Did you receive a new device this holiday season? You've probably been busy adding apps and e-books and music to it from the moment you unboxed it. Well we have great news for you! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers many resources to fill up your new device - for free!

If you have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or ONE Access account, you have access to all of this and more.

E-books and e-audiobooks

The Library offers several resources that provide access to e-books and e-audiobooks - including today's bestsellers and graphic novels. Some are even available instantly. And the best part is, there are no fees! Titles automatically return when the loan period ends.

OverDrive has an extensive collection of e-books, e-audiobooks and read-alongs, with kid- and teen-friendly content in special reading rooms. You can check out up to 10 items per month with a 21-day loan period, and can download titles to your computer, tablet (including Kindle!) or mobile device. Or you can read or listen to them online.  Check out OverDrive's Libby app. OverDrive also powers NC Kids Digital Library, which offers e-books, e-audiobooks, streaming videos and read-alongs specifically designed for youth in pre-K through fourth grade.

Movies, TV shows and music

Binge watch a TV series before the new season comes out or find a flick for your family movie night. You can even download individual songs or whole albums to your device - and keep them forever!

hoopla allows you to instantly borrow e-audiobooks, e-books, comic books, movies, TV series and music - no holds, no waiting! You can check out up to six items each month. If you are adding the hoopla app to your child's device, be sure to change it to Kids Mode to replicate the experience of browsing the children's section at the Library.

​Freegal Music offers download or streaming access to more than 10 million songs and nearly 15,000 music videos. Get five free downloads and 3 hours of streaming each week. Once downloaded, the songs and videos are yours to keep!

Kanopy provides you with six downloads each month for the latest independent films, documentaries and hard-to-find movies. It also features free access to the Great Courses. 

Download the new CMLibrary Mobile app

Bring the joy of browsing the shelves to your phone with the Library’s new and improved mobile app. With new titles, staff lists and programs featured on the homepage, the new mobile app will provide a discovery every time you log in.  Access Charlotte Mecklenburg Library from your Android and Apple iOS phone or tablet anywhere 24/7. Search for "CMLibrary" or "Charlotte Mecklenburg Library" to download!

Learn more

Need help with your new device?

If you need help using your new device, we have you covered. Library staff are always willing and ready to help you learn a new device, and gain access to all of the amazing resources the Library offers. Check out Technology Tutor sessions offered at any of our locations for one-on-one help with computer basics or downloading digital resources.

Don't have a library card yet?

If you live in Mecklenburg County, get your library card for free - simply apply below. 

If you are a CMS student, you automatically have a ONE Access account, which allows you to use your student ID as your library card.

If you live outside of Mecklenburg County, you can still access everything above with a non-resident card, which is $45 per year. Simply apply below. If you need to renew a non-resident card, please call 704-416-0101.

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

The 2022 Community Read program is designed to help our community, “find common ground” by promoting a community of readers, learners and creating a platform for discussion. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library is able to give away a limited number of books at our branch locations. Beginning February 14, 2022 customers can request a free copy of one of the six Community Read titles to keep.

Book pick up will continue while supplies last. Call or visit your local branch location for more information. Each of the six Community Read titles are available for checkout in our collection as well with a Library card.

Everyone in the community can participate in Community Read: read a book, share perspectives, attend a program, engage on social media and build a stronger community together.

Visit the Community Read page for additional information, to register for programs take join the Community Read challenge today.

When faced with injustice, Rosa Parks refused to move and ignited a movement. On Rosa Parks Day, February 4, (date can vary by state location), we remind ourselves that the path to equality and racial justice is long and winding, but we must never give up.

To celebrate, we've put together a list of books for adults, YA and children as well as books about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. And while you're reading, get inspired by a curated playlist on Freegal Music.

