Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 5/4/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Sunday 5/3

International Authors Book Club for 20-30 Somethings (Virtual) - 4 p.m.   LEARN MORE

Monday 5/4

Family Storytime - 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

One-on-One Homework Help - 10 a.m. (Children's programming)  REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Mindful Monday -12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.  REGISTER

Traditional Storytelling - 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Teen Technology – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 5 p.m.   REGISTER

Tuesday 5/5              

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)    LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

One-on-One Homework Help - 10 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Teen and Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Story Explorers Enrichment - 3 p.m.   (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 4 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 5 p.m.   REGISTER

Active Reading Training for Caregivers of K-3 Students - 6 p.m.   REGISTER

WFAE Presents: Podcasting 101 – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Graphic Novel Book Club - 6:30 p.m.  (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Murderino Book Club - 7 p.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Wednesday 5/6

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

One-on-One Homework Help - 10 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Lunch & Munch Book Club - 12 p.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Learning Circle: Intro to HTML and CSS – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Write a Winning Resume - 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Engage 2020: School Age Stories – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Teen Technology – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 5 p.m.    REGISTER

Thursday 5/7

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Write Like You Mean It – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

One-on-One Homework Help - 10 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult and Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Active Reading Training for Caregivers of 2-5 year olds – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Tips for Virtual Interviews - 3 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book Talk: Children's - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 4 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 5 p.m.  REGISTER

Spanish Conversation Club - 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

English Conversation Club - 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Books on Tap Book Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Friday 5/8

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

One-on-One Homework Help - 10 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Baby Storytime - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Spanish Conversation Club - 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 4 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 5 p.m.   REGISTER

Saturday 5/9

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

Read Like a Star - 10 a.m. (Adult/Teen programming)   REGISTER

Lit Lite - 2 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Picture this: bathtime finished, pajamas on, a book selected and your child is eager to read.

This is not a dream, I repeat, this is not a dream! It's the scene of many families that utilize Active Reading strategies when reading aloud with children.

Often we tend to read TO children, leading to a rushed reading routine with our kids running away, screaming, or completely disinterested. When we read WITH our children, we not only aid in our child’s reading development, but the dream of an engaged reader becomes reality!

Okay, okay. But How?

It starts with Active Reading. Active Reading is the strategy of reading a picture book aloud with children, asking questions, building vocabulary, and connecting to your child’s world. When Active Reading strategies are used while reading, language, vocabulary, and comprehension skills are improved. You will improve your reading routine and develop your child into a lifelong lover of reading.

Let Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Help.

Learn about Active Reading research and best practices for reading aloud with children by taking Active Reading Training through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library! Two virtual class offerings are available each week:

· Active Reading Training for Caregivers of K-3 students: Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.

· Active Reading Training for Caregivers of 2-5 year old's: Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.

These classes are perfect for parents, caregivers, family members, teachers, instructional assistants, and more! Sign up for these classes here.

Let’s commit to reading books WITH our children.

As our communities have adapted to stay-at-home orders and social distancing, communicating online has become increasingly important. Families and friends schedule Zoom conferences, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s programs are held online and access to the Library's collection is temporarily limited to downloadable items. Do you feel a little lost in this new online environment? Are you wondering what we even mean when we refer to “Zoom,” “chat" and “virtual program?”  You’re not alone!

 

Understanding our terminology

The staff at the Library have been working hard to learn new technology to be able to work from home, so we understand the frustration you may be feeling about being thrust into a digital world and we’re here to help. We want to define a few of the terms that you might see in our communications as well as some of the more popular tools that people are using to connect with each other. The Library offers online tutorials and will guide you on how to get help from our staff. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, we hope this guide provides you with enough information to start exploring so you can join us as we work to stay connected with our Library community.

