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.

 

--

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.

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.

I often find myself relating my feelings with music as it seems to express my sentiments exactly when my own words fail me. Other times, I'll read a sentence confirming, once again, I'm not alone in the ongoing negative sequences specifically related to Black folks. Solange’s album A Seat at the Table, and Amanda Seales’ book Small Doses made me feel seen and heard as a Black woman. While it's been four years since the release of Solange's most notable album and one year since Amanda Seales' debut book release, the need for acknowledgment by other Black women is still ever-present. Solange’s album and Amanda Seales’ book gave me a presence as a Black woman. My words no longer fail me, and hopefully, others will feel seen and heard as well. Below, you will find lyrics and thoughts from Solange Knowles and Amanda Seales accompanied by my interpretation of their work.

“Word,” a shortened phrase from "Word is bond," is used in a sentence as a question, comment or statement. It means "truth" or "I speak truth."

Ex:

"Word is bond, I checked out 99 books yesterday."

"Word? 99 books. Say, word."

"Word."

Word to Solange and Amanda Seales

"Don't touch my soul/ When it's the rhythm I know."-- Solange

Having to move through life always on the defense, while our white colleagues whimsically live life on the offense, inserting themselves in conversations instead of listening, and claiming allyship with bare minimum effort while audaciously high expectations of reward and recognition. Knowing your smile isn't owed to anyone but expected to soften the blow of truth because fragile feelings take precedence. This is the price you pay when you're Black and work in corporate America.

"When they go low, we keep the same energy."-- Amanda Seales

This is the thought process of every person of color when dealing with colleagues — or any person who checks the "white" box on survey sheets — who meets them with microaggressions, racial complicity or bias. Unfortunately (and fortunately for others), our way of action is often, if not always, a watered-down version of the reflection. We must always remain professional and calm in the face of clear wrongdoings because our tone, body language and facial expressions are heavily considered before our words. Even still, when armed with facts and professionalism, your chances of being called into Human Resources are often too great. To anyone who's lived life at the center of everyone else's world, accountability will always feel like an attack.

"Don't test my mouth/ they say the truth is my sound." -- Solange

2020 called out and urged organizations to state their position in the movement of racial injustice and inequity. Across industries, companies have filled their leadership boards of vital decision-makers. Where diversity lacked, there was an acknowledgment and pledge to diversify. While leadership roles are important, it's the critical roles of decision making that are important to have filled by people of color — especially if your organization magnifies its efforts with equity and diversity training across departments. Yet still, it doesn't reflect its diversity speech in administration roles.

The promises of tomorrow with what can be done today gives little hope to those who believe in the companies they work for. It gives, "We want your opinions, but we'll box them up and store them in the basement for never later" vibes.

"Don't touch my crown/ they say the vision I've found."-- Solange

There was an unmasking and undoing taking place when we clocked out of work for the evening. Now, more than ever, in the face of racism and racial inequity, we remain undone and unmasked, showing our true selves without apology. Taking up space and creating tables to fit our needs. Our dreams, desires and needs are no longer deferred but made into reality on our own accord.

P.S. "I'm not hostile, I'm passionate." -- Amanda Seale

--

This blog post was written by Tiffany Grantham, a senior library assistant at West Boulevard Library.

Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 9/28/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Sunday 9/27

Engage 2020: Community Conversations - Local Voices Matter   register

Monday 9/28

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Nonprofit Services – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Active Reading Training for Caregivers of K-3 Students  –  12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Mindful Mondays - Guided Relaxation and Meditation  –  12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Stronger Together: Support for your Job Search – 4 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Tuesday 9/29         

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Getting Started with Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Story Explorers Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Planning for College: Central Piedmont Community College – 6 p.m.  (Teen programming)  register

Creating Resumes with the Job Help Center – 6:30 p.m.  (Adult programming)   register

Wednesday 9/30

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Nonprofit Services – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Active Reading to Read Words: Building Phonemic Awareness – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Teens Live on Instagram: Pancake Art – 5 p.m.  (Teen programming)   learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Thursday 10/1