Adult Books

At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance: A New History of the Civil Rights Movement, From Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle L McGuire

Rosa Parks in Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn

Seven Women and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

Our Auntie Rosa The Family of Rosa Parks Remembers Her Life and Lessons by Sheila McCauley Keys

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks with A New Introduction by Jeanne Theoharis

Rosa Parks a Penguin Life by Douglas Brinkley

The Girl at the Back of The Bus by Suzette D. Harrison

The Rosa Parks Story (DVD)

YA Books

Rosa Parks – My Story by Rosa Parks

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks for Young Readers by Jeanne Theoharis

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Connie Colwell Miller *             

The Story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Photographs by David Aretha

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Lydia Bjornlund

Rosa Parks and Civil Disobedience by Alison Morretta

Children’s Books

Cake Pops with Rosa Parks by Kyla Steinkraus

Little People Big Dreams: Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser

When Rosa Parks Went Fishing by Rachel Ruiz

I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer

I am Strong: A Little Book about Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer

Who Was Rosa Parks? By Yona Zeldis McDonough

The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks by Sheila Kanani

A Girl Named Rosa: The True Story of Rosa Parks by Denise Lewis Patrick

If A Bus Could Talk – The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired A Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds

Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?: Rosa Parks: A Who HQ Graphic Novel by Insha Fitzpatrick

The Bus Ride by William Miller

Books about the Montgomery Bus Boycott:

Pies From Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito

March by John Lewis

The Montgomery Bus Boycott by Allison Crotzer Kimmel

Stride Toward Freedom the Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr

Walk to Freedom: Montgomery Bus Boycott by Virginia Loh-Hagan

12 Incredible Facts About The Montgomery Bus Boycott by Lois Sephaban

The Thunder of Angels the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the People Who Broke the Back of Jim Crow by Donnie Williams

Freedom Walkers the Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman

Claudette Colvin Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move Courageous Kid of the Civil Rights Movement by Ebony Wilkins

Daughter of the Boycott Carrying on a Montgomery Family's Civil Rights Legacy by Karen Gray Houston

Freegal Music Links

Oh Freedom - The Golden Gospel Singers

Lift Ev’ry Voice – Kurt Carr

We Shall Overcome - Mahalia Jackson

A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead

O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps

BLACK PARADE - Beyoncé

Freedom - Beyoncé

Everything Is Everything Ms. Lauryn Hill

Rosa Parks - Jessica J Williams

Rosa Parks - SUMRRÁ

Towards Freedom - Oswando Jazz Quartet

A Movement for Rosa

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This book and music list was compiled by Kiara Garrett, teen librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Independence Regional Library can be found at the corner of Conference Drive and Monroe Road. We are proud to serve a diverse community, with many nearby schools including East Mecklenburg High School, Idlewild Elementary School, McClintock Middle School, Greenway Elementary School, Rama Road Elementary. We also serve families with young children and individuals from around the world who call Charlotte home. Visit us and you will discover a wide range of programs offered to people of all ages. We have a diverse staff who offer a variety of language learning programs,  an excellent group of children’s storytellers doing amazing work with babies and school age children, and we have many skill-building programs offered to teens to help them prepare for their future. Come and meet our library staff members who care very much about their work and the people they serve.   

If you like the outdoors, you will surely enjoy getting off the beaten path to stroll down local Greenways, McAlpine Creek and Campbell Creek. Experience wildlife and a fishpond available with stocked fish and accessible with a fishing permit. McAlpine Creek Park’s entrance is on Monroe Road near Village Lake Drive. Another fun outing for families with young children is at Grier Park. StoryWalks, provided by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, is a unique storybook adventure for children and their families found within the park’s natural setting. This encounter is a lively story outside the pages of a traditional book. 

Near our branch is the Time Out Youth Center who welcome all who enter. It’s a special place for young people to feel a sense of belonging and community whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, a straight ally – or just dislike being labeled at all. They offer a safe space and always respect the journey of each individual youth and young adult. Time Out Youth works to teach, lead discussions and workshops and gives resources to schools in the Charlotte area and surrounding counties.