Online Chat - Online chat refers to communication that happens over the Internet in real time. It’s like having a conversation but you’re typing what you want to say instead of speaking. When we email each other, we usually wait for a response, sometimes for days. Participants in an online chat forum typically type short questions and responses so that it resembles an in-person conversation. See below (Ask A Librarian section) for information on how to use online chat to connect with Library staff.

Virtual or Online Program – You can now participate in many Library programs on your PC, tablet or smartphone. They typically occur in one of two formats:

Facebook Live Event - Our children's storytime programs are accessible through Facebook as a live event and do not require registration. When you visit our calendar page, click on “Learn More” to see details for any program. Programs available through Facebook Live will have instructions on which Facebook page to visit: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, ImaginOn or Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. If you use Facebook, visit the appropriate Facebook page at the correct time to view the live event. Click here for a quick tutorial on using Facebook.

Jitsi and Zoom - Jitsi and Zoom are two examples of video conferencing software that allow multiple people to meet online. Participants can opt to see and hear each other so that you can talk to each other face-to-face. These services also offer chat for participants who don’t have audio capability. Library programs currently using this option include book clubs, writing programs and meditation programs. Instructions for joining an online program can be found at the end of this video on our Book a Librarian program. Zoom also offers tutorials on its website.

You've probably seen commercials and shows that are using Zoom to connect with friends and family. Other sites like Skype, Google Hangouts and WhatsApp offer similar services. Click here to view a short video describing several of the options you can use so you can stay in touch. We’ve also created a list that contains links to tutorials for many of these sites. lynda.com and Universal Class, two of the Library’s many resources, offer more in-depth classes and are free to use with your library card if you want to explore these even further.

Downloadable and streaming content – The Library offers several options that allow you to check out e-books, e-audiobooks, movies, and music that can be read, viewed and listened to on your PC, tablet or smartphone. These materials are available to stream (meaning you must be connected to the Internet while you use it) or download (meaning the content is temporarily saved to your device so you can use it even when you’re not connected to the Internet). OverDrive, hoopla, kanopy, RBdigital magazines and Freegal are only a few of the Library’s resources that offer downloadable content and are free to use with your library card or ONE Access ID. If you don’t have a card, you can apply for one online.

Video tutorials are available to help you get started with these and many other popular Library resources.

How can I get help if the Library is closed?

This is a lot of information, and we know that you’re itching to pick up the phone or stop by the desk at your local branch to ask us a question. While we can’t accommodate you in that way right now, we’re still available by email, online chat or through our Book a Librarian program. One of the most valuable resources libraries offer is their staff, so here’s how we can help you when you need us.

Contact Us Email Form

If you can’t see us in person, are you most comfortable communicating through email? At the bottom of every Library page you’ll see a link that says “Contact.” Click on “Contact” to open our form, then click in each box to provide the requested information. When you’re finished, click on “submit.” Library staff will respond to your email address as soon as they can. We do sometimes have a backlog of emails, so use this method when you have some time to wait for a response. Tip: Check your email address before you submit your question. If there’s a typo, we won’t be able to respond to you.

 

Ask a Librarian

If you’re looking for more immediate service, librarians are standing by Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. through our online chat service. Follow these steps to begin chatting with library staff:

1) When you visit the Library’s website on a PC, you’ll see an orange box that says, “Ask a Librarian.” Click on that box to get started. If you’re using a smartphone or tablet, tap the small orange circle in the corner of your screen.



2) Next, you’ll see a form that asks for your name, your library card number (if you have it) and your question. Click in each box to type your information.

3) Click on “start chat.” You’ll be connected to a librarian who will type a response to you. Tip: Library staff cannot see what you’ve typed or respond to you until you press “enter” on your keyboard (if you’re using a computer) or press the arrow button (if you’re using your smartphone or tablet).