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Cuentos en 2 idiomas: inglés y español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Learning Circle: American Sign Language – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Story Explorer’s Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Book Talk: Children's – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Friday 10/2

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Baby Storytime – 10:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Ted Talks Discussion Group: The Power of Protest – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Mindful Friday- Meditation for Wellness – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 10/3

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Creating Your Own Children's Book – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)    register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

As a Charlotte native, the Library has always been a huge part of Alexis Anderson’s life. She grew up less than five minutes from the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library on Beatties Ford Road, and the Library became a second home to her. “My grandparents were educators and took my brother and me weekly to storytimes and to check out books in the summer,” Alexis recalls. “What I didn’t realize at the time was they were laying the foundation for a lifelong love of reading that has continued to serve me today.”

Alexis relocated to Durham, N.C. for college in 2014 and, while the city offers a plethora of library resources to serve its numerous college and university students, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library continues to stand out above the rest as an invaluable resource for Alexis. “I am currently a Master of Arts in History candidate at North Carolina Central University writing my thesis on Black student education in Charlotte from 1956-1971. There’s so much history to cover with this topic even in this relatively short time span. Compiling my research and finding primary sources has proved challenging at times,” she states.

As any good researcher would do, Alexis turned to the Library.

She sought the assistance of Sheila Bumgarner, a librarian in the Library’s Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room (RSCR) and made an appointment to meet with her on one of her visits to Charlotte. When she arrived, Sheila was prepared with several research volumes, documents and scholarly articles she and Alexis combed through together. Alexis was able to find what she needed. “Shelia was a great help and gave me a plethora of sources to use for my thesis. The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room also provided a quiet area to study, and I returned there day after day while I was home,” Alexis says.

Just as Alexis started to dive deeper into her research, the Library closed due to rising health concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the lack of physical access to the Library’s study rooms and materials did not slow her down. Instead, she turned her attention to digital e-books and resources through apps available including hoopla, Libby and NC Live. Alexis continued to access three of the texts needed for her thesis courses, along with digital versions of the textbooks, scholarly articles and documents she viewed in the RSCR. All of this was available to her with her Library card account and the click of a mouse.

“I would highly recommend the use of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to any Charlottean or visitor,” Alexis says. “My experience has been nothing short of phenomenal thanks to my Library card.”

Sign up for your own Library card for FREE. Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and “get carded” today!

--

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library advances to the second phase of our multi-phased re-opening plan Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Under this new phase, customers can spend time browsing books and materials, and make reservations to use express computers at designated branches. Customers can continue to enjoy the services permitted in our initial re-opening phase which includes holds pickup, returning materials to designated bins, access to digital resources and participation in many educational and leisure virtual programs.

The Library will continue to open under these operational hours:

• Monday-Thursday - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday - closed

Also, in this next phase, customers will be able to browse inside the branches, with the maximum number of customers varying by location.



Express computers will be available by reservation at all Library locations EXCEPT Cornelius and Davidson Libraries, as well as ImaginOn. Computers will be spaced in compliance with the 6-foot social distancing rule to ensure customer safety. Staff will also be available at all Library locations to help guide, assist and direct customers, as well as answer any questions.



Social distancing and safety measures are paramount to the success of Phase 2 operations, and plexiglass safety shields are installed at all customer service points. Customers and staff should adhere to the mask mandate ordered by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on June 26, 2020 which requires a mask or face covering while visiting the Library. Staff will also remind customers to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 6-foot distancing guidelines. To ensure maintenance of comfortable distances between customers, we have placed safety decals on the floors at all locations to guide foot traffic. No seating available.

Additional safety measures include:

• Regularly scheduled cleaning of facilities and surfaces in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• Self-checkout stations available for customers to check out their own materials.
• Quarantining of returned items for a period of 96 hours. Due to this extended quarantine time for returned materials, it may take up to seven business days to reflect on your account*. NOTE: Fines and fees are suspended at this time.

