What is Northstar Digital Literacy?

Northstar Digital Literacy is an assessment and learning tool designed to assess the skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. Online, self-guided modules assess the ability of individuals to perform tasks based on these skills. Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in three main areas: Essential Computer Skills, Essential Software Skills, and Using Technology to Accomplish Tasks.

How do I get started?

Step One: Start by requesting your Northstar Learner Account to unlock your access! Requests will be completed within 3 days of receipt. Click here to request your FREE account.

Step Two: Log in to your learner account at the www.digitalliteracyassessment.org website from anywhere.

Step Three: Click on any of the topics to take an assessment.

Step Four: When you feel you have mastered a particular skill set, sign up for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library virtual proctored assessment session. During this session, you can present your ID online to formally take the assessment and obtain your official Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment (NDLA) Certification. To sign up for Northstar virtual session, click here. 

What topics are available for the assessment?

Essential Computer Skills: 

• Basic Computer Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Internet Basics (Practice lessons also available)
• Using Email (Practice lessons also available)
• Windows and Mac OS

Essential Software Skills:

• Microsoft Word (Practice lessons also available)
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Docs

Using Technology in Daily Life:

• Social Media
• Information Literacy
• Supporting K-12 Distance Learning
• Career Search Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Your Digital Footprint

Looking to introduce more mindfulness and overall peace into your life? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for a Serenity Walk at Matthews Library. Learn more information below:

Downtown Matthews
The Matthews Library offers a unique experience to participate in a mindful stroll around a ½ mile loop in the downtown area. The Serenity Walk incorporates activities along the way that allows you to replace the noise as you breath in a more peaceful state of mind.

Where do I start?
To begin the walk, stop by the Matthews Library and pick up a map that provides the directions and activities to assist you on your journey. The guide provides you with specific information, points of reference and instructions to enhance your experience. You will also find a QR code that will enable you to access additional resources through the Library to further assist you on your quest to natural serenity.

What should I bring?
The Serenity Walk is a personal experience. Many Library staff have enjoyed keeping a journal to jot down reflections while taking the walk and some enjoy the company of their beloved animal companions. Others have remarked on the sensory nature of the walk and have appreciated the opportunity to indulge in the fragrant offerings of coffee, bakery goods, and other treats along the way.

Are you ready to begin your journey to serenity and mindfulness? Contact the Matthews Library at 704-416-5000 or find us on the Library's Branches page.

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This blog was written by Cynthia McDonald, librarian at Matthews Library.

National Volunteer Week (NVW) recognizes ordinary people who improve our neighborhoods and our community every day – volunteers. At the Library, we celebrate the enormous contributions of volunteers April 18-24, 2021 – which is fittingly also National Library Week.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from working closely with volunteers this year, we look forward to seeing and working with them again as soon as it is safe to do so. Still, we celebrate our volunteers who continue to support the Library as customers, advocates and by providing virtual service hours through online programs such as Paws to Read.

Volunteers are an essential part of the Library’s efforts to create a more educated and literate community. Last year, 1,241 volunteers donated 38,496 hours of service to our Libraries. We couldn’t be more grateful!

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library thanks all our volunteers for their dedication and support. We are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they bring to so many roles: Reading Buddies, Technology Tutors, Circulation Helpers, Homework Helpers and our Paws to Read dogs.

We asked a few volunteers why they give so generously of their time and talent. Surabhi Kaushik has led writing programs and helped at events for about four years – in that time, she’s logged well over 400 hours of service. Kaushik shared “Volunteering at the Library has been an enjoyable learning experience for me because it has given me a space to showcase my talents, meet new people and be part of a welcoming community. The writing group has given me a sense of belonging which was important to me as a newbie immigrant.”

In November 2020, Surabhi was awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.

VolunTeen David Clinkscales has been volunteering at University City Regional Library since he was just thirteen years old. “My favorite part of volunteering at the Library is participating in storytime. Seeing the children follow the dances, run around smiling and interacting makes me always want to come back.” Clinkscales explains, “Libraries are important because the library is where most children first learn and develop the literacy, math and social skills necessary for school. The Library helps the surrounding community, and volunteering allows me to be a part of that improvement.”

We are forever grateful to Library volunteers and all volunteers who dedicate themselves to improving lives and building a stronger community. We look forward to working with our volunteers, new and current, in the future.

Questions about volunteering? Email the volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

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.