Book a Librarian

Are you looking for an interaction that feels a little more personal? Book a Librarian might be just what you need. Book a Librarian is very similar to the 1-on-1 e-book and Technology Tutor sessions that you're used to seeing in our branches. The main difference is that you’re talking to and seeing each other online through your computer, smart phone or tablet. In this format, library staff can share their screen with you, which means that you can follow along as we demonstrate how to access certain resources. Watch this video to learn more about signing up for Book a Librarian.

What questions can I ask?

While there’s no substitution for interacting with you in person, communicating online is the next best thing. If you tried to download an e-book and you just couldn’t figure it out, we can help you. If you want to attend one of our online programs and you’re not sure how it works, contact us through email or chat and we can help you get started.  If you’ve exhausted your reading material and need some suggestions, we can recommend new authors or titles based on books that you’ve enjoyed. We can help explain terms that you’re seeing here and in other places as you learn how to navigate our online world. We don’t always know the answer to your question, but we can always recommend Library resources, websites and organizations that can help.

Most of all, we want you to know that we’re still here for you.

Looking for new e-books, e-audiobooks and magazines with content the entire family can enjoy? You’re in luck because all of these things are just a download away with a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or ONE Access ID. You can access all of this and the resources below.

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. All you need to get started is your Library card number or ONE Access ID number.  

You can also place holds on items that are checked out and you’ll be notified when the item is available for you to access.  When you are finished reading your materials, you can return them, or they will automatically self-return when due so you never accumulate late fees! 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.

Using a mobile device?  

• Libby is a new app developed by OverDrive, designed to get you reading as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Learn more about Libby and find help here.

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.

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 ID, which allows you to use your student ID as your library card.

If you live outside of Mecklenburg County, you can still access all of our digital and online resources with a non-resident card, which is $45 per year. Simply apply below.

Questions? We can help you. Online chat is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m-8 p.m. Click "Ask a Librarian" in the bottom right-hand corner of the cmlibray.org website.

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 concerning 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 non-issue. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the societal turmoil experienced in its wake, has 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 jobseekers were reluctant to take a job that didn’t directly contribute to their career advancement. Jobseekers 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. If you are willing and able to take a job in an essential industry, 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). If you can accept that hiring is going to take a while, without worrying that it’s because there is something you are doing wrong, you can focus your efforts into 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 look out for one another while we navigate these difficult times.

Since the beginning of time, artists have been one of history’s greatest proponents of change by using their platform for civic engagement, discourse, and to expose injustices within the country. Whether capturing the past or reimagining the future, artists are often tasked with the responsibility to captivate the present for the preservation of history and culture. Art has been clever in its method of storytelling and the role of an artist has been debated by politicians, churches, and everyday civilians and it’s one conversation that while you agree or disagree, work is still being made.

In the 1930’s President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration hired artists as part of the New Deal programs. One of the most popular displays of artistic activism around that time was the Harlem Renaissance. Portraits of Black Americans’ identities and cultures emerged from Harlem and were seen around the world. This challenged racist ideals and criticized stereotypes Black Americans faced during the era of the Jim Crow, segregated south. While it was important to reject those biases for the safety of Black people, it renewed a sense of pride, determination, consciousness, and commitment to activism. 

Artists such as Zora Neale Hurston, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Effie Lee Newsome, Josephine Baker, and Paul Robeson are just a few of the many artists who decided to advocate for their community by simply reflecting themselves in their work. 

This is just a small lens into Art Revolutions in America. There have been multiple art movements throughout the country depicting the hope, despair, and fortitude of demarginalized groups facing a stream of social and civic issues such as rightful citizenship, police brutality, displaced families, and under-reported murders of LGBTQIA+ women and men.

As part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Engage2020 Art and Activism series, we offer a glimpse into present-day artists who have shared their talents and even lives to create social and civic change. 

Paintings, architecture, installations, dramatizations, filming, music – these are only a few demonstrations of how art has been used to encourage thought, then action. The goal of this program is to motivate our viewers to simply – start. Start in your home. Start at your school. Start in your garage. Your voice, pen, or paintbrush are the only tools you need. 

