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.

When was the last time you practiced self-care by taking the time to care for your mental and physical health, not just buying things that make you feel good? While there is nothing wrong with quality retail therapy there are just some things that money cannot buy. 2020 was a whirlwind of a year, 2021 has held no punches this far and it seems like the world doesn't stop. It’s at this time that you take active steps to make sure the one thing you can control – even to a small degree – is safe: your mental health.

I’m sure you’ve heard that you should apply your oxygen mask before helping others in the event of an emergency on a plane. In the same way, you cannot help someone else if you can’t help yourself, and in the Black family dynamic, this is heavily underlined. The collective trauma of COVID and the loss of life – however it may be – can be a lot to process for adults and growing minds of children and teens. There are questions you don’t know the answers to that you might not have the capacity to answer.

In any case, it’s essential to find things you enjoy doing. Allow yourself to feel the emotions you’re feeling and pay attention to them. Create boundaries for yourself and how you interact with others, and in doing so, try to focus on your coping mechanisms and your social media intake.

A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself questions like:

• "Do I need a break?"
• "Do I need to have this conversation?"
• "Do I want to do this right now?"

Treat yourself with care, not as an emergency response, but as a daily way of living. In this time of constant change, you are your best constant. Suppose you need guidance in finding methods of self-care amid the state of the world. In that case, the Library offers programming that focuses on the self-preservation of people of color.

Join the Library for a special self-care Facebook Live event called “The Nuances and Need of Self-Care for People of Color” on Thursday, September 9, at 6 p.m. to engage in an intimate discussion about self-care, the importance of developing a routine that is beneficial for your health & wellness and how to psychologically manage in these unprecedented times.

Register

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This blog was written by Ellie Howie, a library associate at ImaginOn: the Joe and Joan Martin Center.

Changes to OverDrive/Libby Collections
Over the next week or so, you may see some discrepancies between our library catalog in Bibliocommons and our OverDrive/Libby content. We recently lost access to a collection of digital audiobook content from the publisher Recorded Books on our OverDrive/Libby resource. The good news is some of this content is available in our hoopla resource and you still have access to it there. Unfortunately, some of the content we may not be able to continue to make available.

The Library is working diligently to get your library catalog as accurate and up-to-date as possible.  In the meantime, please check the OverDrive/Libby site or Libby app for the most accurate collections search.

Hoopla is a popular platform for many Library customers, which allows a no-wait checkout of up to six (6) items monthly. Hoopla checkouts reset the first day of each month. If you find yourself out of checkouts in hoopla, favorite the title you want to check out (click the heart icon) and, when checkouts reset, you can easily find it again. At this time, we are unable to increase the number of checkouts for our customers, but we will continue to work hard to bring our community the materials to meet your informational and recreational needs.

We are so sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your patience.

Flowers play an important role in life. Many, if not all, of us have sweet memories of the bright red roses on your grandmother’s dinner table, the dried peony pressed in an ancestor’s diary, or the radiant orchids your spouse gives you every Valentine’s Day.

Our community has a rich floral history, particularly in Cornelius, which was once the home of gardener Hugh Roy Smith. Smith firmly believed that flowers positively impacted the morale of the people, so he dedicated his life and career to doing just that.

Hugh Roy Smith (1908-1979) grew up with a love of flowers and gardening. As a student in high school, Smith won a contest for growing the “nicest chrysanthemum,” which led to growing his interest in horticulture. After graduating from Cornelius High School in 1926, he attended Davidson College for one year, followed by pursuing his bachelors at North Carolina State College in the School of Agriculture. Upon graduation in 1932, he earned a position at the Lindley Nurseries in the propagation and landscape departments.

Original building for Smith’s Flowers and Nurseries

 

Aerial view of Smith’s Flowers and Nurseries

He opened his first business, Cornelius Floral Gardens, in 1933. The business later became known as Smith’s Flowers and Nurseries, Inc., and it remained open until his retirement in 1975. In 1936, he built an addition to one greenhouse and built two others, bringing the total greenhouse space approximately 7,000 square feet. Each greenhouse was steam heated and temperature controlled. His greenhouses were viewed as some of the most modern in the state of North Carolina.

Pottery Department at Smith’s Flowers in Moorseville, NC

Rosie Smith at the new show room opening event, c1960

Throughout his career, he grew and sold flowers through his shops in Cornelius and Mooresville and provided floral arrangements for weddings and pageants. He firmly believed that “flowers do something for the morale of the people,” especially since in 1933 at the time of his business’ opening, the country was coming out of the Great Depression. His son, Roy, Jr., owned and operated Smith’s Wholesale Nurseries. Smith worked with him in his retirement while also pursuing private consulting contracts.