Another wonderful organization making a difference in our community are the Monroe Road Advocates (MORA). They are a huge source of support in creating public art, hosting community workshops and so much more. MORA is fueled and supported by a group of neighbors and stakeholders that operate in volunteer roles. You are encouraged to visit this area and enjoy the sights, sounds, food and experiences!

Our community also has a lot of resources and organizations that serve refugees and immigrant families. The staff at Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency embrace refugees and recognize their troubling experiences. The goal is to ease the transition into a new country while respecting people’s need to remember their roots, cultures and traditions left behind back home. At Refugee Support Services, they provide a multitude of programs to help refugees who’ve chosen to settle in Charlotte. Families and individuals can come and partake in workshops, learn about nutrition, cooking, home-buying, voting clinics, financial literacy, family first-aid, personal hygiene, college prep/admissions and more.

The Hindu Center of Charlotte is a temple that has served the Hindu Indian community in Charlotte for many decades, and they have a very active member base. The entire year is filled with traditional and colorful events seeped in the Hindu religion. If you love Indian cuisine, don’t miss out on their take-out services which help support the Center’s year-round activities.

And of course, if you are looking for a more diverse selection of groceries, we have the Super-G International Market. If you love food (and who doesn’t), please make time to visit Super-G International Market for a grocery store visit like no other. While their main emphasis is Asian foods, they have an abundance of products from South America, Europe, and Africa just to name of few. Think of it as an amusement park for food enthusiasts. One prominent place is their food court where the Korean soups, kimchi, Vietnamese hot steam buns and Chinese bakery treats will take your tastebuds to far-away places with no required passport.

The staff at Independence Regional Branch has many local suggestions as well. Patchwork is a montage of colorful street art designed and created by local artists and trailblazers, MyLoan Dinh and Bunny Gregory. It’s art that adds a curiosity and playfulness to this region. You’ll find the colorful quilt-like inspired displays at several intersections along Monroe Road.  Another staff favorite is Thursdays Live, a seasonal and free concert series allowing people and families to gather and enjoy local musicians — great for the whole family to connect with neighbors in an exciting atmosphere. Pictured here is a 16-foot-high sculpture project that was led by Lee Baumgarten. Public artist Leslie Scott is the designer/creator of this landmark that is a beacon in our area where we live, shop and explore.  One of many ethnic restaurants is Halal Street Food. Specializing in traditional Middle Eastern dishes like kebabs, shawarma, platters, doner kebab, wraps and gyros, they also have many delicious options for vegetarians. A new restaurant, but with recipes from olden times.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Independence Regional Branch – 6000 Conference Drive Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-416-4800
• McCalpine Creek and Campbell Creek Greenway
• Grier Heights Memorial Park Storywalk - 3110 Leroy Street Charlotte, NC 28205
• Time Out Youth Center - 3800 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-344-8335
• Monroe Road Advocates
• Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency - 5009 Monroe Rd Ste 100, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-535-8803
• Refugee Support Services - 3601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-458-3245
• Hindu Center of Charlotte - 7400 City View Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-535-3440
• Super-G International Market - 7323 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227 | 980-321-4048
• Halal Street Food - 4044 Connection Point Blvd Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-595-3876

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This blog post was written by Alice Araiza, library assistant 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.

As February 2022 and Black History Month comes to an end, the NFL, a pro sport dominated by Black athletes, is still making headlines. The NFL celebrated its Super Bowl contest on February 13 and ended its season but the news for aspiring coaches is not over.  

This month began with former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filing a lawsuit against the NFL, and   three NFL teams including the Dolphins, claiming racial discrimination in hiring practices. NPR reported in a Monday sports article that Flores said in his lawsuit “that the NFL is ‘managed much like a plantation’ and that its 32 owners, none of whom is Black, profit from the labor of its players — 70% of whom are Black. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the league's other Black head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators and quarterback coaches and general managers, as well as African American candidates for those positions.”

