On Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. a free screening of the silent Harold Lloyd comedy classic The Freshman (1925) will take place at the uptown Mint Museum’s atrium. Local musician Ethan Uslan, a specialist in the art of “silent film live performance”, will provide live piano accompaniment.  

Harold Lloyd’s The Freshman, one of the milestones of the Silent Film Comedy Era, will be introduced by film programmer Sam Shapiro. The film tells the story of a college freshman trying to become popular by joining the school football team. The Freshman is widely considered to be one of Lloyd’s most hilarious, well-constructed films and was his most successful silent film of the 1920s.  

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune for his “vivid musical imagination” and “deep understanding of far-flung performance practices,” Ethan Uslan is a ragtime/jazz pianist and raconteur. His vast repertoire includes original arrangements of Civil-War era songs, African-American spirituals, New Orleans Jazz, 1920s Charlestons, blues, stomps, Harlem stride piano, swing, Cuban rumbas, and jazzed-up versions of classical masterpieces.  

This event is part of the Mint Museum’s “Live at the Mint” series. This series celebrates Charlotte’s dynamic arts community.  

Location: 

Mint Museum Uptown (Atrium)  

500 S. Tryon Street 

Charlotte, NC 28202 

This event is a partnership between the Library and Mint Museum. Hopefully, the success of this program will open the door to future successful programming partnerships between these two organizations. 

For more information about Library film programs, please contact Sam Shapiro at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library at [email protected] or at 704-416-0252.  

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This blog post was written by Jospehine Justin, marketing & communications intern, with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The opening of the renovated North County Regional Library last month marks another milestone in the history of library services in northern Mecklenburg County.

A brief history of Huntersville

Huntersville, the town that the North County Regional Library branch serves, is a historic area of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County that is named after the Hunter family. This family settled in what was originally known as “Craighead,” but, in 1873, the town was renamed “Huntersville.” The Hunter (and Ranson) families were early settlers of the region and influential in many areas. Both families were farmers who owned large tracts of land in and around Huntersville, which is where the original relationship between the two families began.

The Hunters were also merchants, owning the first home and store along the railroad. In addition to farming, the Ransons operated the Ranson Brothers Gin Company, Huntersville’s primary cotton gin. The Hunter family continued to influence the development of the Huntersville community into the 20^th Century through property deals, education, social work and commitment to local organizations.

The impact of libraries in northern Mecklenburg County
Funding for new libraries in Huntersville and four other towns came from the Julius Rosenwald Fund in 1931, when the country was in the grips of the Great Depression.

In 1956, a new brick building was constructed for the Huntersville Library. Civic leaders who had helped raise money for the library branch marked the occasion by carrying a librarian across the threshold and into her new domain. The spacious, modern library was so impressive that its builders featured a photograph of it in an advertisement.

Beginning in the 1990s, the Charlotte/Mecklenburg community saw the introduction of “regional” libraries, which were large branches that served a wide geographic area. The library moved in 1991 to add a regional library in the northern end of the county. The plan called for the new regional to replace small community libraries in Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. Residents, loyal to their town branches, expressed opposition. The story of how this conflict was resolved is told in the Library’s family of websites.

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This blog was written by Tom Cole, librarian, with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

Are you considering alternatives to a four-year college degree? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for the College  & Career Connections: Trade School Fair at Sugar Creek Library on November 16, 2019 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Explore programs offered at trade school organizations, educational institutions and colleges in the Charlotte area.  

Participating schools and organizations include: 

• Empire Beauty School 

• Southeastern Institute  

• Goodwill Opportunity Campus 

• Hedrick Automotive Group 

• Carolinas College of Health Sciences 

• Carolina School of Broadcasting 

• Central Piedmont Community College 

• Year Up 

• Road to Hire 

• Just for You Barber & Styling Academy & more! 

*schools and organizations are subject to change  

The College & Career Connections: Trade School Fair is a chance for community members to partner with the Library to prepare for lifelong achievement through higher education and vocational training. Participants will receive swag bags and there will be prize drawings.  

