Situated conveniently off I-85 and Beatties Ford Road, Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library is located in the Lincoln Heights community in Charlotte’s Historic West End.

Formerly Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, Allegra Westbrooks Regional is the only Charlotte Mecklenburg Library named for an individual. Ms. Westbrooks began her career with the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County in 1947. Prior to desegregation, she managed the only library serving African American residents in Charlotte at the time—the Brevard Street Library for Negroes. Ms. Westbrooks was promoted to Supervisor of Branches in 1957, making her the first African American public library supervisor in North Carolina. She served in this role for many years until her retirement in 1984. Ms. Westbrooks passed away in April 2017 at the age of 96.

Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library welcomes customers from many neighborhoods along and around busy Beatties Ford Road serving a diverse community of readers, learners, job seekers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and more. A variety of library programs are offered including multiple book clubs, a multigenerational chess club, technology classes, and Storytime among others. Collections include a diverse selection of materials such as fiction and non-fiction titles in multiple world languages, African-American fiction collection and African-American and religion non-circulating collections.

Located just over a mile away from the Library is Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte’s only   historically Black college/university (HBCU) and West Complex,  “the largest culturally centered placemaking project on the West Side.” Unique community organizations like For the Struggle, Inc.  and Beatties Ford Road Vocational Training Center can also be found just blocks away from Allegra Westbrooks Regional. Well-established eateries like West End Fresh Seafood Market and Original Chicken and Ribs along with newcomer Archive CLT, a local staff favorite.

New residents may find support through the Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigrant Integration , Refugee Health – Mecklenburg County Public Health, and Refugee Support Services. Are you new to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library – 2412 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, NC 28216 | 704-416-3000
• Archive CLT – 2023 Beatties Ford Rd Suite D Charlotte, NC 28216 | 980-349-5595
• Beatties Ford Road Vocational Training Center –  1406 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216 | 980-349-4067
• For the Struggle, Inc – 1420 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, NC 28216 | 704-800-6628
• Johnson C. Smith University – 100 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, NC 28216 | 704-378-1000
• Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigrant Inclusion – 600 E. Trade St Charlotte, NC 28202 | 704-336-1264
• Original Chicken and Ribs – 1100 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, N 28216 | 704-3322902
• Refugee Health – Mecklenburg Count Public Health – 2845 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, NC 28216 | 980-314-9470
• Refugee Support Services – 3925 Willard Farrow Dr Charlotte, NC 28215 | 704-458-3245
• West End Fresh Seafood Market – 2206 Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte, NC 28216 | 704-398-9001

This blog post was written by Alesha Lackey, regional manager for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade has been bringing a mile of smiles to Charlotteans and worldwide viewers since 1947.  The one-mile long parade that runs down 9th Street to Stonewall has gained a reputation of becoming the fourth largest parade in the country attracting over 110,000 live spectators and 1.5 million TV viewers. Elaborately decorated floats, performances, celebrities, marching bands, and the carousel princesses are the reason why people continue to look forward to and enjoy the spectacle each year.  

John M. Belk., the former chairman and CEO of Belk, Inc., started the Carousel Parade and scholarship program to attract more shoppers to Belk. Carolinas’ Carousel, a charitable organization, recognizes high school students and marching bands who achieve academic excellence. In 2013, the parade’s legacy almost came to a close until Novant Health stepped up to become the parade’s new sponsor.  

Part of the scholarship program are the Carousel Princesses, who represent various North and South Carolina towns. Princesses ride in the parade and participate in two full days of activities similar to a debutante ball. Activities include a mayor’s luncheon, a special tour and reception at Queens College, a Coronation Ball of the Royal Society of the Knights of Carousel where a new king is appointed, a dinner at Radio Center and a football game. There is also a post-parade reception and dance called the “Queens Buffet,” where the new queen is appointed. Historically, princesses were presented with a variety of cash prizes and gifts, but the queen got to choose a beautiful evening dress valued at $100. 

