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.

A year ago, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library launched our Black Lives Matter program initiative in response to the critical need to address racial inequity in our community through learning, growing and communicating with others around us. Since its launch, this initiative has evolved in its offerings, growing from booklists, learning circles, and book clubs to include community panel discussions, author talks, storytimes, equity impact circles and so much more.  

Engagement from the community and from our Library team has been incredible to see. Library customers made the commitment to engage not only in single programs, but in ongoing work that requires people to be present and vulnerable. We heard stories from people who made real changes in the businesses they frequent or the words they use based on the things they learned in Library programs. Library staff members stepped up to tackle difficult conversations, plan new programs, and publish blogs that dive deep into both Library and community aspects of racial equity.  

We are a year into this initiative and the work is nowhere near done. Black Lives Matter programs will remain an integral part of our regular programming portfolio as we move forward. The Library will continue to identify ways to support the diverse people within our community through collections, programming, and services. While we work to meet these different needs, we will continue to tell Black stories and share opportunities for all to learn about Black lives and racial inequity. 

I would be remiss if I did not extend a thank you. Thank you to all who are willing to engage with us in this work. Thank you to everyone who presented with us, all who attended programs, and all who read and listened to new perspectives in this last year. Thank you to the many staff members who contributed so much effort to a difficult endeavor. Thank you, especially, to our two team leaders for the Black Lives Matter initiative: Jasmine McNeil and Chantez Neymoss. This is truly important work, and you are so appreciated.   

The Library’s mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community. Programs like Black Lives Matter help us build that stronger community by drawing people together, building community dialogue, working to ensure that every voice is present, and every life is valued. We cannot build that community alone, and we are proud to partner with others as we continue to move this work forward.  

View the first year Black Lives Matter program initiative recap video below:

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This blog was written by Caitlin Moen, library director and chief customer officer for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

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.

Historically, the Black Lives Matter movement has always seen a rise in student activism. Ever since the movement started in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin, students have formed branches of the movement to raise awareness with notable examples including the Black Lives Matter Youth Coalition and The Youth Vanguard. In 2016, fatal police encounters involving Alton Sterling and Philando Castile caused an eruption of protests, and during this time, a spike in student activism in matters related to racial justice occurred. Later, in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, student activism reached levels that hadn’t been seen since the 2016 Black Lives Matter protests. However, student activism regarding racial justice can be traced to events preceding the Black Lives Matter movement to the beginnings of the civil rights movement.

In 1925, students at Fisk University protested for ten weeks to speak out against the school president who had refused to start a chapter of the NAACP. In 1940, nearly 2000 students protested New York University after pulling a Black player from the football roster. These two events spurred a series of student-led protests regarding civil rights in the ’60s. In 1960, four Black students organized the Greensboro sit-ins, which continued for six months. Similar actions also took place during the Brown vs. Board Supreme Court Case wherein students protested in favor of school integration. In 1963, one of the most significant civil rights actions in history took place. Nearly 250,000 students staged a boycott in Chicago protesting segregation in schools. Of those involved, 20,000 students marched to the Chicago Board of Education demanding equal resources for Black children. During the following year, in 1964, 450,000 Black and Puerto-Rican students refused to attend school for a day, boycotting racial imbalance and lobbying in public schools. Although the movement failed in forcing the school board to take immediate reform, it remained one of the largest demonstrations of the civil rights movement and eventually put an end to de facto segregation.

Nearly 50 years later, student activism plays a large part in racial justice initiatives and Black Lives Matter. Student-led groups such as the Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE) were formed to create a youth alliance surrounding issues such as equal education and racism. In 2015, the Illinois Senate passed a VOYCE Senate Bill regarding school discipline practices, eliminating zero-tolerance punishment, minimizing suspension and expulsion and more. Furthermore, many students have been calling attention to racist environments in school and college campuses in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. School newspapers have been created to inform peers about racial injustices on campus and nationwide. By spreading information about inequality, students have organized protests with over 1,000 students and speak with large news organizations about their goals for justice.