For weeks, Flores continued to job-hunt and recently accepted a new job last week with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team announced he will become its senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach.  Flores’ lawsuit, however, is still ongoing.

The NFL initially disagreed with the lawsuit claims but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is reversing its stance by saying the league’s existing efforts to hire minority coaches are “unacceptable.”

This subject is addressed in the fourth chapter of the new John Feinstein book, Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports. Entitled “Still Climbing the Wall,” the chapter includes discussions with former Black head coach Tony Dungy about Blacks and coaching. He can ignore limited hiring cycles for Black candidates in coaching but bemoans the results. “Two of the last twenty head-coaching coaching hires in the NFL have been African Americans,” he said. “That’s not a good number.” And Flores was one of the two hires.

Discrimination in sports has been a large historical topic whether looking at the stories of the determined Jackie Robinson integrating Major League Baseball during the 1940s or the flamboyant boxer Jack Johnson in the 1900s fighting white boxers. Serving as a forebear, Robinson had many to follow with dreams of opportunities and success. But the path for the Black athlete in the United States is not surefooted with the simple focus of sports and family. As a microcosm of greater society, the sports world was surrounded by the one-time Jim Crow era along with still present racist attitudes. When facing those situations, some Black athletes turned to different methods including activism to confront racism.     

In 2016, then NFL player Colin Kaepernick began silent protests of police brutality and racial inequality by taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem at the start of those football games. For a period, some followed his lead—intended as an act of peaceful protest—until criticism grew when others called the act unpatriotic. The football season ended and Kaepernick was released from his team to never play in the NFL again. The following year, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL that he was blackballed for his protests. In 2019, Kaepernick withdrew the lawsuit after a confidential settlement was reached. 

This month, another challenge to discrimination is playing out with the NFL being a direct participant. Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL loomed as another Black head coach, Lovie Smith, joined the Houston Texans and Mike McDaniel, of biracial descent, replaced Flores at Miami. To date, the NFL can claim to have five head coaches of color, three of whom are African American including McDaniel.   

Want to learn more about this topic? Black athletes are involved multiple sports including basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, among others. The disturbing conclusion is that these life stories include talented Black people being ignored, marginalized or feared. It is a cycle they confront with some major wins.

The Library has multiple titles about this subject for adults, teenagers and children readers including e-books, streaming videos and more.  Check the separate booklists for additional readings.

This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, adult services librarian at South County Regional Library.

Thank you to everyone that was able to join our Second Annual Celebration of the National African American Read-In. Our panelists did a wonderful job at discussing the lack of representation and diversity in children’s literature. Our authors also provided a read-aloud of their books.

Check out their titles below:

1. Harrison Martin: I want a Pet; The Bacon Tree; B is For Bacon Tree: Bacon A to Z
2. Shaketa Richardson: I am! I can! And I will!
3. Shirell Bates: Woolly Bully
4. Serenity Rankin: What Will I Be…?
5. Richye Porter: Big Brother Big Shoes; The NO that Meant GO! Go Harder!!!!
6. Charlitta Hatch: Black Boy Joy; Black Boy Joy Christmas Countdown
7. Dr. Janaka Lewis: Brown All Over; Freedom Narratives of African American Women; Bold Nia Maria Passes the Test; Dr. King is Tired Too!!

If you missed the celebration, don’t worry, you can get all caught up HERE and stay tuned to the Reading in Color Playlist on our YouTube channel for additional resources, and recommended black reads.

Download the accompanying PDF from this year's event with more reading recommendations, author bios, activities and more.

Libraries are houses of words.

They’re in the books on shelves, in magazines, in DVDs and in audiobooks.

At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, those words come in 14 different languages. Including English, the Library offers resources in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, German, Gujarati (spoken mostly in India), Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Marathi (spoken mostly in India), Russian, Spanish, Telugu (spoken mostly in India) and Vietnamese. While it’s not technically a separate language, the Library also offers materials in braille.

