The scholastic information is William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 and died April 23, 1616. He did not grow up in a noble family but attended the local grammar school and was married at 18 before moving to London. There, he made a name for himself as an actor and then a playwright.

The extracurricular information is that nearly 500 years later, the Bard’s prolific work as poet and writer is still as relevant today as when first published. Very few authors or their works can transcend time or adapt to cultures, yet somehow his work does. With themes like love, death, ambition, power, fate and free will, along with his influence on language, Shakespeare’s works have become timeless. Some of the most popular words you may recognize that the Bard coined include bandit, critic, dauntless, dwindle, green-eyed (to describe jealousy), lackluster and swagger. In total, Shakespeare came up with 422 whole new words. Read them here. 

Watching one of his plays live onstage is a unique experience. Shakespeare in the Park in New York City’s Central Park was first conceptualized in 1954 and put on more than 100 plays and musicals since the Delacorte Theater was opened in 1962.

Shakespeare’s Globe based in London, which houses the Globe Theater along with the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, welcomes more than 1.25 million visitors a year from all over the world (pre-COVID times). On May 20, 2021, the Theater is presenting a webinar for its Anti-racist Shakespeare series that focuses on A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. The webinars enable as many audience members, theatre professionals, teachers and scholars as possible from all backgrounds to engage in this vital discussion. This event takes place on Zoom and is free, but you will need to register in advance to receive a link to attend the live webinar. The event is open to all and you do not need to be a ticket holder for a performance. Click here for more information.

Many of Shakespeare’s works have inspired other works of fiction. Romeo and Julie transformed into West Side Story in the 1960s. Hamlet has been made into many adaptations, including movies like Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Lion King.

A few years ago, I attended the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of Othello. It took the play out of Renaissance Venice and into the biker gang culture of contemporary times with gang-attire and an incessant rock beat bringing to life all the great dialogue. Framed as rival motorcycle gangs The Venetians and The Turks, it was, basically, Othello on a Harley with a love relationship between a white woman and a Black man. I remember watching enthralled, astonished and entranced that a play written in 1603 could resonate so clearly more than 400 years later. (Othello production photos courtesy of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.)

Shakespeare isn’t always for everyone, but his themes carry strong and bold through hundreds of years of change. If you take another look, you might see Shakespeare in a whole new light. 

Find reading lists here, curated by our own Library staff:

Shakespeare  - For All Ages

Shakespeare - All About the Bard

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This blog was written by Ann Stawski, marketing & vommunications leader at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A carefully crafted resume is an essential part of your job search. If you take the time to search the internet for resume tips, you will see thousands of hits on how to design a resume. However, there are no set rules for resumes, but below are some suggestions to make your resume more effective for your job search.

Do’s

Add POWER (action) words. Resumes are no longer lists of duties and responsibilities. They are a display of your impact in your previous roles. When listing experience on your resume, you should make sure that the accomplishments of previous jobs are highlighted and described in a way that piques the reader’s interest. Always start your sentence with a powerful word to dynamically describe your experience. The use of action words allows you to be more concise and provide instant information to hiring managers. Often hiring managers skim resumes, so it is recommended that you use active words instead of passive words.

Tailor your resume to the desired job. Though tailoring your resume for every job application is time-consuming, it shows the hiring manager that you have a genuine interest in the position. Dissect the job description -- pulling keywords and skills from the description into your resume to show that you are the right person for the position. You want to make it easy for your resume to be picked up by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which screens your resume before it reaches an actual person.

Find someone else to review your resume. Always have another set of eyes review your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. Having someone proofread your resume will allow them to spot the mistakes that you have missed. The worst thing that you can do is submit a resume that has typos. There are preconceived notions that hiring managers can and will make about you if your resume isn’t correctly proofread. If you don’t have a friend or colleague willing to review your resume, consider submitting it to the Job Help Center’s resume review service. Please email your resume to [email protected] and have one of our staff provide a review (expect 3 to 5 days for review). Plus, it’s completely free!

