Based on its importance as a food source and vital species for the coastal food web, the health of the South Carolina blue crab population is of concern to both commercial and recreational crabbers. In 2021, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) biologists and fisheries managers began researching factors that impact the blue crab population in the state.

People from all over the United States and the world visit South Carolina state parks. Thanks to the State Library’s partnership with South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, you can see these parks for free. The Check Out SC backpack program provides public libraries with backpacks containing a Statewide Park Passport provided by SCPRT that allow patrons free day entry into any South Carolina state park and, for discovering nature, one pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass. 

While some state documents contain hundreds of pages, others are short and simple, like this one-page document from DHEC’s “Don’t Waste Food SC” campaign. With tomato season approaching, “Tasty Tomatoes: Use ’Em, Don’t Lose ’Em” shows how to utilize tomatoes no matter their ripeness. The document also details ways to store and preserve tomatoes until you can use them.

Kids and animals are often the secrets to successful advertising. The combination also makes the Family Handbook from South Carolina First Steps eye-catching, prompting us to choose it as the January 2023 featured state document. The bright colors and fun fonts accompanying the photos and illustrations appeal to families with young children, the target audience for this publication which aims to explain the purpose, policies, and goals of South Carolina First Steps.