Con A de Arte is a rich, cultural festival that spotlights the work of Latinx artists, writers, musicians and dancers, as well as the agencies that support Latinx art and culture in the city.  The festival was celebrated for the first time at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in 2003. Initially, the event began as "The Market Place," and grew so rapidly that it was passed on to other cultural institutions for sustainability reasons. The festival is now hosted by The Mint Museum and Queens College. 

Why is cultural represntation of Hispanic culture and influence so important to the Charlotte community? Keep reading as we take a closer look at Census Bureau data to further understand our diverse neighbors.

The Census Bureau began to record Hispanic or Latino origin among the “foreign-born” in the United States in 1980. At that time, 3,962 persons (less than one percent of Mecklenburg County’s total population) were of Hispanic or Latino origin. Little more than one percent of Mecklenburg residents had been born outside the United States.

Migrants from Mexico and Central America had only just begun to explore opportunities outside the Southwestern United States. The demand for labor in the Southeast attracted workers at a time when a lack of economic opportunity and, in some countries, political instability drove them from their homes.

The following decade saw civil war in Central America, as well as federal legislation on immigration. The 1990 Census figures reflected these factors. The increased number of persons fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras accounted for the greater portion of the pie chart devoted to “Other” countries of origin. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provided a temporary status for agricultural workers and a path to citizenship for those already in the country. It was followed by a 78% jump of Hispanic immigration to Mecklenburg County. 

The 1990s transformed the Hispanic and Latino presence in the United States. The languages, food, music and people of Latin America had long been part of border culture in the Southwest and port cities in the East. By the year 2000, the immigrant stream to the Southeastern United States had given a new look and new cultural connections to the Carolinas. The 2000 Census showed an increase of almost 600% led by a twelve-fold surge in immigrants from Mexico.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library recognized this new element of its customer base and changed collections, signage and programming to meet the needs of a diversifying community. The photograph below was taken in June 2009, at a Main Library "Con A de Arte” (A is for Art) event.

As of 2017, persons of Latino or Hispanic origin made up 12% of Mecklenburg County’s population. For them, and for all, the Library offers the chance to improve lives and build a stronger community.

 

This blog was written by Tom Cole of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at Main Library, with additional information provided by Irania Patterson.

Sources:

US Census Bureau, American FactFinder

• 2000, 2010, and 2017 (Type in "Charlotte" or "Mecklenburg County" and select a year)

Publications of the United States Census Bureau

• 1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics: North Carolina,  1990, Table 5, p.22
• 1980 Census of Population, Vol. 1, Chapter B: General Population Characteristics, Part 35: North Carolina, U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census, 1980, Table 16, p.25

At the age of 60, Leslie Hooton's wish to be a published author came true. She is publishing her first novel, Before Anyone Else, with Turner Publishing. It was an accomplishment she dreamt of all her life. A childhood visit to the library with her mother was the start of her dream. In fact, the first memory Leslie recalls in her life is the smell of library books which developed into a life-long passion for reading those books. For Leslie, her library card was the equivalent to her passport to exciting books and adventures. 

Leslie grew up in a small Alabama town comparable to the setting of How to Kill A Mockingbird. A stroke at birth kept Leslie in a wheelchair for much of her childhood but a visit to the library and a library card changed everything. "The library was my happy and safe place," Leslie said. “When I would go it was like a passport to the world."  



The library was a place where Leslie could explore the world and experience things she didn’t think would happen in her real life. Being able to access the world was important to her. It allowed her to be independent and to connect with her thoughts. And it was something her local library gave her the chance to do. 

To Leslie, a fourth-generation attorney, the library was a comforting place; she’d grown up there. Both her mother and her aunt were librarians. In fact, Leslie would spend hours writing in her high school’s library which is also where her mother worked. "I was happiest when I was quiet and writing in the library. I would go to the library before anyone else would get there and smell the books. I wasn't alone." She’d found a sanctuary among books. 



And Leslie continues to read and write. An avid blogger, Leslie has found a way to marry both of her passions: through blogging. Her blog, What Dreams May Come, is about her love of libraries and why she enjoys writing.  

Leslie has been a resident of Charlotte for 30 years. Her favorite Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch, and the one she calls home, is the Myers Park Library. She says she would spend entire days there if she could. "It was like a full-time job,” she said. “I would go with my legal pad and sit at a certain desk. I would write until 1 p.m., eat lunch, and go back to writing." 



Leslie is a great friend of the Library and she is an inspiration to others. The theme of her personal life story and testimony is apparent: never give up on your dreams.  