This event will relaunch the College & Career Connections program which includes free workshops and programming by in-field experts with topics ranging from financial aid to applications, admissions essays, and even services such as free ACT and SAT practice tests offered by The Princeton Review. 

In addition, the program offers a brand-new road map to help participants answer three very important questions – Who am I? What do I want to do? and How will I get there?  

Sugar Creek Library is located on 4045 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206. For more information or questions call Sugar Creek Library at 704-416-7000.  

Register online today.

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This blog post was written by Jospehine Justin, marketing & communications intern, with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Did you know that the famous peanut butter sandwich was accidentally created by Philip Lance in Charlotte, North Carolina? In 1913, Mr. Lance, a coffee salesman, purchased 500 pounds of peanuts for one of his customers. When the shipment arrived, the customer had no use for them anymore. Lance did not want to waste the peanuts, so he roasted them at home and sold each bagful for a nickel.

 Over time, the peanut-roasting operation outgrew his home, so the flourishing business moved to College Street. This new location allowed enough space for a mechanical roaster, which eventually led to the production of peanut butter. His customers trusted his roasted peanuts but were a bit skeptical about the peanut butter at first. To demonstrate its quality, Lance spread the peanut butter onto a cracker as a free sample before each purchase. Thus, the famous peanut butter sandwich was born. 

Before machines, Lance made their own salted peanuts, crackers and peanut butter. Shells would be cleaned, graded, shelled, cleaned again, then processed. This was part of Lance’s policy to have the highest standards in quality and price.  Now machines can do what human can do – “from mixing dough, cutting, stamping , trimming and baking crackers; cleaning and roasting peanuts;  grinding and salting peanut butter; grinding cheese and reducing sugar to powder; make fill, and heat seal salted peanut bags; mix chocolate, beat creams and marshmallows ; cook, mold, cut, wrap, and heat seal candy bars and deposit peanut butter uniformly between crackers.” 



Mr. Lance and his son-in-law, Salem Van Every, delivered the delicious peanut butter sandwiches on foot with baskets until they acquired funds and resources for a delivery system in 1924.  



By 1924, the delivery system majorly upgraded due to the efforts of postal carriers, truck drivers and railways. Delivery trucks operated around Charlotte, with each salesman owning their own truck to sell the fresh products. With weekly shipments of 125,000 pounds of goods delivered to the 50 full-time drivers, over one million miles were put on the trucks each year from deliveries.  

In 1926, Mr. Lance tragically died in an automobile accident in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Newspaper reports state that he “swerved his machine in effort to avoid hitting wagon while touring territory served by his company in the lower part of South Carolina.”  



His death dissolved the partnership he and Van Every shared, resulting in a corporation being formed. The business moved to 1300 South Boulevard to occupy a two and a half story warehouse that previously served as a hosiery, Duck pants factory and lumber plant. 



Following Mr. Lance’s death, Van Every served as president until 1943. His golden rule principle was to “put to work the minds, enthusiasm, and ingenuity of loyal and experienced men and women around him.”



When we hear “Lance,” the brands Nekot, Captain’s Wafers, Van-O Lunch and Toastchee also come to mind. Each version of the original peanut butter sandwich is still wildly popular today. 

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This blog was written by Sydney Carroll, archivist of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room,  and Julia Zwetolitz, marketing & communications intern, of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. All photos are courtesy of the Robison-Spangler Carolina Room.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed reading. My earliest memories are those I’ve spent at the library. From dressing up as a bumblebee for a Halloween event to making many different arts and crafts projects with my mother, the library has always felt like a home away from home.  

Born in a seaside fishing town in Tamil Nadu, India, I moved to America with my family when I was a couple of months old. I’ve spent almost 19 years of my life moving from one state to another, from Colorado to New Jersey to Virginia to finally settling down in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each new place meant a new library card. 

The library wasn’t just a building to me as a child, it was a palace filled with endless worlds of stories and possibilities.  

As I grew older, the library became a place for me to not only check out books, but to study with my friends. I spent most days after high school at the South County Regional Library studying with my best friend in the teen area. While there may have been more moments of laughter than studying, I’ve always appreciated how the library caters to every season and stage in our lives.  

