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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.

Jam on this holiday season with the "Jingle Jams" playlist

December 4, 2024

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

* playlist has been updated as of December 4, 2024

 

In addition to a good, wintery 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, a metalhead 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 (you can also find these songs alternatively on hoopla). 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. Baby It’s Cold Outside – John Legend with Kelly Clarkson
  4. Blue Christmas (Remastered) – Shakin’ Stevens
  5. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
  6. Bring a Torch – Donna Germano
  7. Carol of the Bagpipers - Joemy Wilson
  8. Carol of the Bells – Trans Atlantic Christmas All-Stars
  9. Caroling, Caroling – Natalie Cole
  10. Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24 Instrumental – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  11. Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC
  12. Christmas Rappin’ – Kurtis Blow
  13. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Pentatonix
  14. Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel – The Wiggles
  15. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Whitney Houston
  16. Every Year, Every Christmas – Luther Vandross
  17. Fairytale of New York – Jimmy Elf and the Blue Flakes
  18. Fall in Love at Christmas – Mariah Carey feat. Khalid and Kirk Franklin
  19. Fancy Like Christmas – Walker Hayes
  20. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
  21. Feliz Navidad – Feliz Navidad All-Stars
  22. Feliz Navidad (Metal Version) – Leo
  23. First Noel – Leslie Odom Jr.
  24. Frosty the Snowman – The Ronettes
  25. Good King Wenceslas – A Hero for the World
  26. Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer – Elmo & Patsy
  27. Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah – Isabel Rose
  28. Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season – Andy Williams
  29. Hard Candy Christmas – Dolly Parton
  30. Here We Come A-Wassailing - The Galway Christmas Singers
  31. Home for Christmas – *NSYNC
  32. I Don't Want Christmas to End – Zach Williams
  33. I Have a Little Dreidel – David & The High Spirit
  34. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – The Jackson 5
  35. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – A Great Big World
  36. It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams
  37. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Bette Midler
  38. Jesus is the Reason for the Season – Kirk Franklin
  39. Jingle Bells – Skid Row
  40. Jingle Bell Rock – Hot Chelle Rae
  41. Joy to the World –Aretha Franklin
  42. Kiss Me It's Christmas – Leona Lewis Feat. Ne-Yo
  43. Kwanzaa Midnight – Street Sounds
  44. Last Christmas – WHAM!
  45. Let It Snow – Let it Snow
  46. Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Jessica Simpson
  47. Macarena Christmas (Joy Mix) – Los Del Rio
  48. Mele Kalikimaka – Genoa Keawe & her Hula Maids
  49. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – *NSYNC
  50. Merry Christmas, Baby – Otis Redding
  51. My Favorite Things – John Coltrane
  52. My Gift To You – Alexander O’Neal
  53. Noche de Paz – Fifth Harmony
  54. Norupo – Heilung
  55. Nuttin' For Christmas – Stan Freberg
  56. O Holy Night – Céline Dion
  57. O Holy Night – Tevin Campbell
  58. Oh, Christmas Tree! – W.G. “Snuffy” Walden
  59. Oh Santa! – Mariah Carey (feat. Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson)
  60. Once Upon a December – Chloe Flower
  61. Peace on Earth – Kaskade 
  62. Pretty Paper – Willie Nelson
  63. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Meghan Trainor
  64. Run Rudolph Run – The Swon Brothers
  65. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – The Holiday Soul
  66. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
  67. Santa Baby – Kellie Pickler
  68. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town – Frank Sinatra
  69. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town – Bruce Springsteen
  70. Santa Tell Me – Conquer Divide
  71. Silent Night – The Temptations
  72. Silver Bells – Rhett Walker Band
  73. Silver Bells – Tony Bennett
  74. Sleigh Ride – Tamar Braxton
  75. Sleigh Ride – TLC
  76. Snowlight – Jessie James Decker
  77. Soul Holidays – Sounds of Blackness
  78. Still, Still, Still – Kaskade
  79. The Christmas Waltz – Johnny Mathis
  80. The Little Drummer Boy – Christopher Lee
  81. The Longest Night – Nox Arcana
  82. The Night Santa Went Crazy – “Weird Al” Yankovic
  83. This Christmas – The Holiday Soul
  84. This Christmas – Mary J. Blige
  85. This Christmas – Chris Brown
  86. The Mistletoe Jam – Luther Vandross
  87. Up on the Housetop – August Burns Red
  88. We Three Kings – Rob Halford
  89. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? – Barbra Streisand
  90. What Child is This? – Vanessa Williams
  91. White Christmas – White Christmas
  92. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
  93. Winter Song – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
  94. Winter Song – Zara Larsson
  95. Winter Wonderland – Winter Wonderland Band
  96. Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy – Pentatonix ft. Tori Kelly
  97. Wintersaga – Windrose
  98. Wizards in Winter – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  99. Wrap Me Up – Jhené Aiko
  100. You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft


Happy holidays from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library!