Today, Leslie can say that she is a participating member at the Sewanee Writers Conference, a member of the Myers Park Library Board, a lifelong friend of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and, finally, she now calls herself an author. Her book, Before Anyone Else, is available through the Library. It is also available for purchase here through local Charlotte bookstore, Park Road Books.

This blog was written by Julia Zwetolitz, an intern with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Did you know that babies, toddlers and preschoolers can join in on Summer Break too? Reading time includes time spent being read to and time spent reading to someone else. This means that parents can log reading time for everyone whether they read to or with their child! 

This summer discover the learning moments all around us. The library is here to help you get your child ready to read with simple activities every day.  

When you register your child ages 0-3 years for Summer Break, we'll give you a colorful pamphlet with ideas for learning activities and lots of great literacy tips. Some of our ideas include:  

• Draw a picture and make up a story about it. 

• Read a book together. Create voices for the characters and use your body to tell the story.  

• Take your child to storytime. 

• Talk about the beginning, middle and end of the story while reading a book.  

Learn About the Benefits of Active Reading 

Active Reading is a great way to engage with your child while you read together. The ABCs of Active Reading are:  

• A: Ask Questions. Open ended questions get kids talking. “What do you think will happen next in the story?” 
• B: Build Vocabulary. Demonstrating new words builds vocabulary. Don’t just read the word “whisper” – actually whisper.  
• C: Connect to Child’s World. Relating the story to what kids know helps them learn more about the world.  

The Summer Break program is wonderful for all ages! We have activities, book suggestions and programs for babies, children, teens and adults.  Celebrate Library Week at Carowinds! 

In addition to offering free Carowinds tickets to eligible Summer Break participants, Carowinds also offers Library customers the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets and use them during Carowinds Library Week. This year Carowinds Library Week runs July 22-28, and the discounted ticket price is $39 per person, which includes parking. Purchase discounted tickets to be used during Library Week and help us celebrate Summer Break at Carowinds! 

Click here to access the portal 

User name: CM  

Password: LIBRARY   

These are case sensitive.  

Additional discounts may also be available through this portal throughout the summer. 

REMINDER: all libraries are closed for July 4. 

Comments? Questions? 

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to stop by your local library for assistance, call 704-416-0101 or email [email protected]. 

The latest exhibit at Main Library is out of this world.  Truly.  

Earth as Art 4: A Fusion of Science and Art features colorized, infrared Landsat satellite images of Earth from creative vantage points. All the images were acquired by Landsat 8, the satellite launched by NASA in 2013, and the exhibition is on loan to the Library from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The 38-image collection will be displayed on the first and second floors at Main Library through August 31, 2019.

NASA and the USGS have been taking photos from space since the 1970s, and this ongoing record allows scientists to monitor changes over time. But they’re also stunning – by combining different wavelengths of light, some invisible to the human eye, ordinary views of clouds, mountains or rivers are transformed into museum-quality works of art.

And that’s how Earth as Art was born. In the late 1990s staff tasked with image calibration began a collection of their favorites. “Every once in a while, we’d see an image that was so amazing, so remarkable, that we started squirreling them away,” said Earth Resources Observation and Science engineer Jon Christopherson. “We wrote them to CDs back then, and it wasn’t long before we had a drawer full of spectacular images.”

The exhibit began touring worldwide in 2002 and the Library is thrilled to host it at the Main branch in Uptown for the summer. “This exhibit came about through an unexpected combination of the scientific search for geographic changes on earth, some people in an office who happened to recognize something extraordinary, the artistic application of enhancing colors and the desire to freely share knowledge about our world,” said Mimi Curlee, Librarian at Main Library. “It is truly amazing!”

Explore these masterpieces for yourself!

More information about Earth as Art 4 can be found at https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth-as-art-4-a-fusion-of-science-and-art/.

The images are online and in the public domain, so people can download and use as they like.

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/earth-art-4?qt-science_center_objects=7#qt-science_center_objects

The Library also has print and online resources available for checkout that contain similar images:

Earth as Art by Lawrence Friedl

Earth as Art eBook

Earth by Michael J. Carlowicz

Each summer, the Library is excited to welcome community teens into our branches to participate in our Summer VolunTeen program. The VolunTeen program is designed to expose young people to a wealth of vital experiences and help teens gain service hours during the summer. VolunTeens build workforce development and leadership skills while volunteering at the Library.

We’d like to take a moment to tell our 2019 VolunTeens, “Thank you and great job!”

