Many are currently searching for employment, perhaps more people than ever before in our lifetime. Whether you have changed jobs recently and feel comfortable navigating an online environment or are dusting off a resumé that hasn’t been touched in years, this is a vulnerable place to be. Our full attention may be on the very real need to get an income stream flowing. It can be desperate at times and incredibly discouraging to send out emails or applications without knowing when or if we will hear back.

In this time of seeking, we may forget about our own physical, mental and emotional needs, which may be different in a time of increased stress. It is important to periodically take a break from the intensity of a job search/application process and check in with ourselves to see what is needed.

A few questions to consider:

• How am I feeling (physically, mentally, emotionally)?
• When was the last time I completely relaxed?
• Am I eating foods that support my health needs?
• Am I getting enough physical activity to feel strong and vibrant?
• How am I talking to myself? Is it in alignment with my goals? Is it kind?
• What am I passionate about? Have I allowed myself time to pursue that?
• Is the media I am consuming contributing to a positive outlook?
• Am I connecting daily to the natural world?
• Am I connecting to people who are supportive of me and my goals?
• Am I exploring other outlets for education or support in my job search?

Then, most importantly, if you find areas where you have neglected yourself, take a moment to shift the day’s plan and allow for rest, nutrition or a phone call to a special friend. The ways we care for ourselves each day allow us to be the very best version of ourselves when we interact with the world. When you’re well rested, have eaten a healthy meal and taken a moment to reflect on what is needed, you are likely to feel more confident.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the many free resources the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers to support your job search. The Library offers a resume review service, job coaching, daily job postings and a multitude of online resources and workshops to help position you for success in your next job. Click here to see the full schedule of job and career programs available to you.

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 5/25/2020* below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

*As a reminder, there will be no virtual programming on Monday 5/25 in observance of Memorial Day

Sunday 5/24

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

Monday 5/25

NO PROGRAMS- MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY 

Tuesday 5/26              

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

French for Beginners – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

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

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

Navigating Financial Aid and Paying for College with CFNC – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Mindful Mondays – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

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

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12:30 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. (Teen and Adult programming)   REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help - 1:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

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

One-on-One Homework Help - 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

ACT Scores Back Session – 3 p.m.  (Teen 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

Confident Career Moves with Ericka Spradley (virtual) Session 3 – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 6 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Southern Voices Book Club – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 7 p.m.  (Teen programming) REGISTER

Wednesday 5/27

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

Bridging the Social Distance: A Community Conversation – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

History and Historical Fiction - 12 p.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

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

Murder by the Book – 12:15 p.m.  (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12:30 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Learning Circle: Getting Started with Microsoft Excel - 1 p.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

One-on-One Homework Help – 1:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

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

One-on-One Homework Help – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

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

SAT Scores Back Session – 3 p.m. (Teen programming)   LEARN MORE

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

One-on-One Homework Help – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 7 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Thursday 5/28

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

Non Profit Services: Intro to Proposal Writing – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

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

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12:30 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

One-on-One Homework Help – 1:30 p.m. (Children's 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

One-on-One Homework Help – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

Elevator Pitch (Virtual) - 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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Poldark Book Club – 6:00 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 7 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

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

Friday 5/29

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

Finding Home: A Community Conversation – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Nonprofit Services Coffee & Conversation – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Favorite Books Book Club – 10:30 a.m. (Adult 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

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

Spanish Basics (Virtual) – 1 a.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

One-on-One Homework Help – 1:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

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

One-on-One Homework Help – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Teens LIVE - Dorm Room Hacks – 3 p.m. (Teen programming)   LEARN MORE

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

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

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

Saturday 5/30

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

Learning Circle: The Science of Wellbeing – 9:30 a.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Getting Started Podcasting – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   REGISTER

Teens LIVE - How to Make Energy Bars – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)    LEARN MORE

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

English Conversation Club – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 3 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Have you ever wanted to manage your holds from home but weren’t sure what to do? As Charlotte Mecklenburg Library prepares for its phased approach to re-opening, now is a great time to review the list of holds on your account and determine whether you still want or need those items. This post will explain the difference between canceling and suspending/pausing a hold and show you how to take care of both from your computer, tablet or mobile device. Please note: In this case, we are referring to physical items that you placed on hold, not requests for e-books or e-audiobooks.

Canceling a hold

Were you able to check out the e-book version of a print title that you had on hold and find that you no longer need the print copy? Did you request items to help with a school project that you no longer need? Canceling a hold means that you no longer need that item and want to remove it from your holds list. You can cancel holds through the Library’s website or through the Library’s mobile app. Find steps to manage your holds below or here.