Don’ts

“References available upon request” should be removed from your resume. To apply for a job, you should have 2 to 3 references. References are people who will attest to your ability to perform tasks. However, you should not include them in your resume- keep them on hand to use when filling out a job application.

Take out the Objective. Instead of listing an “objective,” consider a qualifications summary section instead. Include a list of your skills or strengths to place at the top of your resume for a quick read of your resume. This will help you make better use of available space.

Remove your mailing address. The mailing address is a thing of the past for your resume. The employer will not be reaching out to you via snail mail about the job; it is more efficient to contact you via email or phone. So, remove your mailing address, but list your city and state. Save space and omit.

Don’t list any job older than 10 years. Have you been in the workforce for over 10 years? If so, any job older than 10 years or more can be excluded from your resume. A caveat to this is if you feel the experience is relevant to the job you are interested in, then feel free to add those critical skills to your qualifications section.

These are just a few of the tips that will make your resume more effective and bring you one step closer to getting your dream job. 

Looking for more advice and help as you search for your new career? Click here for the Library's Job Help Center's calendar.

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This blog post was written by Job Help Center staff and updated by De’Trice Fox, librarian at the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

As a Black woman, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris embodies so much that is familiar to me and in which I take great pride. To begin, she is a graduate of Howard University – “The Mecca” of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as it is known in the Black community. It was there as an undergraduate that she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), the nation’s first historically Black sorority, also founded on Howard’s campus. Upon graduation, she went on to earn her law degree to become an accomplished attorney with many notable achievements including serving as Attorney General of California and a US Senator.

Kamala Harris has been the first to do many things, and that list of firsts will get notably longer when she takes office as Vice President of the United States next week. During the pursuit of her Senate seat, her candidacy for President and later as running mate to President-elect Joe Biden, Kamala Harris has consistently embraced her blackness. She proudly wears sweatshirts from her alma mater and speaks fondly of her days as a student. She has expanded the familiarity with and showcased the reach of the Divine Nine (historically Black sororities and fraternities) in a way never seen before, and regularly wears her AKA pearls. I too am a graduate of Howard, was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of AKA, and a licensed attorney – never before has a man or woman in a position of such power and success had a background that so closely mirrored my own. 

When I met Kamala at a fundraiser in Charlotte in the fall of 2019, we briefly connected over our shared experiences as Howard graduates and sorority sisters. The feeling of those shared bonds was unparalleled. Many women like me could relate when then Senator Harris was repeatedly interrupted by Vice President Pence during the Vice Presidential Debate last October. The moderator didn’t play an active role in ensuring that Senator Harris was given equal time to speak or respond to questions. In that moment, Kamala Harris modeled how to gracefully, yet firmly, serve as your own advocate and command the attention and respect that you deserve - “I’m speaking.” With her words and actions Kamala encouraged us to be confident that what we have to say deserves to be heard and reminded us that we have worked to be at the proverbial table. Therefore, we cannot let our opportunity to contribute to these important conversations pass us by. She modeled how we as women must use our voices to be our own advocate. As a young executive who has been talked over and had my comments fall on deaf ears only to be restated with highest regard when echoed by someone else, I admire and appreciate Harris’ calm and collected manner at all times. She has inspired me to let my voice be heard with confidence and boldness. We all must start somewhere. While our voices may initially shake our confidence will grow each time we speak.  

On Saturday, November 7, 2020 during her speech at the Biden-Harris victory celebration, Vice President-Elect Harris stated, “Every little girl that’s watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” As the mother of a young Black girl, I am encouraged by the possibilities that my daughter will grow up having as norms. It is one thing to be told you can be anything when you grow up —however, it is all that more powerful to have an example of someone who looks like you having already archived your heart’s desire. Many others came before Kamala Harris, each doing a part in overcoming obstacles that helped pave her way. While she is the first Black woman to reach the White House as Vice President, she has made it clear that she does not intend to be the last. 

