.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021: Read a Play (Leading Ladies)

Fulfill the "Read a Play" prompt with these titles that feature leading ladies. This list is part of the #BroaderBookshelf 2021 reading challenge.  Find more lists here.
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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon

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.

Staff Picks

Read All About It: Lunar New Year

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!
Staff Picks

YA Reads: 1st in a Series

A new year is upon us, which means it's time to stock up on some more books.  How about stocking up on a new series? Listed below are the 1st books in a YA series. Beware! Some of the series are not completed yet, and others are on their way to becoming a tv series and/or feature film.  Enjoy!
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Richland Library Main

#OWNVOICES: Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Vivian couldn’t decide what appealed to her more, hot coffee and fresh scones, or that man in the corner who looked like a tall mug of hot chocolate. ☕📚

Why choose?

Staff Picks

Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Books of 2020

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. 
Staff Picks

Oprah Magazine Best Books of 2020

"Books are both solace and inspiration. They light the way, even while enabling temporary escape from life's worries...we wanted to share the best books 2020 had to offer." - Oprah magazine 
Staff Picks

Amazon Editors' Top 20 Best Books of 2020

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. 
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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Inside Out & Back Again

Based on the author's own childhood, Inside Out & Back Again tells the story of a pivotal year in the life of a South Vietnamese family.  Once a wealthy family with two parents, 1975 brings a reversal of fortune for Hà, her brothers and mother. 

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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Celebrating Differences

It is our job as parents and caretakers to ensure our children know that everyone deserves respect, regardless of differences. We all were uniquely crafted and it is our differences that makes the world so interesting.

Staff Picks

Friendship

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.
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Richland Library Main

Let's Talk Race: A Culinary Conversation

"The man and the woman who became enslaved enslaved the palate of those who enslaved them. From feijoada, to jambalaya, we flipped it on ’em. And we keep flipping it on ’em."
--
Michael Twitty

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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Going Down Home with Daddy

This 2020 Caldecott Honor book gently and proudly tells the story of Lil Alan and his family as they return to his father’s childhood home in the South to celebrate traditions and family history.

Staff Picks

Read All About It: Diverse Families in Novels

Family is what holds these stories together as the characters experience life-changing moments, face difficult truths and each other.   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.
Staff Picks

Read All about It: Diverse Families in Picture Books

Celebrate all kinds of families and their love for one another by reading these wonderful picture books with your very own family. 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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Richland Library Main

Stories of Struggle: A Book Review

Claudia Smith Brinson's Stories of Struggle: The Clash Over Civil Rights in South Carolina shines a light on some of South Carolina's most influential pioneers of social justice.

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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions.

Staff Picks

Social Issues in Teen Fiction

Studies have shown that reading fiction increases empathy and makes it easier to understand someone else’s point-of-view.  There’s no better way to tackle some of the complex issues facing our country during election season than seeking out diverse perspectives. 
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Richland Library Main

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Club: Biased

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Clubs bring together the essential components of a good book discussion:  an introduction to share, questions to prompt conversation and further reading. 

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Richland Library Sandhills

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Club: How to Be an Antiracist

Let's Talk Race DIY Book Clubs bring together the essential components of a good book discussion:  an introduction to share, questions to prompt conversation and further reading. 

Many are recognizing for the first time that neutrality on racism is no longer an option. Many are seeking exactly what Dr. Ibram X. Kendi offers in How To Be An Antiracist—a deep dive into racist systems and policies, and a call to action for actively pursuing anti-racism personally and in our own spheres of influence.

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Richland Library Eastover

#OwnVoices: Monday's Not Coming

Friends are like family. So, when your best friend goes missing what do you do. If you are anything like Claudia, you go looking for answers.

Staff Picks

The Brutal History of Black Bodies & Medicine

As with so much of American history, the field of medicine made advancements at the expense of numerous Black lives.  Yet, this trauma did not end with emancipation.  The stereotypes and inhumane treatment persisted through Jim Crow.  The vestiges remain today and play out in racial health disparities that have come into even sharper focus with COVID-19.
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Richland Library Main

Healing the Black Body (and Mind)

Find both national and local resources and initiatives that promote healing and health in the Black community.  

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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Sunny and Lu

Imagine finding the sound of rhythm in everything that goes on in the world. Now imagine doing it with Swag. That’s what Sunny and Lu bring to you as the last two books of Jason Reynolds Track Series. They both work to find the right rhythm on the team but Lu adds a dab of Swag to the mix. 

Staff Picks

Read All About It: Hispanic Heritage Month in Novels

Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration of the countless contributions of Hispanic culture.  Check out these chapter books and novels to learn more about how Hispanic culture has influenced our literature and our lives.  Don't miss our Hispanic Heritage Month in Picture Books list!
Staff Picks

Year of the misfits

Misfits taking the stage   Have you ever felt like a fish out of water?  Have you wanted to step out of your comfort zone? Different people, becoming a family, in every sense of the word.  Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Kelly Starling Lyons

Award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, surrounded by creativity and artistic expression.  She has now written more than a dozen books for children, from picture books to beginning readers to chapter books, focusing on the African-American experience and giving young people stories to reflect their own lives and culture.
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Richland Library Main

iRead: Kelly Starling Lyons

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

Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous & Native People in Middle Grade & Teen Novels

Discover the stories, cultures, traditions and history of indigenous and native people of the Americas in these compelling novels for middle grade and teen readers.  Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
Staff Picks

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

Understand and celebrate the stories, culture, traditions and history of indigenous and native people of the Americas in these beautifully illustrated picture and board books.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
Staff Picks

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

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.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Hispanic Heritage Month in Picture Books

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!
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Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Black Female Illustrators Spotlight

When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part. - We Need Diverse Books 

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Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Grace for President

Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Grace for President)songs and rhymes ( Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell, I Am Special and Young Soul by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) and activities (Make Your Own Campaign Poster, "If I Were President," Make Your Own "I Voted" Badge & Design Your Own Readers Make Leaders Bookmark)

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Richland Library Main

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2019

The American Library Association tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Overall, 566 books were targeted. Here are the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2019.

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Richland Library Main

iRead: Sharon Draper

“I learned to dream through reading, learned to create dreams through writing, and learned to develop dreamers through teaching. I shall always be a dreamer. Come dream with me."--Sharon Draper

Staff Picks

Read All About It: Sharon Draper

Sharon Draper (born 1948) grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she majored in English at Pepperdine University then earned her Masters of Arts in English at Miami University of Ohio. Always an avid reader, Draper taught at Cincinnati public schools.
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: Toning the Sweep

If you've visited the library, you've likely had one of our library staff emphasize the importance of not only reading but that reading builds empathy.

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Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Grandma's Tiny House

Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Grandma's Tiny House:  A Counting Story)songs and rhymes Dos Manitos Diez Deditos and 5 Green & Speckled Frogs) and activities (Counting with Nature, Matching with LEGOs & Number Scavenger Hunt).

Staff Picks

RIP RBG

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday, Sept.
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Richland Library Main

iRead: The Tía Lola Stories Series

A touchstone series of cultural identity for middle grade readers, these novels center around 11-year-old Miguel Guzman and his sister Juanita, who move from New York City to Vermont with their recently divorced mother.  His flamboyant tía Lola arrives just as he’s trying to fit into a mostly white farming community. But her charm and cooking enthrall the family and neighbors, and teach them much about life, family, the Latinx culture, and community.

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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat

This autobiography lets us know that we do not have to remain in our circumstance. If we want better, we can work to achieve better. It is OK to get help from others along the way.