As our community grows and diversifies, the Library grows along with it, selecting accessible resources for families who speak many different languages.

The world languages collection, which includes nearly 5,400 print books in all other world languages not including Spanish, floats across the 20-branch system to go where they’re needed. However, some materials get priority at certain Library locations because of a greater need for a specific language.
South County Regional Library has a larger collection of Hindi materials, for example, while South Boulevard Library has a larger collection in Spanish.

Several locations have even created world languages “centers” where adults’ and children’s materials are housed together in all languages.

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.  The Library also offers a variety of bilingual materials in English and Spanish to help readers learn a new language.

But for those families who speak Hindi? The Library has movies on hoopla for them, too. French-speaking customers can listen to music or read e-books in their language on hoopla, read French books on TumbleBook Library or even read scholarly titles on ProQuest in French. There are Films On Demand in American Sign Language, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. Explore the new World Languages Collection in OverDrive/Libby.  This collection features adult and children’s titles in French and German, and children’s titles in Korean.  Magazines in French, German, and Spanish including Elle Mexico, GQ Mexico and Cosmopolitan France are available for free through OverDrive/Libby magazines.

Of course, you, reading this now, speak English. But what if you wanted to one day read books in Russian, Arabic or Japanese?

The Library can help with that, too!

Through its free online language learning software, Transparent Language, the Library offers a digital language-learning classroom to make that a reality.

More than anything, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is a safe space for families of all kinds and of all different backgrounds. If you would like to suggest the Library add a title in one of the collected languages, make a purchase request! We’re always looking for ways to help build a stronger community.

The South Boulevard Library is located on South Boulevard, just 0.60 miles from the Lynx Blue Line Scaleybark Station. Originally opened in 1985 as the Scaleybark Library, this location is a 18,850-square foot building and a convenient location for the many customers in this growing area along South Boulevard. The new branch includes new, reimagined spaces for both children and teens, public computers, children’s computers, a large community room, a programming room, a quiet reading room, a calming room, five group study rooms, a computer lab and a laptop bar for customers who want to bring their own devices, many collaborative spaces and a vending café. The South Boulevard Library has one of the largest Spanish and bilingual (Spanish/English) collections to serve its large Spanish-speaking community, and growing Arabic and French Children’s collections.

Around South Boulevard, you’ll find different institutions working together to connect and build their diverse community. The groups mentioned below come from distinct roots, but it’s important to note that many of them work together frequently to create steadfast systems of support. 

Through the Harris YMCA South Boulevard Initiative, the Harris YMCA has established a partnership with the South Boulevard Forest Hill Church to provide support through multifaceted means. Most of the work done through this initiative is in Spanish and is free of charge aiming to assist many of the immigrant and less affluent populations in the South Boulevard corridor. Monthly workshops are presented by experts in the field of parenting, mental health, immigration, and other vital topics to assist with information and acculturation. Multiple levels of Spanish and English classes are offered at a cost, though free conversation classes are available to registered and non-registered participants. Registration for English as a Second Language is open the first week of January, third week of March, and first week of September. While registration is required for most of their programs, participants do not need to be members of the YMCA or the church.

The Learning Help Centers of Charlotte (LHCC) is a non-profit organization that works to empower vulnerable communities by providing educational, spiritual, and social support. Together with partnerships and volunteers, they provide cultural assimilation where the community learns and celebrates Día de lo Muertos, Las Posadas, Veteran’s Day, and Easter among other holidays around the world. About 90% of LHCC’s attendees are from various Latin-American cultures. The remaining 10% of participants are of other ethnicities, creating a diverse organization. LHCC mobilizes their efforts through advocacy, community integration and collective learning. Some of the enrichment programs they provide include field trips, weekly tutoring sessions, summer camps and parent mentorship programs.