Canceling holds through the Library’s website on a PC, tablet or smartphone

 1) Visit www.cmlibrary.org and click the account button at the top of the page.

2) Enter your Library card number, ONE Access ID or username; then enter your PIN and click Log In. If you’ve never accessed your account through the Library’s website before, you will be asked to create a new account. Tip: When you create an account in Bibliocommons (the name for the Library’s catalog system), you will be asked to create a username. For future logins, you can use either your Library card number/ONE Access ID or the username you create.

3) You’ll see a box labeled My Borrowing on the left side of your screen. This includes access to materials you have checked out, your holds, your borrowing history (if that feature has been enabled) and any fees associated with your account. To access your list of holds, click where it says On Hold.

4) The next page displays your current hold requests. If you only want to cancel one hold, click the Cancel hold button next to the appropriate item. 

 If you want to cancel multiple holds, check the box next to each of the items you want to cancel. You should see that a red box has appeared at the bottom of your screen. Click on Manage Items, then click on Cancel holds. The system will ask you to confirm that you do want to cancel those holds.

 

How to cancel holds using the Library’s mobile app

If you do not have the Library’s mobile app, you can download it for free through the app store on your tablet or smartphone.

1) Log in to the mobile app using your Library card or ONE Access ID and your PIN.

2) The items you currently have checked out will be listed first. Scroll down to the section titled Waiting on Availability. Press the Cancel button next to each item you want to cancel.

Pausing/suspending a hold

Do you tend to place a lot of materials on hold and then find that they all come in at one time? Have you ever been on vacation only to find that the materials you requested came in while you were away, causing you to miss the opportunity to check them out? When you suspend/pause a hold, your name continues to move up the holds list, but your hold will not come in for you until after the date that you set. Tip: If you are managing your holds through the website, you will see the term “pause hold,” but the Library’s mobile app uses the term “suspend holds.” They both accomplish the same task – this is just one of the quirks of the system.

How to pause holds using the Library’s website on a PC, smartphone or tablet

If you want to pause your hold for only one item, or if you want to pause holds for multiple items using different dates, follow steps one through three listed under “Canceling a hold using the Library’s website on a PC, smartphone or tablet” above. Click Pause Hold next to the appropriate item. Then, choose Select a date and use the calendar tool that appears to pick the date after which you want to receive your hold. Please note: This does not necessarily mean that your hold will come in for you on that date. When your hold arrives still depends on where you are on the request list as well as the availability of the item. This just means you can be assured that your hold will not come in until sometime after the date you choose.

If you want to pause multiple holds using the same date, check the box next to each item you want to pause. You should see that a red box has appeared at the bottom of your screen. Click on Manage Items, then click on Pause holds. You’ll have the opportunity to Select a date from a calendar, then click on Yes, pause holds.

How to suspend holds using the CMLibrary mobile app

1) Log in to the mobile app using your Library card or ONE Access ID and your PIN.

2) The items you currently have checked out will be listed first. Scroll down to the section titled Waiting on Availability. Press the Suspend button next to each item you want to suspend.

3) Select your Resume Date and press Ok.

We understand that managing holds can be confusing, so please reach out to Library staff for help at any time. Staff can also assist you with canceling/suspending holds on e-books and e-audiobooks. While the Library is physically closed, staff are available Monday-Friday through our Ask a Librarian chat service from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Click here to learn how to connect with staff if you’re new to online chat.

Yes, you read that right!  

The legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Lee made three main points, to include a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances and a “plan for confederation”: 

Lee’s Resolution, June 7, 1776 (National Archives and Records Administration: 301685 )

After approving Lee’s Resolution, Congress turned its attention to The Committee of Five’s drafted statement of independence. The Committee met and wrote what became the Declaration of Independence between June 11-28. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin all served on the Committee, with Thomas Jefferson leading as the principle author.  On July 2 the document was approved, and by July 4, 1776 Congress agreed on the final wording, thus leading to the official adoption of the Declaration of Independence. 

The Committee of Five (National Archives and Records Administration: 532924 )

So, should we celebrate July 2 as our actual day of independence? It seems that John Adams thought so. He wrote to his wife Abigail: 

“The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” 

Portrait of John Adams (National Archives and Records Administration: 50780435)

Adams's prediction of how Americans would celebrate this occasion was accurate, despite being off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.  