From reading Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco to Beloved by Toni Morrison, the books I’ve checked out at the library throughout my life have allowed me to step into different realities and become a more understanding and empathetic person.  

Looking back at my childhood as an immigrant, I can see the important role the library played during those developmental years in providing a welcoming environment for my family and I in a new country.  

Every trip I’ve made back home to visit my relatives in India, my suitcases have been packed with books but on my trip this past summer I was able to utilize the library’s e-books. While I absolutely love my hometown in India, it is disheartening to see that many places in India do not have the same public library facilities that are in America. 

Recently, books I have borrowed from the library, such as A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, have allowed me to better understand my life as a minority in America caught in the middle of two drastically different cultures. In the future, I hope to be a part of creating a public library space in my hometown for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover new books and become lifelong learners.  

If I were to visit all the towns I grew up in, I would have to stop by the libraries because of how many memories it would bring back. I’m thankful for my parents who have spent countless hours in these libraries with me and my brother.  Without my parents, I wouldn’t be the book lover I am today.  

Being a fall 2019 marketing and communications intern at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has been a full-circle experience for me because I get to give back to an institution that has given me so much.  

The columns in front of the Main Library building showcase quotes on reading and learning from famous people across time. On the first day of my internship, I read a quote on one column by John Grisham that said “The first thing my family did when we moved was join the local church. The second was to go to the library and get library cards.” As I moved from state to state over the past couple of years, this has been true for my family, too. 

The library is a haven where I have spent countless hours reading and spending time with the people I love. I know in the future, that wherever I go, the library will continue to be that for me.   

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This blog was written and posted with permission by Josephine Justin, student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Do you or someone you know have a story of impact to share with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library? Please email our Marketing & Communications Specialist, Asha Ellison, at [email protected].

Did you know that November is Native American History Month? Keep reading for a brief history on Native Americans in North Carolina and learn how the tribes made their way to the “Tar Heel” state.

Map of Native American Tribes in North Carolina

Paleoindian Period

The oldest Native American cultural period in North Carolina is the Paleoindian Period. The Paleoindian Period occurred around 10,000 BCE during the Ice Age. Native Americans were nomadic, so they had limited possessions and their access to temporary shelter made travel easy. Since they lived during the Ice Age and many large mammals were close to extinction, Native Americans who lived at the time relied on smaller woodland mammals for food. In order to hunt and gather, spears were created as hunting tools and baskets were made to store food. The oldest spear found is called Clovis, which dates between 9500-8500 BC. It was slender with a long flute to attach the spear. Around 8000 BCE another spear, the Hardaway-Dalton, was created. It did not have a flute, but there were shallow indentations on each side of the spear by the base.

 Arrowheads



Archaic Period

Native Americans who lived during the Archaic Period used similar tools as the people in the Paleoindian Period did, but changes in diet and hunting were made. The archaic period lasted from 8000 BC-1000 BC, when groups of 25-100 native peoples came to North Carolina. These groups moved during each season and lived near the floodplains. Native peoples living during this time hunted deer, aquatic animals and other small game. The invention of the atlatl, or spear, allowed them to launch it forcibly and far to hunt. Plants were used for medicinal purposes. Stone tools were made to use as jewelry, decorative pins, grooved axes, balancing weights called balance stones for atlatls, fishhooks and awls. Later, they started weaving baskets.

Catawba potter coiling

 

Woodland Period

The Woodland period brought changes in shelter, weaponry,and interaction with other tribes from different states. Archeologists debate how long this period lasted. Many believe that the Woodland Period started in 1000 BC and ended when the Europeans came around AD 600. This period brought the manufacture of clay pots, semi-permanent villages, gardens and settlements occupied by people for several months a year. Styles of pots are adopted from contact with other places such as Ohio and Tennessee. Populations began to increase and wild animals were still hunted as the main sources of food. Pottery styles started to spread through North Carolina with designs that allowed the pottery to also be used for cooking. As for weaponry, the bow and arrow replaced the atlatl, which enabled hunters to hunt more effectively and efficiently. When burying loved ones, members commonly began to include personal artifacts with the body.