The Library continues to incorporate in-person services in a responsible way that focuses on safety. We’ll continue to expand services in the upcoming weeks and months as it is safe to do so. Stay tuned for more information on the continued re-opening of services.

Thank you for your patience.



CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE LIBRARY RE-OPENING PLAN

 

Follow us on social media or visit the Library’s blog for updated information: cmlibrary.org/blog

Here’s what’s available during our second opening phase:

•  All Library staff will wear face masks or coverings, and, as of June 26, 2020 at 5 p.m., customers are required to wear masks or face coverings in accordance with North Carolina state guidelines.
• Managed number of customers in a branch at a time.
• Customers can browse for books and use express computers by reservation at all branch locations EXCEPT Cornelius and Davidson Libraries, as well as ImaginOn.
• Use of social distancing safety markers.
• Streamlined self-checkout designed for quick, in-and-out and safe, socially distanced interactions.
• Staff interaction minimal and at a distance.
• Materials and holds are available for pickup inside the branches.
• All checkouts are self-checkouts. You can scan your card (physical or on the app) and the materials. You will not need to enter your pin.
• Mobile printing is available for pickup from the branch. Learn more here.
• All material/book drops remain closed. Please return materials and books to the designated bins located at your branch during the Library’s open hours. There are signs that will direct you to the proper bin where returned materials will be received to begin the materials quarantine process.
• Fines and fees continue to be suspended.
• Programming continues online.
• Sign up for a Library card online or in person.
• No seating available.

Community and study rooms – room reservations are unavailable until further notice.

Outreach programming – continues online or virtual, as coordinated between our Outreach team and the organization.

Programming and events – all programs and events for children, teens, adults and the Job Help Center remain online in virtual formats.  Check here for the weekly schedule or visit the Calendar page on our website. 

We’re here for you online or on the phone.

You can reach our online chat during regular operating hours at cmlibrary.org and click on Ask a Librarian. Our telephone reference team is also available during normal operating hours at 704.416.0101, or you can contact your local branch location directly - visit the Branches page for more information.

*Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is working to keep materials safe by using a quarantine method. All items are held for four days upon return before check-in. Customers will see items they have returned stay on their accounts for at least seven days. Please be patient as we work to keep our collection as safe as possible. No overdue fines will be assessed during this time.

Items checked out from the Library have gone through quarantine before being placed on the Holds shelf for pickup. Please refrain from cleaning or disinfecting materials as this may damage items. Customers who wish to ensure safety of checked-out materials may do so by placing the materials in a safe space at home and letting them sit for at least 96 hours.  

Services are subject to change. 

La biblioteca ampliará sus servicios el 30 de septiembre del 2020

La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg amplía sus servicios. Esto incluye la búsqueda de libros y materiales, el uso de las computadoras exprés mediante reserva en lugares designados y la devolución y recogida de materiales en espera. Los clientes pueden seguir disfrutando del acceso a recursos digitales gratuitos y programación virtual.

La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg avanza a la segunda fase de nuestro plan de reapertura el miércoles 30 de septiembre del 2020. En esta nueva fase, los clientes pueden dedicar tiempo a buscar libros y materiales, y hacer reservaciones para usar computadoras exprés en sucursales designadas. Los clientes pueden seguir disfrutando de los servicios permitidos en nuestra fase de reapertura inicial, que incluyen la recogida de materiales en espera, la devolución de materiales a contenedores designados, el acceso a recursos digitales y la participación en muchos programas virtuales educativos y de entretenimiento.

La biblioteca continuará ofreciendo sus servicios en este horario de operaciones:

• De lunes a jueves - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Los viernes y sábados - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Los domingos - cerrada

Además, en esta próxima fase, los clientes podrán entrar a las sucursales para buscar materiales. El número máximo de clientes permitidos varía según la ubicación.