Our VolunTeen initiative is now year-round, which means that teens ages 13 to 17 can now earn community service hours by becoming a VolunTeen up to three times a year! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is looking for responsible teens who enjoy working with the public, helping others and giving back to their community.

Applications are only accepted three times a year. In January for the Spring term, in April for the Summer term and in August for the Fall term. During application months, please apply on the Volunteer page. Click on “Become a Volunteer” and search for Teen Volunteer 2019 opportunities. Applications will be accepted throughout the month as designated or until a branch has reached capacity.

Celebrate Library Week at Carowinds!

In addition to offering free Carowinds tickets to eligible Summer Break participants, Carowinds also offers Library customers the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets and use them during Carowinds Library Week. This year Carowinds Library Week runs July 22-28, and the discounted ticket price is $39 per person, which includes parking. Purchase discounted tickets to be used during Library Week and help us celebrate Summer Break at Carowinds!

Click here to access the portal

User name: CM

Password: LIBRARY 

These are case sensitive.

Additional discounts may also be available through this portal throughout the summer.\

Comments? Questions?

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to stop by your local library for assistance, call 704-416-0101 or email [email protected].

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, July 11, 2019 and shared six titles for travel and adventure. 

click here to search titles

Adult fiction

The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

In Lisbon in 1904, a young man named Tomás discovers an old journal. It hints at the existence of an extraordinary artifact that--if he can find it--would redefine history. Traveling in one of Europe's earliest automobiles, he sets out in search of this strange treasure. Thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist devoted to the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie finds himself at the center of a mystery of his own and drawn into the consequences of Tomás's quest. Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in his ancestral village in northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he arrives with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. And there, the century-old quest comes to an unexpected conclusion.

Adult nonfiction

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

A grand mystery reaching back centuries. A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon.

Youth fiction

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams and histories.

Picture Books

Journey by Aaron Becker

Using a red marker, a young girl draws a door on her bedroom wall and through it enters another world where she experiences many adventures, including being captured by an evil emperor.

Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer

On a family vacation in Venice, Olivia indulges in gelato, rides in a gondola and finds the perfect souvenir.

Teen fiction

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

When 17-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort-of scavenger hunt that transforms her life.

Summer Break is well under way! There is still plenty of time to log your reading time and activities, or even sign up if you have not yet done so! While reading is always a focus at the library, we also have a lot of opportunities to learn about science, technology, engineering, art and math. STEAM is a hot topic these days and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has options for all ages to get involved.

Of course, there are lots of great books with a focus on STEAM. Newer titles you can find at the Library are suggested below.

Want to build your own app? There’s a book for that!

For teens and adults:
Swift Programming in Easy Steps by Darryl Bartlett

Build Your First Web App: Learn to Build Web Applications From Scratch by Deborah Levinson

Beginning Programming With Python by John Mueller

For children:
Programming Awesome Apps by Heather Lyons

Get Coding! Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and Build a Website, App, and Game

Coding for Beginners Using Python by Louie Stowell

The Everything Kids’ Scratch Coding Book by Jason Rukman

Interested in learning more about the wildlife in your neighborhood?

For teens and adults:
Birds of the Central Carolinas: Including Ornithological Records and Firsthand Accounts From the Civil War Era to Today by Donald Seriff

Make a Home for Wildlife: Creating Habitat on Your Land: Backyard to Many Acres by Charles Fergus

For children:

Weird but True! Animals: 300 Outrageous Facts about Wacky Wildlife

A Seed Is the Start by Melissa Stewart

Many of our branches have one-on-one technology tutoring to help you with your tech needs. Whether you need help creating a spreadsheet or figuring out how to download the Library’s free ebooks, contact your local branch to see how we can help. 

Teens and preteens should check out the Messy Makerspace at ImaginOn! During the open hours, teens and preteens can play around with all of the fun stuff, including a 3D printer. ImaginOn also offers specialized programs that focus on a specific projects such as screen printing. 

There are STEAM programs for school-aged kids almost daily at the Library, so be sure to look at our full listing of options, ranging from programs about different building materials to making your own ice cream!

Also, be sure to visit our online resources which are available 24/7 on our website!  
Universal Class and Lynda.com have excellent learning courses and videos on countless topics, including coding and web design. Learn to use whichever program you prefer - Python, Java, MySQL, Git and more. All you have to do is create an account, which is free with your library card!