As she continues to blaze trails, Kamala Harris has remained true to herself and used her voice to be an advocate for many while encouraging and bringing others along with her as she reaches higher heights.  While I’m not a little girl anymore, I am not ashamed to admit that I too am encouraged by Kamala’s achievements, the advancements that our country continues to make and the possibilities that lie ahead.

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This blog was written by Tamra Berry. Tamra is a Human Resources Executive in financial services. She and her husband, Akadius, reside in Charlotte’s Historic West End with their daughter, Zora, and beloved dog, Jackson. 

Mark your calendar for World Read Aloud Day on February 3, 2021!  

World Read Aloud Day, founded by LitWorld in 2010, celebrates the joy and power of reading aloud to others. According to Melbourne University, studies show that reading aloud to children puts them almost a year ahead of children who do not receive daily read alouds, regardless of income, educational level or background (LitWorld, 2020).  

You’re Invited! 
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has BIG plans to share our joy and power of reading aloud with our community on World Read Aloud Day! Library staff will share their favorite stories aloud with you online all day long. Visit the ImaginOn Facebook page to join in the fun beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a special storytime, and then a captivating story every hour finishing at 6:30 p.m. We invite children and families, at home and in classrooms everywhere, to join us!  

Join the Celebration 
The Library offers immense opportunities for you share the joy of reading aloud with others. Browse our catalog online or call any of our 20 branch locations to reserve books for the World Read Aloud Day.  Holds placed on print materials will be ready for you to pickup at the branch on the day and time you schedule them! Our electronic books are always available for you with your Library card or ONE Access ID number online. Parents and caregivers can also learn to elevate their shared reading experience at home by participating in an Active Reading Training (programs are offered weekly).  

Share the books you are reading aloud this World Read Aloud Day by tagging @cmlibrary across social media platforms - we're on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We commemorate the power of reading daily at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and look forward to this festive and outstanding day! 

Click to find World Read Aloud Day Day on the Library events calendar

 Want to learn about the practice of Active Reading? Click here! 

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This blog was written by Elyse Berrier, active reading coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  

Magazines are moving! Digital magazines will be moving from the RBdigital app to the Libby app on Thursday, January 28, 2021! Now you will be able to borrow magazines, e-books, and e-audiobooks, all in one app! 

OverDrive magazines will include the same great content that was once available in RBdigital magazines. Magazines that you have enjoyed such as The Food Network, Rolling Stone, US Weekly, Parents, Sports Illustrated and more will be available on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive site and the Libby app. However, the best experience will be using the Libby app. When possible, three years of back issues will be made available. When this transfer is complete, magazines will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

OverDrive magazines will be checked out for 21 days and will automatically return. Magazine titles are always available and will not count against your check out limits. As with e-books and e-audiobooks, you will have the option to renew a magazine within 3 days of the end of the lending period. However, since magazines are unlimited, you could also borrow that magazine again at any time. 

OverDrive cannot automatically check out new issues of a magazine for you, but here’s a pro tip to use with your favorite titles: use the tagging feature in the Libby app to save magazines that you frequently check out. You can use this tag to check for new issues.

How do you find magazines on OverDrive? Good question! Through the Libby app, click “Explore” and then “Subjects.” Expand the “Preferences” menu and change Format to “Magazines”.  Click “Apply Preferences” to view the subjects or genres of the magazines.  On the OverDrive page, click “Subjects” and then “Magazines”. Browse magazines by their subject of genre or click the link to see all magazines.  Coming Soon: We are creating a collection page for magazines. “Magazines” will be available above the ribbon on the OverDrive landing page. Use the filters to find magazines on subjects such as entertainment, news, celebrity, health, etc.  

Why are RBdigital magazines moving to OverDrive?

