The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has received many questions about the most popular books of 2019. We pulled circulation data for our adult fiction (both print and digital), adult nonfiction, teen fiction and children’s books to bring you the titles that were most popular with Library readers in 2019.

A few things stand out when you look at the lists:

• Fiction rules. Once again, the most circulated book owned by the Library was a novel. This year it’s Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 
• And it wasn’t even close! Where the Crawdads Sing almost doubled the number of check outs of second place, Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.
• This was the year of the memoir. Generally, the most popular nonfiction books circulate fewer times than any of the top ten novels. This year, both Michelle Obama’s Becoming and Educated by Tara Westover were more popular than all but the top two novels.
• Charlotte author, Tommy Tomlinson’s memoir, The Elephant in the Room made the top three on our nonfiction list. Coming in third to those two incredibly popular books is almost like coming in first. We are thrilled to see a local writer on our year end list!

Print Fiction
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Nine perfect strangers by Liane Moriarty
Long road to Mercy by David Baldacci
The Reckoning by John Grisham
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Past Tense: a Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child.
Redemption by David Baldacci
Summer of 69 by Erin Hilderbrand
Run away by Harlan Coben
Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Digital Adult Fiction on Overdrive
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
The Reckoning by John Grisham
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
One Day in December by Josie Silver

Adult Nonfiction
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Educated: a Memoir by Tara Westover
The Elephant in the Room by Tommy Tomlinson
Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mothers will to Survive by Stephanie Land
Maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up by Marie Kondo
The Pioneers by David McCullough
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Children’s Books
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney
I Broke my Trunk by Mo Willems
Happy Pig Day by Mo Willems
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
I Really like Slop by Mo Willems
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal by Jeff Kinney
Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
Are you Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems
Pete the Kitty and the Groovy Playdate by Kim Dean

Young Adult Fiction
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon
On the Come up by Angie Thomas
To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Turtles all the way Down by John Green
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Cornelius Library celebrates its 20-year anniversary in February 2020. The Library, located at 21105 Catawba Avenue in Cornelius, North Carolina, opened its doors to the public in February 2000; the result of a joint effort between Cornelius citizens, town leaders, Commissioners of Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees.

The Library will celebrate its presence in the community with special programs from February 9-15, 2020. Customers and community members are invited to enjoy refreshments, a variety of activities, and the following scheduled events at the branch that week:

Scottish Geneaology
Monday, February 10, 2020 from 1-3 p.m.

Looking for Scottish records on Ancestry.com? Guess what? They are not there because Scotland has its own websites. Shelia Bumgarner of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room will present a program created by Dr. Bruce Durie, tutor at the University of Edinburgh, sharing his expertise in Scottish Genealogy. Register here.

Our Charlotte Region
Thursday, February 13, 2020 from 6-7 p.m.

Enjoy an overview of the historic forces that tie together Charlotte and its surrounding communities. Discover stories of Indian trading paths and Colonial settlements, gold mines and cotton mills, banking and today’s booming expansion. Presented by the Library’s Historian-in-Residence, Dr. Tom Hanchett. Register here.

Pete the Cat Storytime
Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 10-11 a.m.

Come celebrate Cornelius Branch's birthday with a special Pete the Cat themed storytime. Special guest, Pete the Cat, will be here from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to meet families and take pictures. Attendance is limited to the first 20 children to arrive with a caregiver the day of the event.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Just as babies grow quickly, so have the Baby Storytime options at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center – a place where kids can freely play, learn and explore.

To meet the growing demands of the popular Baby Storytime program, the Spangler Library has added an additional class to its schedule for 2020. Parents and caregivers can now enjoy engaging with their little ones, discovering new sights and sounds through books, songs and rhymes every Monday from 9:30-10 a.m.

Storytime is offered regularly at most Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches. During storytime, children’s librarians share stories and songs with children to encourage development of the language and pre-reading skills that help kids grow into successful readers.

Click here to see the complete schedule of Baby Storytime at ImaginOn.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Please contact Spangler Library staff with any questions at 704-416-4630.