Las computadoras exprés estarán disponibles con reserva en todas las ubicaciones de las bibliotecas EXCEPTO en las bibliotecas de Cornelius y Davidson, así como en la biblioteca de ImaginOn. Las computadoras estarán espaciadas de acuerdo con la regla de distanciamiento social de 6 pies para garantizar la seguridad del cliente. El personal también estará disponible en todas las ubicaciones de la biblioteca a fin de guiar, asistir y dirigir a los clientes, así como para responder cualquier pregunta.

El distanciamiento social y las medidas de seguridad son fundamentales para el éxito de las operaciones de la Fase 2, y se instalarán escudos de seguridad de plexiglás en todos los puntos de servicio al cliente. Los clientes y el personal deben cumplir con el mandato de mascarillas ordenado por el gobernador de Carolina del Norte, Roy Cooper, el 26 de junio del 2020. Este mandato requiere usar una mascarilla o una cubierta facial mientras visitan la biblioteca. El personal también les recordará a los clientes que cumplan con la pauta de distanciamiento de 6 pies establecida por los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC por sus siglas en inglés). Para garantizar el mantenimiento de distancias cómodas entre los clientes, hemos colocado calcomanías de seguridad en los pisos en todos los lugares para guiar el tráfico peatonal. No habrá asientos disponibles.



Las medidas de seguridad adicionales incluyen:

• Limpieza programada regularmente de las instalaciones y superficies de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de los CDC.
• El uso de computadoras de autoservicio disponibles para que los clientes retiren sus propios materiales.
• Poner en cuarentena los artículos devueltos por un período de 96 horas. Debido a este tiempo de cuarentena extendido para los materiales devueltos, puede tomarse hasta siete días hábiles para que esta transacción se refleje en su cuenta. NOTA: Las multas y tarifas están suspendidas en este momento.

La biblioteca continúa ofreciendo servicios en persona de una manera responsable y segura. Continuaremos expandiendo los servicios en las próximas semanas y meses, siguiendo lineamientos de seguridad. Esté atento para obtener más información sobre la reapertura de servicios. Agradecemos su paciencia.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA VER EL PLAN COMPLETO DE REAPERTURA DE LA BIBLIOTECA.

Síganos en las redes sociales o visite el blog de la biblioteca para obtener información actualizada: https://cmlibrary.org/blog

 Esto es lo que está disponible durante nuestra segunda fase de apertura:

• Todo el personal de la biblioteca usará mascarillas o cubiertas faciales y  desde el 26 de junio del 2020 a las 5 p.m., los clientes deben usar mascarillas o cubiertas faciales de acuerdo con las pautas del estado de Carolina del Norte.
• Habrá un número limitado de clientes en una sucursal a la vez.
• Los clientes pueden buscar libros y usar computadoras exprés con reservación en todas las sucursales EXCEPTO en las bibliotecas de Cornelius y Davidson, así como en la biblioteca de ImaginOn.
• El uso de marcadores de seguridad de distanciamiento social.
• Computadoras optimizadas de autoservicio diseñadas para interacciones rápidas que procuren la entrada y salida segura del cliente  y socialmente distanciada.
• La interacción del personal es mínima y a distancia.
• Los materiales en reserva están disponibles para recogerse dentro de las sucursales.
• Todas las computadoras para retirar materiales son de autoservicio. Puede escanear su tarjeta (física o en la aplicación) y los materiales. No necesitará ingresar su PIN.
• La impresión móvil está disponible y puede recoger los documentos en las sucursales.  Infórmese más aquí.
• Todos los depósitos de materiales y libros permanecen cerrados. Devuelva los materiales y libros a los contenedores designados ubicados en su sucursal durante el horario de apertura de la biblioteca. Hay letreros que le dirigirán al contenedor adecuado donde se recibirán los materiales devueltos para comenzar el proceso de cuarentena de materiales.
• Las multas y tarifas están suspendidas por ahora.
• La programación de servicios continúa en línea.
• Regístrese para obtener una tarjeta de la biblioteca en línea o en persona.
• No habrá asientos disponibles.