OverDrive acquired RBmedia’s library business, RBdigital. Read more about the acquisition here. The RBdigital site is being retired and all content is being moved to OverDrive. Audiobooks were moved in October and now it is time for magazines. When this transfer is complete, magazines will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

When will magazines be transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive?

RBdigital magazines will be transferred to OverDrive on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The process will take approximately 24 hours. During this time, RBdigital magazines will not be available.

What happens if I have a magazine(s) and back issues currently checked out on RBdigital?

Current magazines checked out in RBdigital will not transfer to your OverDrive loans. You can access your previously borrowed magazines from RBdigital by either downloading the free ZINIO app or going to zinio.com. From the ZINIO app or website, customers can register for a new ZINIO account using the same email address you used to access RBdigital. Once registered, previously borrowed ZINIO magazine loans will be available in your account.

Another option is to print articles, text, or recipes you would like to save before the magazines move to OverDrive.  Some magazines allow printing from the RBdigital reader in your browser. If the magazine you have checked out allows printing, you can print specific articles, text, or recipes that you would like to save.

• Sign in to your RBdigital account.
• Open a magazine from your checked-out shelf.  If the magazine allows printing, you will see a printer icon on the left side of the reader.
• Navigate to the article, text, or recipe you would like to print.
• Click the printer icon.

If you’re new to OverDrive, visit our OverDrive resource page, check out this getting started guide, or watch these videos to learn more. Click here to find help with using the Libby app.

Access OverDrive for free with your library card. Don’t have one? Sign up here!

If you need more help, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available by email, chat, and phone.  

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

A short time ago, I was speaking with a friend about my feelings about my country. A little about politics, a lot about disappointment. I remember expressing my concern about all the anger, the hatred and fear that seemed to be creeping its way into my nation, my job, the lives of my friends, and even into my family. And I said to him – "I was lucky because my parents took the time to educate me about racism."

I had never thought that would be something I would reflect on – how fortunate I was that my family did not "shy away" from sensitive topics. That their patriotism and love for their country didn't make them blind to the faults and failures in its past and even in its present. What stood out to me as a child, and now as an adult and a librarian, was how they relied on literature to help me understand this very real issue.

I remember going to the library and coming home with books such as the Addy series by American Girl, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, or A Picture of Freedom by Pat McKissack. These stories taught me so many things. They taught me the history of African Americans in my country and the cruelty and hardships that they have endured. It taught me the unfortunate truth that your skin color made a difference – and sometimes still does. But also, and I think more importantly, it taught me that African Americans are human.

Perhaps that sounds silly, but it's very easy to make generalizations and blanket statements about something you don't understand. It's very easy to dehumanize a culture and therefore disregard what happens to its people because you've never had to interact with it. But when you are faced with understanding, sharing feelings of fear, sorrow, and hope, you face common ground. You are no longer remarking about some distant and unfamiliar minority. These are your neighbors, coworkers, friends and your family. These are people you will fight and die for.

I think literature written by African American authors is pivotal to growing our understanding as a community. There are some events we will never experience in our lives that we can experience amid the pages of a book. We will never be exposed to some struggles in our lives that we can be exposed to through literature.

While I grew up in a very diverse community, that is not the case for everyone. People of many different ethnic origins were a part of my life since birth and I am blessed because of this. I am blessed because I can't imagine growing up in a world where everyone I know looks "like me." I am blessed because I can acknowledge the past. And I am blessed because I can hope for the future.

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This blog post was written by Hannah P. Simmons, a senior library assistant at North County Regional Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is in the process of developing a Facilities Master Plan that will guide the Library over the next 10-15 years. Part of that process is getting feedback from the community regarding what is most important to you regarding library locations.  We’d love to get your thoughts and opinions on topics such as:

• Does your neighborhood need a  library?
• Is your current library branch serving your needs?
• What is the biggest gap in how your library branch is serving your needs?
• How do the library buildings themselves support your community needs?
• What opportunities exist for the Library to better serve Mecklenburg county residents?