Every so often, I like to remind myself and others that Black lives still matter. I don't use this to fall in line with current trends, but it is very much a fact. Since the beginning of time, the lives of all people have mattered. Still, there have been incidents in the history of America where the criminal justice system has tried to prove otherwise when we see a lack of accountability around justice for Black people. Hence, I've got to be specific — Black lives matter. They mattered when our ancestors were brought to this country as slaves 400 years ago. They mattered in the Jim Crow South. They mattered during the Civil Rights movement, when Dr. King was assassinated, and they matter to the families and friends of the many Black individuals that have been killed at the hands of those who don't value Black lives. The rallying cry moved from "we shall overcome" to "Black lives matter," and today and every day I declare, and we declare, that Black lives matter.

It has been almost one year since George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, and the trial for his death is currently underway. The trauma of his killing is real. Amid last year’s rallying cries for justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed at the hands of someone paid to protect and serve. There is a long list of Black people that have suffered this same fate at the hands of police, and it's sad to say, but justice has not been yielded in any instance involving Black lives.

Now, the world is eagerly watching to see if justice will be served the same way we watched the viral video of George Floyd’s death. In his final moments George Floyd called out that he "can't breathe" the same way in which Eric Garner did seven years prior. However, instead of being choked by an officer like Garner, he had the weight of an adult human on his neck. The compassion that should have been shown for Floyd in the final moments of his life was absent, and in the coming days and weeks as the trial for the man who killed him continues, I hope that justice is finally served.

George Floyd's life mattered — no matter what he did, it mattered. As in many other incidents involving unarmed Black people and the police, there is a video which shows the officer's lack of compassion for George Floyd’s life. However this time there is a trial, and while Derek Chauvin's defense attorney grasps for straws to free him, I hope that the jury uses their eyes and their heart to serve justice to the family of George Floyd and the many other Black lives that have faced the same circumstances. Because Black lives still matter.

Learn more about social justice, mass incarceration, antiracism and more with this Library curated booklist:

Social Justice Book Club Booklist

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This blog was written by De’Trice Fox, adult services librarian in the Job Help Center at Main Library.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Get ready to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) in April 2021 with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Also known as Día (Diversity in Action), this initiative emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This year's Día theme is "Every Story Matters, Each Child Counts." and families are encouraged to experience a variety of online programs throughout the month.

These programs feature fun, interactive activities for the entire family ranging from storytimes and book talks as well as virtual author visits by this year’s signature authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Suzanne Bloom. This year’s celebration also features an exciting virtual visit from Charlotte Hornets mascot Hugo the Hornet.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates Día as part of its commitment to connecting children and their families to multicultural books, bilingual services, and educational resources. Learn more about the services provided by the Library by visiting www.cmlibrary.org. Learn more about Día.  

Contact for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: Meryle A. Leonard 704.416.0558 or [email protected]

En Espanol Irania Patterson 704.416.0557 or [email protected]

Special Día Guest

Jay Baron                           Suzanne Bloom            Lester Laminack        Carmen Agra Deedy

Prepárese para celebrar el Día del Niño/Día del Libro en abril de 2021 con la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Esta iniciativa, también conocida como “Día (Diversidad en Acción)”, hace hincapié en la importancia de la alfabetización para los niños de todos los orígenes lingüísticos y culturales. El tema de Día de este año es “Cada historia cuenta, cada niño cuenta.”, y se anima a las familias para que disfruten de una variedad de programas en línea durante todo el mes.

Estos programas ofrecen actividades divertidas e interactivas para toda la familia, desde narraciones de cuentos y charlas sobre libros hasta visitas virtuales de las autoras exclusivas de este año: Carmen Agra Deedy y Suzanne Bloom. La celebración de este año también cuenta con la emocionante visita virtual de Hugo el avispón, la mascota de los Hornets de Charlotte.

La biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg celebra Día como parte de su compromiso de conectar a los niños y a sus familias con libros multiculturales, servicios bilingües y recursos educativos. Visite www.cmlibrary.org para obtener más información sobre los servicios que ofrece la biblioteca. Obtenga más información sobre Día.  

Contacto de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg: Meryle A. Leonard, 704.416.0558 o [email protected].

En español: Irania Patterson, 704.416.0557 o [email protected].