The South End Spanish Club is a conversation group that meets just up the street from the Library and occasionally throughout different South Charlotte areas. The group is made up of both native speakers and novice Spanish language learners. Meetings are usually organized in informal atmospheres, such as breweries, which allows for both an engaging and permissive learning environment. Its focus is to provide a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can connect through language, culture and experiences. Immersive learning activities (like sports, board games and artistic projects) are planned on a rotating calendar. Their schedule can be found on the South End Spanish Club Meetup or Facebook page.

Collinswood Language Academy is a K-8^th dual language school that follows the International Spanish Academy program (ISA) curriculum. ISA recognizes high performing schools in the United States and supports them to deliver a Spanish-English dual language immersion curriculum. Collinswood is a magnet school and its mission is to “cultivate a passion for learning and inspire students to achieve academic excellence, develop bilingual-biliterate mastery and embrace socio-cultural competence.” In many aspects, the school prepares students to be global citizens. Students are supported by multilingual staff who assist students as teachers, psychologist, counselors and administrators. Through their monthly bulletin, yearly International Parade, and other cultural events, Collinswood embraces, educates and values the inclusion of various cultures around the world. To attend this school, upcoming kindergarteners must enter the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Student Placement Lottery called CMS School Choice. Students coming into other grades must take an admission test also provided by CMS Student Placement.

The Latin American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) seeks to increase the visibility and success of Latin American Businesses. Various outlets are established within and outside the organization to assist the individual owner and overall business organization. Events are hosted throughout the year to provide educational and networking opportunities, frequently hosting Latinos and Non-Latino presenters from all over the world. One of the programs the organization runs is the LACCC Education Program which offers a place to explore entrepreneurial interests and build leadership development for entrepreneurs, professionals and youth.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• South Boulevard Branch Library – 4029 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 704-416-6400
• Harris YMCA - 5900 Quail Hollow Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210 | 704-716-6800
• South Boulevard Forest Hill Church – 6210 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217 | 704-716-8700
• South End Spanish Club – Charlotte, NC 28217 | Facebook
• Learning Help Centers of Charlotte (LHCC) - 1901 Archdale Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28210 | 980-297-5114
• Collinswood Language Academy – 5621 Flagstaff Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210 | 980-343-5820
• Latin American Chamber of Commerce – 145 C Scaleybark Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 704-237-0552

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This blog post was written by Ana Robles, library assistant for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Cornelius Library is located in the town of Cornelius in northern Mecklenburg County.  According to the 2020 Census, the population of Cornelius is around 31,400, making it one of the largest towns in Mecklenburg County, similar in population to Mint Hill or Matthews. The Cornelius Library is located in the historic district of Cornelius, almost across the street from Cornelius Elementary School and not far from Cornelius Town Hall and Cornelius Police Department. A frequently recognized aspect of the Cornelius Library is the Mark Twain bronze statue on a bench that faces Catawba Avenue, designed by Cornelius sculptor Jon Hair.

One of the defining features of Northern Mecklenburg County is Lake Norman. Cornelius has the largest shoreline (about 70 miles) of all municipalities on the lake, and has great recreation opportunities and lake access at two of the most beautiful parks in Mecklenburg County, Jetton Park and Ramsey Creek Park. 

Cornelius has a sizable population of Hispanic origin and even has a grocery store, Tienda Maria, that offers Mexican and Latin American products. Some of the local international cuisine located in the area include Osito’s Tacos and Tortas and El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar, as well as Pho NC and Pho Nam.  About 9% of the population of Cornelius is foreign-born, according to the Census Bureau.    

There are many fun activities in Cornelius, including the Cain Center for the Arts, which offers a variety of arts experiences, including classes, workshops, camps, gallery exhibits, concerts and more. Cornelius also hosts a Jazz Festival in Smithville Park, featuring local jazz bands, food trucks, craft beer and children’s activities, as well as a Laketoberfest, featuring live music, food trucks and a kid’s zone with crafts and games. The Town of Cornelius offers events throughout the year with special themes. The YMCA for the North Mecklenburg region is also located in Cornelius and features a variety of programs for members. Another resource for newcomers to the area is The Neighborhood Care Center, which provides and/or coordinates with partners to provide programs and resources to anyone in need. 

