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.

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.

You have seen her. You may know her. She may even be you. She is fierce and fearless and amazingly resilient. She is the backbone of her family and a pillar in the community. She is unflappable, unfailing. She is incredible! She is the Strong Black Woman and she is…a myth. 

Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys penned “Superwoman” in 2007, a single from her third studio album, As I Am. The song, which quickly became a girl-power anthem, earned Keys both a Grammy and NAACP Image Award Nomination. It became the intro at WNBA games with a special video that featured clips of Keys performing the song in concert, interspersed with videos of players in games, practices, and personal lives. While the ballad is catchy, inspirational, and a mantra even, should it be? By listening closely to the lyrics, it becomes apparent, despite the façade, the heroine is overburdened with life and with hiding the fact that she is, in fact, overburdened. Sadly, the same is true for many Black women who strive to live up to the Strong Black Woman trope. 

On May 22, 1962, Malcolm X addressed a group of Black people in Los Angeles, California, in which he spoke to the plight of Black women. He said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” This remains one of his most often quoted quotes by Malcolm X. The snippet resonates with Black women so much that Beyoncé sampled it in her 2016 Lemonade album. 

Often referenced without context, this highly quoted portion of Malcolm X’s speech was delivered during the funeral service of Ronald Stokes, a man killed by LAPD. The remarks were about Black women and self-hate and parallels an excerpt of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. She wrote, “The mule finds itself tortured and burdened with hardship for no reason other than the sake of burdening it. With no voice or agency of its own, the mule reminds her of the black woman in America who must suffer and endure.” But why must Black women endure? The stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community often prevents Black people from seeking professional help. Unfortunately, cultural norms dictate that Strong Black Women suffer in silence.

The societal stigma surrounding mental illness is not the only barrier preventing Black women from seeking help. Other obstacles include financial barriers and the lack of adequate providers who have experience with the unique circumstances that Black women face, among others. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Black women are more likely to report feeling sad and hopeless sometimes. Still, very few Black adults (men and women) receive the mental health care they need. 

Fortunately, people like Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, founder of Therapy for Black Girls, are working diligently to make therapy more relevant and attainable for Black women. Its website describes Therapy for Black Girls as “an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.” The site includes a blog, a podcast, and most importantly, a directory of over 800 providers throughout the United States. 

Mental health transcends psychological and emotional well-being. All too often, Black women take on too many burdens of life without adequate self-care, which can lead to problems with one’s physical well-being. Left unchecked, stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to obesity, leading to hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease, and other issues. 

The idea of the Strong Black Woman is a conundrum indeed as there is inherent good in strength, Blackness, and womanhood, but when that ideology does more harm than good, solutions should be explored. Black women are often expected to pour so much into their families, careers, churches, and communities without pouring back into themselves. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” 

To learn more about issues affecting the mental health of Black women, please see the below reading list:

Mental Health Resources for Strong Black Women

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

On Monday, May 17, 2021, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will move to expand services under Level 2 of its multilevel re-opening plan to include re-opening material book drops. Customers will be able to return items to the Library material book drops during and outside of normal operating hours, a move that aligns with current guidance on the handling of Library materials.

The Library will reinstate its Interlibrary Loan service (ILL) which allows customers to request items the Library doesn’t carry from other libraries for loan and with a fee of $2 per received item. Customers who originally submitted an ILL request between March 16, 2020-May 16, 2021, should resubmit their requests for processing. Requests for microfiche/microfilm remain suspended.

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

Click here for frequently asked ILL questions

For more information on or to register for an Interlibrary Loan account, please click here.

The Library will eliminate the 24-hour quarantine period for returned items, following guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This means materials will move through holds faster for customers waiting “in line” for materials. Although the Library is eliminating its quarantine period for returned items, there is no need for customers to “clean” or disinfect materials.

For more information about available Expanded Level 2 services, please click here.

