There’s bound to be a great pleasure in playing catch-up with the recommended “best books” of the previous year. That’s even more true when a handful of those books are mysteries. The trade magazine, Library Journal,  recently named its 2018 favorites in the December issue, and we’ve compiled three of our favorites here. Happy reading!

Big City Private Investigator:  Broken Places introduces Cass Raines, an African-American Chicago police officer turned private detective. She launches an investigation into the death of a local priest, who served as her surrogate father, when she finds him dead in his church next to the body of a young gang member. Earlier, the priest had asked Raines to investigate vandalism at his church. Now, she suspects the worse. What follows is a lively, realistic story with a relentless detective following the trail wherever it takes her. This book is written by Tracy P. Clark, and the next book in the series is scheduled for a May 2019 release.

Amateur Sleuth in Early Twentieth Century: A Death of No Importance features maid Jane Prescott intruding into the murder investigation of a high-society playboy. Set in 1910 Manhattan, Prescott joins the Benchley family to work as its new maid. The playboy, Norrie Newsome, is dating the family’s youngest daughter, Charlotte. That is, before Prescott finds him dead in the family’s library. The crime is big news for the New York City press. With the murder at a Christmas Eve ball, and multiple murder suspects revealed, the crime offers the opportunity for a long series of news stories. However, Prescott tries to solve the case before her employer continues to sink amid the scandal and gets help from one resourceful reporter. This is the first adult fiction novel by Mariah Fredericks, who had previously written young adult novels. The next book in the series is scheduled for an April 2019 release.

Depression-Era Mystery: Death of a Rainmaker takes place in Vermillion, Okla., during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when much of the Plains suffered from an extreme, prolonged dry spell. No rain has fallen in Jackson County for 240 days. Though, luck may come with a stranger visiting town with the promise to make the skies rain…for a price. His attempts are fruitless, of course, and after a tremendous dust storm, the man is found in dead in an alley. The town’s sheriff, Temple Jennings, investigates with his deputy and they arrest a suspect who winds up with an unusual champion for his innocence -- Jennings' wife, Etha. This book is written by Laurie Loewenstein, who’s writing the novel's sequel set four months later with a new murder occurring days after a train wreck in the Oklahoma town.   

You’ll have to wait until 2020 for this sequel, though.

There once was a time when online dating was considered taboo and carried a stigma (it was only something  socially-awkward people might do). The good news is times have changed and options are available. According to a recent Eharmony.com article “10 Online Dating Statistics You Should Know,” 40 percent of Americans use online dating. Online dating can be convenient, budget-friendly and done in the convenience of your pajamas at home while watching Hoopla. Here are some resources to help you get started or simply be entertained.

Movies

One of the first movies about online dating is the classic You’ve Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, available on DVD at the Library. The Sleepless in Seattle couple is back again in this frenemies-turn-lovers comedy. Other online dating movies available on DVD include A Case of You , Book Club , This Means War , Midnight Sun , Goodbye to All of That and Catfish. If you can’t find your DVD player, try Hoopla where you can stream movies like Two Night Stand  and Wrong Swipe.

If you are more in the mood for a page turner, check out these titles that feature online dating in the backdrop. My Favorite Half-night Stand by Christina Lauren, Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins, Love Rules by Joanna Coles, and The Devil You Know by Mary Monroe - all available in print. You can download Not Your Mother’s Rules by Ellen Fein, which is an updated version of the best seller The Rules by the same author that includes a section on online dating.

Before you decide to swipe right, there are plenty of how-to guides available on maneuvering the streets of online dating. Find out how to write a profile, stay safe and get the truth about the experience from many resources found in this Bibliocommons list here.  Good luck and happy dating!

Dear Library cardholders, customers and supporters,

Please be advised that due to a major computer system upgrade, a system-wide service interruption will occur on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 25 and 26, 2019.

Due to this upgrade, unfortunately all online and some money-related services will be affected. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this interruption - it is unavoidable in this type of major system upgrade. Systems are expected to return online Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019.

During this time, all items and holds will be placed on a ‘holiday’ calendar, which means no items will be due nor will expire during this time. All affected dates will be extended to Feb. 28, 2019.

