We may be the library’s library; however, we also serve South Carolina citizens. A grandchild of Retha Mark, the Secretary of the South Carolina Library Association in 1964, asked our reference librarians to search the collection for information about her career. Articles surfaced, including one from the Charleston Evening Post, which included this photo from her swearing-in ceremony. According to the family, Retha Mark had a famous pupil while working as the librarian at Sumter High School in the early 1970s.

Snuggle up to statistics during Love Data Week, February 14-18. Join the fun with deep dives into the Public Libraries Survey and a new theme each day. 

We are pleased to announce that Horry Georgetown Technical College Library is the newest addition to the South Carolina State Documents Depository system. As the primary collection and distribution center for state documents, the South Carolina State Library provides digital copies monthly and physical documents quarterly to depository libraries

DHEC makes it easier for women to take control of their health and document the journey with its Wisewoman Welcome Booklet. The clear direction for navigating healthcare appointments and space for notes help make it our choice for the December 2021 featured state document. Each purposeful page empowers women to take control of their health by knowing their numbers and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Get to know Faye Collins during the first Authors of SC event of 2022. Her most recent book, Midnight Song: One Woman’s Path to Freedom, is set in the Jim Crow South during the 1940s. A mysterious traveler helps the heroine, Ella Jane Mitchell, escape a chain gang prison farm to reunite with her children.

We believe encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion in libraries means assisting South Carolina libraries in meeting the needs of various patron bases. Our dementia resources guide offers upcoming training, recordings of previous webinars, and books. Dementia program kits are also available for public libraries to request. Make your library a trusted resource for those dealing with dementia and their caregivers.

Seventy-seven years ago last December, Pvt Curtis Adams of Lexington and ten other soldiers fighting in the Battle of the Bulge escaped into the woods as the Nazis took over Schonberg, Belgium.

Public and school libraries may apply to receive diverse and inclusive financial literacy resources for children and young people. The American Library Association and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation partnered with library advisors to develop a book list featuring stories that promote diversity and inclusion while explaining personal finance and related skills.

Selected libraries will receive:

The 2020/2021 Annual Report from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority is a clear standout as the featured state document for October/November. The simple design and infographics deliver information concisely, appealing to experts and novices. The clean color scheme complements the overall message of how investing in infrastructure helps create cleaner communities.