This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

A few years ago, while shelving books one day at West Boulevard Library, I stumbled across the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. While I was not familiar with Mrs. Lacks or her story, I was immediately drawn to the title. I checked it out and eagerly waited to dive into the text. But I soon realized that nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to read.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks details the story of Henrietta, a Black Southern tobacco farmer, whose poverty-stricken family rigorously worked the same land as their slave ancestors. She was a beautiful wife and loving mother that was dedicated to her family. In 1951, Lacks went to John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland with complaints of abdominal pain and feeling what she described as a “knot” in her womb. Over time her condition worsened and it was discovered that Henrietta had cervical cancer that metastasized to other parts of her body. Sadly, she succumbed to her illness on October 4, 1951 at age 31.

On one of her numerous visits to Johns Hopkins, the only hospital that would see Black patients at the time, a biopsy was performed on Mrs. Lacks. Without proper consent the cells retrieved from her biopsy were sent to Dr. George Gey, a top cancer and virus researcher, to be studied at his prominent tissue lab. Amazingly, unlike other cancer cells being researched Mrs. Lacks’ cells doubled every 24 hours. Her cells were nicknamed “HeLa” and were used to study the effects of drugs, toxins, and viruses on the growth of cancer cells and her cells were heavily utilized to learn more about how viruses worked and played a vital role in the polio vaccine.

But while all these monumental discoveries were taking place, Mrs. Lacks’ family was left in the dark. The findings made using Mrs. Lacks’ cells were extremely lucrative for the companies and individuals involved, while at the same time, Mrs. Lacks’ family was still poverty-stricken as researchers continued use of her cells until decades later.

In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Skloot details this tragic but also inspiring story. Mrs. Lacks’ cells were vital to our current medical advancements, and stories like this are vital because they highlight the racial disparities faced by Black women in the healthcare system. Without this story being told, the institutional racism that many Black women currently face would continue to be overlooked.

In honor of Women’s History Month, I would encourage everyone to read this book and others that spotlight the little-known but globally impactful stories of women of color throughout history.

check out the book here     Check out the movie here

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This blog was written by Cearra Harris, teen librarian at West Boulevard Library.

On March 31, 2021, Lee Keesler retires as the first CEO of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library after serving in this role since 2012.

Lee has always had an affinity for the Library and he truly understands the impact it has on each of us. One of Lee's favorite stories to share is as a young child, his mother would load up their little red wagon with all the books he and his siblings had checked out and they would walk to the Myers Park Library to return them. Once there, they would check out more books and fill that little red wagon once again before returning home. 

March 31, 2021 is Lee Keesler Day in Charlotte, NC. Join us in celebrating Lee's accomplishments and his service to the Library. #CMLibraryLeeKeeslerDay

On March 19, 2021 Lee was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper.

The Legacy

Lee Keesler, a Charlotte native, has demonstrated a passion for his hometown that is evidenced in more than three decades of exemplary leadership in the corporate, nonprofit and community service sectors. He has made significant and impactful contributions to our community, improving lives and creating opportunities for those who live, work and play in Mecklenburg County. 

Before coming to the Library, Lee had a long and successful career in the banking industry serving as an Executive at First Union (now Wells Fargo) from 1980 to 2004, leaving corporate America to devote his career to public service. During the next 15 years, he worked with two transformative nonprofit organizations in Mecklenburg County, leaving both much better than he found them. Along the way he also served on numerous community boards including Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte Center City Partners, ArtsTeach, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the United Way of Central Carolinas and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Lee’s crowning achievement has been his nine-year service to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. As the Library’s first Chief Executive Officer, Lee took the leadership reigns of the library system following the 2008-2009 recession. His immediate task was leading the Library forward with an unwavering commitment and vision to rebuilding and reimaging the Library’s next chapter as a beloved and essential community resource. 

Lee strongly believes that literacy and lifelong learning and access to information are fundamental to our way of life; he made it his and the Library’s mission during his tenure to make sure everyone in our community has access and that the Library is a welcoming and inclusive space for all. 