Would you like to identify a nearby neighborhood street as the scene of a crime? Or learn that your former classmate is now the suspect in multiple murders? Those are the kind of connections one makes when reading Charlotte True Crime Stories: Notorious Cases from Fraud to Serial Killing. The newest book, written by author Cathy Pickens, is the result of crime research of actual events in and around Mecklenburg County.

“I don’t do investigative reporting,” Pickens said. “I’m not knocking on people’s doors. I’m not solving cold cases,” she added. 

Her intention, she said, is to provide a series of “short stories” about memorable cases the public knows, typically through a string of newspaper articles. “I want to condense it and tell it in a digestible way,” Pickens said.

Drawing a figurative circle around Charlotte, Pickens covers cases in her book from neighboring Charlotte cities such as Belmont, Concord, and Shelby to name a few. These cases cover a 100-year span, with chapter four alone touching on gang bootlegging, prostitution, drug trafficking and even motorcycle gangs. 

One of Pickens favorite stories from the book, which brings a smile when she speaks about it, is the trial of a wife accused of murdering her husband in 1926. As she writes in her book, 19-year-old Nellie Freeman was married to Alton Freeman, a thief and unfaithful husband. One fateful day, she asked him if he loved her while hugging him and he replied, “No.” Unfortunately for him, she had a knife in convenient range and used it on him. A murder trial ensued with the prosecutor determined to get a conviction and buck tradition. Historically, Charlotte juries didn’t convict women of murder. This case did not change that streak as Nellie Freeman was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Even so, she was nicknamed “Razor Girl” by the press during the trial.       

Pickens’s venture into true crime followed her interest in writing about it. The previously discussed Nellie Freeman case features a person who committed a crime but afterwards led a quiet, seemingly normal life. Pickens said that many involved in the cases she covered led normal lives. 

Another appeal of the true crime genre for Pickens is its strong draw to women readers. “I think some of it is a sense of self-protection,” she said. “If I can figure this out, then I won’t be a victim. I think a lot of it is what attracts me and others—is that we like to solve puzzles,” she added.     

True crime stories also look at changes in communities and cities. Pickens wrote in an email, “I wanted the stories to capture Charlotte and what’s formed it and what makes it unique and interesting, seen through this unusual lens of crime.” In her book’s last chapter, Pickens notes that the 1990s population boom, troubling rise of crack cocaine and frighteningly high murder rates dramatically changed the character of Charlotte to reflect big-city problems.   

The opportunity for Pickens to publish Charlotte True Crime Stories: Notorious Cases from Fraud to Serial Killing happened quickly after an unsuccessful first attempt at publishing a  true crime book. When she offered to write a true crime history book about Charlotte to a book company she successfully worked with 10 years earlier, the company gave a contract in a week. The focus on Charlotte, its crimes and history were the hook. “That just doesn’t happen," Pickens said. "I was off and running,” she added. 

Pickens is quick to praise the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library as a tremendous help. “The resources there are phenomenal, and the staff has been incredibly helpful in bringing out stories that I wouldn’t know about otherwise,” she said. “A lot of the artwork (primarily photography used for the book), and copyright permission, came courtesy of the Library and that would be lost if I didn’t have access to those public resources,” she added. The book is also a culmination of many years collecting crime articles, discussing crime as a mystery convention panelist and writing a true-crime column for Mystery Readers Journal. 

Some Library customers may recognize Pickens’s name. In the early 2000s, she began a mystery fiction series featuring an attorney and sleuth set in a small South Carolina town. The Avery Andrews novels mirrored her background as a lawyer and, later, a business professor. Pickens has also worked in higher education. The Library owns three books from the series. 

Will Pickens return to fiction writing? It’s very likely. as she said she has a completed a new novel and has another in development.  Next up though, this year she has True Crime Stories of Eastern North Carolina scheduled for a spring release from History Press and she wants to write about true crime in her home state of South Carolina.

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.

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!