Salas comunitarias y de estudio: – las reservas de los salones no están disponibles, hasta nuevo aviso.

Programación de programas comunitarios, Outreach  – estos programas continúan realizándose virtualmente, según la logística de coordinación de programas del equipo de Outreach y de la organización.

Programación y eventos – todos los programas y eventos para niños, adolescentes, adultos y el centro de ayuda laboral permanecen en línea en formatos virtuales. Consulte aquí el programa semanal o visite la página del calendario en nuestro sitio web.

Estamos aquí para servirle en línea o por teléfono.

Puede comunicarse con nuestro chat en línea durante el horario de atención habitual en cmlibrary.org y hacer clic en Ask a Librarian (pregúntele a un bibliotecario). Nuestro equipo de referencia telefónica también está disponible durante el horario normal de atención llamando al 704.416.0101, o puede comunicarse directamente con su biblioteca local; visite la página de las sucursales para obtener más información.

*La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg está esforzándose para mantener los materiales seguros mediante el uso de un método de cuarentena. Todos los artículos se guardan durante cuatro días a partir de su devolución para luego ser procesarlos. Los clientes verán que los artículos que han devuelto permanecen en sus cuentas durante un período aproximado de siete días. Tenga paciencia mientras trabajamos para mantener nuestra colección lo más segura posible. No se cobrarán multas atrasadas durante este tiempo.

Los artículos devueltos a la biblioteca pasan por un período de cuarentena antes de colocarse en el estante de la biblioteca para su recogida. No limpie ni desinfecte los materiales, ya que esto puede dañar los artículos. Los clientes que deseen garantizar la seguridad de los materiales prestados pueden hacerlo colocando los materiales en un lugar seguro en casa y dejándolos reposar durante al menos 96 horas.

Nuestros servicios están sujetos a cambios.

Libraries across America celebrate Freedom to Read Week each year in support of free expression and the dangers of censorship. In honor of this year’s celebration, which takes place nationally on September 27-October 3, 2020, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is providing programming for ages 0-18 to celebrate intellectual freedom, First Amendment rights and raise awareness for youth and teens about censorship and book banning.

Please consider registering for one of the following virtual events and starting (or continuing) this discussion with any children and teens in your life. Help us celebrate the freedom to read.

ImaginOn Family Storytime: Freedom to Read Week

Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

You’re never too young to celebrate the First Amendment, we say! If you have a little one age 0-5, you are welcome to join our special Banned Books storytime, where we will be reading age-appropriate picture books such as And Tango Makes Three, This Day in June or Prince & Knight that have been banned or challenged in other communities for their representation of gay and trans characters. Eight of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2019 were challenged because of LGBTQIA+ content. We invite you to join us virtually with an open heart and an open mind for a gentle storytime celebration of acceptance and free expression. This program will be provided by ImaginOn children’s staff. Register HERE.

ImaginOn Story Explorers: Banned Books Bingo

Wednesday, September 30th at 2 p.m.

What do the Harry Potter series, Captain Underpants, A Wrinkle in Time, and the Goosebumps series all have in common? They are on the top list of the most frequently banned books in America. If you are between ages 5-11 and would like to learn more about what books are banned and challenged in schools across the U.S. and why, please join us for this virtual Banned Books Bingo program. This program will be provided by ImaginOn children’s staff. Register HERE.

Banned Book Teen Trivia

Saturday, October 3rd at 2 p.m.

Calling all trivia fans! Test your knowledge on a variety of topics such as popular and fandom culture to win bragging rights. Come join us for an afternoon of trivia and test your knowledge for Banned Book Read. This program will be provided by South Boulevard Library staff and is recommended for teens ages 12-18. Register HERE.

All three events will take place on Zoom. You’ll receive an email with a link to the secure Zoom meeting 24 hours before the meeting. Hope to see you there!

--

This blog was written by Becca Worthington of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center.