In his role as Charlotte Mecklenburg Library CEO, Lee was successful in building stronger community relationships and engagement, fiscal responsibility and 21^st century access and excellence across the system.

Other highlights of Lee’s accomplishments include: 

• He helped found, organize and staff the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. 
• He led a long-term strategic planning process to envision the Library’s future. The process engaged the community and looked at current challenges and opportunities including growth patterns, demographics, learning trends, shifts in technology and more. The result is the 2025 Essential Plan that guides the Library’s priorities. 
• He promoted economic opportunity via education and workforce development through a series of innovative programs and partnerships, including CMS - ONE Access, a targeted partnership with high schools around college and career connections, curriculum tied to specific library databases, and professional development shared among staff of both organizations. 
• He oversaw rebranding of the library and committed to strategic marketing and digital communications to better tell the compelling story of how libraries serve and are essential to all in our community. 
• He led the launch of the systemwide internal culture initiative in 2018 called FOREWORD with six guiding principles that led to better communication, collaboration, unity and retention throughout the organization. 
• He helped develop a stronger, more diverse, engaged and active board of trustees, better reflecting the voices and needs of our community. 

Under Lee’s steady leadership, The Library became more accessible, engaged, digital and sustainable. When he retires on March 31, 2021, he leaves behind a revitalized and relevant Library system that will soon break ground on a $100 million, 115,000-square-foot Main Library in Uptown Charlotte. 

Thanks to Lee’s leadership and strong support from the county, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library ably welcomes and serves a growing, ever-changing community while earning national recognition for its work.

From all of us at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, we wish Lee and his family all the best. He will be missed!

Lee Interviews Tom Hanchett in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

This article was written by Ed Williams, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Trustee.

NOTE: This story, originally published on January 26, 2021 with The Daily Tar Heel, was reposted with permission.

As students face boredom while quarantining — sometimes in their own childhood bedrooms — many are revisiting the novels they loved growing up. 

From Hogwarts to District 13, here are the books bringing students back to their younger years: 

Standout series 

First-year biology and psychology major Samara Galo’s favorite series from the past is "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." She said quarantine has given her the drive to start reading again.

"('Percy Jackson') is on my list of books to read, so I’m definitely looking forward to reading them, especially since the third spinoff series is officially done," Galo said. "It'd be interesting to start from the beginning and then get read to the new ones.”

Books like the "Percy Jackson" series, "Harry Potter," "The Hunger Games" and "The Mortal Instruments" are standout series among many students. Although these novels give readers a fun way to pass the time, they are directed at younger reading levels and may not be the first choice for college students.

Sophomore psychology major Katherine Swaringen reread "The Mortal Instruments" series eight times when she was younger. Today, Swaringen still reads as much as she can.

“My desire to read is through the roof,” Swaringen said. “I am so bored during quarantine, I read all the time. I read on my iPad Mini and I keep getting notifications saying, ‘You've reached your record of how much you've read in a day.’”

Sophomore Megan Wagner said she had difficulty sitting down and reading, but found joy in knowing the outcome of books she once read. 

”It’s nice if you can reread things because we’re living in a time where we don’t know what the outcome is going to be," Wagner said. "When you revisit things, you know what’s going to happen and so you can enjoy it without that stress."

Lessons from faraway lands 

Meanwhile, first-year Ronik Grewal’s book of choice was "Steelheart," a science-fiction book he first read in eighth grade. He said it taught him that everyone has gifts and talents that make them unique.

“I read it again a month or two ago,” Grewal said. “I saw a deeper meaning to the book that I didn't see when I was younger. When I was young, I just thought it was about them saving humanity, but there are some underlying themes that are moral lessons.”

First-year media and journalism major Grace Cleveland said it has been about a year since she read "The Hunger Games," her favorite series. But the current social climate has made her want to read it again.

“I feel like we've been living through one of those less high-quality dystopias," Cleveland said. "It feels like we're in a bad novel, and it's finally over.”

Cleveland's favorite books have also helped her through turbulent times.

“They've kept me hopeful through all of this,” Cleveland said. “These heroes and heroines face such adversity and they overcome it. And I figure if they can do it, then the least I can do is get through this.”

