Our completed and approved five-year Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) plan is available on our website. We use this and our strategic plan to set priorities and plan projects and programs.

Libraries are for everyone. Expand your skills and find ways to welcome neurodiverse patrons, their families, and staff to your library, support, and celebrate them. Register for a four-part webinar that teaches you about neurodiversity and helpful strategies to make customer service interactions, programs and events, collections, and library services more inclusive. Topics incude:

We invite high school juniors and seniors to answer the question, “How should we improve the state of South Carolina?” Use any genre and enter the 10th annual writing contest from the University of South Carolina Honors College by September 26. Honors College students will read all entries and choose 20 finalists for judge Ron Rash to review. First, second, and third place winners will receive cash prizes.

Our exhibit showing glimpses of the civil rights movement in South Carolina through the lens of acclaimed photographer Cecil Williams, moves to the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library on September 1, 2022. Many of the displayed photographs are part of Williams’ book Unforgettable: 1950-1970: celebrating a time of life hope and bravery.

Learn what’s happening with Talking Book Services in the latest Connect the Dots newsletter. In addition to celebrating summer reading accomplishments, this issue updates readers on volunteer happenings, summer workshops, and new Braille services. It includes new check-out titles, including descriptive DVDs, large print books, and local magazines.

An inquiry about the original doors to the Supreme Court of South Carolina building on Gervais Street turned into a treasure hunt, yielding images of Columbia that are pretty different than what we know today. The law librarian at the Court asked for anything we could find about the front doors to the building, which was a post office until the state bought it in 1966. Images like this one from the Digital Public Library of America show their appearance. Connecting with the National Archives, we learned that the building's architectural drawings and plans are on file in Maryland.

The six-week basic American sign language class begins on September 20. This hands-on series teaches how to improve your service to deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. We cover basic information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture and specific vocabulary for the library setting. Each session builds on the proceeding to reinforce knowledge and expand participants’ communication skills with members of the Deaf community. Sessions are recorded and available for three months for those who cannot attend live.

August 9, 2022 marks Smokey Bear's 78th birthday!

The Smokey Bear doll featured in this photo is part of our collection; libraries used it for the Summer Reading Club in the 1950s. The Ad Council and Forest Service commissioned artist Albert Staehle to create the fictional character to help prevent forest fires.

Smokey's popularity remains strong, and so does the effort to protect America's land. Check out the resources below from our collection to learn more about South Carolina forests and watch this video for an up close and personal look at Smokey Bear.