All libraries will be closed in observance of 
Labor Day on Monday, Sept 1st.
GOOD NEWS TO SHARE!
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is adding hours to better serve you!

Starting September 2, all libraries throughout the system will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The new schedule reflects additional hours at Main, ImaginOn, Cornelius, Davidson, Hickory Grove, Matthews, Mint Hill, Mountain Island, Myers Park, Plaza Midwood, Scaleybark, Steele Creek, Sugar Creek, and West Boulevard. Sunday hours will remain the same, with Main, ImaginOn and the regional libraries (Beatties Ford Road, Independence, Morrison, North County, South County and University City) offering Sunday service from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. during the school year and closed Memorial Day to Labor Day for summer hours. 

The additional hours are made possible by funding support from Mecklenburg County. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library would like to thank Mecklenburg County and the Board of County Commissioners for their continuing support.   

 

Summer Reading ends August 9th!

There's still time to record your summer reading minutes!
 

Can you believe it's already August? We'd like to thank you for reading with us this summer, and remind you to record your reading minutes online. Help us reach our community-wide goal of 24 million minutes of reading! You have until August 9 to record your reading time. Then, stop by any library location to pick up your prizes by 5pm on Friday, August 16. Don't wait because prizes are only available while supplies last. (All grand prize winners will be contacted by phone by August 12.) 

Visit the Summer Reading page for details or to record your time.
 

Summer Reading finales

Many library branches are planning special events to wrap up a summer of reading. Check the schedule and join us!
Supporting student success in our community

 

Back to School Summer Festivals 

Join us for a free day of entertaining and educational programs for all ages. Children who attend the event will have an opportunity to receive free school supplies (while supplies last). To be eligible, parents and children must register at the event between 9 and 10 a.m.  

Saturday, August 16 at two libraries: Hickory Grove branch (704-416-4400) and Sugar Creek branch (704-416-7000)
Registration is from 9-10 a.m. Events start at 10 a.m.


Back to Home School Fair

We'll be introducing parents to home schooling and connect them with the resources and organizations that will enhance their students education. Audience: Family/Youth & Caregivers, Elementary (5-11), Teens (12-18)

 

Get Set for Kindergarten 

Join us with your child for stories and activities that build pre-reading skills and help prepare children for success in school. These events are part of the Library's partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to help ensure children enter school ready to learn. 


Click to see the schedule of Get Set for Kindergarten events happening in August.

  

Do you teach in Mecklenburg County? 

If so, you qualify for a special library card.

Did you know Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers Teacher Loan Cards by request to teachers in Mecklenburg County? Teacher Loan Cards enable educators to borrow items for extended periods for classroom use. Learn how to apply.


Library cards for young students

We are pleased to be launching a joint initiative with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to provide all pre-kindergarten through third grade students with public library cards in the fall of 2014.  As partners in education, we know that reading well and frequently is the key to being successful in school. Regular use of the public library can help children become strong readers. By distributing library cards to young students, we aim to positively impact early learning and early literacy, and increase the resources available to help ensure all children are reading on grade level by third grade.

  

If you are the parent of a CMS student in pre-K through third grade, look for a joint letter from the Library and CMS coming home with your child during the first week of school.

  

This project is funded in part by Foundation For The Carolinas.

Exciting new additions 
to our digital collection!


 

Parents and teens will be happy to know that we've recently added a Teen eReading Room to our Overdrive site.  The Teen Collection eReading Room filters the overall digital collection to only show Young Adult content, which helps teens find the titles they want faster!  This complements the Kids eReading Room collection which was launched a few months ago. Now it takes fewer clicks to easily find eBooks and other digital content that appeals to children or teens. 

 

We have also added streaming video content to our OverDrive collection, so you can instantly watch videos anytime, anywhere, on any computer, tablet or mobile device with an internet connection.  Here are a few of the titles in our collection:  The King's Speech, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, Forks over Knives, Eloise Goes to School, Rodney Yee's Daily Yoga, and The FIRM Turbocharge Weight Loss.  Patrons can select their lending period for three, five or seven days.  


 

Visit downloads.cmlibrary.org to get started. 


Registration Open for Friends Council 

Rock & Read 5K


Photo from last year's Rock & Read.  

