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Step into a story with Free RPG Day

June 6, 2025

This blog post was written by Laura Carroll, a staff member at the Mint Hill branch.

 

Join us for Free RPG Day on June 21st from 11am-4pm at our new University City Library location!

 

Free RPG Day is a world-wide celebration of role-playing games (RPGs). Role-playing games encourage collaboration, storytelling, and imagination as you take on the role of a character in a fictional environment.

 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is celebrating its second year of Free RPG Day. This year’s event will feature sword fighting, costume design (cosplay), and, of course, games! We’re also excited to welcome community partners like the Athena Alliance, the Black Gamer League, and the International Game Developers Association at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte among many others.

 

New to RPGs? We’ll have workshops where you can make a D&D character and paint a mini-fig. You can even join a game for beginner players or try your hand at sword fighting.

 

Want to level up your gaming skills? We have a game development workshop and a panel discussion on creating inclusive game spaces. We’ll have lots of gaming tables for you to join – including several different TTRPGs.

 

Feeling crafty? Join us in our Makerspace to 3D print, use a heat press, or make a button. Craving adventure? Swordwind Historical Martial Arts will present a sword fighting demonstration. There will also be giveaways, information about local gaming organizations, and a gaming lounge!

 

Whether you are a seasoned gamer or a new adventurer, we hope you’ll enjoy this special celebration of storytelling and exploration! Find all the details here on our calendar. 

Travel the World with the Frontline Puppeteers!

June 17, 2025

All summer long, join the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Frontline Puppeteers for any of our music-filled puppet show: Travel the World! This is a 30-minute puppet show that incorporates songs, folk tales, and stories from children's picture books featuring countries like Germany, Mexico, Australia, and Africa, followed by a puppet-making activity and a chance for attending children to meet our friendly puppets. The show is geared toward children ages PreK-Gr. 2, but all ages are welcome.

 

The puppet show is traveling to all 20 library branches throughout the summer months, so join us for one or for them all!

 

  • Wednesday, June 18th at 11:00 at Myers Park Library (1361 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207)
  • Monday, June 23rd at 11:00 at North County Regional Library (16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville, NC 28078)
  • Tuesday, June 24th at 2:00 at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216)
  • Tuesday, July 1st at 1:00 at South Boulevard Library (4429 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209)
  • Wednesday, July 2nd at 2:00 at Mountain Island Library (4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte, NC 28214)
  • Thursday, July 3rd at 2:00 at Cornelius Library (21105 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC 28031)
  • Tuesday, July 8th at 2:00 at Davidson Library (119 South Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036)
  • Wednesday, July 9th at 3:00 at Matthews Library (230 Matthews Station St., Matthews, NC 28105)
  • Thursday, July 10th at 2:00 at Hickory Grove Library (5935 Hickory Grove Road, Charlotte, NC 28215)
  • Tuesday, July 15th at 2:00 at University City Regional Library (5528 Waters Edge Village Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262)
  • Wednesday, July 16th at 3:00 at SouthPark Regional Library (7015 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28211)
  • Thursday, July 17th at 2:00 at Mint Hill Library (6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227)
  • Monday, July 21st  at 2:00 at Pineville Library (505 Main Street, Suite 100, Pineville, NC 28134)
  • Tuesday, July 22nd at 2:00 at Steele Creek Library (13620 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28273)
  • Wednesday, July 30th at 2:00 at South County Regional Library (5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277)
  • Thursday, July 31st at 10:30 at Sugar Creek Library (4045 North Tryon Street, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28206)
  • Tuesday, August 5th at 2:00 at Independence Regional Library (6000 Conference Drive, Charlotte, NC 28212)
  • Wednesday, August 6th at 2:00 at West Boulevard Library (2157 West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208)
  • Tuesday, August 12th at 2:00 at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center (300 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28202)
  • Thursday, August 14th at 2:00 at Plaza Midwood Library (1623 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205)
 

More information about the shows can be found on our events page HERE.

 

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Frontline Puppeteers are a troupe of trained puppeteers who work for various branches of the library. We have been bringing puppet shows and silly voices to Charlotte since 2018.