Be sure to come out or watch the parade this Thanksgiving on November 28, 2019 at 9 a.m. to see why this has been a favorite tradition for several decades! 

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

Citations: 
https://www.charlottecentercity.org/belk-carolinas-carrousel-parade-is-back/ 
http://novanthealththanksgivingparade.com/ 
https://cmlibrary.org/blog/library-links-woman-pageant-past 

In the aftermath of World War I, a number of volunteers from American agencies went overseas to help with the return to peacetime and to assist the military with other projects. Annie Lee Hoffman was one of these volunteers, serving on behalf of the YMCA.

The early life of Annie Hoffman

Annie was born on August 9, 1887 in Morganton, North Carolina to Julius and Martha Hoffman. She attended Oxford Seminary in Oxford, NC where she studied office administration.  Later, she moved to Rocky Mount, NC where she was employed as a private stenographer. At the time Annie volunteered overseas, she was the Nash County Court Stenographer. 

Annie joins the YMCA

The mission of the YMCA is to operate as a Christian service to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.  It was established in London, England in June 1844 in response to “unhealthy social conditions” resulting from the Industrial Revolution in large cities. In 1914, the YMCA turned its attention to providing support and wholesome pursuits for troops fighting for Britain and her empire. Examples of services provided include supplying men with writing paper, film showings, libraries, religious services, concert parties, folk dancing and educational lectures.     



The YMCA opened its doors for women in July 1917.  Prior to this, Americans did not believe that women could hold up to the physical and mental strain of war work. Women certainly proved these ideas wrong by serving as nurses, surgeons, chaplains, chaplain's assistants, distributors of medical supplies and distributors of food and clothing. Some women also served on the battlefield with horse drawn canteens that had built and staffed a kitchen, hotel and a hospital. Women volunteers also provided male soldiers with free meals and taught men to read and write.

(Left): This movement order allowed Annie to serve with the French YMCA. At this time, she was not doing front line work and was advised to sightsee. (Right): Annie and other women serving as YMCA volunteers.

By 1918, over 300 YMCA centers existed in France. There were approximately 1,700 volunteers in French YMCAs, mostly women. Each center offered a canteen, chapel, concert hall, library, game room and classroom.

 

Annie leaves the YMCA

Throughout her travels, Annie kept a detailed account of foreign lands laying in ruins during the war. Her papers, held in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, contain extensive letters that she wrote to her mother and sisters in the form of a diary.



After she was honorably discharged from her volunteer service in 1919, she returned to Rocky Mount. She later died at age of 97 in her hometown on October 9,1984.

 (Left): Annie’s discharge papers, which allowed her to serve on the front line. All volunteers had to complete a medical and physical examination in order to determine where they can serve. (Right): Honorable discharge papers with record of service.

Want to learn more about Annie Lee Hoffman’s service overseas during World War I? Visit the Carolina Room on the third floor of Main Library!

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

References:

Annie Lee Hoffman Papers, 1909-1926. Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

"Our History- A Brief History of the YMCA Movement.” YMCA. Accessed November 2019. http://www.mfldymca.org/about_us/history_national.php.

By now, you’ve probably seen images of Queen Charlotte plastered across Charlotte Mecklenburg Library social media accounts. The Queen, who arrived in her city-namesake in September 2019, has been on the move since she got here. While her presence has taken the city by storm, it’s also left many residents and visitors asking the question: Why is the Queen here?

Because she never made it to Charlotte during her lifetime, that’s why.

Most importantly, Queen Charlotte, who has been immortalized in cardboard thanks to our friends at the Mint Museum and our own Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, is meant to bring awareness to the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room as a treasure trove of historical and geneaological resources. She is also meant to be a fun, unifying, educational, conversational and engaging addition to the Charlotte community. The Queen will tour "Crown Town" for approximately one year – learning about the city and the way Charlotteans live life. She will also educate and liaise with the community along the way.