Additionally, PowerKnowledge Life Science, Physical Science and Earth & Space Science are great resources for kids. Ideal for third to sixth graders, each source is full of articles, videos, games and even ideas for science experiments.

Whatever and however you decide to learn, remember to log it as a learning activity on your Summer Break account and continue to have a great summer!

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, ASC Culture Blocks and Photosynthesis Inc have teamed up to present a series of free photography classes at the West Boulevard Branch Library. Finding Home Again is open to photographers of all skill levels. You can use a cell phone camera or a professional level camera gear. No matter your past experience, you’ll learn techniques to enhance your photography skills.

This series is focused on the experiences of Montagnard first generation immigrants. The Montagnards, hilltribe people from Vietnam, were recruited by the U.S. Special Forces to serve as front-line fighters with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After the United States withdrew from Vietnam, they were targeted by the Communist Vietnamese government as traitors and U.S. spies. Many Montagnards continued to fight the Vietnamese after the United States left, believing they were acting on behalf of the U.S. government. When they finally learned that the U.S. government no longer supported them, they were forced to flee as refugees.

In 1986, about 200 Montagnard refugees, mostly men, were resettled in North Carolina. A second group of about 400 came in late 1992. While these first groups of refugees faced considerable difficulties, most have adapted reasonably well. Since that time, additional families have come, especially relatives and persons released from re-education camps (prisoners of war). In 2002, another 900 Montagnards were resettled in North Carolina. This last group brings with them troubled histories of persecution, and few have family or political ties with the established Montagnard communities here. Their resettlement is proving to be much more difficult. There are about 5,000 Montagnards in North Carolina. More than half of these are in the Greensboro area, but there are significant populations in Charlotte and Raleigh, as well.

Join others in your community as we explore ways to use photography to document memories, reflect on the immigration process, and/or to share your experience of being in Charlotte, NC.

Register now for one of the classes by clicking on the date you wish to attend.

ASC Culture Blocks and Photosynthesis Inc. Presents: Finding Home Again - all sessions at West Boulevard Library:

Saturday, July 20, 2019 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, August 17, 2019  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, September 28, 2019  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 19, 2019  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Whether you're planning a trip for summer, fall, winter or spring,  be sure to use your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card for all your travel needs!

Before You Go:

Every smart traveler knows to pack lightly and plan early.  We always have traditional guidebooks at every location, but here are some digital suggestions to leave room for more souvenirs and help you navigate your travels: 

• Download the Hoopla app to access hundreds of recently published guidebooks, maps included, from well-known publishers Frommer's and Fodor's. 
• Avoid looking like a tourist with The NFT (Not for Tourists) guidebooks, available for major cities in United States.
• The Lonely Planet guides began as backpackers’ guides but are perfect for budget travelers. We recommend How to Pack for Any Trip and Film and TV Locations. 
• Plan a road trip with a route from The Most Scenic Drives in America or National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways.  If you’re feeling adventurous, Darryl Sleath’s The Road Trip Book includes famous drives throughout the world.  Be sure to pack an atlas!
• Download Atlas Obscura to learn what oddities await at your next destination. 

• Learn the language of the country you’re visiting by downloading Mango Languages app, free with your library card, to your smartphone. 
• Rent a Wi-Fi Hotspot if you’re not sure about the cost or availability of internet access (only available for use in the continental U.S.). 

Free Entertainment:

Your suitcases are packed, and your reservations are confirmed.  Pass the time on your flight or in the car with these audiobook and magazine suggestions: 

• Compare the television show Game of Thrones with the books by listening to the George R.R. Martin series. 

• Get in the traveling spirit by listening to works by respected travel authors Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux or Peter Mayle. 
• Try something funny with audiobooks by David Sedaris, Nora Ephron or Chelsea Handler.  

• Explore the latest travel issues of National Geographic Traveler and Conde Nast Traveler through our digital resource RBDigital. 

Staycation:

You don’t have to travel far to have a great experience with these free ideas!

• Trade your sunglasses for a pair of VR glasses Thursday, July 25 at our Beatties Ford Road Library for an Armchair Travel program.  Head to exotic locations like Thailand without leaving town! 
• Learn about a new culture, such as Japanese, Chinese, French or Spanish, through Universal Class.
• Escape the brutal Carolina heat by watching Antarctica--A Year On Ice, Meru: Mountain Climbing in the Himalayas, or more than 220 travel videos on our video service, Kanopy. 
• Mark your calendars for a fall travel discussion series at our Morrison Library September 18.

Whether you’re traveling by air, sea or car, take the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with you this summer.