The Only Plane in the Sky
After the Fall
Staff Picks

Fall and Rise: 9/11, 20 Years On

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, September 07
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
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)✈️
Cowboy Bebop
2001, a Space Odyssey
Staff Picks

Cowboy Bebop's Cinematic Influences

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, August 25
The opening to each episode of Cowboy Bebop contains the text, "They must create new dreams and films by breaking traditional styles. The work, which becomes a new genre itself, will be called Cowboy Bebop." The anime series mixed genres such as westerns, science fiction, martial arts, and blaxploitation to create a unique blend that's still cool to this day. With a live-action adaptation right around the corner, fans might be interested in watching some of the films that directly inspired the anime.
Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Staff Picks

Must-Read Teen Mysteries

  • Brittany C.
  • Tuesday, August 24
There's no better way to prepare for spooky season than by reading a good mystery. From a secretive town where thirteen girls mysteriously vanish to a weekend camping trip that quickly turns deadly, these mysteries will leave you in suspense until the very end. Check out our newest teen mysteries below! Looking for more? Check out Great Mysteries for Teens!
Blog
Richland Library Wheatley

Understanding The Great Resignation and Making The Most Of It

  • Jessica Daly
  • Wednesday, August 25
Have you heard of The Great Resignation? If you haven't yet, you probably will soon. It's a post-pandemic movement affecting the job market and your ability to find a job. Read more about it here and find out how to make it work for you.
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!
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

Buttermilk Pecan Ricotta Pancakes

  • Caroline B.
  • Thursday, September 02
Ricotta cheese and beaten egg whites create a light, fluffy batter that will make you crave breakfast anytime. Our buttermilk pecan ricotta pancakes combines the flavors of vanilla, nutmeg and lemon to create a delicious breakfast that tastes as good as it looks.
Blog
Online

AiR Presents: Happiness, A Poem.

  • Tammaka Staley
  • Wednesday, August 18
Happiness is a poem I wrote during the middle part of the pandemic last year to express the joy I did feel and the joy I wanted to create. Despite the job losses and loved ones I lost, I still had things to be grateful for, and I felt it necessary to acknowledge that.
War Girls
Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful
Staff Picks

Teen Sci-Fi Adventures

  • Alison B.
  • Monday, August 16
Vast space, high-tech inventions, missions to far off planets, time travel escapades, alien encounters, and more fill these teen science fiction adventures.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Ode to a Mask

  • Kate B.
  • Thursday, August 12
In April I wrote a blog post about odes: a lyrical poetic form that celebrates or addresses a person, place or thing. The extra credit challenge was to choose a person, place, thing, or idea that generally doesn't bring joy or admiration and describe the subject in such a way that we all have a new appreciation for it. Recently a friend challenged me to write an ode to masks.
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!
The Lost Apothecary
Purple Hibiscus
Staff Picks

Herbal Aficionado

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, July 29
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.🍃
Moon of the Crusted Snow
Touching the Void.
Staff Picks

Beat the Heat - Winter Books for Summer Reading

  • Sara M.
  • Wednesday, July 21
For some people, a "beach read" is likely to be a book about people having fun in the sun - splashing in the waves, vacationing by the pool, sizzling on the beach. Not me. I am hot enough already, and by the time July comes around I am tired of being hot. I want to read about snow! I want hats and scarves and murder on the slopes! I want ice floes and frostbite and all the avalanches you can give me. Cool me down! These books are all set in the cold - maybe they'll help you beat the heat.
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 Northeast

The Grilled Peaches You Didn't Know You Needed

  • Caroline B.
  • Thursday, July 22
This grilled peach with strawberry goat cheese recipe combines the sweetness of peak season peaches with the tanginess of goat cheese blended with strawberries. Topped with toasted walnuts and honey, this quick low-fat dessert is a great finish to a summer meal.
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 Sandhills

Civic Engagement is Civic Power

  • Alex B.
    Brittany S.
  • Sunday, September 26
Are you interested in being more involved in your community? Find out why it's important to be civically engaged and more!
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

A Soft Lesson to Learn: Teaching Soft Skills

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, June 30
As employers continue to lament the soft-skills deficiencies they see in new hires, more attention is being paid to making these skills part of the educational curriculum.
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.
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

Garden to Table: Summer Solstice Recipes

  • Caroline B.
  • Tuesday, July 20
Summer has arrived! Join us as we use common produce that can be found in WLTX’s Gandy’s Garden, and in any supermarket or your own garden. We created some easy, flavorful dishes in our Northeast Teaching Kitchen using ingredients that signal summer is here! We hope you have fun making these dishes at home!
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.
Not So Pure and Simple
The Closest I've Come
Staff Picks

Masculinity In Teen Literature

  • Thomas M.
  • Saturday, June 12
What makes someone a man? Is it just a matter of growing up physically and socially, or is it also a state of mind and spirit? The stories below show characters questioning, exploring, confronting, and affirming masculinity, ranging from maturity to toxicity.
This is Your Mind on Plants
A Closer Look at Plant Classifications, Parts, and Uses
Staff Picks

Get Outdoors: Learn More About Plants

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, June 11
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!
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.
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.
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.
Blog
Richland Library Wheatley

What is an Informational Interview, and is it Important?

  • Jessica Daly
  • Saturday, June 05
The Informational Interview...arguably the most underused yet most important part of your networking and ultimately finding a career you love. Informational Interviews are a fundamental part of building your network. Learn the steps to a successful informational interview from identifying who to interview, to preparing what to ask, to how to follow up after the interview.
A Lowcountry Bride.
The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes
Staff Picks

Romantic Beach Reads

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, June 02
Fall in love this summer! Enjoy this list of Romantic fiction that's great for your Beach getaway!❤️🤟💕
The Last Train to Key West
Florence Adler Swims Forever
Staff Picks

Historical Beach Reads

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, June 02
Get lost this summer, and travel back in time! Enjoy this list of Historical fiction that's great for your Beach getaway! 🌊⛵🏖️
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.
Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone
Staff Picks

I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie: Teen Fiction Edition

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, June 02
There's something satisfying about cracking open a huge block of pages. The story will have time to breathe and you'll get to know the characters really well. Bonus: this year's Summer Learning Challenge recommends counting reading time in 30-minute chunks. What better way to add lots of reading time than spending it in one massive story? The books below all offer over 500 pages for your long-term reading experience, including print, ebook, and audiobook options.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Making Summer Count

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, June 12
Avoid the Summer Slide with a summer full of reading and learning thanks to expert book suggestions, the Summer Learning Challenge and, of course, school reading lists.