Get to know the Plaza Midwood Branch Library
January 25, 2022
The Plaza Midwood Branch Library is located on the East side of Charlotte, just minutes from Uptown, and serves as a connector for both residents and businesses within its community. Those immigrating to the neighborhood will find beautiful parks, cultural centers, and delicious international cuisine nearby. Located in the heart of Plaza Midwood, the library offers computers with internet access and lots of natural light with adjacent seating where customers can enjoy reading one of its many books or magazines.
International House is a huge asset to Plaza Midwood’s international community. It offers programs that support immigrants seeking pathways to citizenship, cultural programs (like book clubs and Young Professionals), a Citizen Diplomacy Program, and English language acquisition programs. If English is a second language for you, you may be interested in the Plaza Midwood library’s vast collection of world language materials, primarily in Spanish, but in ten other languages as well, such as Chinese, French, Russian, and Korean.
After visiting the library, why not grab a bite at one of the many unique restaurants nearby? Plaza Midwood encompasses Mexican, Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Bosnian cuisines within its borders. Or spend some time outdoors at one of its neighborhood parks. Veterans Park covers 19 acres off Central Avenue; it features baseball fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, playground, trails, and a sprayground for kids. Midwood Park also features sports facilities and a playground, but it also offers an amphitheater and a community garden on its six acres; it is also the spot for many of the neighborhood’s annual festivals.
Neighborhood festivals are another great way to interact with the community. The Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association kicks off its festivities each year in May with Midwood Maynia at Midwood Park where there will be live music, food, beer from a local brewery, a parade, great local merchants and fun activities for the kids. While the weather’s still warm, the neighborhood holds Movies in Midwood Park where residents can watch movies under the stars and enjoy free popcorn. On the last Saturday in October, the PMNA holds its annual Fall Crawl. The day begins with a costume parade and Trunk or Treat for kids, followed by a full day of beer, food trucks, live music, local merchants, and tons of activities for the kids in Midwood Park. Check out PMNA’s events calendar for more activities throughout the year.
New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.
Resources:
- Plaza Midwood Branch Library - 1623 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28215 | 704-416-6200
- International House - 1817 Central Ave., Suite 215, Charlotte, NC 28215 | 704-333-8099
- Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec - 2435 Cumberland Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28215 | 980-314-1002
- Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association - PO Box 9394, Charlotte, NC 28215
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This blog was written by Lauren Mullins, adult services librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Upstairs there is an awesome teen zone with a private teen loft set aside for studying and teen programming. Tables, chairs, and booths fill the second level and create perfect spaces for customers to read, write, and tutor. There are also windowed alcoves for customers who desire more privacy. The majority of the adult collection can be found upstairs. Genres range from romance to mystery, and best sellers to independent publishing houses. There are adult and young adult graphic novels, an adult large print collection, public computers, and printers as well.
The Four Mile Creek greenway is walking distance from South County, and is a popular, outdoor, walkable park. If you are looking for a beautiful location to jog, walk, or bike, this greenway is a wonderful place to be outdoors and avoid car traffic. Across the street from the greenway is a
“Love the virtual rookie science programs at my library. Very engaging for me and my little ones!”
"When I was single, I used to rent movies, read real estate magazines and just hang out there reading different books of interest. As a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, I used the room provided to study and PC rooms to revise my resume. Now married with kids, I love the fact that you guys have bilingual reading events. For me, it's beneficial for my kids to be bilingual and it's good to start early."
"When my family and I moved to Charlotte in 2007, I had no idea the trips to SouthPark Library with my then, two-year-old, would provide the missing puzzle piece to determining what type of writer I would become. While I'd always loved to write, reading multiple picture books with my daughter created a new passion and desire to write one myself. Fast-forward 15 years. I have published one picture book, and have a chapter book series coming out fall 2022. Among a few other things, I owe my love for children's lit and ultimately my writing career, to those library treks with my toddler in tow. Some of my fondest memories for sure."
"My mom took me to UC and ImaginOn for years, but I first started frequenting the UC library when I was pulled out of CMS and homeschooled in 2012-2013. I had been struggling a lot academically and emotionally, and felt very alone. The library was a place I knew I could always escape and do schoolwork, and get lost in books about airplanes, electronics, and Guinness World Records. Even now years later, I always feel comforted knowing the library is always there even when I feel lost."