The survey is now closed. Thank you to all who participated. 

Join us and share your thoughts!

During each session, we need your feedback on where you think new libraries may be needed and where library buildings and services need to be expanded or improved. We will also share examples and best practices from across the country as to what strong 21^st century libraries look like.

Sessions are 60-90 minutes in length and will held via Zoom. The information shared will be very visual so it will be best to have access to a computer, but the audio portion of the meeting may be accessed using a computer or a phone.

Registrations are required, so be sure to sign up to participate in a session so that we are able to provide you with the sign-in information. Sign-ups will be done using the links below.  Sessions are limited to 80 participants.  These sessions will be offered in English and Spanish.  The sign up link below will offer you this option.

Five sessions available - registration required 

• February 10, 2021 9:30-11 a.m. Click here to register 
  
   
• February 10, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. Click here to register 
  
   
• February 11, 2021 Noon-1:30 p.m. Click here to register 
  
   
• February 11, 2021 4:30-6 p.m. Click here to register 

Join us for a session. The time should prove to be interesting, enlightening and productive in creating a vibrant Library system for our future.

Celebrate Black History Month this February with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library! Join us and explore themed online programs for all ages.  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter programming initiative has a variety of discussions, storytimes, book groups, speaker series and more to explore the and celebrate Black History this month and every month. Take a look below to see highlighted selection of our upcoming programs and check our online calendar for registration information and a full listing of events. Download a PDF of our calendar here.

Get Inspired

Join us for engaging speakers on a variety of topics

Meet Black Creatives, Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Connect with Black Creatives in our community every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. during Black History Month. We will have different Black Creatives talk about their unique businesses and services. Be inspired and learn how you can live out your creative dreams.

Author Talk: Derrick Barners and Gordon C. James, Thursday, February 11 at 6 p.m. (Facebook Live & YouTube Live)

Join us for A Conversation with Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James, author and illustrator of The New York Times bestseller, I Am Every Good Thing. We will be streaming on Facebook and YouTube.

I can Celebrate National African American Read-In, Thursday, February 18 at 6 p.m.

The National African American Read-In is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. Join us as we celebrate this event with a VIRTUAL READ-IN featuring local authors and students from Westerly Hills Academy.

Meet the Podcasters, Saturday, February 20 at 3 p.m.

Meet the Podcasters: There're Back! The Black Guy Who Tips podcasters, Rod and Karen will join us to discuss current events, books and upcoming projects. We will wrap up with some Black History Trivia.

Learn Something New

Explore Black history, culture, and more

Story Explorers: Rocket Like Mae Jemison, Saturday, February 8 at 3 p.m.

Kids ages 5 to 11 are invited to this special Black History Month literacy program celebrating Mae Jemison! Together, we'll learn about Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to enter space, though interactive activities including math, science, games and more.

Harlem Unbound (Call of Cthulhu 7E), Wednesday, February 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Participate in a Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game set in early 20^th century Harlem, NY. The players will put themselves in the shoes of Harlemites navigating day-to-day issues including racism, community, politics, nightlife and Cosmic Horror.

Esports and Gaming in the Black Community, Saturday, February 20 at 12 p.m.

Meet the founders, Dr. Lawson Williams and Professor Cash, of the 1^st HBCU Esports and Gaming program at Johnson C. Smith University. Plus, meet local entrepreneur Rick Suarez, who took his love of sports to create Stay Plugged IN, a virtual gaming company.

The Impact of Gentrification on the Black Community, Saturday, February 20 at 1 p.m.

The ongoing housing crisis and the displacement of residents due to neighborhoods' changing demographics continue to be of great concern in Black communities. This program will address the impact of gentrification happening in historically Black neighborhoods in the Charlotte area.

Parent Lunch & Learn: i can read Black stories, Wednesday, February 24 at 12 p.m.