Catawba map

Mississippian or Late Woodland

Religious and ceremonial practices, a new diet, and hierarchies were brought into the Mississippian or Late Woodland Period. This period took place largely in the Piedmont and mountain areas of the Carolinas. It takes place in 8000-1000 BCE. Native Americans in this time ate more corn, squash, and beans as opposed to meat. More modern and permanent homes were built in squares and rectangles. In the Piedmont region houses were oval. Many platform mounds (earthen mounds on top of burned remains of ceremonial lodges) were used for religious and political purposes. Complex pottery styles with intricate designs were used to hold and cook food, as well as for urns. Organization of the social hierarchy also took place during this period.

The village of Pomeioc, North Carolina, 1585

Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration, 535753

Battles

Due to conflicts, changes in weather and diseases; populations began to decline, and battles broke out between North and South Carolina tribes. The Catawba tribe, one of the most well-known tribes in North and South Carolina, fought with European settlers against the French, Spanish and British loyalists. Enemy tribes who fought with the French were the Iroquois, Cherokee, Shawnee and Algonquin. These battles led to expansion issues, decline of populations and slavery. The Tuscarora and Yamasee Wars resulted in the most devastating circumstance for many tribes. With colonial settlements close to the tribes, many Catawbas became captured by British and sold as slaves. The smallpox epidemic, weather, destruction of towns and the influx of refugees caused a population decrease.

Group of Catawba in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Reservations

The Catawba Nation has a rocky history in the Carolinas. In 1759, the Catawba negotiated with the South Carolina government for a reservation in Rock Hill, SC. In 1760, 20 absorbed parts of tribes were in the area. In 1775, the Catawba fought against Cherokee and Lord Charles Cornwallis. Five years later in 1780, the English captured Charlestowne and the Catawba fled to North Carolina. By 1881, the Catawba returned to see their village destroyed. With a fear of their population soon to be extinct, the Catawba signed a treaty at Nation Ford to sell land to South Carolina, but this violated state laws. They went to North Carolina with a promise of land, but then the state refused to give them the promised land. The Catawbas then returned to South Carolina. In 1850 a 630-acre tract was selected on the west bank of the Catawba river in their old reservation. Catawba finally became a federally recognized tribe in 1973. In 2000, Over 2,200 Native Americans still live in Rock Hill.

Map of Catawba Indian Reservation

 

Federally Recognized Tribes

In order to become recognized as a tribe in North and South Carolina, there are rules and responsibilities required by the government. Federally recognized tribes are an American Indian or Alaska Native tribe entity that is recognized as a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the with the responsibilities, powers, limitations, and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Treaties, acts passed by Congress, and presidential orders allow tribes to reach this status.

Native Americans have made countless sacrifices in their history. It is vital to recognize and respect their culture and celebrate its lasting beauty.

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This blog was written by Julia Zwetolitz, marketing and communications intern with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

All photos are courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room unless otherwise specified.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is thrilled to partner with Biblioboard in launching the NORTH CAROLINA AUTHOR PROJECT.  From April 1, 2019 -May 31, 2019, North Carolina authors will be able to submit their unpublished or indie-published work for review by Library Journal and state judges. 

Winners will receive:

• $500 each in Adult and Young Adult categories
• Honors at the Public Library Association Conference 2020 reception in Nashville
• Opportunities to promote your book(s) at North Carolina public libraries
• Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal

Each book that is submitted must be:

• Indie-published or unpublished
• In an Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fiction genre
• Written by a North Carolina resident
• Available in either ePUB or PDF file

Submitting Your E-Book

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers two free resources, Pressbooks and SELF-e to create and upload professional-quality e-book and print ready files in ePUB, MOBI, and PDF formats. Using these resources, you can submit your book for review! See below for more information on these resources, or attend an in-person training at a library branch.*

Pressbooks is an easy-to-use online software that allows you to create professional-quality e-book and print ready files in ePUB, MOBI, and PDF formats.