With youth activism being on the rise, they are not without critics. Many adults struggle to see younger activists as equals, claiming that their lack of experience makes them less impactful. Despite such setbacks, young activists and students have played an important part throughout history in racial justice initiatives. The number of groups and protests created by youth continues to increase. In modern days, youth activists have cultivated mass followings on social media, calling attention to racism and police brutality and creating events to help victims of such situations. With their knowledge of technology, social media, and the historical legacy of the civil rights movement, student activism continues to be at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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This blog was written by Medha Kowndinya, a sixteen-year-old rising Junior at Ardrey Kell High school.

We made it to the end of the year - and what a wild ride it has been! One thing we don't take for granted is all the wonderful reads we enjoyed along the way. Not only did we compile an all-ages Best Books of 2020 list with titles from The New York Times, Esquire, The Atlantic, Goodreads and more, Myers Park Library Leader Harold Escalante also shared the titles with WCNC "Charlotte Today" host Beth Troutman. Watch the segment here.

The titles below will give you a chance to reflect on important topics from 2020. Ready to recap, relax and enjoy good reads? click here to borrow ONE of the "Best books of 2020" from our catalog.

Adult fiction

Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey

Miranda Popkey's first novel is about desire, disgust, motherhood, loneliness, art, pain, feminism, anger, envy, guilt--written in language that sizzles with intelligence and eroticism. The novel is composed almost exclusively of conversations between women--the stories they tell each other, and the stories they tell themselves, about shame and love, infidelity and self-sabotage--and careens through twenty years in the life of an unnamed narrator hungry for experience and bent on upending her life. Edgy, wry, shot through with rage and despair, Topics of Conversation introduces an audacious and immensely gifted new novelist.

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Orphans Gig and Rye Dolan don't have a penny to their names. The brothers work grueling, odd jobs each day just to secure a meal, and spend nights sleeping wherever they can with other day laborers. Twenty-three-year-old Gig is a passionate union man, fighting for fair pay and calling out the corrupt employers who exploit the working class. Eager to emulate his older brother, Rye follows suit, though he can't quite muster Gig's passion for the cause. But when Rye's turn on the soap box catches the eye of well-known activist and suffragette Elizabeth Gurley, he is swept into the world of labor activism-and dirty business. With his brother's life on the line, Rye must evade the barbaric police force, maneuver his way out of the clutches of a wealthy businessman-and figure out for himself what he truly stands for. The Cold Millions is a stunning portrait of class division and familial bonds. In this masterful historical take on the enduring saga of America's economic divide, Jess Walter delivers nothing less than another "literary miracle"
 

Adult Nonfiction

Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America by Conor Dougherty

Spacious and affordable homes used to be the hallmark of American prosperity. Today, however, punishing rents and the increasingly prohibitive cost of ownership have turned housing into the foremost symbol of inequality and an economy gone wrong. Nowhere is this more visible than in the San Francisco Bay Area, where fleets of private buses ferry software engineers past the tarp-and-plywood shanties where the homeless make their homes. The adage that California is a glimpse of the nation's future has become a cautionary tale. With propulsive storytelling and ground-level reporting, New York Times journalist Conor Dougherty chronicles America's housing crisis from its West Coast epicenter, peeling back the decades of history and economic forces that brought us here and taking readers inside the activist uprisings that have risen in tandem with housing costs. To tell this new story of housing, Dougherty follows a struggling math teacher who builds a political movement dedicated to ending single-family-house neighborhoods. A teenage girl who leads her apartment complex against their rent-raising landlord. A nun who tries to outmaneuver private equity investors by amassing a multimillion-dollar portfolio of affordable homes. A suburban bureaucrat who roguishly embraces density in response to the threat of climate change. A developer who manufactures housing for the homeless on an assembly line. Sweeping in scope and intimate in detail, Golden Gates captures a vast political realignment during a moment of rapid technological and social change.

American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise by Eduardo Porter

America's social contract is shattered, and there's likely no putting the pieces back together, according to this fierce, incisive analysis of why we are a deeply divided nation. New York Times journalist Porter (The Price of Everything) describes over a century of mounting resistance to government, and to the safety net it offers, on the part of working-class white citizens (whose own livelihoods would be greatly improved by a stronger welfare system), because of ingrained fear of the other and demographic change. Porter considers racial animus to be the primary driving force of our social dysfunction; the root cause of the polarization that has made bipartisanship and civil discourse all but impossible. Porter brings his own experience as a longtime observer of American economy and society to this sobering study, showing how fear and resentment have been driving forces in politics. In glimmers of hope, he notes that younger generations are accustomed to diversity, and that integrated neighborhoods and schools have proven beneficial to all. But, he notes, many young adults hold similar views as their elders, and several schools have re-segregated. VERDICT Bleak, but perhaps inspirational, this challenging critique is recommended for policymakers and readers concerned about civic engagement.
 