The scholastic information is William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 and died April 23, 1616. He did not grow up in a noble family but attended the local grammar school and was married at 18 before moving to London. There, he made a name for himself as an actor and then a playwright.

The extracurricular information is that nearly 500 years later, the Bard’s prolific work as poet and writer is still as relevant today as when first published. Very few authors or their works can transcend time or adapt to cultures, yet somehow his work does. With themes like love, death, ambition, power, fate and free will, along with his influence on language, Shakespeare’s works have become timeless. Some of the most popular words you may recognize that the Bard coined include bandit, critic, dauntless, dwindle, green-eyed (to describe jealousy), lackluster and swagger. In total, Shakespeare came up with 422 whole new words. Read them here. 

Watching one of his plays live onstage is a unique experience. Shakespeare in the Park in New York City’s Central Park was first conceptualized in 1954 and put on more than 100 plays and musicals since the Delacorte Theater was opened in 1962.

Shakespeare’s Globe based in London, which houses the Globe Theater along with the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, welcomes more than 1.25 million visitors a year from all over the world (pre-COVID times). On May 20, 2021, the Theater is presenting a webinar for its Anti-racist Shakespeare series that focuses on A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. The webinars enable as many audience members, theatre professionals, teachers and scholars as possible from all backgrounds to engage in this vital discussion. This event takes place on Zoom and is free, but you will need to register in advance to receive a link to attend the live webinar. The event is open to all and you do not need to be a ticket holder for a performance. Click here for more information.

Many of Shakespeare’s works have inspired other works of fiction. Romeo and Julie transformed into West Side Story in the 1960s. Hamlet has been made into many adaptations, including movies like Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Lion King.

A few years ago, I attended the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of Othello. It took the play out of Renaissance Venice and into the biker gang culture of contemporary times with gang-attire and an incessant rock beat bringing to life all the great dialogue. Framed as rival motorcycle gangs The Venetians and The Turks, it was, basically, Othello on a Harley with a love relationship between a white woman and a Black man. I remember watching enthralled, astonished and entranced that a play written in 1603 could resonate so clearly more than 400 years later. (Othello production photos courtesy of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.)

Shakespeare isn’t always for everyone, but his themes carry strong and bold through hundreds of years of change. If you take another look, you might see Shakespeare in a whole new light. 

Find reading lists here, curated by our own Library staff:

Shakespeare  - For All Ages

Shakespeare - All About the Bard

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This blog was written by Ann Stawski, marketing & vommunications leader at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A carefully crafted resume is an essential part of your job search. If you take the time to search the internet for resume tips, you will see thousands of hits on how to design a resume. However, there are no set rules for resumes, but below are some suggestions to make your resume more effective for your job search.

Do’s

Add POWER (action) words. Resumes are no longer lists of duties and responsibilities. They are a display of your impact in your previous roles. When listing experience on your resume, you should make sure that the accomplishments of previous jobs are highlighted and described in a way that piques the reader’s interest. Always start your sentence with a powerful word to dynamically describe your experience. The use of action words allows you to be more concise and provide instant information to hiring managers. Often hiring managers skim resumes, so it is recommended that you use active words instead of passive words.

Tailor your resume to the desired job. Though tailoring your resume for every job application is time-consuming, it shows the hiring manager that you have a genuine interest in the position. Dissect the job description -- pulling keywords and skills from the description into your resume to show that you are the right person for the position. You want to make it easy for your resume to be picked up by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which screens your resume before it reaches an actual person.

Find someone else to review your resume. Always have another set of eyes review your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. Having someone proofread your resume will allow them to spot the mistakes that you have missed. The worst thing that you can do is submit a resume that has typos. There are preconceived notions that hiring managers can and will make about you if your resume isn’t correctly proofread. If you don’t have a friend or colleague willing to review your resume, consider submitting it to the Job Help Center’s resume review service. Please email your resume to [email protected] and have one of our staff provide a review (expect 3 to 5 days for review). Plus, it’s completely free!

Don’ts

“References available upon request” should be removed from your resume. To apply for a job, you should have 2 to 3 references. References are people who will attest to your ability to perform tasks. However, you should not include them in your resume- keep them on hand to use when filling out a job application.

Take out the Objective. Instead of listing an “objective,” consider a qualifications summary section instead. Include a list of your skills or strengths to place at the top of your resume for a quick read of your resume. This will help you make better use of available space.