Southern Living Show, Smith Garden, First Place

Smith’s work became nationally known through his participation in Southern Living Show exhibits where he created award-winning displays. For three years, the Smith Garden was voted First Place by popular vote. In 1966, he won the Sylvia Award from the American Society of Florists, as well as the Community Leader of America Award in 1969. He was famously known as the “Rhododendron King."

Hugh Roy Smith (left) receiving the Sylvia Award, 1966

In addition to his work, Smith was active in his community as a chairman of the Cornelius Beautification Committee and as a trustee for the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. As a charter member of the Lions Club, he helped to beautify the town and placed “Welcome Cornelius” signs around the community in the late 1960s. He participated in various floral associations and societies—he was elected President of the North Carolina State Florists’ Association in 1954 and elected to the American Academy of Florists in 1966.

Mrs. Rachel Hucks, Bookkeeper, at the new show room opening event, c1960

After his death, the Hugh Roy Smith memorial garden was erected in his honor. It was located on the east side of Highway 115 in the heart of Cornelius.

Want to learn more about gardening? Take a look at some of our other gardening collections on ArchivesSpace, or make an appointment to come view the Hugh Roy Smith Collection in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

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This blog was written by Sydney Carroll, archivist in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

This year, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is proud to celebrate the American Library Association’s Banned Book Week with our Freedom to Read Week. This year's annual celebration will be held September 26-October 2, 2021 and will include programming for all ages that spotlight current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools.

Register an event (or two) and join us in celebrating our freedom to read!

Banned Book Week Trivia (Online)
Monday, September 27, 2021, at 6 p.m.

Calling all fans of controversial reads! Come join us for an hour of online trivia as we celebrate Freedom to Read Week! Test your knowledge of banned and challenged books.

You can have as many participants on your team as you like, but only one person will share responses per team. Only 10 "teams" may register.

This program will be provided by Mint Hill library staff and is recommended for teens and adults. Register here.
 

Banned Books Week: Make-and-Take a Tote (Outdoor)
SouthPark Regional Library
Monday, September 27, 2021, at 6 p.m.

Make-and-take your own "Banned Books" tote bag using screen printing materials. Celebrate your intellectual freedom by engaging in fun literacy activities.  Suitable for all ages, (recommended that children participating are age 7 and up.)  Registration opens at 9 a.m. on September 13.

This event will be held outside.

Banned Book Week Digital Escape Room (Online)
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 4 p.m.

Compete against others in a digital escape room. Who will escape first?

This program will be provided by [branch name] library staff and is recommended for teens ages 12 to 18. Register here.

Banned Book Week Teen Trivia (Online)
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 4 p.m.

Test your knowledge of banned and challenged books. Winners of our virtual trivia will win a prize kit, which will be available at North County Regional Library!

This program will be provided by North County Regional library staff, and is recommended for teens ages 13 to 18. Register here.

Banned Book Week: Teen Bingo (Online)
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Join us for an hour of virtual bingo! Test your knowledge of banned and challenged books. Winners of our virtual bingo will take home a prize kit, which will be available at Sugar Creek Library*!

This program will be provided by Sugar Creek library staff and is recommended for teens ages 13 to 18. Register here.

*Bingo kits are available for pick up at the Sugar Creek Library.

Banned Books Bingo (Online)
Wednesday, September 29, at 2 p.m.

What do the Harry Potter series, Captain Underpants, A Wrinkle in Time, and the Goosebumps series all have in common? They are on the top list of the most frequently banned books in America. We'll discuss book banning and the dangers of censorship for upper elementary schoolers.

Automatically generated Bingo cards will be emailed to the address on file 24 hours in advance of the event, so please be prepared to print or copy. Bingo winners will receive a free chapter book from a collection of select popular titles, courtesy of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. This program will be provided by ImaginOn Library staff.

Register here.

Banned Books Week Kahoot! Trivia
Wednesday September 29, 2021, at 6 p.m.

Join us for Trivia Night using Kahoot! Learn some new fun facts or show off how much you know on your own.
Learn more (and brush up on some useful info!) at Banned Books Week.

Register here.

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This blog was written by Taylor Gantt, marketing & communications intern at 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.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is historic, with people globally embracing the movement's mission: advocate for the rights of Black people in America; to stand up to injustices inflicted upon Black Americans; to build a more just and equitable world for Black communities. So, how does it compare to the Civil Rights Movement? What can we learn from older members of our communities that we can apply to the BLM movement?