SELF-e is a self-publishing program where local indie authors can share and publish their e-book through the Library.

If you do not wish to submit via Self-E or do not have a valid library card number with us,  there will also be a separate submission page available for a direct upload. However, you can easily apply for an online library card here if you live in Mecklenburg County.

Questions?

If you have questions, you can call your local library branch, or email [email protected].

*In person trainings on Self-E & Pressbooks are open for registration. Click here to register.

As seen online online at Charlotte Parent - click here.

For many families, spring break is the quintessential time to travel, meet with family members, explore and sight-see. If costs associated with vacationing is placing a damper on your family’s fun meter, why not try new resources that won’t exhaust the budget?

If you’re not sure what to do with your family this spring break, look no further than the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library resource page. There you’ll find access to an abundance of electronic resources sure to peak your family’s interest no matter the destination.

To make your job a little easier, we’ve selected a few resources sure to be a hit with the family this spring break. Try checking out our rentable Wi-Fi Hotspots. Just remember to place your hold early because these convenient devices are in high demand.

Resources

Instantly borrow e-books, comics, audiobooks, music, movies and television — with no holds, and no waiting via hoopla. There's no need to worry about late fees because hoopla features an automated service that returns an item when it's due. Content can be streamed to computers, tablets or smartphones, and can be downloaded to mobile devices to allow for offline viewing any time. You can check out up to six items from hoopla each month.

Only interested in seeing content for kids and families? Toggle through the account page and put hoopla into kids mode on your computer or in settings on the hoopla app. Kids mode replicates the experience children might have in the children's section of the library. Need help deciding or navigating hoopla? Use this tutorial to learn more.

Mango is a language-learning software with over 70 world language courses and over 17 English as a second language courses that features an engaging user interface, voice comparison, fresh design, foreign-language films and cultural anecdotes.

NC Kids Digital Library offers e-books, audiobooks, streaming videos and Read-Alongs.  This collection specifically was designed for youth ages pre-K through fourth grade and includes picture books, youth fiction and youth nonfiction. Browsing can be done by subject, format or genre, and the advanced search feature allows filtering by availability, language and date added. Titles are accessed via OverDrive. OverDrive titles can be accessed from your desktop using OverDrive Read or Listen.  Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

To check out items from the NC Kids Digital Library, click sign in on the upper right side of the page. Select Charlotte Mecklenburg Library from the list of libraries and enter your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number (a number all Charlotte-Mecklenburg School students have). Cardholders can check out up to five items at a time. No holds are allowed on NC Digital Kids Library items.

OverDrive is a collection of e-books and digital audiobooks offered by the library. E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, (including Kindle) or mobile device. OverDrive e-book titles can be read online using OverDrive Read and audiobooks can be listened to online using OverDrive Listen. Streaming video is also available.  Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. Check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period. Place holds on items that are checked out. Return items when you are finished, or they automatically are returned when they are due, so you never accumulate late fees. Need help with OverDrive? Try out this tutorial to familiarize yourself.

OverDrive eReading Room: Kids Collection offers e-books, digital audiobooks and streaming videos. The Kids Collection includes picture books, youth fiction and youth nonfiction. Kids can browse, sample, place holds and borrow titles appropriate for their age range and reading level. No adult content appears in search results.

OverDrive titles can be accessed from a desktop using OverDrive Read or Listen. Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android. All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. You can check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period.

The OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection site filters the library's OverDrive collection to show only teen content, which gets teens to the titles they want faster. Browse by subject, format or genre, and the advanced search feature allows filtering by availability, language and date added.

Click on the Main Collection icon to return to the full OverDrive collection of digital materials. OverDrive titles can be accessed from a desktop computer using OverDrive Read or Listen. Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. You can check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period.

"101 Family Vacation Games Have Fun While Traveling, Camping or Celebrating at Home" by Shando Varda includes new and old games from all around the world for parents to explore with their families and engage their children in a positive and fun-filled way. For families with children ages 4 and older.