Services that will be offline or unavailable:

• Most online resources will not be able to authenticate users because of the connection to our system. This includes e-books, audiobooks, journals, magazines, streaming music and videos. Affected vendors include, but are not limited to: CultureGrams, Freegal Music, Lynda.com, RBDigital, OverDrive, NCKids, NCLive, Mango Languages. (Only hoopla will be unaffected during this time.)
  
  • Note: Items or holds downloaded through one of these systems on or before Sunday, Feb. 24, will not be affected. However, online access to materials will not be available during this time.
• Bibliocommons will have limited functionality only for item search (https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com)
• Mobile app
• Online/self-checkout
• Online and in-person fees and fine payment
• Interlibrary loans
• Laptop checkout kiosks (at Morrison Regional and West Boulevard locations)
• Card lookup
• Book club kit system
• TeleCirc

Services unaffected:

• hoopla
• Computer use in Library locations
• Wi-Fi
• Materials checked out by circulation staff
• Payments for book sale items and room reserve

Also, as of Feb. 25, 2019, the classic catalog option will no longer be available (hip.cmlibrary.org). After that date, you should use the Bibliocommons link for account information.

Again, thank you for your patience during this system upgrade as we return to providing high-quality services to you. We expect all processes to return online on Feb. 27, 2019.

Community Read 2019 is bigger, bolder and better than ever before. There's a lot to discuss, a lot of partners and so many ways for readers of all ages to participate. Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our community's biggest book club.

Main Community Read website

What is Community Read?

Each year, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hosts a community-wide book club known as Community Read. This year's Community Read program will take place throughout March 2019.  

The Library chooses a main title, and companion titles with related themes for younger readers. Everyone in the community is invited to participate in Community Read by reading the books, talking about them, attending library programs, engaging with the Library on social media and celebrating a love of reading together.

This year’s goal is to engage 10% of our community – 100,000 people – with Community Read in some way, through the Library and with partner organizations.

Why is Community Read important? What is new this year?

This year’s main Community Read title is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This award-winning, New York Times best-selling novel deals with sometimes controversial issues that are important nationally and locally in our own community. Community Read will launch conversations in Library and partner locations that we hope will help us understand different perspectives, help our community heal in many ways, launch ongoing relationships, and ultimately help to build a stronger community.

This year’s Community Read is presented by the Library in collaboration with more than 30 community partners, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Community Building Initiative, and many more. A complete list can be found here.

What are this year’s titles?

• For adults and teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 
• For middle grades:  Wishtree by Katherine Applegate 
• For young children:  Love by Matt de la Peña 

How are the titles selected?

The Library conducted a staff survey in January 2018 to gather a list of potential Community Read signature titles. These suggestions were reviewed by the Community Read team and five titles were selected to be presented to the community through a public survey, conducted in February 2018.

Once the signature title was selected, Library staff identified companion titles appropriate for younger participants.

Where can I get a copy?

All three titles are available at Library branches in print and digital formats, and we’ve expanded our digital license to permit simultaneous downloads of audiobooks and ebooks during the month of March.

Additionally, generous investments from presenting sponsor Bank of America and from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas have allowed us to purchase more than 2,000 copies of the book for distribution at Library and partner locations while supplies last. 

Who is involved?

We all are! Everyone in the community is – or can be – part of Community Read 2019.

An inter-departmental team of Library staff have met for over a year to plan the scope and details of this event.

More than 30 community organizations have joined as partners, and they will expand our reach to their networks, distribute materials and books, and offer programs and book discussions at Library and partner locations.

Community partners include: Carolina Youth Coalition • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools • Community Building Initiative • Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc. • Central Piedmont Community College • Fort Mill School District • Girl Talk Foundation • Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture • International House • James B. Duke Memorial Library at Johnson C. Smith University • Levine Museum of the New South • Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance • Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office-Library Services • ourBRIDGE • Pass the Peace Feasts • PBS Charlotte • The Possibility Project-Charlotte • Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice • Swanky Pen • Teen Health Connection • Time Out Youth • Trinity Episcopal School • Union County Public Schools • UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre • WBAV-FM • YMCA of Greater Charlotte

How can I participate?

We encourage you to read one or more of the Community Read books. We also invite everyone in the community to participate in at least one program or discussion – current listings of Library-led and partner-led programs for all ages are linked to the main webpage. Additional ideas for participation are detailed in this blog post: http://bit.ly/2Si2nSO  

How can I get family and friends involved?