Young Adults (YA)

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

At an exclusive prep school on Long Island, Jill Newman looks forward to her senior year as a member of the school's most elite clique, the Players, until new evidence surfaces about the murder of her close friend Shaila.

Entree into the ruling inner circle of Long Island’s elite Gold Coast Prep gets served up deliciously in this debut YA novel from Cosmopolitan senior editor Jessica Goodman. The chilling murder mystery is an irresistible hook, but it’s the careful building of each character’s fraught, internal conflicts that really digs in, elevating the work from a high society whodunit to a knowing mission to not just uncover one’s own identity, but to build it. 

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnston

Liz Lighty has always done her best to avoid the spotlight in her small, wealthy, and prom-obsessed midwestern high school, after all, her family is black and rather poor, especially since her mother died; instead she has concentrated on her grades and her musical ability in the hopes that it will win her a scholarship to elite Pennington College and their famous orchestra where she plans to study medicine--but when that scholarship falls through she is forced to turn to her school's scholarship for prom king and queen, which plunges her into the gauntlet of social media which she hates and leads her to discoveries about her own identity and the value of true friendships.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people ... In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash. Separated by distance -- and Papi's secrets -- the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead, and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other

Children

The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

Twelve-year-old surfing fanatic Alberta has lived in Ewing Beach, Calif., with her fathers for much of her life. Her family is one of the only black families in town, until the Whitmans buy the old bed and breakfast across the street. Goth Edie, the same age as Alberta, is nothing like her. She's a proud Brooklyn native; she wears all black, down to the black lipstick she's never without; and she doesn't understand why everyone in Ewing loves the beach. And while Edie's parents are divorcing, Alberta's dads remain deeply in love. Despite their differences, the two become fast friends just as Alberta's lifelong best friend, who is white, begins drifting toward the popular girl who has bullied Alberta with racist taunts for years. When Alberta and Edie find a set of mysterious journals in Edie's new house, they also uncover an enduring secret. Imperfect, vulnerable characters take center stage in Colbert's middle grade debut about growing up on the margins in the past and present. Colbert employs a compulsively readable style to convey the sometimes-difficult experience of young friendship, and the power and peril of claiming one's identity out loud. Ages 8--12.

Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki

Tie on your apron! / Roll up your sleeves!" Every Wednesday, an inclusive pickup team of volunteers--a short Black woman with a commanding presence and a cane, a white parent and small brown-skinned child, and more--gathers in a small community kitchen to prepare a weekly dinner for their neighbors, combining vegetables they harvest from a garden ("Look at these zukes!/ Let's use them up too!"), food bank beans ("Third week in a row!"), and a donation of apples ("Cut off the brown bits,/ they're still good to use") for a simple, filling meal. Clear-line panel artwork by Tamaki (My Best Friend) gives the action superhero-grade visual power with swoops and swirls in swaths of tomato red, avocado green, and beet pink. Smells drift deliciously around the group's noses, the chief cook tumbles through cascades of beans, and speech balloons collide like atoms. By making the collaborative meal preparation visually brilliant, Tamaki injects energy into this life-giving celebration. Then it's go time--"I mean it!" yells the crew's leader--and a parade of food arrives in the dining room, where an equally diverse group of neighbors awaits. Pictures in speech balloons reveal conversations shared over the meal: books, hockey, a sore toe. The cooks can't save the world alone, but by taking care of their neighbors ("Is your body warm? // Is your belly full?") they convey the power of thrift, collective action, and community-building. Recipes for an elastic number of diners are included, too. Ages 4-8.

Every year thousands of students across Mecklenburg County embark upon a two-week vacation from school in what is often known as Winter Break. This year Winter Break will be a much-needed reprieve from all that has occurred in 2020, and our hope is that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Winter Break programming can provide exciting, engaging, and yes, even educational opportunities for children and teens.