Be sure to join Community Read 2019. Read books, join discussions and help make Mecklenburg County a stronger community.

Dana Eure, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's branch channel leader, made a guest appearance on WCNC's "Charlotte Today" on March 14, 2019, and shared A Trip to Ireland with five books. 

Adult fiction

The Green Road by Anne Enright

Spanning thirty years, [this book] tells the story of Rosaleen, matriarch of the Madigans, a family on the cusp of either coming together or falling irreparably apart. As they grow up, Rosaleen's four children leave the west of Ireland for lives they could have never imagined in Dublin, New York, and Mali, West Africa. In her early old age, their difficult, wonderful mother announces that she's decided to sell the house and divide the proceeds. Her adult children come back for a last Christmas, with the feeling that their childhoods are being erased, their personal history bought and sold.

Adult nonfiction

Maeve’s Times: In Her Own Words by Maeve Binchy

Collects the best of the author's essays from five decades of the "Irish Times" to reflect a changing culture as well as her observations on such topics as the royal wedding, waitressing, and boring airline companions.

Picture book

S is for Shamrock: An Ireland Alphabet by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Matt Faulkner. From A to Z, Ireland is presented in poetry, prose, and illustrations. Topics include Blarney Stone, Finn McCool, fairy rings, and shamrocks.

Youth fiction

Boxcar Children: Legend of the Irish created by Gertrude Chandler Warner, illustrated by Anthony VanArsdale. The Aldens travel to Ireland to explore castles. While visiting Duncarraig Castle the children discover a cloaked figure roaming around.

Teen fiction

Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch.  Addie hopes that the road trip of a lifetime through the rolling hills of Ireland will not only bring the romance and adventure she so desperately seeks but also help fix the shattered relationship she has with her brother Ian after secrets come to the surface. When she discovers the guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, will it heal her broken heart... and her relationship with her brother?

As we head into week 3, we’re happily overwhelmed by the number of people reading, sharing and discussing the books for Community Read 2019 and we hope even more people will join in. This year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community has come out in full force for Community Read. If you’re just getting into Community Read 2019, though, don’t worry! There are still plenty of great programs and events lined up both through the Library and our community partners (see below for more information.) Don’t forget to pledge and we’ll see you at an event this week! Please share your experiences on social media, using the hashtag - #CommunityRead2019

So, what’s been happening during the first two weeks? There have been powerful discussions and events. During week 2, community helpers made a difference by sharing their time with the community they serve. At locations like Scaleybark Library and Independence Regional Library, police officers, firefighters and librarians shared stories, songs and other fun activities while engaging with families in the community. 

Community partners also addressed issues of concerns within the Charlotte community. A program at Johnson C. Smith University packed the James B. Duke Memorial Library with residents and youths as trial attorney, Civil Rights Activist and community organizer Toussaint C. Romain delivered a passionate and honest discussion on The Hate U Give. Director of Library Services and Curation Monika Rhue said, “The program was very successful. It was good to have the community in collaboration with JCSU’s students, faculty and staff engage in this conversation.”

Another community partner, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, organized events around wellness to celebrate Community Read. Visiting author Damaris Hill and additional Charlotte organizations scheduled a day focused on using arts and literature to align the mind and body as important issues within the community were addressed. Teens and adults from the Charlotte-area shared personal experience while participated in writing and storytelling workshops and yoga.

Open Books. Open Minds.

It is not too late! There’s still time to get involved and do more in your community. Pledge online to participate, read the books and create a stronger community. Attend author visits happening around Charlotte to be inspired. Audiobooks and e-books of The Hate U Give are still available for no-wait downloads during the entire month of March.