Customers can still enjoy holds pickup, the in-person browsing of books and materials and make reservations to use express computers at designated branches. Access to digital resources and participation in the Library’s many programs, events, services and more for children, teens, adults, Outreach and the Job Help Center remain available in online and virtual formats.

To find information about the Library’s exciting programs and events, please visit the Library calendar here.

Last September, the Library implemented social distancing and safety measures that included the installation of plexiglass safety shields at customer service points and the removal of leisure seating. Customers and staff are required to wear face masks or coverings as mandated by Mecklenburg County.  Library staff continue to remind customers to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Please note: Seating remains unavailable.

Additional safety measures include:

• Regularly scheduled cleaning of facilities and surfaces in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• Self-checkout stations available for customers to check out their own materials.

The Library continues to incorporate in-person services in a responsible way that focuses on safety. Follow us on social media or visit the Library’s blog at cmlibrary.org/blog for updated information on the continued re-opening of services.

The Library will continue to open under these operational hours:

• Monday-Thursday - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• ​Friday and Saturday - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• ​Sunday - closed

Note: The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room is closed for in-person services, but remains open by phone at 704-416-0150 and online for virtual reference at [email protected] Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Here’s what’s available during expanded Level 2 services*:

• Face masks/coverings as REQUIRED per Mecklenburg County directives. The Library is aware of the May 14, 2021 Executive Order by NC Governor Roy Cooper lifting the indoor face covering mandate. However, the Library aligns its policy with the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) which currently requires face coverings while on County property.
• Managed maximum number of customers in a branch at a time
• Use of social distancing safety markers
• Ability to browse for materials
• Option to use express computers (through in-branch reservation only) at branch locations EXCEPT Cornelius, Davidson and ImaginOn Libraries
• Streamlined self-checkout designed for quick in-and-out and safe, socially-distanced interactions.
• Mobile printing is available for pickup from the branch. Learn more here.
• Wi-Fi access is available outside the facility 24/7
• Free mobile hotspots are available for customers to place on hold for checkout for seven (7) days at a time
• Materials and holds available for pickup inside the branches.
• All checkouts are self-checkouts. You can scan your card (physical or on the app) and the materials. You will not need to enter your pin.
• All material/book drops are open
• Programming continues online

*Services subject to change

Community and study rooms – room reservations are unavailable until further notice.

Outreach programming – continues online or virtual, as coordinated between our Outreach team and the organization.

Programming and events – all programs and events for children, teens, adults and the Job Help Center remain online in virtual formats. Check here for the weekly schedule or visit the Calendar page on our website. 

We’re here for you online or on the phone.
You can reach our online chat during regular operating hours at cmlibrary.org and click on Ask a Librarian. Our telephone reference team is also available during normal operating hours at (704) 416-0101, or you can contact your local branch location directly - visit the Branches page for more information.

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.

In my role as an Instructional Assistant at Druid Hills Academy, I have come to rely on the Plaza Midwood Library as an oasis. Books in the children's department feature characters that our scholars can relate to. They can see African American characters, Hispanic characters, animal characters, funny characters, and smart characters...characters that children can relate to, where children see themselves. An affirmation. Combing the shelves and finding Langston Hughes for children is joyful. What’s even better is hearing children read My People with conviction at seven and eight years old. Thank you, Langston.

The day the jury was announcing the verdict in the George Floyd murder (although I did not know this on the way to school), I had picked out the book Abuela by George Dorros. A grand tale of a grandma and granddaughter flying around a city seeing grandeur in trees, parks, stores, skyscrapers, and the like. We even learned a few words in Español. After the scholars read the story, I asked them to write about where they would like to fly and what they might see. Ah, the beauty of imagination! They flew over the world's oceans, trees, Memphis, Las Vegas, and parks. Then, a scholar called me over and said, "I would see the shootings." The scholar and I talked along with the class about peaceful ways to solve problems. NO GUNS.