Queen Charlotte was initially prompted to visit Charlotte when she received news from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Historian-in-Residence, Tom Hanchett, that the iconic Dairy Queen on Central Avenue in Plaza-Midwood was due to close this fall. She was devastated yet intrigued.

The Queen reported that she previously heard news of a rapidly expanding and changing Charlotte. It alarmed her that she could miss out on discovering the essence of what makes the Queen City regal. So, she challenged herself to visit as many historical landmarks in the city as she can– with plans to meet residents and have fun along the way.

And the Queen is having fun, indeed! Since her September arrival, the Queen has:

• Said her goodbyes to the Dairy Queen on Central Avenue
• Signed up for a Library card during Library Card Sign-Up Month
• Had tea and pastries with Marie Antoinette and our friends at the Amelie’s French Café & Bakery flagship location (setting the record straight regarding their upcoming one-mile move deeper into NoDa)
• Participated in a StoryWalk with award-winning author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi
• Accompanied Library staff for their annual Staff Day event to Carowinds (she even rode the Carolina Skytower!)
• Attended the Fall Fest and Grand Re-Opening of North County Regional Library (where she got to meet North Carolina State Librarian, Timothy Owens!)
• Participated in early voting during the Mecklenburg County 2019 election
• Made new friends at EpicFest 2019
• Visited the popular Portal Interactive Gathering Rooms and had a little too much fun in the Benjamin Franklin room, promoting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s CommonSpark Campaign.

The Queen has been busy, but she’s not done enjoying herself.

All friends of the Library are encouraged to follow the Library on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to keep up with the Queen. And, if you see her around town, don’t be shy. Take a photo with her instead.

Be sure to post your photos on social media with the hashtag #QueentakestheQueen so that the Library and all the Queens people can follow her adventures. Using the hashtag will also help the Queen look back fondly on her time spent in Charlotte when she returns to the past in September of 2020.

Afraid you won’t get a chance to meet the Queen? No worries! Starting on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Library visitors can find Queen Charlotte (and snap a photo or two) in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room on the third floor of Main Library where she will begin residential hours.

The Queen looks forward to meeting you soon!

Have ideas of places Queen Charlotte should visit around the city or neighboring towns? Send suggestions or invitations with the subject "QueentakestheQueen" to [email protected].

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This blog was written by Asha Ellison, marketing & communications specialist at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A new Christmas tradition in Charlotte, you say? Bah, humbug!

Take a break from shopping and come sip some cider with us and celebrate the true spirit of the holidays. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (www.cmlibrary.org), Charlotte Center for Literary Arts (www.charlottelit.org), Charlotte Film Society (www.charlottefilmsociety.com), and Children's Theatre of Charlotte (www.ctcharlotte.org) are partnering on a terrific event again this year: our 2nd annual marathon read-aloud of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, paired with a film screening of the book's adaptation by Jim Henson, The Muppet Christmas Carol.

The marathon book reading will take place at ImaginOn on Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 12-4 p.m.in the StoryJar area. Join us for group caroling starting at 12:15, and the reading itself will begin at 1 p.m., featuring 30 local Charlotte performers and authors reading the book from start to finish. Bring the family or come by yourself. Pop in and out, or stay for the whole thing! And it's a Super Saturday, so the Holiday Harps will be in the building for additional ambiance!

Then join us for a screening of one of A Christmas Carol’s most famous film adaptations on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 2 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Playhouse at ImaginOn.

The library is providing hot cider and ginger snaps for both events. Tacky holiday sweaters are encouraged. All who come are welcome. We hope you join us for this fantastic free weekend!

Children are home from schools, families are in town to visit and sometimes you can’t think of something new or different to do. Or maybe you just need to find a place to escape! Look no further than the Library for great ideas during Winter Break!