Imagining being a demigod, wizard or adventurer may be an escape from reality, but even the nostalgia of a familiar book can help students get through a tough time.

“I really appreciate books,” Swaringen said. “You don't really have to live completely in the moment all the time, you can escape with it, and considering everything that's going on, I think everyone needs a break.”

Explore the books that are helping UNC students cope in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library catalog with the book list below:

Covid Coping at Chapel Hill : Lucy Smithwick & friends revisit childhood novels

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This blog was written by Lucy Smithwick, East Mecklenbury High School 2020 graduate, student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customer.

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.

What’s with all the hype about Black women’s hair? It’s the evolution of plastic barrettes and ballies and  hot combs on stovetops, to sitting on the porch getting braids or spending an entire Saturday in the salon. It’s self-expression, a culture, and a commitment to defining oneself unapologetically. 

In recent years there has been a societal shift in which many Black women have “returned to their roots” to embrace their natural hair. Hair that is not chemically straightened but rather curly, kinky, wavy, coiled, or locked. Depending on who you ask, the natural hair movement has been both championed and criticized but has also undoubtedly inspired a generation of bloggers, vloggers, influencers, and even a hashtag, #TeamNatural. Natural hair, though, hasn’t always been en vogue. 

Finger waves, hair weaves, extensions, box braids, Jheri curls, roller sets, and relaxers are among the myriad ways Black women have coiffed their tresses throughout the decades. Often, society would deem more elaborate styles as less than professional. Natural hair is sometimes viewed as less kempt, a distraction, or simply less than. 

In pre-colonial Africa, a person’s hair could tell her story, get it, “hair-story.” Hair could signify a person’s familial lineage, social status and marital status — it could even indicate mourning or fertility. During the Middle Passage, the hair of enslaved men, women, and children was shaved. This act was one of many that attempted to erase their culture and dehumanize them as well. When the hair grew back, it was often plaited or braided in rows. Cornrows could have intricate codes that helped guide the enslaved to freedom. 

In Louisiana, in the 1700s, Tignon Law dictated that women of color wear scarves, kerchiefs, or other head coverings in public. Head coverings indicated that the wearer was a member of the slave class, yet the law was the same for the free and enslaved alike. 

Black women’s hair is a big deal financially also. The first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, made her fortune through the production and sale of her own haircare line. Walker built a beauty empire that employed and educated thousands of Black women through her factory, hair salon, and beauty school.

Though the embracing of one’s natural hair is cause for celebration, Black women still find themselves at the center of criticism and controversy regarding their strands. Take, for example, the story of Chasity Jones, who, in 2010, had a job offer withdrawn after she refused to cut her locs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a suit on Jones’s behalf in 2013 and lost. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling and dismissed the case in 2016. Then, Rhonda Lee was fired from her job as a meteorologist in 2012 after she responded to a comment on social media in which a viewer suggested she grow out her short afro or wear a wig to cover it while on air. Corallys Ortiz, another meteorologist in Jackson, Tennessee, also received negative commentary on her hair in 2018 when a viewer left a voicemail telling her to wear her hair “more normal” followed by a racial slur. Times are changing, though. Tashara Parker, another reporter, went viral after wearing a natural bun style on the air in Texas in 2020. She received lots of positive comments, along with a smattering of negative ones. 

On September 21, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The CROWN Act. The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that seeks to prohibit race-based hair discrimination, namely the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or hairstyles, including braids, locs, twists, etc. The bill was originally introduced by U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey in 2019. At present, only seven states have passed it as law. In ten states, including North Carolina, The CROWN Act has been filed in one or more cities, but not statewide. The CROWN Act is law in Durham, NC, and Greensboro, NC. 

To learn more about the about Black Hair, please view the booklist Women’s History Month: In Celebration of Black Women’s Hair.  

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This blog post was written by Alesha Lackey, children’s services manager at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library. 

This blog was written as part of the 2021 Community Read program. Learn more about Community Read and take the pledge here.

Do you remember how you got home from school in junior high? Maybe you walked, got a ride, or took the bus. Whatever your journey looked like, I think we can all recall that joyous feeling of freedom at the end of the day.