Parents and Caregivers will learn about the importance of children's literature that center characters who are Black or people of color, as well as tips for selecting books to foster conversations about equity and inclusivity.

Join a Discussion

Discuss books, films, and more with community members and library staff

Graphic Novel Book Club, Wednesday, February 3 at 6 p.m.

What We'll Be Discussing:  Black History In Its Own Words, by Ronald Wimberly.

Ted Talk Discussion Group, multiple dates

What We'll Be Discussing:

• 2/5 at 11 a.m.: Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name
• 2/19 at 11 a.m.: Systemic Racism

Steele Creek Readers Book Club, Tuesday, February 9 10:30 a.m.

What We'll Be Discussing:  A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wikerson Sexton

Black Women + Democracy, a virtual film and discussion series, multiple dates

What We’ll Be Discussing:

• 2/14 at 2 p.m.: Knock Down the House Film screening starts at 2 p.m., discussion at 3:15 p.m.
• 2/15 at 6 p.m.: Chisholm ‘72 - Unbought & Unbossed, Watch the film on your own then join for the discussion at 6pm.

Social Justice Book Club, Thursday, February 18 at 6:30 p.m. or Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m.

What We'll Be Discussing:  Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi or Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (your choice)

Teen Book Talk, Monday February 22 at 5:30 p.m.

What We'll Be Discussing:  This is My America by Kim Johnson

Let's Get Graphic! Saturday, February 27 at 10 a.m.

What We'll Be Discussing:  People of Color and Minority Representation in Graphic Novels & Comic Books

6pm Film Discussion: Black Men in White Coats  Saturday, February 27th at 6 p.m. 

What We’ll Be Discussing: This documentary that dissects the systemic barriers preventing black men from becoming medical doctors and the consequences on society at large. Upon registration, a link to the film will be shared. 

Attend a Storytime

Enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support empathy and understanding of issues affecting Black children and families.

I can read Black stories storytime, every Saturday at 11 a.m.

This storytime features books that center characters who are Black or people of color, offers strategies to foster conversations about equity and inclusivity, and encourages early literacy skill development and a love of books and reading in your child.

SouthPark Branch Family Storytime, Thursday, February 18 at 10 a.m.

This program will be provided by SouthPark library staff.

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate. This week's stories will center around Black History Month and Black Lives Matter.

Research History

The Library offers a variety of digital resources to aid in performing historical and biographical research.

HistoryMakers Digital Archive

The HistoryMakers is an oral history collection highlighting the accomplishments of individual African Americans and African-American-led groups and movements.  It is unique among collections of African American heritage because of its large and varied scope, with interviewees from across the United States, from a variety of fields, and with memories stretching from the 1890s to the present.

Access

Daily Life Through History

Daily Life Through History is a collection of e-books about life during different periods of history. These historical period includes Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, the middle ages, the Renaissance, colonial times, the Civil War and World War I and II. In additions topics such as the role of women and children, food and clothing, and work conditions are covered, as well as a time line of major events.

Access

Are you someone who reads a book and wants to save passages or quotes to think about later? With print books you do this by taking your trusty highlighter and marking lines (please, don’t do this with our library books!). But how do you do this with e-books?

Recently, I was reading Lori Gottlieb’s bestseller, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. As I read, there were so many takeaways that I wanted to save and think about later. I used the highlight feature in Libby to mark the passages. When I finished the book, I started to go back and write (pen and paper) all those quotes and passages in my reading journal. As I started to do this I thought, there has got to be an easier way. There is! Libby allows you to export your notes, highlights and bookmarks for a title (even after it expires)! Notes, highlights and bookmarks can be exported to an excel spreadsheet or web page.  How cool is that? I found this easier to do using the browser version of Libby.

Happy Reading!