Below is highlight of the programs available across all Library locations. The Library has a full list of programs and events available during the Winter Break, with offerings for all ages. There’s no way you can be bored with all the learning and exploring you can do! Check your local branch calendar for all activities, or search system-wide and find a new program at a branch in a different area.

(Holiday hours: All Libraries will close on December 23, 2019 at 5 p.m. and are closed December 24, 25 and 26, 2019, reopening on December 27 at 9 a.m. Please check local branches for Sunday hours. On December 31, 2019 all Libraries will close at 5 p.m., are closed on January 1, 2020. All Libraries will reopen on January 2, 2010 with regular hours.)

Adults

Looking for technology help of any kind from learning how to use Microsoft Word to setting up an email account? Or did you receive new devices during the holidays and need help setting them up? The Library offers many Technology Tutoring classes.Times may vary at each location. Click below.

Technogology Tutoring

Saturday, December 28

Main Library 9:30 am  to 10:00 am Click here

University City 10 am to 12 pm  Click here

Beatties Ford Road Library 10 am to 12 pm   Click here

Independence Boulevard (in Spanish) 2 pm to 3 pm  Click here

Monday, December 30, 2019 - Morrison Library 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm  Click here

Healthcare Navigator

Friday, December 27, 2019 9 am to 4 pm. Do you need health insurance? Do you have questions about your coverage? Speak with a Health Insurance Navigator from the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy for help with Marketplace coverage through the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare. These appointments are FREE. Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment with a Navigator can do so by calling 1-855-733-3711 or going online to ncnavigator.net.  West Boulevard Library  Click here

Billy Wilder Film Series

Saturday, December 28, 2019 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Join us as we screen and discuss three works from one of Hollywood's most acclaimed directors. The last film in our series is The Lost Weekend (1945). Morrison Library  Click here

Genealogy Discussion Group

Thursday, January 2, 2019 1 pm - 2:30 pm Do you have a family mystery to solve or a favorite relative you would like to learn more about? Join the Matthews Genealogy Discussion Group! You can explore resources in the library, community, and online. Learn how to search, evaluate, organize, and share your discoveries. Newcomers and experienced researchers are welcome! Matthews Library Click here 

Genealogy One-on-One

Thursday, January 2, 2019 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm Learn to trace your roots and family history in an individualized one-on-one session. Learn how to get started and tips for research. University City Library Click here

1-on-1 Adult Reading Support Session

Thursday, January 2, 2019 9 am to  8 pm Increase your reading confidence, fluency and comprehension by reading aloud with a library volunteer/staff member during a 30-minute one-on-one session. Beatties Ford Road Library Click here

Teens

Measure Up Cooking: Cooking on a Budget

Monday, December 23, 2019 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Learn how to source, select and prepare healthy to go foods on a budget. This program will detail helpful tips for teens and first-time college goers living on a budget. Beatties Ford Road Regional, Randolph Room  Click here 

Community Service Project

Saturday, December 28, 2019 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Do you want to help the Library with improving lives and building a stronger community? Join us for a unique service project where you can earn community service hours, while also giving back to the city of Charlotte. Independence Regional   Click here 

Teen Anime Club

Thursday, January 2, 2020 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Participate in a discussion about anime, manga and the Japanese language, history, and culture. University City Regional, Teen Corner  Click here 

Preteens

STEAM 101: Virtual Reality for Preteens

Tuesday, December 31, 2019 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.  Experiment and explore new technologies. This session we'll be working with Virtual Reality. North County Regional, Makerspace Room A  Click here 

Children

Winter Festival

December 30, 2019  1 pm to 3 pm  Join us as we celebrate the new season with storytelling, literacy activities, music, treats and more for the entire family to enjoy. Beatties Ford Road  Click here 

New Year's Eve at Noon

December 31, 2019  1 pm – 3 pm. Cheers! Celebrate with the kids during an early New Year’s Eve at noon at several branch locations:

Cornelius   Click here

Morrison  Click here

Myers Park  Click here



Snowflakes

January 2. 2019 1 pm – 2 pm. The beautiful ice crystals we call snowflakes are a magnificent work of art created by nature. Learn all about these unique crystals and the man who photographed them, Snowflake Bentley. Ages 5-11. Mountain Island  Click here

On Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 2:30-3:30 p.m., renowned artist Martha Clippinger will discuss the inspiration behind and the process she used to create "Open Stacks," the new public artwork at North County Regional Library.