Jason Reynolds perfectly captures the ‘walking home after middle school’ experience in his book, Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, the Community Read 2021 preteen selection. Each chapter of this middle-grade book takes the reader down a different city block and introduces new characters. Readers young and old will enjoy the diverse characters’ lives and nuanced relationships – and will relate to the universality of the familiar shared experiences. Take the Community Read pledge and read Look Both Ways (and the other selected titles), then, hear from the author at a special appearance by Jason Reynolds on March 17!

There are so many ways to engage with Community Read all month. Sign up for the Community Read challenge then choose from the wide range of online programs for school-age kids, inspired by Look Both Ways. You can learn about dog safety from the Humane Society of Charlotte, create a kindness rock, or cozy up and just share a chapter with others.

Families can read the Community Read picture book title, You Matter, at storytime, teens and adults can get ready for a special appearance by signature title, I’m Not Dying With You Tonight, authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal.  Adults who want to learn more about our companion title, Just Mercy can attend a book talk or a book club. For the entire month of March, the Library offers Community Read inspired programs and events. Click here for a calendar.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to addressing issues of racism and social justice—one important step we can take towards positive change is to explore different perspectives. The selected Community Read titles aim to help readers of all ages take a walk in someone else’s shoes. We hope you will join us on this journey!

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This blog was written by Tara Kehoe, children’s librarian at SouthPark Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has business resources available in digital formats to support you and your business.  This is the second in a series of three blogs about the Library’s digital business resources.

Read Part One: Small business support from the Library - Resources

Remember the library catalog on the left?  Library catalogs have come a long way!  Our library catalog is a robust tool to help customers find books, audiobooks, videos, and more to check out from the Library. 

This blog will focus on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s online catalog and how to search for business titles available in e-book and downloadable audiobook, recommended lists, and programs.

Searching the catalog

Searching the library catalog is like doing a search in Google or any other search engine.  The search box is located at the top.  You have the option to search the catalog or events (more on that later).  You can search the catalog by keyword (shown above), title, author, subject, tag, or list.  Use the drop-down beside “keyword” to change the search.  If you don’t know the title or author’s name, a keyword search is the easiest way to start.  Let’s search for materials in the library catalog on leadership.  As you type, the catalog will suggest titles it thinks you are looking for.  If you see your title, click on it and it will search for that title.  If you are just looking for leadership as a keyword, ignore those suggestions and click the red magnifying glass to execute the search.

Results are displayed based on the best match for your search.  The items at the top of the search results will be those that contain your exact search text, in the exact order you typed them (if you used more than one word). After exact matches, words in the title are given a priority, followed by author name, headings, and tags. Popular titles appear ahead of less popular ones.

As you can see from our search, the Library has over 6,000 items related to leadership!  The filters on the left side of the results will help you narrow down your results.  You can use as many filters as you want.

Let’s apply some filters.  I want to find e-books on leadership that are new to the Library in the past 90 days.  Find and select the filter for e-books under Format.  The filter “New at the Library” allows you to filter items by when they were added to the catalog.  Applying that filter narrows our search to 212 items.  That’s more manageable.  But what if I decide I still want to filter for e-books published in 2020?  Scroll down the page to the filter “Published Date,” expand the filter, and select “2020.”  Now we’ve got a list of 61 items.  Click on a title to learn more details.  To check out an e-book or audiobook, follow the link provided in the catalog.

Another way to search the catalog is the Advanced Search.  The Advanced Search allows you to add all your search parameters at one time before executing the search.  You can still filter the results if you need to.  Let’s do the same kind of search in Advanced Search. 

Use the form to construct your search.  Enter “leadership” in the keyword search box.  Use the drop-down menu for Audience to select “Adult.”  In Date Published, limit your search by entering “2020” and “2021.”  Scroll down and select “e-book” in the Format limit.  Click Search.  The results display 631 items.  Use the filters on the left to narrow down your results even more.

For more help using the library catalog, click “Help” located at the top right of the page.

Recommendations from Staff

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff create lists and recommendations in our catalog to help customers discover materials on specific topics.  Think of it like a virtual display you would see in a branch.

