The South Carolina Forestry Commission harvests interest on the first page of its second-quarter newsletter, the SCFC Prevention Dispatch, making it our choice for the September featured state document. Say so long to four seasons; this issue introduces us to the 12 seasons we experience in the Palmetto State.

As a state documents depository, we work diligently to preserve state agency publications and make them available. We are pleased to offer digital access to annual reports from the South Carolina Department of Education dating back to 1920. This collection of documents is accessible anywhere. As state agencies evolve, you can depend on us to preserve the past while adapting to the future.

It is common for grandparents to raise their grandchildren in South Carolina. Although circumstances may vary, grandparents often share similar challenges and unique strengths. We aim to build a network for these caregivers while providing support and resources and invite library staff to join us for a webinar devoted to kinship care on November 1 and 2.

There are opportunities to join our team. The E-Rate IT Consultant will assist South Carolina libraries with broadband needs.

The Notable State Documents Awards Program recognizes outstanding state publications produced during the calendar year. Categories include physical or digital monographs (individual publications), serials, and websites. We will review nominations and select the final candidates for judging.

As we begin planning for this year's competition and program, we remind state agencies to please submit nominations by December 31, 2021.

If the retirement bug is buzzing, but you don't quite know how to capture it, the featured state document for August may be just the solution. Often, farm transfer decisions can be complicated, but they don’t have to be with help from the Business Transfer Guide, Senior Generation. This workbook from the Clemson University Cooperative takes you through the farm transfer process step-by-step at your own pace.

The Research Institute for Public Libraries workshop scheduled for September 21 and 22 is postponed. Our goal is to reschedule this training for spring 2022. Please keep an eye on our email newsletters and social media accounts for information on a future training. Thank you for your interest. 

The South Carolina State Library will participate in September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World, a downloadable educational exhibition that presents the history of 9/11, its origins, and its ongoing implications through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. Told across 14 posters, this exhibition includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection.

We did not realize that sediment could be serene until it was time to select the featured state document for July 2021 and saw the cover of DHEC’s Watershed Plan for Sediment in the South Saluda River. This plan helps identify causes and sources of water quality impairments, assess them, and develop a plan to address them. Colorful graphics and images, and a detailed breadth of information make this plan easy to navigate and follow. 

We cannot begin a new school year without celebrating our 2020/2021 Letters About Literature contest winners. The young writers composed letters to their favorite authors; they are prime examples of the creativity that flourishes throughout South Carolina. Congratulations to these students, their teachers, and their families.

     Lauren Boylston - Bluffton

     Mady Green - Okatie