I felt a heaviness the rest of the day and that evening that is still with me — always will be. The bigger challenge is why seven and eight-year-olds must carry that heavy of a thought at such a young age? Aren't these the years to be carefree? Not so much anymore. It’s not fair that young African American and Hispanic children have this image with them in their guts right now in school in 2021. As Langston wrote in, I Too Am America that someday and I quote, "They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed."

Through reading library books, children share what is inside their hearts and souls and find ways to liberate the heavy, at least to start. There is so much work ahead. May we all work together to ensure children may be children once again.

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This blog was written by Stephanie Donnis, recipient of the Instructional Assistant of the Year Central One 2021 award at Druid Hills Academy.

Are you looking for ways to grow your knowledge bank with a new skill? Or maybe you’re ready to dive into that quarantine passion project and just don’t know where to start. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn something new, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is here to help by offering access to a variety of great online resources to help you on your way. Continue reading to learn about some of the wonderful free resources available to you with your Library card.

Linkedin Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning offers courses that can help you navigate your new at-home work environment. This online educational site includes over 3,000 courses (and over 130,000 videos) in popular fields like web design, web development, IT, education/instruction, media production, and business.  

Learn more

Universal Class

Universal Class provides 540 self-paced courses and offers learners the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as well as certificates of completion. It’s a wonderful asset if you want to further your education or need to brush up on work skills, but you might be surprised to learn that there’s much more to Universal Class than that. There are great classes in pet and animal care, cooking, photography and much more.

Learn more

Transparent Language (replaces Mango Languages)

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. Combining extensive courses and supplemental resources for over 100 languages, including English, Transparent Language Online is the most complete language-learning system.

Learn more

Chilton Library

Chilton Library supplies repair, maintenance, recalls, specification tables on thousands of domestic and imported models of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs from 1940 onward. The library also includes ASE test prep.

Learn more

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

The Libby app you use to access e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines has been updated!  Read about the changes and how they can make your reading life easier.

Body of Blog:

Libby is one of the apps that Library customers use to access our OverDrive collection of e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines.  OverDrive recently updated the app, and the changes are significant.  I’m here to walk you through the changes and how they can make your reading life easier.

Design updates

• OverDrive made several updates to Libby’s look and feel
• Catalog guides now appear on the home screen for quick  discovery and access.
• Filters for what’s new, what’s popular, what’s available, and subject listings now appear at the top of the homescreen for easier browsing.
• The footer navigation is updated:
  • Spyglass icon: Run a search
  • Library card icon: Go to Library home screen (click this whenever you want to go “home” or start over)
  • Libby menu: Manage libraries and get help with Libby
  • Bookstack: Go to Shelf (loans, holds, and tags)
  • Clock: Open your activity timeline

Catalog guides are special collections of materials.  We have five at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  Kids guide and Teens guide filters the collection and will only show those e-books and audiobooks that are categorized as being appropriate for kids or teens.  We have two subject guides: Business and Romance.  The newest guide is for Magazines.

Preferences is listed below the Catalog guides.  Preferences is where you can limit your searches or content to specific formats, language, audience, and availability.  Pro tip: Are you only interested in Kindle titles?  Expand the Preferences menu, click Anything alongside Supports.  Select Kindle from the list of options in Supports.  You may have to scroll up to see Kindle.

Wish list syncing, Notify me, and other tag enhancements

• Wish list syncing: This enhancement was a popular request from Library staff and customers!  Before, wish lists or tags were device specific.  Libby now supports wish list syncing with the OverDrive app and the Library’s OverDrive site.  If you have an active wish list, you will be notified in-app and prompted to sync your wish list into a single tag.

• Notify Me: Another highly requested feature!  This tag sends push or email notifications when the next issue of a magazine is available.  When you check out a magazine next time, Libby will ask if you want to add this tag.  Currently, Notify Me is only available for magazines but future updates may include other content of interest. 
• Automatic tag syncing across devices.
• Automatic tagging of borrowed or sampled titles.