The plaque on her artwork reads: "In Open Stacks, two-and three-dimensional elements combine to create a colorful mural reflecting the act of reading. Horizontal planks exist on the wall, like text on a page. Blocks of jewel like colors leap from one plank to another, skipping from left to right and back again. The movement created by these arrangements of colors guide our eyes back and forth across the page. Where the words of a text remained fixed to the paper, our imagination transforms the author's words into visions of our own."

Martha is a Durham-based artist who was born and raised in the textile town of Columbus, Georgia. Her father sold shirts, her grandfather was a quilter and her ancestors were cotton-mill workers. Her rich and creative history led her to become a textile artist.

Most of Martha’s pieces are quilts that take 50-60 hours to create. They consist of highly saturated colors and lighter ones with corduroy, polyester and seersucker textures. Her first quilt, made in 2000, was formed with patches from one of her father's shirts and the patches were evenly cut to make grids.

Martha is no stranger to having her masterpieces put on public display. She’s had exhibits in the Smith Gallery at Appalachian State University, The Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill, the Southampton Arts Center in Southampton, New York, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, Lexington, Kentucky and the Ella Pratt Gallery at the Durham Arts Council.

Martha attended Fordham University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She has received grants and numerous awards.

In 2013, Martha received a Fulbright-Garcia Robles research grant to complete work in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2014, she was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Letters Purchase Award and, in 2017, she received the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council.

Come out and learn more about Martha and her work on Saturday.

Learn more and register here

Photo courtesy of Chris Hildreth

NOTICE: This blog was updated on October 6, 2021 to reflect that the Robinson-Spanger Carolina Room is currently closed to the public.

October is Family History Month, but the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room offers access to historical and genealogical resources all year long. In celebration of discovering family ties, Carolina Room staff interviewed Sue Abbate, a family history researcher, who used Carolina Room librarians and resources to find her birth parents. 

“It was a major moment in my life. It was like these invisible puzzle pieces finally shifted and started to fit together.”  

Sue (left) with her mother, Terry (right).

How the story begins

Sue was adopted as a newborn by John and Mary Ann through Catholic Social Services. She had a wonderful childhood, growing up in a small town in Arizona, but always had a deep curiosity about her biological parents. She often wondered: Who did she look like? Where did her sense of humor come from? Did she share any of the same mannerisms with someone else? She remembers writing a letter to the adoption agency once when she was in high school, but never sent it. 

Sue’s curiosity intensified as she married and had children of her own. “I couldn’t imagine having my daughter and not taking her home,” Sue explained. "Me and my friends sometimes share birth stories [from each pregnancy], which made me really want to know more about my own birth story.”  With both of her adoptive parents having passed away years ago, Sue felt free to one day see if she could find her birth mom. 

A DNA discovery

In December 2017, Sue’s youngest daughter, Amanda, almost 16, encouraged her to send in a 23andMe DNA test to get more information on their medical history. “We sent our tests in but I didn’t expect anything other than the basic stuff, like our ethnic identities, medical information and other types of results.”  Sue remembers not thinking much about the adoption angle, as it didn’t cross her mind that she might actually find her birth parents. 

Shortly after receiving the results online that March, they were contacted by Dana who said they were related by blood. Sue was excited that they had found a family member only hours after the results had been posted. “We were so surprised that someone reached out to us so quickly. Dana knew we were related, but she didn’t know how.  I was a mystery to her.” According to the DNA, Dana could tell that they were second cousins on Sue’s father’s side. Dana investigated our new relationship that weekend, and determined that her mom’s cousin, Joe, was Sue’s birth father.  Dana shared Sue’s contact information with Joe, who then contacted Sue. “I never thought I would know who my birth dad was. Maybe I would somehow find my birth mom, but not him.”  