Please join us on the following dates. 

• Rosalía Torres-Weiner - 10/1 
• Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr. - 10/8 
• Angie C -10/22 

Stay tuned for future dates and artists.

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering programs like this one to encourage everyone to look back at what has been accomplished in the past and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's own community. To learn more about Engage 2020, click here.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Summer Break Double Challenges for 2020! We have definitely experienced a number of challenges as a community this summer, but we united together to read more than 6 million minutes! Great job everyone!

Top Five Books Read   

Here are the top 5 books read all summer by our Summer Break readers! Are they what you expected? What were your favorite summer reads?

1. Holy Bible 
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
4. Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes 
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Beanstack

For 2020, we were excited to introduce a new Summer Break software tracker: Beanstack. The previous year, we knew we wanted a more user-friendly website to grow the program. Beanstack offered this and more, including flexible options for readers to log as individuals, families, groups, and classes. There’s also an easy-to-use app, Beanstack Tracker. With bright colors and a simple layout, Beanstack made it fun to track your reading time. We hope you enjoyed the redesign and improved experience. Did you know Beanstack works year-round to log books and reading? Yes! And the Library is also planning for future Beanstack challenges! Keep visiting the Library online or in-person when details become available.

Thank you, Summer Break Team!

Did you know Summer Break, the Library’s summer learning initiative, happens due to the coordinated efforts of over 20 dedicated library staff, all of whom do this project aside from their primary library jobs? Summer Break is actually a year-round planning process. We often joke it never ends!

The Summer Break 2020 Team started planning and researching in July of 2019. Even in the midst of the previous Summer Break, the Library is always thinking and planning ahead. From July to September, the team leaders work on recruiting new team members, establishing goals, and preparing for the year to come - all while wrapping up that current summer. In October, the work begins in earnest as the team uses participant and staff feedback from the previous year to improve the program. The team researches ideas and improvements in November and December before making final decisions in January. Spring is when things really heat up! During this time, the team works diligently to select learning activities, create reading lists, identify fun incentives and design new marketing materials.

This year everything was going great until...

The pandemic hit. Our community all but shut down, and the Library closed for an undetermined amount of time for the safety of customers and staff. The team quickly realized that Summer Break 2020 would not look anything like past Summer Break programs.

Decisions would need to be made, and fast. After all, at the beginning of the pandemic, there were only two months until June 1^st and the start of Summer Break. Almost every aspect of the program would have to be reconsidered and adapted in light of the new reality. The team needed to finalize the new Summer Break website with Beanstack and figure out how to transition the program to fit within the community guidelines of the “Stay at Home” order.

During this time, Summer Break team members held almost daily online meetings, wrote late night emails, and brainstormed ideas while keeping tabs on current community recommendations and the Library’s own swiftly changing plans.

Usually, Summer Break activities encourage participants to get out and try new adventures in Mecklenburg County and beyond. But the need to stay in resulted in the June challenge of Summer Break: At Home, where participants were encouraged to do activities at home or participate with the Library virtually. However, the expectation was that the situation would improve later in the summer, so Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere was planned for July 1^st.

At this time, there was only a month left until launch. The team needed to adapt the program to Beanstack’s new platform, design new marketing materials, plan various scenarios for prize distribution, train the Library staff virtually, and prepare for the Library to reopen.  Our amazing Summer Break team did all of these things and more; pivoting the program and pulling out all the stops in record time to ensure that Summer Break could still happen. As the team knows, it would not be possible to do Summer Break without the support of all Library staff. Members of administration volunteered to sort prizes; other staff pitched in to make suggested summer reading lists; and some staff took the first leap to train on a new platform to help customers sign up. All staff embraced training and sharing information with the public at their locations. It’s truly a BIG team effort!

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse behind-the-scenes and the Double Summer Break Challenges of 2020. We look forward to reading with you next year!