Sparkling Programs for Children

Winter Break programming will dazzle your child with fun themes, holiday favorites, and sweet support from our Library staff. Check out these programs this Winter Break for children:

• Story Explorers: Explore books and stories in creative ways through interactive activities in these Winter Break online programs. Choose from Traditions Around the World, Minecraft Pixel Art, Five Languages of Love, Bubble Trouble, and more — or register to attend them all!
• Family Storytime: Register to participate in an online Family Storytime over Winter Break! Library staff are ready to share their favorites to keep you busy this Winter Break. Twelve Storytimes are available for your family to enjoy, including a special Mother Minter’s Gift of Kwanzaa Storytime, a Winter Festival Storytime, and several “Noon Year’s Eve” Storytimes to help you ring in 2021.
• Winter Break Reading Buddies and Tutoring: Want to keep your child’s skills sharp over Winter Break? Check out our one-on-one Reading Buddy or Tutoring appointments where your child can log in with a Library staff member to read and learn something new!

Enchanting Programs for Teens

Teens are sure to enjoy delightful Winter Break programming also! Check out these programs, curated specifically for teens:

• STEAM 101 programs: Make glitter slime, sand art, fun holiday gnomes, paper circuits, lip gloss, and much more in our fun online STEAM programs designed to engage and enrich your preteen or teen learner. Should you choose, visit select Library locations in advance (see calendar for locations) to pick up supplies for each program!
• College & Career Programs: Have your teen take advantage of My Next Step College and Career online programming over Winter Break. Register online for a one-on-one appointment to figure out your teen's next step to successfully plan for the future or register for a one-on-one mock interview to prepare for a career or college interview. Winter Break is the perfect time to figure out your teen’s next steps!
• Gaming and Writing Programs: Does your teen need a creative and social outlet? Winter Break is the perfect time to get connected with other teens to try out a new hobby or skill. Several trivia and gaming programs are available this Winter Break, as well as a few writing programs your teen will enjoy.

All of these Winter Break programs and more can be found on our online Library calendar by visiting cmlibrary.org/calendar. Join us for Winter Break programming at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. It truly is a Winter Wonderland!

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

* playlist has been updated as of December 1, 2023

In addition to a good, wintry read, there is something about holiday music that brings the winter months to life. We've compiled a “Jingle Jams” playlist of seasonal songs that will make you want to bust a move to the groove, sing along, mellow your mood, tap your toes, bundle up in front of a fire, decorate your home, or some combination of celebration! Whatever you celebrate, there is a song for you. We tried to keep this list inclusive, knowing that our libraries serve diverse customers with equally diverse beliefs.

Whether you’re a reindeer, the Grinch or someone who speaks native Hawaiian, we’ve got you covered.

One thing to note, before you get jiggy with your jingle jams, you will need to have your Library card or ONE Access ID number handy to log in and stream this Freegal Music playlist. Don’t have a Library card yet? The best, money-saving gifts come in small, pocket-sized packages – click here to give yourself the gift of the public library all year long.

On Dasher, on Dancer, on to the “jingle jams” playlist….!

