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The Reading Buddies program at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is a free program that brings children and staff or volunteers (adults or teens) together to read in a thirty-minute appointment time weekly. Children (grades K-5) select their own books to read, and trained volunteers provide support and encouragement to help your child experience and develop a love of reading! Reading Buddy appointments are available for children in person at select Library locations and online via Zoom appointments. Every child is limited to 1 appointment slot per semester (in-person OR virtual).   

Our next reading buddies semester will be September 16- December 20. We will not hold sessions the week of Thanksgiving (11/25-11/30) or when the Library is closed.  

Registration will open for in-person and virtual reading buddies beginning Monday September 9th at 9:00 a.m.  

Read the information below to find out how to register your child for the program.   

How to Register for an in-person reading buddy appointment:   

Visit or call any participating Library location (see list below) to ask children’s staff about available slots. Children’s staff will ask for your child’s name and grade level, and a parent email and phone number to register your child for the entire semester with a weekly appointment, unless otherwise noted in the list below. 

• Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library: Mondays 5:00-6:30 p.m. 
• Cornelius Library: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m.
• Davidson Library: Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• Hickory Grove Library: Thursdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• Independence Regional Library: Wednesdays 4:00-5:00 p.m. 
• ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center: Sundays 2:00-4:00 p.m., drop in appointments only
• Mint Hill Library: Tuesdays 4:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 p.m. 
• Myers Park Library: Thursdays 5:00-6:00 p.m. 
• Matthews Library: Mondays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesdays 4:0-6:00 p.m., Saturdays various times
• Mountain Island Library: Mondays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• North County Regional Library: Mondays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• Pineville Library: Wednesdays 5:00-6:30 p.m., drop in appointments only
• Plaza Midwood Library: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Thursdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• South Boulevard Library: Mondays 4:30-6:30 p.m. 
• South County Regional Library: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
• South Park Regional Library: Tuesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Saturdays 2:00-4:00 p.m. 
• Steele Creek Library: Tuesdays 5:00-6:00 p.m., Thursdays 5:00-6:00 p.m., Register for a slot one week prior online
• Sugar Creek Library: Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
• University City Regional Library: Mondays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Thursdays 4:00-6:00 p.m., Saturdays 10-11 a.m.
• West Boulevard Library: Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m., Fridays 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

Note: Days and times subject to change due to volunteer availability. Please check with your branch for more details.  

How to Register for a virtual reading buddy appointment:  

Complete the form below with your first and second choice preferences for a weekly appointment slot for your child. Appointments will be assigned on a first come, first served basis beginning September 9th at 9:00 a.m. All remaining submissions will be added to the waitlist to be contacted if an additional slot becomes available.   

Form will open on September 9th at 9:00 a.m. 

Please note: Virtual Reading Buddies will continue for one last semester this fall (September 16- December 20), with a date to transition to all in-person appointments at Library locations beginning in Spring 2025. The library pivoted to provide virtual appointments during the pandemic when libraries were closed, and we have thoroughly enjoyed providing this service! With increasing demand and libraries returning to full capacity for Library staff, we need to utilize our robust community of volunteers to read with children in our community at Library branch locations.   
  

Other Important Information  

Please know that while reading buddies will improve your child’s reading skills, all reading buddy programs at the Library are not tutoring services. We ask that you do not miss any appointments without prior notice. If you miss 3 appointments (in person or virtual) without prior notice, we will need to move to the next child on the waiting list. We ask for a responsible adult to be at the Library location (in person) or in the room (virtual) with the child at all times.  

Interested in Volunteering to be a Reading Buddy? Please visit the volunteer registration page to join us! Volunteers will register for 1-hour (2 reading buddy appointments) or 2-hour (4 reading buddy appointments) time slots at a convenient Library location. A virtual 60-minute self-paced training session is provided and required to participate. A background check is required. Share your love of reading with children!