Community Read is for everyone. While The Hate U Give is intended for teens and adults, companion titles Love and Wishtree are suitable for younger readers, and we hope families will read them together and participate in programs designed for children. Please spread the word about Community Read to family and friends and invite them to participate.

Will the authors visit?

Yes!

Angie Thomas will speak at CPCC’s Halton Theatre on March 19. Tickets and information are here. To join the waiting list call the CPCC Box Office at 704-330-6534. If tickets become available we will notify people on this list via email.

Matt de la Pena will speak at ImaginOn on March 28. Ticket information will be on the Community Read website as it is available.

Who is funding Community Read?

There is an annual allocation for Community Read in the Library’s programming budget. Additionally, Bank of America has made a financial investment as this year’s presenting sponsor, and the program has received additional support from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas.

How can I get my book club involved?

Yes! The Library has sets of The Hate U Give available for loan to book clubs and other groups. These kits include 10 copies of the book as well as discussion guides and other resources. Learn more here.

Once your group or book club has read the book, please tell us about it! Complete this form so we can include your group in our overall count of Community Read participants.

How can my organization get involved?

Organizations can get involved by participating in a library program, taking the pledge and recording their program information on our website at Community Read Partners
 

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and MIT Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative have teamed-up! Thanks to PLIX (Public Library Innovation Exchange), the Library is offering a FREE six-week series Climate CubeSat Co-building Outreach Program.

The Public Library Innovation Exchange is a Knight Foundation-funded grant project to build collaborations between MIT Media Lab researchers and public libraries across the United States. Other libraries that have participated in a Media Lab project include the Chicago Public Library.

STEAM 101: Space Exploration Initiative will take place at Morrison Regional Library beginning Tuesday, March 5, 2019 and will end on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.  All sessions will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The Library’s series will allow you to participate in hands-on learning and science experiments, engage in design thinking and space exploration, and discover CubeSat co-building in this innovative 6-week series. The series will culminate in a cap stone project.

A CubeSat is a cube-shaped satellite that can be small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or as big as a large shoebox. The ones that students will be making at the Library will focus on climate science and earth-observation measurements. 

The Space Exploration Initiative is open to pre-teens, teens and adults. Space is limited for this series, so registration is required for each session.

Register here.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Job Help Center will host a Job Fair on Wednesday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 400 people attended the Library’s previous Job Fair in October and more than 30 employers sought resumes and employees.

Is it your first time attending a job fair? Use these tips to nail it.

Do your research. Review the list of companies that will participate. Visit company websites and research the employers you’re most interested in ahead of time to show your knowledge of the company. The Library provides free access with your Library card to Reference USA, a website that provides business data on 24 million U.S. businesses.

Ask questions. Prepare questions for potential employers that illustrate your knowledge of their organization. Employers aren’t just looking for the most skilled candidate for the job; they’re looking for candidates who are truly interested in their companies. The more you engage them, the better the impression you'll make.

Arrive early. With several hundred people expected, lines for some employers may be long, so arrive early, even before the Job Fair officially opens.

Bring multiple copies of your resume. Don’t forget to bring extra copies of your resume so you have enough to hand out to employers. Would you like someone to review your resume before the job fair? Tutor.com offers a free resume review service with your Library card and pin, you should receive your review within 12 hours.

Introduce yourself and be prepared to give your "career pitch." Extend your hand, say, "Hello, my name is…". Have a resume ready to give to the employer and be prepared to talk about your career interests and strengths.

Companies that are participating (subject to change):

• AAA Carolinas
• ABC
• Advocations
• Aldo Accessories
• Allied Universal
• AvidXchange
• BAYADA Home Health Care
• BG Multifamily
• Carolina Recording Systems
• Carowinds
• Charlotte Area Fund
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Conference Direct
• Corning
• Delaware North (Panther's Stadium food service)
• DeVry University
• DSS-FNS, Employment and Training
• Dollar General
• Elite Resources
• Embassy Suites
• Faithful Nurses
• FedEx
• Full House Marketing
• G4S
• Golden Grains Baking
• Crace Mar Services Inc.
• Greater Home Health Services 
• Grifols
• Hawker's Asian Street Fare​
• Heavy Equipment College of Georgia
• Home Instead Senior Care
• Jetstream Ground Services