P.S.  One of my favorite quotes from this book is, “Uncertainty, I’m starting to realize, doesn’t mean the loss of hope—it means there’s possibility. I don’t know what will happen next—how potentially exciting! I’m going to have to figure out how to make the most of the life I have, illness or not, partner or not, the march of time notwithstanding.”



Citations:

Gottlieb, Lori. Maybe you should talk to someone: a therapist, HER therapist, and our lives revealed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. EPUB edition.

 

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This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

New year, new you? You bet.

A new year gives us a chance to define, commit and achieve the personal goals that help us grow into better versions of ourselves. If you're looking for resources to help you set obtainable goals, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has you covered. Myers Park Library Leader Harold Escalante shared some of the self-improvement titles below with WCNC Charlotte Today host, Beth Troutman. Which one will you add to your reading list?

Watch the segment here

Click here to borrow titles from the “New Year, New You” book list

Adult fiction

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

A special 25th anniversary edition of Paulo Coelho’s extraordinary international bestselling phenomenon - the inspiring spiritual tale of self-discovery that has touched millions of lives around the world. Combing magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world, and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different--and far more satisfying - than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.”
 

My Grandmother Asked me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

From the author of the internationally bestselling A Man Called Ove, a charming, warmhearted novel about a young girl whose grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters, sending her on a journey that brings to life the world of her grandmother's fairy tales.”
 

Adult Nonfiction

The Self-Care Solution:  A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier and Fitter—one Month at a Time by Jennifer Ashton

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is at the top of her field as an ob-gyn and news correspondent. But even at the top there's still room to improve, and with The Self-Care Solution, she upends her life one month at a time, using her own experiences to help you improve your health and enhance your life. Dr. Ashton becomes both researcher and subject as she focuses on twelve separate challenges. Beginning with a new area of focus each month, she guides you through the struggles she faces, the benefits she experiences, and the science behind why each month's challenge - giving up alcohol, doing more push-ups, adopting an earlier bedtime, limiting technology - can lead to better health. Month by month, Dr. Ashton tackles a different area of wellness with the hope that the lessons she learns and the improved health she experiences will motivate her (and you) to make each change permanent. Throughout, she offers easy-to-comprehend health information about the particular challenge to help you understand its benefits and to stick with it. Whether it's adding cardio or learning how to meditate, Dr. Ashton makes these daily lifestyle choices and changes feel possible - and shows how beneficial a mindful lifestyle can be.
 

Bounce Back.  How to Rescue Your Finances During Tough Times by Mitch Horowitz

The five works abridged and introduced by historian and New Thought scholar Mitch Horowitz in Bounce Back give you the greatest possible opportunity to navigate economic crisis and poise yourself for recovery. Revolutionize your budgeting skills and be ready to take advantage of economic upswing with George S. Clason's classic guide to personal finance, The Richest Man in Babylon. How to Attract Money is Joseph Murphy's most effective program of visualization. Offering specific prayers and affirmations, Murphy brings you closer to your goals and helps you attain the life you want.  Russell H. Conwell's motivational classic Acres of Diamonds teaches you to think in practical ways and transform seemingly modest ideas into large returns. Transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson offers his principles for self-directed living in Power and Wealth, helping you focus and exert your will in the world. Think and Grow Rich, the world's greatest book on successful living, provides Napoleon Hill's famous thirteen steps to wealth and achievement. Open the door to financial empowerment and bounce back from challenging times with these great primers of self-potential.
 

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living - a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.
 

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Gottlieb (Marry Him) provides a sparkling and sometimes moving account of her work as a psychotherapist, with the twist that she is in therapy herself. Interspersing chapters about her experiences as a patient with others about her work, she explains, "We are mirrors reflecting mirrors reflecting mirrors, showing one another what we can't yet see." By exploring her own struggles alongside those of her patients, Gottlieb simultaneously illuminates what it's like to be in and to give therapy. As she observes, "Everything we therapists do or say or feel as we sit with our patients is mediated by our histories; everything I've experienced will influence how I am in any given session at any given hour." From "John," a successful TV producer who has walled himself away from other people, to "Julie," who has a terminal illness and is struggling to find her way through her life's closing chapters, Gottlieb portrays her patients, as well as herself as a patient, with compassion, humor and grace. For someone considering but hesitant to enter therapy, Gottlieb's thoughtful and compassionate work will calm anxieties about the process; for experienced therapists, it will provide an abundance of insights into their own work.
 