Sue and Joe had a long conversation about his life and family. Sue learned that she was one of 10 kids (7 biological and 3 step). Joe had been married three times. Sue also learned that her biological mother’s name is Terry. Joe explained that their relationship hadn’t been serious and that he left to serve in Vietnam shortly after Terry found out she was pregnant. The two of them hadn’t kept in contact. 

But, wait. There's...more  

After getting Terry’s name from Joe, Sue said “I immediately started to search online for her. I even messaged a few people on Facebook with the same last name. I posted online about my excitement about this new chapter in my life.” It was at that moment that the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room’s Senior Librarian, Shelia Bumgarner, became part of Sue’s story:  

“Helping Sue locate her birth Mom, Terry, was one of the biggest highlights of my career. Armed with only a name, location and birth year, I started my search. I remembered that Sue said Terry was Catholic, so when I came across a Catholic High School Annual in Ancestry.com, I immediately clicked on the resource. When I saw the photo of Terry, my jaw dropped-- it was like staring at a young Sue with bigger hair. This finding led me to conduct more genealogical research, tracing Terry’s family back for several generations. I also found Terry’s current phone number and address. I called Sue to share my findings and we were both so happy and close to tears. I am so happy for Sue. It was a perfect ending to hear that she spoke to her birth mother that night. I really felt chuffed for a few days. All of my experience and knowledge had come into play to connect two people separated by time and circumstances.” 

Shelia also found the obituary of Terry’s mother, which mentioned Terry’s children’s names as survivors. “All of a sudden I had a mother and more half-siblings!” Sue excitedly explained. She said she felt “an adrenaline rush and overwhelming excitement, followed by anxiety and a strange mix of emotions.” 

Mamma mia! 

Sue turned to Facebook again to see if she could connect with any of her half-siblings on her mother’s side. She found Rachel and decided to message her for Terry’s number. Sue didn’t tell Rachel who she was— she wanted to keep the matter between her and Terry, in case Rachel didn’t know. Little did she know, Terry had told Rachel, and her son, Matt, about Sue just a few months earlier. When Rachel called Terry to tell her about Sue contacting her, she said “Mom, your other daughter is trying to get in touch with you.” Terry called Sue on the phone that night and Sue remembers being speechless several times. 

Over the course of the next few months, Sue got to meet both Joe and Terry, Rachel and Matt. Connections were made, relationships were started and some questions were answered. Joe and Sue’s older daughter, Emily, share a love of engineering. Joe and Sue have the same sense of humor. Sue learned about family she never thought she would ever meet. Sue immediately felt a strong connection with Terry. 

A meeting between Terry and Sue.

When Shelia found an online photo of Terry from high school, Sue saw an uncanny resemblance to a photo of herself taken at the same age.  When they met, Sue remembers “We had lunch and we kept catching ourselves staring at each other. We are so similar that I know exactly what I’m going to look like when I’m 70.”    

Terry's high school photo (left) and a picture from Sue's passport (right).

When asked what her first moments were like with her biological mother, she replied, “That hug healed me to my core.” Sue explained how she had always felt a sense of holding back to protect herself from the unknown. “I don’t know if I felt abandoned, like other adoptees feel. I knew [Terry] did the best she could by making the most loving choice in giving me up for adoption.”  

Pieces to peace

Sue is over the moon that her biological parents were willing to meet her and answer questions that she’s had her entire life. “Do you start with the now? Do you start with what happened before? How do you navigate? It’s definitely a dance.”   

The adoption agency had a fire that destroyed Sue’s birth records, so the DNA test through 23andMe was her only chance at finding her family. “It was truly life changing. Genealogy is such a great way to learn about history based on your own family’s history.”    