Library Late Night: Teen Summer Reading Celebration

June 24, 2025

This blog was written by Holly Summers-Gil, teen services manager for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Are you ready to read, so that you can see what happens when the lights go out at the library? Teens, ages 12-18, who participate in our Summer Reading program will be invited to a special after-hours event to celebrate their accomplishments in August. All you need to do is commit to reading at least 45 days this Summer and be one of the first 10 teens at your branch to sign up starting on June 14th! 


We'll send you a welcome email, along with weekly emails to keep you inspired and connected throughout the summer. Then, you'll get to come and celebrate with other teens in your neighborhood and surrounding community. 


Every regional branch is going to have different activities, food, giveaways, and so much more! You've already read so much just in learning about this special event, so be sure to get signed up for Summer Reading and snag one of our limited spots to our first-ever Library Late Night! 
 

Social Narratives for North County Regional Library

June 24, 2025

This blog was written by Jennifer Williams-Cannon, a librarian at North County Regional Library
 

 

 

What are social narratives (social stories) and why are they beneficial?

 

 

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Autism Society of North Carolina have been trusted resources within our community for years. Both organizations work to improve lives and to build stronger communities.  Together, we have developed comprehensive social narratives for all Mecklenburg County residents to ensure a more inclusive society that fosters compassion and equal access to library resources and community opportunities.

 

Social narratives help individuals of all ages, particularly those with autism or other developmental differences, understand and navigate social situations, reduce anxiety, and improve social skills. Originally called “social stories”, which were developed by Carol Gray in 1989 as a social learning tool designed to help individuals with autism understand and navigate social situations. (Gray, 2015) They are not just stories, but a structured method with specific criteria to ensure they are descriptive, meaningful, and personalized for the individual.

 

Each narrative, typically one sentence, uses visual cues to aid in understanding. While some individuals read and retain written information easily, many others need pictures to support comprehension.  Many individuals with autism are visual learners and rely on visual cues to understand and process information around them. These “social narratives” break complex interactions into smaller, more manageable steps. The stories are meant to be engaging while also sharing information that can be practiced in different situations. This can lead to increased independence, confidence, and improved communication skills.  In essence, social narratives act as a guide, helping individuals with autism and other developmental differences to participate more fully in social settings and build meaningful connections with others.

 

If you would like to learn more about social narratives or about the resources in your community, visit Carol Gray's website and Autism Society of North Carolina. 

 

The following social narratives offer a description of (story time expectations, library rules, and how to care for your library books) while visiting the North County Regional Library in Huntersville, North Carolina. 

Going to my Library
Storytime at the Library
Taking Care of Library Books
Library Rules
Social narratives created in partnership with Autism Society of North Carolina

Summer Reading 30-Day Milestone is July 14th

July 9, 2025

Summer is in full swing and so is reading!  

 

If you or your kids have been turning pages as part of our Summer Reading program, it's time to enjoy one of the best parts of the adventure: picking up your incentives!

 

Whether you've devoured a stack of novels, explored new graphic novels, or read aloud, your reading efforts have earned some well-deserved rewards.

 

New this year is our treasure chest!

 

We have incentives as our way of saying thank you for participating, great job for meeting your reading goals, and keep going!

 

Visit your favorite branch and choose your prize from the treasure box!  

 

Don’t wait! Prize supplies are limited—first come, first served.

 

Bring your paper tracker or log your reading days into Beanstack!

 

Summer is not over, so keep reading!  

 

Go ahead—swing by your library, pick up your prizes, and celebrate your summer reading wins!  

 

You earned it.  
 

 

45 Days of Reading and Counting! – A Summer Milestone at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

July 22, 2025

We’ve officially hit 45 days of Summer Reading, and the momentum is still going strong at the library! Since the kickoff of our Summer Reading Program, thousands of readers have been diving into books, discovering new stories, and building powerful reading habits — one page at a time, one day at a time!

This milestone isn’t just about the days on the calendar — it’s about the dedication, excitement, and imagination our community has poured into every story shared and every chapter read.

 

Experience Drawings

Remember that children and teens (age 5 to 18) who read for 45 days will be entered into special experience drawings.  To be eligible, the 45 days of reading must be logged in Beanstack and the Beanstack account needs to have either a CMS ONE Access or your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number entered and a valid email address. Winners will be notified by email.