• Kelly Educational Staffiing
• Loomis
• LSG Sky Chefs
• Marriott City Center
• Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation
• Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office
• New Hope Treatment Center
• Paradies Lagardere
• Plant Partners
• Preferred Parking
• Prologistix
• Publix
• QuikTrip
• Rely Workforce Group
• ResCare
• RHA Howell, Inc
• Rock Bottom Brewery
• Sage Hospitality
• Samaritan's Purse
• SAS Retail Services (Harris Teeter)
• Scrap Management Inc.
• Snyder's-Lance
• Sodexo
• ​Spectrum
• The Reserves Network
• The Staff Zone
• ​United Parcel Service
• ​United States Postal Service (USPS)
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Waffle House
• Wells Fargo
• Westmed Practice Partners
• Whole Foods
• YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Good luck in your job search endeavors. We hope to see you at the Job Fair on Wednesday!

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched the first “Negro History Week” during the second week of February in honor of the births of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. His initiative would eventually become what we know today as African American Month or Black History Month.  For 93 years, the United States has used February to recognize the contributions of African-Americans in the advancement of humanity and this country. However, as far as the country has progressed, it still faces racism and race relations issues.

Talking about racially-charged situations may be difficult, but the Library wants everyone to get involved with making our community better and safer for all of us. This year’s Community Read titles address issues of racism and xenophobia in hopes of making Charlotte an even better place to live for everyone.

The Community Read book for teens and adults is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Starr manages to navigate between the worlds of her affluent, predominately white private school and her poor, mostly black neighborhood until she becomes the sole witness in the death of her unarmed African American friend at the hands of a white police officer. Now she has pressure coming from every direction as her worlds collide. She’ll have to decide who she is, find her voice, and speak out for what she believes is right, even if the consequences could be devastating for herself, her family and her friends. 

Once you’ve read the book or if you’ve seen the movie, come to any of our Community Read events happening all over the county. You can find out more information on events and partnerships with local community organizations here: https://www.cmlibrary.org/community-read

Don’t stop there. There are many books to read and explore. Here are a few more titles to check out at the Library.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone: Justyce McAllister is an excellent, top-of-his-class student with his sights on the Ivy-League, but that doesn’t make any difference to the cop who arrests him when he’s just trying to help a friend. As issues of police brutality and fatal shootings mount, Jus struggles to cope with the injustice around him. Angry and heartbroken, Jus turns to the writings of Martin Luther King Jr. and poses the question, “What would you do, Martin?” He begins writing to the late, great activist in hopes of finding his way.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely: When Quinn sees his best friend’s brother, a white police officer, beating Quinn’s black classmate, Rashad, he doesn’t know what to do. The incident doesn’t make sense. Rashad is an incredible artist and a ROTC kid. At first, Quinn says nothing, but as Rashad is absent from school day after day due to the injuries and the nation reacts to a violent video of the incident, Quinn realizes that he must choose between what is safe and what is right.

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric L. Gansworth: It’s 1975 and Lewis “Shoe” Blake is used to the ups and downs of living on the Tuscarora Indian reservation. Shoe is used to being bullied by the vicious Evan Reininger. He’s used to feeling like a misfit. But he’s not used to having white friends. When George Haddonfield’s family moves to the Air Force base close by, the boys find common ground in their mutual love of The Beatles, but there’s a lot that Shoe is hiding from George, especially the depth of his family’s poverty. Tensions are getting worse with Evan and it seems like everyone else is against Shoe, and he can’t be sure where George’s loyalties will be when he finds out the whole truth. 

Books—even fiction—can help us understand other’s perspectives and remind us that we’re not alone. We all live in this community, and can help make it better by reading, listening, and joining the conversation. The Library invites you to connect with us and others during the 2019 Community Read. Again, check out the community events and other information here.

Shared by Tami Gosselin (fourth from right in group photo)

Write Like you Mean It is my favorite place in Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  This writing group meets every week on Thursday mornings in the Main Library on North Tryon Street.  It is a safe place to practice the craft of writing, as well as the art of listening to others' writing.  Everyone is welcome.  The group is led by librarian Pam Turner, and it is based on the book Writing Alone and with Others by Pat Schneider. 