*update: the RBdigital migration has been delayed until October 21, 2020

Do you use RBdigital to check out and download digital audioboooks? OverDrive has acquired the RBdigital platform, and on October 15, 2020 audiobook content from RBdigital will move to the OverDrive platform. Read more about the acquisition here.

The RBdigital website and application will eventually be retired but for now this change will only affect RBdigital audiobook content. Digital magazines will still be available via RBdigital. 

If you are a current RBdigital user, please read the answers to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below to learn how this change will affect you.

Why are RBdigital audiobooks moving to OverDrive?

OverDrive has acquired RBmedia’s library business, RBdigital. This means that audiobooks from RBdigital will be transferred to the OverDrive platform. You will be able to access these titles through the OverDrive website, and the Libby app. When this transfer is complete, audiobooks will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

When will audiobooks be transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive?

RBdigital audiobooks will be transferred to OverDrive on Thursday, October 15, 2020. The process will take approximately 24 hours. During this time, RBdigital audiobooks will not be available.

What happens if I have a title(s) currently checked out on RBdigital?

Current checkouts will be available through the remainder of their lending period in the RBdigital app. Current checkouts will not be moved to OverDrive. This will allow you to finish your title without disruption or risk of losing your place in the book.

What happens to the holds I have through RBdigital?

Holds will not be moved to OverDrive. You can export your Transaction History from the RBdigital website by accessing My Account > Profiles.

Can I move my holds to OverDrive?

Yes! You can manually place yourself on a new holds list in OverDrive.

• To place holds on titles in OverDrive, search Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive collection to see if the audiobook you’d like to place on hold is already part of the collection. If the audiobook is already in the collection, place a hold on this title again in OverDrive or Libby to add yourself to the list. Don’t worry if you do not see the title in the collection. It will show up soon after the title is transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive.  In the event that the title does not transfer, you can suggest the Library purchase titles here.

What happens to my checkout history and wish lists from RBdigital?

Checkout history and wish lists will not be moved to OverDrive. You can export your Transaction History from the RBdigital website by accessing My Account > Profiles. To re-create your checkout history in Libby, mark titles you’ve already read using Tags. You can also re-create your wish list in Libby using Tags or on the OverDrive website and classic app using the Wish List feature.

If you’re new to OverDrive, visit our OverDrive resource page, check out this getting started guide, or watch these videos to learn more.

Don’t have a library card? Sign up for one here!

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

Since the beginning of time, artists have been one of history’s greatest proponents of change by using their platform for civic engagement, discourse, and to expose injustices within the country. Whether capturing the past or reimagining the future, artists are often tasked with the responsibility to captivate the present for the preservation of history and culture. Art has been clever in its method of storytelling and the role of an artist has been debated by politicians, churches, and everyday civilians and it’s one conversation that while you agree or disagree, work is still being made.

In the 1930’s President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration hired artists as part of the New Deal programs. One of the most popular displays of artistic activism around that time was the Harlem Renaissance. Portraits of Black Americans’ identities and cultures emerged from Harlem and were seen around the world. This challenged racist ideals and criticized stereotypes Black Americans faced during the era of the Jim Crow, segregated south. While it was important to reject those biases for the safety of Black people, it renewed a sense of pride, determination, consciousness, and commitment to activism. 

Artists such as Zora Neale Hurston, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Effie Lee Newsome, Josephine Baker, and Paul Robeson are just a few of the many artists who decided to advocate for their community by simply reflecting themselves in their work. 

This is just a small lens into Art Revolutions in America. There have been multiple art movements throughout the country depicting the hope, despair, and fortitude of demarginalized groups facing a stream of social and civic issues such as rightful citizenship, police brutality, displaced families, and under-reported murders of LGBTQIA+ women and men.

As part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Engage2020 Art and Activism series, we offer a glimpse into present-day artists who have shared their talents and even lives to create social and civic change. 

Paintings, architecture, installations, dramatizations, filming, music – these are only a few demonstrations of how art has been used to encourage thought, then action. The goal of this program is to motivate our viewers to simply – start. Start in your home. Start at your school. Start in your garage. Your voice, pen, or paintbrush are the only tools you need. 