“Jingle Jams” Track List

1. 8 Days of Christmas – Destiny’s Child
2. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
3. Blue Christmas (Remastered) – Shakin’ Stevens
4. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
5. Carol of the Bells – Trans Atlantic Christmas All-Stars
6. Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC
7. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Pentatonix
8. Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel – The Wiggles
9. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Whitney Houston
10. Every Year, Every Christmas – Luther Vandross
11. Fairytale of New York – Jimmy Elf and the Blue Flakes
12. Fall in Love at Christmas – Mariah Carey feat. Khalid and Kirk Franklin
13. Fancy Like Christmas – Walker Hayes
14. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
15. Feliz Navidad – Feliz Navidad All-Stars
16. Frosty the Snowman – The Ronettes
17. Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer – Elmo & Patsy
18. Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah – Isabel Rose
19. Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season – Andy Williams 
20. Hard Candy Christmas – Dolly Parton
21. Home for Christmas – *NSYNC
22. I Don't Want Christmas to End – Zach Williams
23. I Have a Little Dreidel – David & The High Spirit
24. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – A Great Big World
25. It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams
26. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Bette Midler
27. Jesus is the Reason for the Season – Kirk Franklin 
28. Jingle Bell Rock – Hot Chelle Rae
29. Joy to the World –Aretha Franklin
30. Kiss Me It's Christmas – Leona Lewis Feat. Ne-Yo
31. Kwanzaa Midnight – Street Sounds
32. Last Christmas – WHAM!
33. Let It Snow – Let it Snow
34. Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Jessica Simpson
35. Macarena Christmas (Joy Mix) – Los Del Rio
36. Mele Kalikimaka – Genoa Keawe & her Hula Maids
37. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – *NSYNC
38. Merry Christmas, Baby – Otis Redding
39. My Favorite Things – John Coltrane
40. Noche de Paz – Fifth Harmony
41. O Holy Night – Céline Dion
42. Oh Santa! – Mariah Carey (feat. Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson)
43. Once Upon a December – Chloe Flower
44. Pretty Paper – Willie Nelson
45. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Meghan Trainor
46. Run Rudolph Run – The Swon Brothers
47. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – The Holiday Soul
48. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
49. Santa Baby – Kellie Pickler
50. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town – Frank Sinatra
51. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town – Bruce Springsteen
52. Silent Night – The Temptations
53. Silver Bells – Rhett Walker Band
54. Silver Bells – Tony Bennett
55. Sleigh Ride – Tamar Braxton
56. Sleigh Ride – TLC
57. The Night Santa Went Crazy – “Weird Al” Yankovic
58. This Christmas – The Holiday Soul
59. This Christmas – Mary J. Blige
60. This Christmas – Chris Brown
61. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? – Barbra Streisand
62. White Christmas – White Christmas
63. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
64. Winter Song – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
65. Winter Song – Zara Larsson
66. Winter Wonderland – Winter Wonderland Band
67. Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy – Pentatonix ft. Tori Kelly
68. You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft

Happy holidays from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library!

Besides reading books, what else is fun to do in quarantine? Watch movies of course! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers access to Kanopy, an award-winning video streaming service that provides access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films ─ titles of unique social and cultural value from The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Media Education Foundation and thousands of independent filmmakers. There is something for everyone in the family to watch.

Curious what Library customers have watched while quarantined? Below, you will find the top 10 movies our customers have been streamed on Kanopy since March 2020.  All you need to join in the fun is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or One Access ID number!

Learn more about Kanopy and checkout limits, click here. Need a Library card? Sign up here.

The top 10 movies Library customers have watched since March 2020:

Creepy Carrots (2013) - The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch as a rabbit fears his favorite treats are out to get him. Run time: 10 minutes

Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus (2009) - When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place -- a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. Run time: 8 minutes

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (2011) - It's getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Children will love this interactive bedtime romp, which puts readers back in the driver's seat, deflecting Pigeon's sly trickery as he tries to escape his inevitable bedtime. Will you let him stay up late? Run time: 8 minutes.

Midsommar (2010) - An American couple, their relationship floundering, travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where they become trapped in a sinister nightmare. Run time: 148 minutes.

I’m Brave! (2015) - Come visit the firehouse and discover all the tools that firetrucks need to do their jobs and what it takes to be brave. Run time: 9 minutes.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014) - Housemates Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi & Jonathan Brugh) are three vampires who are trying to get by in modern society; from paying rent and doing housework to trying to get invited into nightclubs. They are just like anyone else - except they're immortal and must feast on human blood. When their 8000 year-old roommate Petyr, turns 20-something human hipster Nick, into a vampire, the guys must guide him through his newfound eternal life. Run time: 86 minutes. Rated R.

Episode One – The Difference Between Us (2003) - The Difference Between Us examines the contemporary science - including genetics - that challenges our common sense assumptions that human beings can be bundled into three or four fundamentally different groups according to their physical traits.  Run time: 58 minutes.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (2015) - Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur...and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day - for no particular reason - they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then - for no particular reason - they decided to go...someplace else. They are definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Run time: 11 minutes.

Lady Bird (2017) - Directed by Greta Gerwig and nominated for five Oscars, Lady Bird is a warm, affecting comedy about a high schooler (Saoirse Ronan) who must navigate a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf) over the course of her eventful and poignant senior year of high school. Run time: 94 minutes. Rated R.

You Are (Not) Small (2016)  - Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surpise guests show up, settling it once and for all! An original and very funny story about size - it all depends on who's standing next to you. Run time : 5 minutes.
 