May is Older American's Month and a chance to celebrate senior communities, aging friendly & gracefully, and engaging with older adults. Aside from celebrating the older members of our community, it is also a chance to learn. Learn about how they built their lives, overcame trials and tribulations, and what they think of the evolving world around them. The Civil Rights Movement spanned over 20 years, from 1947 to 1968, with advocates from the East to West coast -- and around the world. And, while there are people who dedicate their life to documenting history, not all people prioritize learning about the life and history of their older family and/or community members. With the onset of a global pandemic -- older adults are at risk of isolation, and the need to connect is more than ever right now. While there aren't many silver linings to the pandemic, one good thing that can come from it is the opportunity to reconnect to distant relatives and friends.

It can be easy to postpone having conversations with loved ones about their life in an increasingly busy world. We also don't want to be intrusive in our quest to learn from older community members, so be sure to connect with people you have a relationship with. Or, seek out people (through church or family friends or other organizations you're affiliated with) who want to engage and share their experience. No matter your approach, please remember: Learning from our older community members isn't a right but rather a privilege.

We have a lot to learn, so active listening is the key and access to interview questions that support your genealogical efforts. Familysearch.org offers an updated, extensive list of questions to start your listening & learning process. Some questions include: How old were you during the Civil Rights Movement? Where were you living at the time? What was your community like? Don't feel obligated to use pre-made interview questions! Sometimes conversations can flow naturally, and we can take time to absorb what is being shared.

Some other useful tips for documenting oral histories:

● If permissions are granted, decide how you're going to record the interview.

● Consider having a photo or artifact to help jog memories

● Share interview questions in advance (so the person you're interviewing isn't caught off guard and has time to prepare what they want to share)

● Ask open-ended questions

● Ask if you have permission to share what you learn (some people may want confidentiality, and that is their right)

● Consider the time of day and length of the interview. Recounting memories, whether they are positive or negative, can take a lot of energy. Be considerate of the interviewee's health & time.

If you're interested in genealogy or want more resources on interviewing people to learn about local history, contact the Robinson Carolina Room for tips.

Access genealogy Resources

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This blog was written by Amrita Patel, library outreach coordinator.

Think you know all there is to know about Queen Charlotte? Think again.

Ever since Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 (which is coincidentally Queen Charlotte’s birthday – the Queen was born in 1744), the public has been obsessed with uncovering the history of the monarchy’s controversial, and highly debatable, first biracial Queen. Many have drawn comparisons between her and the Duchess of Sussex, Mrs. Markle herself. The Queen’s popularity and questions about her identity continue to surge since Netflix’s hit Bridgerton series debuted in December 2020. Was Queen Charlotte as whimsical as her recent on-screen portrayal? Was she a doting and adoring wife to her husband, King George III?

It’s time to finally find out.

In celebration of the Queen City namesake’s birthday on May 19, 2021, Dr. Stephanie Myers, author of the book Invisible Queen, will explore the remarkable and unexamined parts of the Queen’s life. The conversation on Wednesday, May 19 kicks off online at 7 p.m. and will discuss Queen Charlotte as an accomplished and multilingual queen with African heritage, a mother of 15 children, an abolitionist, a patron of the arts and a defender of the impoverished. Participants are sure to learn a story about the Queen they weren't told in standard history class.

Interested in attending this program? Find program details below:

Queen Charlotte: America’s Biracial, Abolitionist Queen
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
7 p.m., online
Click here to register (registration is FREE).

Read Invisible Queen: Biography of Sophia Charlotte, Queen of Britain and Ireland, 1761-1818 by Dr. Stephanie Myers today. Find the book in our catalog here.

Questions about the event? Please contact Rachel Kubie, reference librarian at SouthPark Regional Library, by phone at (704) 416-5400 or by email at rkubie@cmlibrary.

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Portrait of Queen Charlotte by Allan Ramsay

Welcome home to South County Regional Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library proudly announced the re-opening of its South County Regional  branch at 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, on March 1, 2021.

Now, it's time to celebrate!

Bring the pride of the South County community home to the library with a spirit week of themed, socially-distanced activities for all ages May 16-22, 2021. Customers can participate at their leisure in the following scheduled branch and online activities*:

• Monday,  May 17 - Color Your Library: Pick up a coloring sheet to complete at home. Return it to us and we’ll post it in the library.
  