Young Adults (YA)

Top 10 tips for Developing Money Management Skills by Larry Gerber

Readers are encouraged to think about money as a tool-like a Swiss Army knife that can be used for many different tasks, to create things we want in our lives. Money is like a tool, in more ways than one. It is an all-purpose survival kit because life gets tough without it. If we handle money carelessly, it can do serious damage. And just like any tool, sometimes it works great, sometimes it doesn't. The ten tips found in this book are ideas shared by many people, from billionaires to working-class moms, dads and kids. Readers will learn about spending, saving, investing, setting financial goals, budgeting, borrowing and seeking financial advice. Some tips involve doing specific things: writing, adding and subtracting. Others suggest ways of thinking about money and what we do with it. This volume is intended to help readers get the most out of this tool we call money, whether dealing with a lot of it, or just a little. Readers are encouraged to think further with 10 Great Questions to Ask an Economics/Finance teacher and Myths & Facts.
 

Chicken Girl by Heather Smith

Poppy used to be an optimist. But after a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter is mocked online, she's having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. There, Poppy meets six-year-old girl Miracle, who helps Poppy see beyond her own pain, opening her eyes to the people around her: Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis, a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition. As the summer unfolds, Poppy stops glorifying the past and starts focusing on the present. But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal.
 

Children

B is for Breathe: The ABC’s of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings, by Melissa Monroe Boyd

From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe celebrates the many ways children can express their feelings and develop coping skills at an early age. Fun, cute and exciting illustrations, this colorful book teaches kids simple ways to cope with fussy and frustrating emotions. This book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings, show positive behaviors and practice calm down strategies.

If you Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

Meeting children from around the world gave Caldecott Medalist Blackall (Hello Lighthouse) a vision of a book "that would bring us together," she explains in an author's note. This exquisite catalogue of human experience is the result. A child with an elfin red cap, white skin, and black hair frames the story, addressing a "Visitor from Outer Space." Magnificent spreads journey through the solar system and descend toward the Earth's surface, zeroing in on a quilted landscape. Fragmentary, often droll descriptions of Earth-side existence follow, about bodies and aging, home and travel, eating and drinking ("Some of us have more food than others") and relationships ("Sometimes we hurt each other. It's better when we help each other"). Wide-eyed human characters of varying shapes, ethnicities, and abilities show kind regard for each other: a librarian offers a tissue to a man overcome; dinner table companions share animated conversation. Even for the accomplished Blackall, the artwork is dazzling. Encyclopedic paintings of the natural world - birds, sea life, an acorn and more - are rendered in painstaking detail and brilliant colors. It is a book that can be shared with strangers, visitors, friends old and new - a work in which differences build to reveal an inclusive human family on a single, precious planet.

A Year in Our New Garden, by Gerda Muller

Anna and Benjamin move with their parents to a new house in the middle of a busy city. The wonder of this house is that it includes a large garden among the tall apartment buildings. Muller explores the design and planting of this city garden through the eyes of the children. This title can be read to younger kids as the story of a family creating a garden. Older readers will appreciate in-depth explanations about the actual components needed to design a real garden. The narrative follows the family as they move from planning to planting to harvest. Multiple illustrations cover each page. Larger drawings that show the garden as a whole are combined with small framed and unframed insets that highlight specific details. The beautifully detailed paintings invite close inspection as the seasons change and the children play, picnic, plant, harvest and enjoy the garden's wildlife.