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This blog was written by Serena Guest of Charlotte Mecklenburg 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 online programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 12/14/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Sunday 12/13

Jubilee Presented by the Journalism Collaborative – 4 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Monday 12/14

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

Concert- Music at St. Albans – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

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

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

Parent Lunch & Learn: Building Your Child's Brain, One Book at a Time – 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

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

Learning Circle: Childhood in the Digital Age – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Tuesday 12/15       

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's 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

Creating Resumes for the Job Help Center – 2 p.m. (Adult 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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 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

Wednesday 12/16

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's 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

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

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 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

Teens Live on Instagram: DIY No-Sew Masks – 5 p.m. (Teen programming)   learn more

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

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

Thursday 12/17

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

One-on-One Ereader Tutoring – 10 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

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

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

Active Reading Training – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 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

Learning Circle: Functional Fitness – 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

Teen Fanfiction Writing Club – 5 p.m. (Teen 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 12/18

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's 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

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 12/19

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

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

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

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.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Engage 2020 Art and Activism series offers a glimpse into present-day artists who have shared their talents, and even lives, to create social and civic change. Last month, I had the privilege of interviewing local artist Sherrill Roland for the final installment of this series to learn about his work with The Jumpsuit Project. Roland created this initiative in 2016 to spark conversations around the issues related to incarceration and its impact on those who experience it — a subject he is all too familiar with. In 2013, Roland found himself wrongfully incarcerated just as he was beginning his graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His performance encourages viewers to address their prejudices towards those incarcerated, and it challenges widely held beliefs surrounding the practice of mass incarceration. Through his work with The Jumpsuit Project, Roland is sparking real change in his community by sharing his own story and creating a safe space for others to learn about the lasting effects of mass incarceration.

Sherrill Roland's performance was one of the most powerful programs I've facilitated this year as his story resonated with me on many levels. We have all dealt with incarceration's effects, whether through personal experiences or having to cope with its impact on our loved ones. Through my interview with him, I was able to briefly glimpse life through his eyes. This experience allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the trauma and personal tragedy my own loved ones have endured — some of whom are still facing the challenge of rebuilding their lives after incarceration. Roland's story is compelling, and sheds light on the numerous injustices faced by many people of color today. So many Black Americans have experienced injustices just as he did, and this must change.

I encourage you to take a moment to watch the replay of my conversation with Sherrill Roland and examine your own prejudices today. Building empathy is the first step we can all take to build a stronger and more just community.

Check Out the Interview Replay

Learn More About Sherrill Roland and The Jumpsuit Project 

This blog post was written by Cearra Harris a teen services librarian at West Boulevard Library.

Since quarantine began, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers have downloaded 126,683 e-books from hoopla! More than ever, this is a good time to relax and escape into a great book. Below you will find the top ten adult fiction e-books downloaded on Hoopla by Library customers since March 2020.   

Discover these titles and so much more. All you need is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or One Access ID number!

Learn more about hoopla and checkout limits here. Need a Library card? Sign up here.

On to the books:

1. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
   The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything-everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.
    
2. The Last Flight by Julie Clark
   Two women. Two Flights. One last chance to disappear.
    
3. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
   Two women-a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947-are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.
    
4. The Woman In The Window by A.J.
   It isn't paranoia if it's really happening…. Anna Fox lives alone-a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times….and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble-and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
    
5. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
   Sophie Honeywell always wondered if Thomas Gordon was the one who got away. He was the perfect boyfriend, but on the day he was going to propose, she broke his heart. A year later he married his travel agent, while Sophie has been mortifyingly single ever since. Now Thomas is back in her life because Sophie has unexpectedly inherited his aunt Connie's house on Scribbly Gum Island-home of the famously unsolved Munro Baby mystery.
    
6. 1984 by George Orwell
   Nineteen Eighty-Four, often published as 1984, is a dystopian novel published in 1949 by English author George Orwell. The novel is set in the year 1984 when most of the world population have become victims of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance and propaganda.
    
7. The Summer House by Thomas Nelson
   Lily Bishop wakes one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated but forced to contemplate her next steps when she sees a flier at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community.
    
8. Virgin River  by Robyn Carr
   When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad, she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving - the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning. But a tiny baby abandoned on a front porch changes her plans…and former marine Jack Sheridan cements them into place.
    