Searching for lists is very similar to searching for materials.

Instead of searching the catalog by keyword, change the drop-down to “List.”  Use the search box to enter keywords that describe the kind of list you want.  Our Library staff tag their lists with #cmlibrarysuggests.  Include this tag in your search box if you want lists by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff.  In the example above, “#cmlibrarysuggests business” will search for lists that include the #cmlibrarysuggests tag and the keyword business. 

The results will display lists created by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library that have the keyword “business.”    Find a list that interests you and click on it.  Here are a few staff lists to get you started:

• Business e-books and audios – No.1
• Business e-books and audios – No.2
• Nonprofit basics
• Best business audiobooks

Find Library programs

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library catalog can also be searched for library programs.

Instead of searching the catalog, change the drop-down menu to “Events.”  In the search box, enter keywords for the type of program you are interested in.  For example, type book club, story time, or resume.  The example above uses the keyword “business.”  Press the red magnifying glass to execute your search.

Results will display programs scheduled at the Library based on your keyword(s).  Use the filters on the left to narrow down your results.  With programs, you may want to filter by audience or event type.  Currently, all Charlotte Mecklenburg Library programs are virtual.  As the Library resumes to normal operations, you can use the location filter to find programs at your preferred branch.

Access all the Library’s resources for free with your library card.  Don’t have one?  Sign up here!  If you need more help with the resources covered in this blog, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available to help by email, chat, and phone. 

Coming Soon!

Part Three – Business e-books, digital magazines, and downloadable audiobooks

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 This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has business resources available in digital formats to support you and your business.  This is the third in a series of three blogs about the Library’s digital business resources.

Part One: Small business support from the Library - Resources

Part Two: Find business materials and programs in our catalog

Are you planning to start a new business?  Are you a manager that wants to improve your communication skills?  Or do you just want to figure out how to run your online meetings more efficiently?  Each month Charlotte Mecklenburg Library adds new e-books, digital magazines, and downloadable audiobooks titles related to starting your own business, managing, and leading employees, marketing your business, investing, and more.  Do you know how to find them? 

OverDrive/Libby

OverDrive is a collection of e-books, magazines, and audiobooks on a wide variety of subjects and genres.  This is where to go to find the New York Times bestsellers or other popular materials.  OverDrive most closely mimics a traditional library in that you can check out items and place a hold.  Read about Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive collection and how to get started here.  Libby is OverDrive's app. 

If you are looking for a specific title, you can use the search feature by clicking the magnifying glass in the top right corner of every page.  If you want to see all the business books in one place, check out our Business room in OverDrive.  Click on “Business” to open the page.

The Business room is organized with curated subject collections to help you discover e-books and audiobooks.  Choose from topics such as “Just added,” “Stay Well and Work from Home,” “Women in Business,” “Marketing,” or “Leadership Lessons.”  New collections and books are added monthly. 

You can also browse the entire collection by subject.  Click “Subjects” from any page and then narrow your focus by clicking on business.  Within business you can filter even more by selecting a subject heading on the left side of the page.

   

Business Magazines in OverDrive

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library recently added digital magazines to OverDrive.  Read about it here.  The Library has many popular business and finance magazines available on OverDrive.  Some of the most popular include: The Economist, Apple Magazine, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine.  To find magazines in OverDrive, click on “Magazines” in the navigation bar.  Scroll to find the “Business and Finance” collection.

hoopla

hoopla allows library customers to instantly borrow e-books, comics, audiobooks, music, movies, and television —no holds, and no waiting!  Learn more about hoopla’s collection and how to get started here.

After signing into hoopla, you can search by keyword, title, author, or format.  The search box is in the middle top of the screen.  If you know the title, type it in the search box.  Hoopla makes browsing easy.  To the left of the search box is the Browse feature.   Click the down arrow beside Browse to expand the menu.  Click on the type of media you are looking for: audiobook, movies, music, comics, e-books, or television.  Click on “e-book”.  The e-books page displays the most popular e-books being used by hoopla customers.  Click on categories to find business books.