There are five affirmations that guide this group:

1. Everyone has a strong, unique voice. 

2. Everyone is born with creative genius. 

3. Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level. 

4. The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem. 

5. A writer is someone who writes. 

We are always reminded that this is first draft work and that we should focus on what we liked about the work.  We are asked to share but not required to, welcome to do the prompts or not do them; it is completely up to each one of us how much we participate. 

There is always coffee and water, both cold and hot, and there are usually snacks, chips or cookies or fruit.  There is a variety of people that come: all ages, all skin colors, all gender identities; and when we share it is on an even basis that all of us have the same opportunity to speak, listen and be heard.  We are all on the same level in the workshop, all participants practicing a craft, sharing our truth, seeking our lesson. I enjoy going because it challenges me. Each week offers different prompts to write about, and they are meant to pull something out of us in a way that we don’t know, so we do the writing we were meant to do without knowing it just by following whatever the prompt stirs inside each of us. 

I enjoy this time each week.  It is the highlight of my week.  Without it, my week feels so much less shiny, because this is my happy place.

Sometimes we have guest speakers, who are usually published authors.  They come and talk to us about their book. We can ask questions and they often lead prompts.  Those weeks have a different rhythm for me as they are not as sacred. This person may be a virtual stranger, and I am not always ready for, or connect with, their prompts.  They don’t always understand the workshop process.  And, they don’t write alongside us. 

Some weeks there are 30 people, some weeks there are 6.  No matter how many people show up, there’s always a sense that who needs to be here is here.  The group started in 2016, and is celebrating the 3-year anniversary on February 28, 2019.  I have been attending just over a month now, and hope to attend long into the future.

Tami Gosselin

When it comes to remembering presidents during the national holiday President’s Day in February, that sentiment may strongly resonate when reading the two new historical fiction adult mystery series. Set little more than 40 years apart, the books step into the presidential eras of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The presidents don’t get involved in actual sleuthing but are closely linked to the amateur detectives in these books. 

The Alice Roosevelt Mystery Series: The real-life daughter of President Roosevelt is stepping into the detective role as she fears for her father’s safety in this fictional novel, Alice and the Assassin. During 1902, the bright and bold 17-year-old Alice Roosevelt is under the guardianship of Secret Service Agent Joseph St. Clair, a one-time cowboy and veteran of Rough Riders. Assessing his new assignment, St. Clair considers it a ‘cushy job’ compared to serving as a soldier, but the president warns him about the first daughter: “You say that now.  But I promise you, you’ll wish you were back in Cuba before the year is out.”

The novel is told from the perspective of St. Clair as he discovers working with young Roosevelt entails extra measures of bodyguard work. When former President William McKinley is assassinated, the suspicious daughter is driven to find answers about the killer, a public anarchist whom Alice believes others exist to follow his lead. Agent St. Clair follows her while tracking down possibilities through multiple New York City locales, including the occasional event requiring the secret service agent to draw his Colt handgun. The book is written by R.J. Koreto and next book in the series is The Body in the Ballroom.  

The Lincoln White House Mystery Series: In 1861, Adam Speed Quinn is a presidential assistant and jack-of-all-trades for the newly-elected President Lincoln's White House staff. The former 30-year-old frontier scout comes from the Bloody Kansas conflict, the border war of Kansas between slavery and anti-slavery forces where he was wounded and then reassigned. Working directly for Lincoln, Quinn is identified as one of the president’s closest confidants. In Murder in the Lincoln White House, a man is found murdered during the inauguration ball and Lincoln asks Quinn to investigate: “I prefer someone less known to the public to carry out this investigation. And I also require someone in whom I have complete and utter trust, whose loyalty and discretion are without question. You are one of the most intelligent and resourceful men I’ve come to know—who is not immersed in politics or the law.”  

With Lincoln’s pronouncement, Quinn begins the case and his skills are to put to test as he interacts with an unfamiliar Washington community. He finds unlikely assistance in two new allies: a strong-willed journalist named Sophie Gates and the methodical Dr. Hilton, a free man of color. They help Quinn piece together the investigation. Also, when needed, Quinn keeps a Colt handgun close by for protection, much like secret service agent St. Clair in the Alice Roosevelt Mystery Series. The book is written by Colleen Gleason, and is the second in the series is Murder in the Oval Library.