It's time to Rock & Read! The 5th Annual Rock & Read 5K, benefiting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, is returning to Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood on September 6, 2014. Organized by the Friends Council, the Rock & Read 5K offers live music at every mile and a festival atmosphere once runners cross the finish line. The event attracts all fitness levels with a 5K run/walk, a 1-mile fun run, and a kids' dash.

 
 

August Program Highlights for Adults

Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick and H. D. "De" Kirkpatrick, met at Myers Park High in the 60s. Just last year they learned that the ancestor of one previously owned the ancestor of the other as a slave. What followed was a remarkable conversation. The two will talk about their history and ours. 
According to local legend, in 1775 in a log courthouse in Mecklenburg two dozen local leaders unanimously declared Mecklenburg County "free and independent" from Great Britain. Did they? Author Scott Syfert will discuss his new book on this topic. 

Audience: Adults, Seniors
BBQ in the Carolinas has a long, storied history. Join us as Dr. Tom Hanchett and Dan the Pig Man talk about these foods and their impact on the culture of the Carolinas. We will sample all 3 stylings from the Carolinas. 

Audience: Adults


 
Maureen Ryan Griffin discusses ways in which successful writers have used photographs and images to inspire their fiction, memoir, and poetry. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own pictures they'd enjoy writing about in this workshop!

Audience: Adults, Seniors, Teens (12-18)
August Program Highlights for Teens
 

Teen Fashion Apprentice concludes as teens competitively showcase their photographs to be judged by a panel of community experts. More information about the Teen Fashion Apprentice program is available at cmlibrary.org/teens

 Audience: Teens (12-18), Family/Youth & Caregivers

 

Social Issues: Bullying and LGBTQ

Join Time Out Youth and learn more about issues facing LGBTQ youth and how to access resources to help you navigate a changing world. Audience: Teens (12-18)

 

Get Hired! Job Readiness Training for Teens

Teens, are you ready to work? In this workshop you will learn how to create a solid resume (even if you haven't had a job before), exactly what a boss is looking for when they are hiring, and how to present yourself and your skills with confidence. Audience: Teens (12-18)
August Program Highlights for Children & Families

In her enlightening, hands-on workshop, Carol Baldwin, author of Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Middle School offers ten ways you can encourage your child (all grade levels) to become a better writer. Audience: Adults

   

 

"Once Upon a Time" exhibit invites children to experience fairy tales from around the world. 

 

This summer, children can visit ImaginOn to step inside beloved stories from around the globe in the nationally-traveling exhibit, "Once Upon a Time - Exploring the World of Fairy Tales". The exhibit is open now, and will be on display at ImaginOn until September 7. It is free and open to the public during ImaginOn hours.
Good to know news...

Impact Survey results are in, thank you for helping us understand your needs

 

The Library conducted the Impact Survey in June in order to better understand our community and how our patrons use library technology services.  Understanding how our customers use our technological resources helps us make purchasing decisions about needed equipment and applications.

 

The Impact Survey asked patrons how they use library technology services like public computers, wireless networks, online resources, digital literacy training, as well as outcome oriented use in the following areas:  education, employment, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, e-government, civic engagement, ecommerce and social inclusion.

 

Over 1,200 Library customers took the survey.  Survey results include: nearly half the respondents used a Library computer in the past 12 months, 23% of Library technology users are low-income (below 200% of poverty line), 87% say that it is important to have technology resources available to the community, and 35% said that they used technology resources for employment needs.

 

 
  

 

Library Foundation Exceeds $1 million Goal and Announces Author Line-Up for Verse & Vino


 

This summer has been an exciting time for the Library Foundation. The Foundation exceeded its $1 million goal with the close of the fiscal year on June 30, 2014. The Foundation also announced the five New York Times bestselling authors that will headline its literary and fundraising event, Verse & Vino. The author line-up includes Kathy Reichs, international bestselling mystery writer; Debbie Macomber, No. 1 New York Times bestselling romance author; Lauren Oliver, acclaimed young adult author of the Delirium trilogy; Ron Rash, renowned Southern poet, short story writer, novelist, and author of Serena; and Hampton Sides, American historian and award-winning editor of Outside magazine.

  
 

   

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