The top e-book categories will be shown and then all categories.  Categories are in alphabetical order.  Think of categories like subjects or topics of interest.  Click on the category “Business & Economics.” 

The Business and Economics page will display more subjects or topics of interest to narrow down your search.  Or keep scrolling for the most popular books in this category.  You can also use the filters on the side to narrow your search by release date, date added, and language.

Gale e-books

Gale e-books offers a collection of specialized e-books on a variety of topics.  What’s really special about Gale e-books is that it contains all 50 volumes of the Business Plans Handbook.  The Business Plans Handbook contains actual business plans compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses.  Samples plans are taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail, and service industries and serve as examples of how to approach, structure, and compose business plans.  You can find our Gale e-books resource on the Library’s Resource page.  After accessing Gale e-books, click “Business” under “Browse Collections.”  Click on the Business Plans Handbook cover to access the 50 volumes.

Access all the Library’s resources for free with your library card.  Don’t have one?  Sign up here!  If you need more help with the resources covered in this blog, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available to help by email, chat, and phone. 

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 This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Since 1996, April has been designated National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets.  The purpose of this month-long celebration is to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering a variety of online poetry programs during April to celebrate.

National Poetry Month each April is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry's important place in our culture and our lives. 

• April 1, join local poets for our Poetry Month Kickoff in an online poetry gathering on Gather.Town. Meet the poets, write your own poems or hear a few poems in an informal game-like setting. Then head into the main gathering for poems and more.

• April 8, Award-winning Charlotte-based spoken word poet and storyteller Hannah Hasan presents “I Love Us” with poems and stories from her new chapbook by the same name.

• April 16, join Poetry Beyond the Page, a panel discussion with local poets, to learn what happens with a poem after it’s written. 

Download the calendar for a full listing of National Poetry Month events happening at the Library here.

National Poetry Month Booklist

Be sure to watch our social media channels for special content from local poets -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Another summer has flown by. School supply shopping has begun, vacations are winding down and another Summer Break program is about to end.  

Remember that Saturday, August 14 is the last day that you can enter reading time or activities in your log. Participants will have until Saturday, August 21 to pick up their incentives – while supplies last.

• Wendy’s Jr. Frosty Coupon (earned at sign-up)
• Completion prizes are: 
  
  • Babies/children: a book
  • Teens: choice of a book or doodle notebook
  • Adults: a Library tote bag

You can continue to track your reading through Beanstack at any time. Be sure to check back later to register for more fun Library challenges in Beanstack. 

Thank you for participating in the Summer Break challenge. We hope you’ve had fun reading and learning all summer long. We’ll see you again next summer!

Upcoming Programs

Even though Summer Break is almost over, online programs are available all year. Here are a few exciting programs coming up:

Cornelius Branch Family Storytime

Wednesday, August 25 at 10 a.m.

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

PSAT Virtual Free Practice Test: College & Career Connections

Tuesday, August 17 – all day

Don’t procrastinate! Take action NOW to ensure you improve your PSAT score. Join a classroom of your peers and take a full-length practice PSAT. 

International Authors Book Club for 20 to 30 Somethings

Saturday, August 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Join us for literary discussion and cultural banter, based on books we read from around the globe. 

Myers Park Branch - Read to Seed Gardening Series

Monday, August 23 at noon

This month, the Myers Park Library Garden Club in conjunction with Matthews Library is hosting Dr. Larry Mellichamp, author of The Southeast Native Plant Primer, presenting Gardening in Charlotte Year-round.

Comments? Questions?  

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

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 Break team co-lead for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Otro verano se va volando. La compra de suministros para la escuela ha comenzado, las vacaciones están por finalizar y otro programa de vacaciones de verano está por terminar.  

Recuerda que el sábado, 14 de agosto es el último día que puedes registrar tu tiempo de lectura o actividades. Los participantes tendrán hasta el sábado, 21 de agosto para elegir sus incentivos, sujetos a disponibilidad.