This video is very helpful at explaining wish list syncing and tags in more detail.

Search improvements for customers with multiple library cards

Customers can now tap the library card icon next to a title in their search results to see if it’s available at other libraries you have added to your Libby account.  For example, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers have access to the NC Kids Digital Library OverDrive collection.  In the past you would have to toggle between libraries within Libby to search the collections individually.  Now you can check the title in both libraries at the same time!

If you have any questions, OverDrive created a tutorial for these updates.  Access it here.  Help can also be found at Libby Help.  Library staff are also available to answer questions by email, chat (click on Ask Us below), and phone.  Don’t have a library card?  Sign up here!

Happy Reading!

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

After a busy March full of programs, giveaways, reading, film and book clubs, lectures, and author talks, the 2021 Community Read has come to an end. But, for some community partners, like the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the conversation is not over.

Every Thursday evening, at 6 p.m., a group of high school students, known as the Y Achievers, gather virtually to discuss the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library‘s signature Community Read book, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. The book club is led by YMCA site coordinator for teen programming, Angelica Johnson. The plan was to meet every Thursday evening in March. Some of the teens attended every session, while others could make it only to a few of the meetings; while juggling studying, sports, after-school jobs, and other obligations. But each week offers a consistent place for teens to have honest, meaningful, and insightful conversations.

In their own words, here are some comments that the teens shared about the book:

“This book is amazing. It’s truly a quick read. The very first day I got it I read part 1 in one sitting. The story is so real, raw, and relatable. The very first thing I noticed was the cover page which is absolutely a great depiction of the story itself and the contract of the characters. I can relate to Lena and Campbell so much. Being the girl who’s caught up in the guy and being the girl who just wants to keep her head down. During the story it was so frustrating at points seeing Lena and Campbell in tough situations. I died of laughter the first time Lena called Campbell, “Campbell Soup.” I was triggered when they mentioned black face and Confederate flags. The authors did a great job conveying real experiences from their perspectives. One of my favorite parts of the book was the back and forth between the chapters because it allowed us to know that characters better and connect with them more.”- Ariana.

“The entire book was a moment that I needed to realize as a person. I really think that it was a really good book especially being able to see two different races get through the same thing together and come out stronger than what they could have ever done. I also think that I learned the importance of friendship in between because I was able to realize that when you are down who is going to be there for you when you are not doing well.  – Taylor.

“I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” was a great book. It conveyed a very important message in such an intriguing way, and I couldn’t put the book down. The characters each had such striking personalities in their own unique ways, and it was interesting to see how their interactions with each other would unfold.” – Anusha.

“I think the book was an emotional ride. There were many unexpected decisions made by both Lena and Campbell, and I want to [be] clear and say they were unexpected to me, I wouldn’t have done some of the things that the girls did. But at the same time, I have not experienced anything quite like the situation they were in. So even through aspects of their personalities were relatable, their situations and decisions were not.  Overall, I enjoyed the book, but would love to know more about Lena and Campbell’s personal lives and the aftermath of their experience. How does Campbell’s father react to all this? Does Lena break up with Black? Why did she not listen to her grandfather and really get to know him? How does she really feel about Black? Is something forcing her to stay with him? Will Campbell have to move again?”- Ananya.

“This book has been a great reading experience for me. Throughout the story I felt as if I was in the situation. It has brought light to many issues that most are afraid to address.  While addressing these issues they gave you two or more sides which will open your eyes. This book has made me fall back in love with reading and I highly recommend.” – Naomi.

As the end of March neared, the participants knew that the conversations were far from over.  So, the group unanimously decided to continue meeting to talk about the book in April!  Candidly and openly, these teens are talking about issues that we should all be discussing. 

What are your reflections as you think back on the past month of Community Read events at the Library and in the Charlotte Mecklenburg community? We want to hear your Community Read stories. Kindly take a brief survey here (LINK). And, just like these inspirational young adults are doing, continue the meaningful conversations!

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