With just a few weeks left in the program, there’s still plenty of time to keep reading, logging, and celebrating!

 

Still Time to Join!

New to the program? It’s not too late to jump in! Sign up online (www.cmlibrary.org/summer) or pick up a reading tracker at your local library and help us finish the summer strong.

Top 10 Ways Library Can Support Teachers and Students

August 12, 2025

This blog was written by Lisa Wright and Elyse Farmer, program coordinator for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

 

Since 2015 the ONE Access program, short for “One Number Equals Access,” makes it easier than ever for students and staff to connect with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library resources. By using their school identification number (or NC EdCloud/employee ID for staff) instead of a separate library card, participants can instantly access a wealth of materials and tools. From research databases to e-books, audiobooks, magazines, music, and video, ONE Access provides digital learning opportunities as well as the option to borrow up to 10 print or audiobooks with no overdue fines. This partnership between the Library and area schools supports literacy, learning, and educational success throughout the community. In 2025, we’re marking 10 amazing years of ONE Access, and we’ll be celebrating all year long with “Top 10” lists you won’t want to miss!

 

 
Top 10 Ways Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Can Support Teachers & Students

 

1. Library accounts for all CMS teachers and students. By using either employee ID numbers (teachers) or student ID numbers (students), everyone in CMS can check out physical books and access eBooks and more through the library website.

 

2. Active Reading & Read Together Workshops. Active Reading is an interactive approach that helps children build early literacy skills by asking questions, building vocabulary, and making connections while reading a story. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers outreach workshops to schools, and resources and tips for families, caregivers, and educators to make reading aloud more engaging and effective.

 

3. Free computer use, wi-fi, and study spaces at our branches. All 20 library locations have computers and Wi-Fi that students can use for FREE with a library card or ONE Access account, as well as space to study.

 

4. Free homework help. Weekly Homework Help programming is available at all library locations. Trained Homework Help volunteers provide a welcoming and supportive environment where young learners can: get help completing assignments, practice important foundational skills (such as math facts or reading), and get connected to important Library resources including Tutor.com, a free professional virtual tutoring service that provides 15 free tutoring sessions in any subject each week with a ONE Access account.  Visit the Homework Help website for library locations and hours when the program is provided.

 

5. Reading Buddies program. The Reading Buddies program is a free program that brings together children and volunteers to read in thirty-minute appointments one time a week at all Library locations. Children select their own books to read, and trained volunteers provide support and encouragement to help children practice and foster a love of reading! Visit the Reading Buddies website for library locations and hours, and how to register for a weekly appointment slot.

 

6. College and Career Connections. College and Career Connections is a suite of free programs and workshops offered by community experts and organizations such as the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and The Princeton Review. Topics range from resources to pay for college, admissions essays, test prep, and online practice tests to help teens plan and prepare for their future after high school and beyond. Visit the College and Career Connections page for more information, including how to take the Road Map to Success Challenge.

 

7. Schools paired with library branches. Each CMS school is paired with a library branch close to the school location. These pairings are a resource for educators to find a nearby library best able to assist them with library resources and services. View the menu on the ONE Access Guide for Schools for a list of possible programs library staff can provide.  

 

8. FREE access to local and regional history. The collection is also expanded with online resources at CMStory.org. (Lots of cool images and exhibits!) Supplement and enhance curriculum in the classroom with artifacts and primary source documents from our community.  

 

9. Community events including Summer Reading, Epic Fest, and Community Read. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library host author visits, book talks, and storytelling sessions that connect students with the people behind the books they read. These events can bring literature to life, inspire reluctant readers, and provide opportunities for students to ask questions and learn about the writing process. 
 

10. Trusted Library staff to support teachers and families. Librarians and library associates enjoy collaborating with teachers, caregivers, and students to recommend age-appropriate high quality materials that spark student interest and align with curriculum goals. They provide guidance on research skills, technology use, and literacy strategies to help students succeed in the classroom and at home.  

 

Ten years of ONE Access means ten years of empowering teachers, students, and families, and we’re just getting started. We look forward to an incredible school year and many more years of learning and connection ahead!