Please join us on the following dates. 

• Rosalía Torres-Weiner - 10/1 
• Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr. - 10/8 
• Angie C -10/22 

Stay tuned for future dates and artists.

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering programs like this one to encourage everyone to look back at what has been accomplished in the past and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's own community. To learn more about Engage 2020, click here.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Summer Break Double Challenges for 2020! We have definitely experienced a number of challenges as a community this summer, but we united together to read more than 6 million minutes! Great job everyone!

Top Five Books Read   

Here are the top 5 books read all summer by our Summer Break readers! Are they what you expected? What were your favorite summer reads?

1. Holy Bible 
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
4. Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes 
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Beanstack

For 2020, we were excited to introduce a new Summer Break software tracker: Beanstack. The previous year, we knew we wanted a more user-friendly website to grow the program. Beanstack offered this and more, including flexible options for readers to log as individuals, families, groups, and classes. There’s also an easy-to-use app, Beanstack Tracker. With bright colors and a simple layout, Beanstack made it fun to track your reading time. We hope you enjoyed the redesign and improved experience. Did you know Beanstack works year-round to log books and reading? Yes! And the Library is also planning for future Beanstack challenges! Keep visiting the Library online or in-person when details become available.

Thank you, Summer Break Team!

Did you know Summer Break, the Library’s summer learning initiative, happens due to the coordinated efforts of over 20 dedicated library staff, all of whom do this project aside from their primary library jobs? Summer Break is actually a year-round planning process. We often joke it never ends!

The Summer Break 2020 Team started planning and researching in July of 2019. Even in the midst of the previous Summer Break, the Library is always thinking and planning ahead. From July to September, the team leaders work on recruiting new team members, establishing goals, and preparing for the year to come - all while wrapping up that current summer. In October, the work begins in earnest as the team uses participant and staff feedback from the previous year to improve the program. The team researches ideas and improvements in November and December before making final decisions in January. Spring is when things really heat up! During this time, the team works diligently to select learning activities, create reading lists, identify fun incentives and design new marketing materials.

This year everything was going great until...

The pandemic hit. Our community all but shut down, and the Library closed for an undetermined amount of time for the safety of customers and staff. The team quickly realized that Summer Break 2020 would not look anything like past Summer Break programs.

Decisions would need to be made, and fast. After all, at the beginning of the pandemic, there were only two months until June 1^st and the start of Summer Break. Almost every aspect of the program would have to be reconsidered and adapted in light of the new reality. The team needed to finalize the new Summer Break website with Beanstack and figure out how to transition the program to fit within the community guidelines of the “Stay at Home” order.

During this time, Summer Break team members held almost daily online meetings, wrote late night emails, and brainstormed ideas while keeping tabs on current community recommendations and the Library’s own swiftly changing plans.

Usually, Summer Break activities encourage participants to get out and try new adventures in Mecklenburg County and beyond. But the need to stay in resulted in the June challenge of Summer Break: At Home, where participants were encouraged to do activities at home or participate with the Library virtually. However, the expectation was that the situation would improve later in the summer, so Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere was planned for July 1^st.

At this time, there was only a month left until launch. The team needed to adapt the program to Beanstack’s new platform, design new marketing materials, plan various scenarios for prize distribution, train the Library staff virtually, and prepare for the Library to reopen.  Our amazing Summer Break team did all of these things and more; pivoting the program and pulling out all the stops in record time to ensure that Summer Break could still happen. As the team knows, it would not be possible to do Summer Break without the support of all Library staff. Members of administration volunteered to sort prizes; other staff pitched in to make suggested summer reading lists; and some staff took the first leap to train on a new platform to help customers sign up. All staff embraced training and sharing information with the public at their locations. It’s truly a BIG team effort!

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse behind-the-scenes and the Double Summer Break Challenges of 2020. We look forward to reading with you next year!