• Cupón para un helado Jr. Frosty de Wendy’s (se obtiene al inscribirse)
• Los premios por completar el programa son los siguientes: 
  
  • Bebés/Niños: un libro
  • Adolescentes: elección de un libro o un anotador
  • Adultos: una bolsa de la biblioteca

Puedes continuar registrando tu tiempo de lectura mediante Beanstack en cualquier momento. Asegúrate de volver a ingresar más tarde para registrarte en más retos divertidos de la biblioteca en Beanstack. 

Gracias por participar en el reto del programa de vacaciones de verano. Esperamos que te hayas divertido leyendo y aprendiendo durante todo el verano. ¡Nos vemos pronto el próximo verano!

Próximos programas

Aunque el programa de vacaciones de verano ya casi termina, hay programas en línea disponibles durante todo el año. Estos son algunos de los próximos programas emocionantes:

Narración de cuentos para la familia de la sucursal Cornelius

Miércoles, 25 de agosto a las 10:00 a. m.

Toda tu familia podrá disfrutar de cuentos, canciones y actividades de movimiento que fomentan el desarrollo de habilidades de alfabetización temprana y que ayudan a promover la pasión de tu hijo por los libros y la lectura.

Prueba de práctica gratis virtual del PSAT: Conexiones universitarias y profesionales

Martes, 17 de agosto: todo el día

¡No lo postergues! Actúa AHORA para asegurarte de mejorar tu puntuación del examen PSAT. Acompáñanos en una clase con personas de tu misma edad y haz una prueba de práctica completa del PSAT. 

Club de lectura de autores internacionales para personas de 20 a 30 y pico años

Sábado, 28 de agosto a las 10:30 a.m.

Acompáñanos en un debate literario y una charla cultural, basados en libros que leemos de todo el mundo. 

Sucursal Myers Park: Lee sobre los distintos tipos de siembra de semillas

Lunes, 23 de agosto al mediodía

Este mes, el club de jardinería de la biblioteca Myers Park junto con la biblioteca Matthews serán anfitriones del Dr. Larry Mellichamp, autor de The Southeast Native Plant Primer (Manual básico sobre plantas nativas del sudeste), quien expondrá sobre jardinería en Charlotte durante todo el año.

¿Tienes comentarios o preguntas?  

¿Tienes problemas con el sitio web del programa de vacaciones de verano o con tu cuenta? ¿Tienes preguntas sobre el programa? No dudes en llamar a tu biblioteca local para pedir ayuda o envía un correo electrónico a [email protected].  

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

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Este blog lo escribió Ángela Arnold, colíder del equipo del programa de vacaciones de verano de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg.

Have you thought about learning a new language? Do you want to improve your language skills? Maybe you haven’t practiced your Spanish in years, or you hope to visit France some day and want to learn basic French before you go. August is English as a Second Language (ESL) Month at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and we have several resources to help you reach your goals from home – or wherever your internet connection takes you. All of these are free with a Library card. 

Access Video for Kids

The Just for Kids Collection gives children — and their parents — a thoroughly kid-safe, advertisement-free media platform they can freely explore and enjoy. Just for Kids has the educational videos children want to watch, plus songs, games, and other interactives that are sure to entertain, educate, and inspire young patrons. Plus, this streaming collection is ideal for librarians hosting a video storytelling hour activities for preschoolers and early learners, an after-school or ESL/ELL program, homework help, or resources for homeschoolers that they can access anywhere, anytime. 

Access

Transparent Language

Provides a fun, effective, and engaging experience for learners of all levels looking to build their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign language. With over 110 languages to choose from, including English for speakers of over 30 languages, there is something for every learner. Transparent Language Online combines robust courses, supplemental vocabulary, extensive grammar resources, and mobile apps for a complete language-learning experience.

Access

International Newsstream

New content from more than 600 of the world's top newspapers in a variety of languages.

Access

Kanopy 

An award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films ─  titles of unique social and cultural value from The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Media Education Foundation, and thousands of independent filmmakers. Enjoy their selections of titles in various world languages as well.

Access

The Library’s resources are free to use with your Library card or ONE Access ID. If you don’t have a card, you can apply for one here. So, what are you waiting for? ¡Si puedo comenzar hoy! - that means I can get started today! 

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