 

Library Sunday Hours return September 7

August 28, 2025

Beginning September 7, 2025, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branches and ImaginOn will be open on Sundays at 1:00 p.m-5:00 p.m.  Sunday hours will be in place until May 17, 2026.  Visit your nearest regional branch to find a new read, use a computer, enjoy a program, and so much more!  

 

  • Allegra Westbrooks
  • Independence Regional
  • North County Regional
  • South County Regional
  • SouthPark Regional
  • University City Regional
  • ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center

Join the hottest "club" in town by getting a Library card this September

August 29, 2025

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.


September is Library Card Sign-up Month! It’s the perfect time to get a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card—and the best part? It’s totally FREE!


Your library card gives you and your family access to millions of amazing resources:


•    Books, audiobooks, movies, music & more
•    Digital tools, streaming, eBooks, and learning resources
•    Creative kits and hands-on materials
•    Fun programs and events—both online and in-person
•    Spaces to study, connect, and create


Don’t just take our word for it. Keep reading for just a taste of what a library card at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has to offer!


 

Sign up for a Library card

Whether you're a curious kid, a busy Millennial, or a lifelong learner, there's something for everyone at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library—from toddlers to grandparents.

Get a Library Card

A Library card helps your child find Imagination


A Library card is more than just a card; it's a gateway to endless opportunities for your child's growth and development. With a Library card, your child gains access to a world where every book offers a new adventure, a fresh perspective, and a chance to explore diverse subjects. The Library provides an incredible range of resources beyond just books, including digital tools like Tutor.com, which offers online tutoring and homework assistance tailored specifically for school-age children and teens. This can be a game-changer in helping them understand challenging subjects and succeed academically. 


Additionally, our Homework Help Centers and school-age programming offer in-person support, providing a nurturing environment where children can receive guidance and assistance on their educational journey. Although you don’t need a Library card to access these in-person resources, having one can enhance the experience and provide even more opportunities for learning and exploration. So why wait? Get a library card today and open the door to a universe of knowledge and imagination for your child. Let their creativity flourish and their curiosity lead the way!
 

Explore Children's & Teen Programs

The hottest "club" in the Queen City is a book club


Millennials — have you been looking for a book club to join, or maybe even interested in starting your own? What about programing that speaks to all your interests, from career help to gaming? Look no further than the Library! Who needs bottle service when you’ve got complimentary book service? Slide through, check us out, and be back home by 8:30 with a tote full of stories (and zero regrets). No cover. Zero fines. Free parking. Say less! Check out one of our robust book club kits to help you get started and pop in for a program while you're here. 

 

CMLibrary. Your new favorite spot—minus the hangover.

 

Explore Book Clubs

FREE Digital Resources


The Library is a tremendous one-stop shop, not just for books but for digital resources and so much more. Maybe you want to perfect an existing skill - or learn a new one - with Universal Class or learn a new language with Transparent Language. Film buffs can benefit from a Library card, too. With the Kanopy, Libby and hoopla and apps – again, available for FREE with a Library card – you can stream or download new and classic films and documentaries. Whether it’s resources for that work project or the latest trending BookTok read, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has exactly what you’re looking for.

 

Explore Our Resources

Find Comunidad (Community) 


For those that speak English as a second language, the Library has a rich collection of materials and resources in several world languages including Arabic, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, German, American Sign Language and more. By far, the Library offers more Spanish materials than others (nearly 22,000 print books alone) to match the community’s needs. OverDrive/Libby, one of the Library’s digital platforms, has a Spanish collection that is frequently updated with new titles. Additionally, we have several bilingual staff members across the system as well as digital translation tablets available at all Library locations for more individualized assistance. Our friendly staff is here to make you feel comfortable and welcomed into our branches no matter what language you speak.

 

Explore Our World Language Collection Explore "Comunidad"

Value Like No Other


Are you curious about how much money a Library card can really save you? $100? $300? Even up to $1,000! Subscription services can be pricey and tend to add up over the course of a calendar year, not to mention how much you might spend on books, magazines and music. There’s no need to pay for subscription services ever again. See how much you can save with the Library by using the Library Value Calculator. Input the number of books, magazines, DVDs, music and resources you’ve purchased or used in a year, and you’ll be amazed at how much you could save by switching to the Library. The numbers don’t lie; a Library card is a great value!

 

Explore The Calculator