The Current: Meet our new language resource! Plus, check out our new kits, new books, and new events!

Remember to drink lots of water and stay indoors between 11:00 am and November 1st. 🥵 - anonymous

Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Kumusta!

We’re excited to announce that you can now learn over 140 languages for free with your library card! Introducing Transparent Language Online, which includes courses in ASL, ESL, and 140+ world languages. Learn at home, in the library, or on the go. Read more about it here.

Local History Legend

After more than 26 years of preserving, protecting, and sharing the rich history of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, Grace Cordial, Manager of the Library's Beaufort District Collection, is closing one remarkable chapter and beginning an exciting new adventure - retirement! Since joining the Beaufort District Collection in 1999, Grace has helped countless researchers, safeguarded our community's stories, and built a lasting legacy that will benefit generations to come. Now it's time for new adventures, more travel, and lots of quality time with her 12 grandchildren (who are sure to keep her just as busy!). Thank you, Grace, for your extraordinary service, passion, and dedication. We'll miss you, and we wish you every happiness in the years ahead!

Clever Readers! 🦖📚

That's a wrap on the 2026 Summer Reading Program! Thank you to all our amazing readers who participated, especially the thousands of game board finishers! We love that you chose to spend your summer reading (a superior choice, given the heatwave)! The grand prize drawing takes place this week, and winners will be contacted soon.

We'd love to have your feedback on this summer's program. (It really helps us plan for next year!)

See you next year for Mysteries Await at Your Library! 🕵️‍♀️🔍

Not your typical checkout

Have you discovered our new Penworthy Kits? These learning kits are already becoming a favorite! Here are just a few of the fun options available for curious minds:

Rhythm & Keys Kit
My Amazing Body Kit
Night Sky Kit
Learn to Lace, Stack, and Sort Kit
Learn to Measure Kit
Senior Game Night Kit and so many others

Search "Penworthy" in the SCLENDS catalog to see everything that's available, or visit our branches to see what's on the shelf! One kit can be checked out per card at a time.

Spotted at the Library

Roll for Adventure! 🎲

Gather your party and explore tabletop gaming at the library! From D&D campaigns to tabletop miniatures, there’s something for every adventurer:

Discover even more gaming programs on our online events calendar. You never know what you’ll find!

Local History

On the heels of America 250 comes a commemoration twice as long in the making: 500 years of Spanish exploration of what became Beaufort District. We offer you crib notes in “The Spanish Legacy in Beaufort District History” citing key figures such as Pedro Menendez de Aviles and Juan Pardo and important settlements such as Santa Elena, San Marcos and San Felipe. The BDC will honor our area’s Spanish history with two programs: “Beaufort Before Britain” later this month at Hilton Head Branch and “16th Century Explorations and Settlements in Port Royal Sound” in October at Bluffton Branch.

PS: If you filter the Library system calendar’s Program Type to “Local History,” you will find all the BDC’s upcoming programs.

Event Spotlight

June 20, 2026 - Summer Mocktail Workshop at the Beaufort Library

From bees to back to school, we’ve got your August fun planned out for you:

KIDS & TEENS

Juice Box & Paint | Beaufort
Crafting with Perler Beads!* | Port Royal
Sensory Storytime* | Lobeco
Back to School Crafts | Hilton Head
Preschool Storytime | St. Helena
Dino Craft Buffet | Bluffton

ADULTS

Historic Black Businesses of Beaufort, with Dr. Chanda Powell | BDC/Beaufort
Plant It Forward Plant Exchange | Bluffton
Lobeco Case Files – Murder Mystery!* | Lobeco
Puzzle Swap | Port Royal
Great Southeast Pollinator Census | Hilton Head
Tech Drop-In | St. Helena
Community Hiring Event | Beaufort

*Registration required

Nothing catches your eye? Explore our online calendar for more fun events all month long!

Books for Foodies

Last month, we asked you to recommend your favorite food-themed or culinary book. We’re excited to share the results! Browse the list and you might discover a delicious new read. 🫒🍇🥐🍫

New Books

Adult New Books

Ransom by Daniel Silva | Book, eBook
Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead | Book, eBook
The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Book, Audiobook

Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead | Book, Audiobook
Meet me in Paris by Kristen Harmel | Book, Audiobook

Recommends – Suspense and Thriller
If you like thrillers from Daniel Silva and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, you might like these titles from the “Suspense and Thriller” section of the Recommends newsletter!

Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar | Book, Audiobook

Subscribe to Recommends to get monthly suggestions from your favorite genres.

SCLENDS Has Grown!

July was a big month for our library consortium, SCLENDS! Six more county libraries - Georgetown, Sumter, Marion, Marlboro, Darlington, and Dillon - joined, which means that we can borrow from them, and they can borrow from us. It's a win-win and a big step forward in the growth of SCLENDS!

Also, have you downloaded the SCLENDS app yet? It makes searching for books and checking your library account a breeze!

Hoopla Highlight

✏️🚌🍎 New pencils, new backpack, new stories, new routines. Start the school year strong and check out Hoopla's collection, Back to School: Routines for Learning, Literacy & Easing Anxiety.

Highlight on Humor

Who doesn't love to laugh?! In next month's newsletter, we'll highlight books that made us LOL. Have one in mind? Let us know, and we'll add it to our Featured Themes page!

Job Opportunities