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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 all Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations throughout the school year, and limited appointments are available at select libraries that choose to participate in the summer. Every child is limited to 1 appointment slot per semester. 

Our next reading buddies semester will take place June 23-August 9. 

Registration will open for reading buddies beginning Monday June 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 Reading Buddies:    

Visit or call any 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. Slots are first come, first served until they are filled at each Library location. If you are unable to get a Reading Buddy slot this summer, please check back for our fall semester that will take place 9/15-12/20. 

• Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library: Thursdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. by appointment, 2:00-4:00 p.m. drop in appointments
• Matthews Library: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, various times
• Pineville Library: Wednesdays 5:00-6:30 p.m., drop in appointments only
• South Park Regional Library: Mondays 2:00-4:00 p.m., Tuesday 2:30-4:00 p.m., Wednesdays 5:00-6:30 p.m., Thursdays 3:30-4:30 p.m., Saturdays 2:00-4:00 p.m.
• University City Regional Library: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, various times
• West Boulevard Library: Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 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.  

Please note: Virtual Reading Buddies has now transitioned to all in-person appointments at Library locations as of 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 remain at the Library location 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!