Leaves are changing, fall is in the air and, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, that means STEAM Month is here! Search the Library's calendar for all STEAM-related events here, or visit your favorite branch to find out what is happening during October as we celebrate STEAM Month. In the meantime, get ready to celebrate science, technology, engineering and math with these books! 

Science Is Magic by Steve Mould

Try exploring experiments with your young scientist at home. Science Is Magic by Steve Mould is loaded with entertaining and educational ideas. The improbable nature of each experiment makes it seem like a magician’s trick, but a section on each experiment called, “The Science Part” explains exactly how and why the action happens. Mould presents natural wonders and explores the science of classic magicians and mysteries between experiments. He also includes an experiment based on scientific observation he made himself! The experiments are based around ordinary household items. Most of them can be performed by children alone, but an easily-recognized logo indicates when parental involvement might be necessary. Prepare to be amazed as you discover Science Is Magic! 

100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers, and Coding by Alice James

Recognizing how technology and math interact – and how they fit into the world as a whole – is crucial. 100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers, and Coding by Alice James, Eddie Reynolds, Minna Lacey, Rose Hall and Alex Frith, helps kids develop that understanding in a fast-paced, fact-and-fun-filled way. Big, colorful infographics are sure to capture the interest of kids captivated by coding. There are even two ways to read this – in a linear fashion from Infographic 1 to Infographic 100, or by skipping around between infographics. From Pythagoras to Pascal’s Triangle to pixels, the facts presented here are sure to keep school-age kids occupied for hours. 

Skyscraper  by Jorey Hurley 

Even the youngest engineers are sure to love Skyscraper by Jorey Hurley. Colorful, one-word and two-page spreads chronicle the construction process from demolition to completion. A glossary at the end, complete with images, offers extra detail including exact vocabulary for all the heavy equipment and their pivotal roles in the building process. This deceptively simple, beautifully illustrated book is sure to foster fascinating conversation! 

Which One Doesn’t Belong: Playing with Shapes by Christopher Danielson

Keep the conversation going with Which One Doesn’t Belong: Playing with Shapes by Christopher Danielson. Colorful arrays of four shapes present the questions, “Which one of these is different from the others, and why?” The book models possible thought processes for identifying the unique shape, then presents more shape sets for further consideration.  With no right-or-wrong answers but lots to talk about, it works well for both one-on-one reading and whole-family interaction. In 2017, it won a Mathical Book Prize. An edition released in 2019 updates the color palate but maintains the excellent conversation-starting content.

Find these great books and get ready for STEAM month at your local branch! 

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This blog was written by Larisa Martin of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

This year has been hard. It has challenged our hope, resiliency and our optimism. If there's one thing this year has proven, it's that, when we work together and unite with a focus on justice and equality, actionable change is possible.

Being a teenager is challenging enough without feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders and, even worse, not being able to do anything to lighten that load. That's what ImaginOn's Real Talk and Teen Summit programs want to accomplish. There is power in youth. There is power in unbridled imagination. These are complex problems, and complex problems require creative, unique solutions.

This isn't a burden you have to carry by yourself. From mental health, confronting authority, gender identity and feeling othered, we've gathered experts from different fields who will help us navigate these trying topics.

The issues of today are going to be iterations of the issues of tomorrow. We're facing these battles, and we're tasked with finding enduring solutions. Setting a groundwork of knowledge and experience exploring these topics is necessary to understand how we got where we are and where we want to go.

Please join us for the Teen Summit:

Boost Hope for A Better Tomorrow Teen Summit

Thursday, October 8, 5-6 p.m.

A community discussion is an opportunity for youth to engage our panel experts around current social issues within society. Our goal is to have a discussion of empowering our youth towards creating awareness around matters considering them. Our panel experts will consist of teen community leaders and educators throughout Mecklenburg County.

Register

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This blog was written by Alana Esposito, a VolunTeen for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.