Remove your mailing address. The mailing address is a thing of the past for your resume. The employer will not be reaching out to you via snail mail about the job; it is more efficient to contact you via email or phone. So, remove your mailing address, but list your city and state. Save space and omit.

Don’t list any job older than 10 years. Have you been in the workforce for over 10 years? If so, any job older than 10 years or more can be excluded from your resume. A caveat to this is if you feel the experience is relevant to the job you are interested in, then feel free to add those critical skills to your qualifications section.

These are just a few of the tips that will make your resume more effective and bring you one step closer to getting your dream job. 

Looking for more advice and help as you search for your new career? Click here for the Library's Job Help Center's calendar.

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This blog post was written by Job Help Center staff and updated by De’Trice Fox, librarian at the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

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

As a Black woman, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris embodies so much that is familiar to me and in which I take great pride. To begin, she is a graduate of Howard University – “The Mecca” of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as it is known in the Black community. It was there as an undergraduate that she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), the nation’s first historically Black sorority, also founded on Howard’s campus. Upon graduation, she went on to earn her law degree to become an accomplished attorney with many notable achievements including serving as Attorney General of California and a US Senator.

Kamala Harris has been the first to do many things, and that list of firsts will get notably longer when she takes office as Vice President of the United States next week. During the pursuit of her Senate seat, her candidacy for President and later as running mate to President-elect Joe Biden, Kamala Harris has consistently embraced her blackness. She proudly wears sweatshirts from her alma mater and speaks fondly of her days as a student. She has expanded the familiarity with and showcased the reach of the Divine Nine (historically Black sororities and fraternities) in a way never seen before, and regularly wears her AKA pearls. I too am a graduate of Howard, was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of AKA, and a licensed attorney – never before has a man or woman in a position of such power and success had a background that so closely mirrored my own. 

When I met Kamala at a fundraiser in Charlotte in the fall of 2019, we briefly connected over our shared experiences as Howard graduates and sorority sisters. The feeling of those shared bonds was unparalleled. Many women like me could relate when then Senator Harris was repeatedly interrupted by Vice President Pence during the Vice Presidential Debate last October. The moderator didn’t play an active role in ensuring that Senator Harris was given equal time to speak or respond to questions. In that moment, Kamala Harris modeled how to gracefully, yet firmly, serve as your own advocate and command the attention and respect that you deserve - “I’m speaking.” With her words and actions Kamala encouraged us to be confident that what we have to say deserves to be heard and reminded us that we have worked to be at the proverbial table. Therefore, we cannot let our opportunity to contribute to these important conversations pass us by. She modeled how we as women must use our voices to be our own advocate. As a young executive who has been talked over and had my comments fall on deaf ears only to be restated with highest regard when echoed by someone else, I admire and appreciate Harris’ calm and collected manner at all times. She has inspired me to let my voice be heard with confidence and boldness. We all must start somewhere. While our voices may initially shake our confidence will grow each time we speak.  

On Saturday, November 7, 2020 during her speech at the Biden-Harris victory celebration, Vice President-Elect Harris stated, “Every little girl that’s watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” As the mother of a young Black girl, I am encouraged by the possibilities that my daughter will grow up having as norms. It is one thing to be told you can be anything when you grow up —however, it is all that more powerful to have an example of someone who looks like you having already archived your heart’s desire. Many others came before Kamala Harris, each doing a part in overcoming obstacles that helped pave her way. While she is the first Black woman to reach the White House as Vice President, she has made it clear that she does not intend to be the last. 

As she continues to blaze trails, Kamala Harris has remained true to herself and used her voice to be an advocate for many while encouraging and bringing others along with her as she reaches higher heights.  While I’m not a little girl anymore, I am not ashamed to admit that I too am encouraged by Kamala’s achievements, the advancements that our country continues to make and the possibilities that lie ahead.

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This blog was written by Tamra Berry. Tamra is a Human Resources Executive in financial services. She and her husband, Akadius, reside in Charlotte’s Historic West End with their daughter, Zora, and beloved dog, Jackson. 

Mark your calendar for World Read Aloud Day on February 3, 2021!  

World Read Aloud Day, founded by LitWorld in 2010, celebrates the joy and power of reading aloud to others. According to Melbourne University, studies show that reading aloud to children puts them almost a year ahead of children who do not receive daily read alouds, regardless of income, educational level or background (LitWorld, 2020).  