9. Beach Haven by T.I. Lowe
   Free-spirited Opal Gilbert seems to have everything she needs to keep living a happy life in Sunset Cove as she refurbishes vintage furniture to sell at her funky ocean-side boutique, Bless This Mess. Until Lincoln Cole, a new-to-town ex-Marine nursing deep wounds and harboring hurts he can't seem to shake, wanders into her shop.
    
10. My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
    Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington's penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she's captivated by the young officer's charisma and brilliance.

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This blog was written by Serena Guest of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

As I wrap up the year, I reflect on how crisis has shaken us to our core.  It’s during times like these that real friends and trusted partners are revealed. What I have (re)discovered is that the Library has again stood with and for our community during what may be the most challenging year in my lifetime, providing essential resources, serving as a partner and offering ingenuity and support during a difficult time.

In the early days of the pandemic, the library closed its doors but didn’t shutter its services. Instead, it expanded them and increased offerings. The Library’s innovation department partnered with a consortium of local universities, schools and health organizations to produce PPEs for our healthcare workers to help keep them safe in the fight. The team accomplished this by taking the Library’s 3D printers to produce PPEs from their own homes.

While physical locations were closed and then re-opened with limited services, the Library moved all its programming online, expanded its digital programming to provide virtual story times and offered online job help services. It also expanded access to thousands of e-books and digital resources for Library cardholders.

This past fall when school started, the Library was again on the front lines. A recent image posted on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Instagram account illustrates this fact. The image shows a teacher and her students sitting on the sidewalk in front of the University City Regional Library. Why would a teacher set up class for her students outside of the library during a pandemic? They are using the Library’s free Wi-Fi. It’s hard for those of us blessed with multiple devices and internet access to imagine such a scenario for our children but COVID-19 has further revealed the divide in our community. The Library continues to be a bridge, providing access to information for all residents. 

The Library joined in efforts to close the digital divide and ensure more students and families had access to the internet and digital literacy by partnering with the County, neighborhood leaders and the Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance. In addition to providing Wi-Fi outside of its buildings, the Library used CARES Act funding from the County to provide 1,400 free computers to eligible households. This is an excellent example of how the Library works to improve lives and build a stronger community. The vital leadership role the Library plays throughout our area connects people to the resources they need.

I grew up a latchkey kid on Monroe Road across from East Mecklenburg High School and the Independence branch library, so I understand what it means to be without and to know what a vital resource our Library is. I recall relishing my hours perusing books, completing a research assignment or checking out the latest music. The Library was essential for my development and growth, and during this pandemic we’ve seen just how essential it is for the well-being of our community.

At the start of 2020, I checked out three books for my 11- and 13-year olds from the Mountain Island branch, including a book of home science experiments and books on how to build microcomputers. Little did I know that this would be my last time visiting a library branch in 2020. Within two weeks, the U.S. and world began to realize the significance of COVID-19 and within six weeks I was working from home and shortly thereafter my kids began schooling from home.

On week two of their remote learning, I remembered the experiment book I checked out at the Library. The kids were spending so much time on the computer that the book presented a perfect way to engage with them in the real world. Our first project was paper airplanes—old school and easy. We spent three hours outside with no devices, just laughing and telling stories of whose plane flew the furthest and giggling at the plane that landed on our neighbor’s roof. I thought, what an awesome time and wondered what was next. Then, I noticed the books were overdue. In the craziness of teleworking and homeschooling, I completely forgot to return our items. But when I checked my online Library account, I discovered I didn’t owe anything.  No fines were issued to any customers for overdue materials during the shutdown and subsequent early phases of re-opening. It was clearly an extension of the adaptability of their services.

Now as we look to plan for the next year, I sit down to take the Mecklenburg County Budget Survey and cast my vote for increased Library funding. The Library is at the top of my list of services worthy of additional investment because of its ability to adapt and provide essential services even in the most challenging of times. The Library was there when I was kid, it’s there for my children now and continues to be a resource for all. It is an organization I believe to be critical to the well-being of our Mecklenburg community. I encourage all of you to take the budget survey as well and request additional investment in our Library.

Click here to take the Mecklenburg County Budget Survey through December 23, 2020.

This blog is written by Charles Thomas, a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card user and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board Trustee