Here is a list of just some of the events going on around Charlotte during week 3 of Community Read 2019:
 

Adults and Teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Community Read: The Hate U Give Community Dialogue Event
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 5:30 p.m. at Plaza Midwood Library
Join in a community dialogue event facilitated by the Library, in partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and discuss the situations Starr and Khalil faced in the novel as well as related current events. Recommended for adults and teens ages 15+. Space is limited. Registration required. Learn more 

Community Read: From Page to Screen: The Hate U Give
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Morrison Regional Teen Area
Whether you already love the book or want to watch the movie before reading it, join us for the film adaptation of The Hate U Give. See the story brought to life! This movie is rated PG-13. Learn more 

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at Main Library, Dowd Foundation Learning Studio
Join Spoken Word poetry coach Jah Smalls to find your voice, both in writing, editing and performing your poetry. This workshop is open to teens and adults, no experience is necessary. Attendance at both sessions is recommended. Participants will have an opportunity to perform at the Poetry Month Kickoff event on April 6th. Learn more 

Community Read: College and Career Connections: Newscaster Fred Shropshire​
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 3 p.m. at Hickory Grove Library
Teens, meet Fred Shropshire, news anchor for Channel 36, Charlotte. Learn about his career in broadcasting. We will discuss media bias and common stereotypes of minorities in the media, as well as ways to strengthen community.  Learn more 

Middle Grades: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Community Read: Drop-in Wishtree Activity
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Morrison Regional
Come write a wish to put on our wish tree! We will collect all the wishes to create an art piece at the end of March. Learn more

Community Read-Wishtree Tree Identification
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Myers Park Library
Drop in and participate in our special tree identification activity inspired by the children's fiction book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Pick up a tree identification sheet, see how many trees you can identify on our library's grounds, show the sheet to a staff member and take home a sapling (baby tree) to plant! (Trees available while supply lasts). Learn more

Story Explorers: Wishtree
Monday, March 18, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. at West Boulevard
Explore books and stories in creative ways and get your own tree seedling to plant! This March the theme will be Wishtree. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree: Forestry, Homeschool Rocks!
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 – 1 p.m. at University City Regional, Storytime Room Homeschool students are invited to join us as we learn about forestry, ecology and trees in North Carolina. Enjoy a special guest appearance by Smokey Bear. This program is in celebration of Community Read selection Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Learn more

Community Read: LEGO Program Wishtree Edition
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Plaza Midwood Library
This week at Lego Club we will be celebrating nature and community as we talk about the book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We will learn about trees and their importance in our community and build nature scenes with our LEGOs. Learn more

Community Read Wishtree: Rookie Science Jr - Forestry
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Morrison Regional Library, Children's Programming Room 
Discover the world of science through books, hands-on educational activities, and experiments. This month, we talk about the Community Read book Wishtree and learn about the forest from the NC Forest Service. This program is for ages 4-6 and registration is required. Learn more

Community Read Wishtree: Rookie Science - Forestry
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Morrison Regional Library, Children's Programming Room 
Discover the world of science through books, hands-on educational activities, and experiments. This month, we talk about the Community Read book Wishtree and learn about the forest from the NC Forest Service. This program is for ages 7-11 and registration is required. Learn more

Community Read Book Club: Wishtree
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. at Cornelius Library 
Join us as we read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. New members welcome! Learn more

Community Read Story Explorers: The Five Languages of Love
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 12:30 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
Explore books and stories in creative ways through interactive activities including math, science, games, and more! Two of our Community Read titles this month deal with the issues of love and acceptance: Love by Matt de la Pena and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. In this special program, we will learn about the five different ways that people express and receive love (inspired by a study by Dr. Gary Chapman), discuss both titles, make a love-themed literacy activity to take home with you, and contribute to a temporary ImaginOn wish tree. Learn more

Children: Love by Matt de la Peña 

Community Read: The Love Scavenger Hunt
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Myers Park
Drop in and participate in our special literacy scavenger hunt activity inspired the children's picture book Love by Matt de la Peña. Complete this activity and receive a prize! Learn more

Community Read: Community Helper Storytime
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library
Bring your family out to join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña and other stories with your favorite community helpers. Enjoy stories, songs, with police officers, firefighters, and more! For ages 0 - 5. Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 11:30 a.m. at University City Regional Library
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña. We will also have songs, rhymes, and movement activities featuring love in all its different forms. Learn more

In the spirit of Community Read, keep reading the books, keep participating in events and keep doing more to improve lives in your community.