  Click here for more details
  
   
• Tuesday, May 18 - An Evening with Jim Gallucci: On Tuesday, May 18, from 6-7 p.m., metal sculptor and artist Jim Gallucci will discuss the inspiration behind the new "Open Book, Open Mind," public artwork that is now a staple at South County Regional Library.
  
  Click here to register
  
   
• Wednesday, May 19 - Book Lovers Day: Stop in to fill out a paper heart with a title you love & we’ll share it in-branch and online.
  
  Click here for more details
  
   
• Friday-Saturday, May 21-22 – Character Days: Dress up as your favorite book character and take a picture in your favorite area of the new library.
  
  Click here for more details

*Note: All Library locations are currently operating under Level 2 of the Library's multilevel re-opening plan. To see what services are available in Level 2, please click here.

 

Discover what's new at South County

Finding work in the United States right now is, in short, overwhelming. Before COVID-19 made its way stateside, looking for a job still wasn’t easy. However, the uncertainty of the coming months (and years) is adding new and unprecedented challenges to anyone’s job search.

Beneficially, some career-related obstacles that may have been a concern before have now become non-issues. Let’s talk about some of the old “problems” that you can now safely navigate without the worry of harming your career development.

A gap in your resume

Whether you are unemployed for two months or two years, any career gap that started in 2020 is a non-issue. The COVID-19 pandemic and the societal turmoil experienced in its wake have become one of the most widely shared human experiences in the history of our species.

By the end of April 2020, it was estimated that around 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. For the rest of our lives, every hiring manager in the world is going to remember this disruption – and any gap(s) in your work history will be extremely common and understood.

A major shift in career trajectory

Before 2020, the strongest resumes demonstrated work history in progressively responsible roles. Advancement in one’s chosen field was a major factor towards a candidate’s suitability for mid-to-high-level positions.

Now, the importance of progressive advancement within the next few years is plummeting. Much like the resume gap, a shift in career trajectory will be exceedingly common. Before the pandemic, many job seekers were reluctant to take a job that didn’t directly contribute to their career advancement. Job seekers now have fewer choices available as many industries struggle to survive the post-pandemic economy.

Whether your professional field will return to its pre-pandemic operations is difficult to predict. But there are still jobs available if you’re searching for work - essential services are in desperate need of employees right now. Suppose you are willing and able to take a job in an essential industry. In that case, even if it’s an entry-level position, it will not hurt your future job prospects. In fact, working in an essential field during this time is arguably an impressive accomplishment in your work history and is something to take pride in.

A long hiring process

If you need to get to work as soon as possible, a long hiring process is going to be challenging to endure. However, it’s important to remember that this is NORMAL right now. People are not getting hired within days (or even weeks) while you are being left behind. The speed of hiring decisions is not something you can control (and never was). Suppose you can accept that hiring will take a while, without worrying that it’s because there is something you are doing wrong. In that case, you can focus your efforts on the aspects of your job search that you can control.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Job Help Center offers many services that can aid you in your job search. Be sure to check the calendar for our virtual programs. If you want a resume professional to review your resume, you can email it to [email protected].

Don’t forget to check out the Library’s free digital resources to make the most of your time at home. Stay safe, stay home, and let’s lookout for one another while we navigate these difficult times.

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This blog post was written by Lorraine Ficarrotta, senior library assistant at the Main Library’s Job Help Center

The Interlibrary Loan service (ILL) at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will resume May 17, 2021*.   

• Any requests submitted during service suspension, 3/16/20 – 5/16/21, will need to be resubmitted in order to be processed 
• ILL still incurs a $2 fee per received item. This is in addition to any fees imposed by lending libraries 
• Microfiche/microfilm requests will remain suspended.  

*Please be prepared to pay for fees by credit or debit card, online or in-person.  The library locations are not handling cash at this time.

Click Here for more information

To login or register for an Interlibrary Loan account on May 17, click here 

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Summer is a great time for families to spend time together and develop a love of reading and learning. Summer should be all about fun and our Summer Break program can help provide opportunities to read, be creative, develop social skills, learn new things, and so much more!

Summer Break: Read, Learn, Explore is available online.

Summer Break includes five activities in addition to reading that help families and communities connect and learn new things. Play and Write are even Every Child Ready to Read pre-literacy skills!