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Town of Cornelius |21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC | 704-892-6031
• Jetton Park | 19000 Jetton Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 980-314-1001
• Ramsey Creek Park | 18441 Nantz Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-314-1001
• Tienda Maria | 19816 S Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-894-9700
• Osito’s Tacos & Tortas | 20700 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-5773
• El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar | 20930 Torrence Chapel Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-2534
• Pho NC | 19420 Jetton Rd #104, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-729-3770
• Pho Nam | 18059 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-892-9133
• Cain Center for the Arts | 19725 Oak St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-896-8823
• YMCA of Lake Norman | 21300 Davidson St #8553, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-716-4400
• Neighborhood Care Center | 19711 Smith Cir, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-255-5500

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This blog post was written by Cameron Smith, branch manager for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

If you’re friends with a gardener, you’ve probably heard them praise the physical and mental health benefits of gardening. If you’re a gardener, you may view gardening as a form of artistic expression and self-care. However, did you know that horticultural therapy is widely used in physical and vocational rehabilitation and improves memory, cognitive abilities, language skills and socialization?

The terms “Horticultural Therapy (HT)” and “Therapeutic Horticulture (TH)” are often used interchangeably. However, the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) provides these distinct definitions:

• Horticultural therapy is participating in horticultural activities facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist to achieve specific goals within an established treatment, rehabilitation or vocational plan.

• Therapeutic horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well-being through active or passive involvement in plant and plant-related activities. (AHTA Definitions and Positions, n.d.)

In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, regarded as the “father of American psychiatry,” documented the positive effect working in the garden had on individuals with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, horticultural therapy gained credibility and recognition for its treatment applications to a broader range of diagnoses. As a result, the American Horticultural Association was founded in 1973 to support horticultural therapy practitioners’ professional development, education and expertise.   And each year, the third full week of March has been designated as National Horticultural Therapy Week.

In 2020, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the third week in March as Horticultural Therapy Week in North Carolina. The proclamation cited the benefits of HT for all the populations served, including children, youth and adults with disabilities, mental illness or abuse trauma; veterans; persons with delinquent or criminal convictions; seniors and the terminally ill; and patients, staff and visitors at medical facilities.

This year National Horticultural Therapy Week is March 20 through 26. On Monday, March 21, 2022, Myers Park Library and Matthews Library will co-host a virtual program with Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Rita Stanley on Therapeutic Horticulture: Plant-People Connections -- exploring nature-based therapies’ history, psychology and practicality. 

Rita completed the Master Gardening training program in 2017, and then the first Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program offered at UNC in 2019.  She states that the knowledge regarding the power of therapeutic horticulture has changed her perspective.  She enjoys sharing what she has learned with others in hopes that they will also find ways to incorporate it into their lives.

Horticulture Therapy might sound like a weighty topic, but it’s very down-to-earth. You probably already practice a few of these strategies and don’t realize it.  To learn more about this program or register, click here.

For this presentation, a suggested companion book is Therapeutic Gardens: Design for healing spaces by Daniel Winterbottom and Amy Wagenfeld - ISBN 9781604694420. Copies are available at the Library here.

If you’re interested in visiting a local therapeutic garden, visit The Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden located in the Van Landingham Glen of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. The Polly Rogers Sensory Garden engages and stimulates all the senses through plantings and interactive elements. The designers wanted to create a magical space that is both contemplative and peaceful and colorful, whimsical, and fun (Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden, n.d.).

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This blog was written by Pamela Kemp, Library assistant at Myers Park Library

Footnotes:

AHTA Definitions and Positions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions

Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://gardens.charlotte.edu/polly-rogers-memorial-sensory-garden/