Sue’s greatest hope is to learn more about who she is, where she came from and where these new relationships with her biological family will go. “It’s bizarre and comforting at the same time. It's like we are blood strangers. We share DNA, but what do we talk about?” 

New and emerging family ties.

Sue summarized her journey by speaking to how blessed she felt when Shelia saw her Facebook post. “It moved me how librarians in the Carolina Room were so excited to work with me. Having that support was incredible. It was more than just help. Shelia went above and beyond to help me find the answers, and family, I never thought I’d have.”



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NOTE: The Carolina Room is currently closed to the public as Main Library prepares to close this fall for a total replacement project.  Click here for contact information and available services.

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, December 12, 2019 and shared six of the best titles of 2019.
 

Click here to search titles

Adult fiction
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
A mesmerizing novel about a college town transformed by a strange illness that locks victims in a perpetual sleep and triggers life altering dreams.

Adult nonfiction
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
A economic-hardship journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
"From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world--where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she)."

Teen fiction
Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh
Fifteen-year-old Plum and her older sister Ginny find their relationship tested by family finances, personality differences, and the secrets they are keeping from each other.

Youth fiction
Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan
Eleven-year-old aspiring writer Louisa considers traveling the world with her globetrotting parents, but friendship with George helps her to see her grandparents' farm on Deer Island in a new light.

Picture Books
Another by Christian Robinson
"A young girl and her cat take an imaginative journey into another world."

NOTE: This blog is the first in a series on the history of winter holidays. This series will also cover Moravian Christmas and Kwanzza. 

 Hanukkah is celebrated from the evening of December 22 to the evening of December 30. Often called the "Festival of Lights," Hanukkah dates to 200 BC when Judah Maccabee led the Maccabees in a successful rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, a late text, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.  

The word Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple. During the second century BCE, the people of Israel were forced by their ruler, the Seleucids, to accept Greek beliefs instead of the traditional mitzvah beliefs. The small army of Jews led by Judah the Maccabee eventually drove the Greeks out and reclaimed the Holy Temple and rededicated it to God. The Jews used olive oil to light the Temple’s Holy Menorah after they found one olive oil branch that was in possession of the Greeks. The flame lasted eight days, thus starting the tradition of Hannukah.  

The Menorah is the main symbol of Hanukkah, which holds nine candles. The family chooses their finest menorah to glorify God. There are a few important requirements to light the Menorah: candles must burn for 30 minutes before nightfall, all candles must be the same  height, candles must be lit left to right, and the Shamash candle must be the tallest. Menorahs are placed in front windows or porches when lit. The Shamash (middle candle) is lit while saying the blessing along with an additional candle each night. By the last night of Hanukkah all nine candles are lit.  

Hanukkah instills several important life lessons: to never be afraid to stand up for what’s right, always increase in matters of goodness and Torah observance, a little light goes a long way, take it to the streets, and don’t be ashamed to perform mitzvahs. 

Some traditional foods enjoyed are the potato latke (pancake) garnished with sour cream or applesauce and the jelly-filled sufganya(doughnut). The Hallel prayer is recited after meals to offer praise for God for His miracles, salvations, and wonders.  



Jewish children enjoy the holiday with toys and gifts. The dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a popular game. The words num, gimmel,hei and shin are on each side and form an acronym, “nes gadol hayah sham,” that translates to “a great miracle happened here.” It is common for children to receive gifts on each night of Hanukkah. One of the most popular gifts is                       

gelt, which is money that the receiving child often donates to charities. 

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Photos courtesy of: The Chicago Tribune, The Spruce Eats and My Jewish Learning

Citations:  

“How to Light the Haunkah Menorah and Recite The Hanukkah Prayers.” Learnreligions.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-light-the-chanukah-menorah-2076507  

“What is Hanukkah?” Chabad.org. Accessed December 2019. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htm