• Read books, graphic novels, e-books or magazines, or listen to an audiobook. It all counts!
• Create: try a new recipe, illustrate a story, make a time capsule, plant a seed, just a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
• Explore: discover a new library resource, find your new favorite book with our booklists, picnic at a park or visit a Storywalk, make the time to explore your world.
• Give: Here is your opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.  Help with family chores, clean up your neighborhood, chat with a faraway family member, the possibilities are endless.
• Play: dance to your favorite song, hold a mini Olympics with your friends, play a game, just have fun!
• Write: write a story, send a card to someone you love, practice writing your name (cursive anyone?)!

Summer Slide

The library offers several ways to prevent the Summer Slide. Over the summer, children and teens can fall behind on critical reading skills. The library is full of fun, engaging books. Don’t know what to read? Librarians are ready to help. There is nothing we like more than talking about books. Stop by your nearest library for recommendations or visit our online catalog. The library also offers a wide variety of programs: everything from online storytimes and book clubs, to programs helping you plan for college and career.

This summer, take the time to find the perfect place to read outside. Will you choose a park, a garden, your backyard, or some other amazing location? Take a picture and share on social media with the hashtags #cmlsummerbreak, #cmlibrary.

Comments? Questions?  

Are you having problems with the Summer Break 2021 website or your account?  Do you have questions about the program?  Feel free to chat with us online or email us at [email protected] for help or feedback.  

The 2021 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Additional support comes from Wendy’s and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation with Spanish translations sponsored by Norsan Media.

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This blog was written by Angela Arnold, Summer Bream team co-lead for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Vacaciones de verano: leer, aprender, explorar

Del 7 de junio al 14 de agosto de 2021

El verano es un gran momento para que las familias pasen tiempo juntas y fomenten el amor por la lectura y el aprendizaje. El verano debería ser divertido; y nuestro programa de vacaciones de verano puede ofrecer oportunidades para leer, ser creativo, desarrollar habilidades sociales, aprender cosas nuevas ¡y mucho más!

Vacaciones de verano: leer, aprender, explorar está disponible en línea.

El programa de vacaciones de verano incluye cinco actividades, además de leer, que ayudan a que las familias y las comunidades se conecten y aprendan cosas nuevas. ¡Jugar y escribir incluso son habilidades previas a la alfabetización de “Todos los niños listos para leer”!

• Leer libros, novelas gráficas, libros electrónicos o revistas, o escuchar un audiolibro. ¡Todo suma!
• Crea: prueba una nueva receta, ilustra una historia, haz una cápsula del tiempo o planta una semilla; estas son solo algunas ideas para hacer aflorar la creatividad.
• Explora: descubre un nuevo recurso de la biblioteca, encuentra tu nuevo libro favorito en nuestros catálogos de libros, haz un pícnic en un parque o visita un StoryWalk; tómate el tiempo para explorar tu mundo.
• Da: esta es tu oportunidad de marcar la diferencia en la vida de alguien.  Ayuda con las tareas domésticas, limpia tu vecindario, habla con un familiar lejano... Las posibilidades son infinitas.
• Juega: baila tu canción favorita, organiza una miniolimpiada con tus amigos, juega un juego... ¡Solo diviértete!
• Escribe: escribe una historia, envía una tarjeta a alguien que quieres o practica escribir tu nombre (¿alguien sabe escribir en cursiva?)

Desliz de verano

La biblioteca ofrece varias maneras de prevenir el “desliz de verano”. Durante el verano, los niños y los adolescentes pueden retrasarse con sus habilidades críticas de lectura. La biblioteca está llena de libros divertidos y fascinantes. ¿No sabes qué leer? Los bibliotecarios están para ayudarte. No hay nada que nos guste más que hablar sobre libros. Pasa por tu biblioteca más cercana para recibir recomendaciones o visita nuestro catálogo en línea. La biblioteca también ofrece una amplia variedad de programas: desde cuentos en línea y clubes de lectura hasta programas que te ayudan a planificar tu carrera y tu universidad.

Este verano, tómate un tiempo para encontrar el lugar perfecto para leer al aire libre. ¿Elegirás un parque, un jardín, tu patio o algún otro lugar increíble? Toma una fotografía y compártela en las redes sociales con las etiquetas #cmlsummerbreak y #cmlibrary.

¿Tienes comentarios o preguntas?  

¿Tienes problemas con el sitio web del programa de vacaciones de verano 2021 o con tu cuenta?  ¿Tienes preguntas sobre el programa?  No dudes en hablar con nosotros en línea o por correo electrónico a [email protected] para recibir ayuda o comentarios.  

El programa de vacaciones de verano 2021 llega a ti gracias a la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Contamos con respaldo adicional de Wendy’s y de la fundación de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg, con traducciones al español patrocinados por Norsan Media.