Whether you already consider yourself a pitmaster or are just beginning to learn how to barbecue, the library has many books with tips and recipes to help you fire up the grill and get cooking this summer:

Virginia Barbecue: A History by Joseph R. Haynes – Drawing on hundreds of historical and contemporary sources, competition barbecue judge and award-winning barbecue cook Joe Haynes documents the delectable history of barbecue in the Old Dominion.

The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue by Daniel Vaughn – Presents a guide to Texas barbeque, following the author, a host of the blog Full Custom BBQ, as he samples the wood-smoking traditions of the Lone Star state’s four distinct barbecue styles.

Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue & Grilling by Meathead Goldwyn – The pitmaster, national barbecue cookoff judge, and curator of the world’s most popular barbecue website debunks the myths that stand in the way of perfect outcomes and reveals all the secrets every successful griller needs to know, from which wood chipsto use to which equipment to choose.

Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto by Aaron Franklin & Jordan Mackay – A resource for home cooks from an award-winning pitmaster unlocks the secrets behind great barbecue, including building a smoker, curing the right wood, and tending fires, with recipes for brisket, spare ribs, beef ribs, and turkey breast.

Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction by Bobby Flay with Stephanie Banyas & Sally Jackson – Shares culinary secrets for effective grilling, offers advice on different cookers and grilling gear, and provides recipes for such fare as smoked prime rib with red wine steak sauce and smoked spice-rubbed brisket, Texas style.

Barbecue Crossroads: Notes & Recipes From a Southern Odyssey by Robb Walsh – Presents stories, recipes, and photographs of barbecue cooking in the South, recording the pitmasters and legendary joints that make this food culture famous.

500 Barbecue Dishes: The Only Barbecue Compendium You’ll Ever Need by Paul Kirk – Presents a collection of recipes for a variety of barbecue dishes along with information on selecting ingredients, barbeque techniques, and preparing marinades and accompaniments.