You’re Invited! 
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has BIG plans to share our joy and power of reading aloud with our community on World Read Aloud Day! Library staff will share their favorite stories aloud with you online all day long. Visit the ImaginOn Facebook page to join in the fun beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a special storytime, and then a captivating story every hour finishing at 6:30 p.m. We invite children and families, at home and in classrooms everywhere, to join us!  

Join the Celebration 
The Library offers immense opportunities for you share the joy of reading aloud with others. Browse our catalog online or call any of our 20 branch locations to reserve books for the World Read Aloud Day.  Holds placed on print materials will be ready for you to pickup at the branch on the day and time you schedule them! Our electronic books are always available for you with your Library card or ONE Access ID number online. Parents and caregivers can also learn to elevate their shared reading experience at home by participating in an Active Reading Training (programs are offered weekly).  

Share the books you are reading aloud this World Read Aloud Day by tagging @cmlibrary across social media platforms - we're on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We commemorate the power of reading daily at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and look forward to this festive and outstanding day! 

Click to find World Read Aloud Day Day on the Library events calendar

 Want to learn about the practice of Active Reading? Click here! 

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This blog was written by Elyse Berrier, active reading coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  

Magazines are moving! Digital magazines will be moving from the RBdigital app to the Libby app on Thursday, January 28, 2021! Now you will be able to borrow magazines, e-books, and e-audiobooks, all in one app! 

OverDrive magazines will include the same great content that was once available in RBdigital magazines. Magazines that you have enjoyed such as The Food Network, Rolling Stone, US Weekly, Parents, Sports Illustrated and more will be available on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive site and the Libby app. However, the best experience will be using the Libby app. When possible, three years of back issues will be made available. When this transfer is complete, magazines will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

OverDrive magazines will be checked out for 21 days and will automatically return. Magazine titles are always available and will not count against your check out limits. As with e-books and e-audiobooks, you will have the option to renew a magazine within 3 days of the end of the lending period. However, since magazines are unlimited, you could also borrow that magazine again at any time. 

OverDrive cannot automatically check out new issues of a magazine for you, but here’s a pro tip to use with your favorite titles: use the tagging feature in the Libby app to save magazines that you frequently check out. You can use this tag to check for new issues.

How do you find magazines on OverDrive? Good question! Through the Libby app, click “Explore” and then “Subjects.” Expand the “Preferences” menu and change Format to “Magazines”.  Click “Apply Preferences” to view the subjects or genres of the magazines.  On the OverDrive page, click “Subjects” and then “Magazines”. Browse magazines by their subject of genre or click the link to see all magazines.  Coming Soon: We are creating a collection page for magazines. “Magazines” will be available above the ribbon on the OverDrive landing page. Use the filters to find magazines on subjects such as entertainment, news, celebrity, health, etc.  

Why are RBdigital magazines moving to OverDrive?

OverDrive acquired RBmedia’s library business, RBdigital. Read more about the acquisition here. The RBdigital site is being retired and all content is being moved to OverDrive. Audiobooks were moved in October and now it is time for magazines. When this transfer is complete, magazines will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

When will magazines be transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive?

RBdigital magazines will be transferred to OverDrive on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The process will take approximately 24 hours. During this time, RBdigital magazines will not be available.

What happens if I have a magazine(s) and back issues currently checked out on RBdigital?

Current magazines checked out in RBdigital will not transfer to your OverDrive loans. You can access your previously borrowed magazines from RBdigital by either downloading the free ZINIO app or going to zinio.com. From the ZINIO app or website, customers can register for a new ZINIO account using the same email address you used to access RBdigital. Once registered, previously borrowed ZINIO magazine loans will be available in your account.

Another option is to print articles, text, or recipes you would like to save before the magazines move to OverDrive.  Some magazines allow printing from the RBdigital reader in your browser. If the magazine you have checked out allows printing, you can print specific articles, text, or recipes that you would like to save.

• Sign in to your RBdigital account.
• Open a magazine from your checked-out shelf.  If the magazine allows printing, you will see a printer icon on the left side of the reader.
• Navigate to the article, text, or recipe you would like to print.
• Click the printer icon.

If you’re new to OverDrive, visit our OverDrive resource page, check out this getting started guide, or watch these videos to learn more. Click here to find help with using the Libby app.

Access OverDrive for free with your library card. Don’t have one? Sign up here!

If you need more help, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available by email, chat, and phone.