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not all present on July 4, 1776, although Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin did write that they signed it the same day the document was approved and adopted. Other members of Congress, led by John Hancock, the President of the Congress, signed the Declaration nearly a month later on August 2. 

The King of England viewed the members of the Second Continental Congress as traitors, rebelling against the crown. None of the signers were sentenced to death in response to their rebellious actions, but most were punished indirectly through the burning of their homes, imprisonment, or physical harm. 

Oddly, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. 

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Sources:  

Massachusetts Historical Society. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776. Accessed July 2019. https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/popup?id=L17760703jasecond&page=L17760703jasecond_2   

National Archives and Records Administration. Declaration of Independence. Docs Teach. Accessed July 2019. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the-declaration-of-independence 

National Archives and Records Administration. Lee’s Resolution. Docs Teach. Accessed July 2019. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/lee-resolution-independence  

Charlotte, North Carolina, was first settled after colonists made their way down the Great Wagon Road. Northern colonies in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia had become crowded, so settlers went south to seek religious and economic freedom, as well as to take advantage of quality farmland. Native Americans used this trail for hunting, trading, and war long before the settlers used it to migrate south. The Native Americans named the trail “Warriors Path.” 

Conestoga Wagon, courtesy of Wikimedia. 

Before Charlotte was chartered in 1768 by the colonial North Carolina General Assembly, settlers called the area “Charlottetowne” after Queen Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The settlers sought to honor Queen Charlotte’s husband, King George III, as well as to sway Assemblymen into making Charlotte the site of the county courthouse as a political bid. Courthouses enabled cities to grow economically by serving as a hub for visitors and business during quarterly sessions. The Assemblymen chartered the city of Charlotte in 1768 and entitled the city to a courthouse and a prison.  

The charter reads: 

“Be it therefore Enacted, by the Governor, Council, and Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That the said Three Hundred and Sixty Acres of Land, so laid off by the Commissioners or Trustees as aforesaid, be, and the same is hereby constituted, erected, and established, a Town and Town Common, and shall be called by the name of Charlotte.” 

-- Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1768; North Carolina. General Assembly; November 07, 1768 - December 05, 1768; Volume 23, Pages 759-783; CHAPTER XI. 

1766- The First Mecklenburg County Courthouse (modern interpretation). Courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room. 

Mecklenburg County, the county in which the city of Charlotte exists, was also named in honor of Queen Charlotte. Charlotte’s birthplace was Mecklenburg-Strelitz, which is a province in present-day northern Germany. Queen Charlotte never actually visited our city, but one of her handwritten letters is housed at the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room in the Main Library: 

Queen Charlotte Letter, 1812. Courtesy of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room. 

 

Who was Queen Charlotte anyway?   

George III (1738-1820), Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) and their Six Eldest Children. Courtesy of Zoffany Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014. 

Queen Charlotte Sophia was born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz (in the Holy Roman Empire) in 1744, to Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen. As a child, she was educated by a priest in botany, natural history and language, but focused her studies in housekeeping and religion. As demonstrated by the letter above, Charlotte learned how to read and write. These were rare skills for women during that time—her royal status permitted her to have access to education through multiple tutors.  

Unfinished portrait depicting the marriage of George III to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 8 September 1761, Sir Joshua Reynolds. Courtesy of Royal Collection Trust. 

At 17 years old in 1761, Charlotte was engaged to King George III. She was an attractive option to wed because she was born in an “insignificant” part of Europe and would likely have no interest in politics; she was instructed by George III after their wedding “not to meddle” in politics, which she obeyed. However, she did have indirect political influence—she used her closeness to George III to keep herself informed and to recommend office appointments, as well as keep German interests in mind. She did not speak English at first but learned quickly. One observer commented, "She is timid at first but talks a lot, when she is among people she knows."  

View of Buckingham House from WH Pyne, The History of the Royal Residences, 1819 (Courtesy of the British Library).

Although St. James Palace was the official Royal residence, Queen Charlotte fell in love with Buckingham House, which she and George III moved into shortly after purchasing. She gave birth to 14 of her 15 children in the house that eventually became known as “The Queen’s House.” This property is now popularly known as Buckingham Palace. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Opus 3 Dedication Page. Courtesy of Bibliorare. 

Queen Charlotte had a passion for music, so she brought a harpsichord with her from Germany and took lessons from Johann Christian Bach, son of Johann Sebastian Bach. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart once played the organ as Queen Charlotte sang on a family trip to England when he was 8 years old. Mozart later dedicated his Opus 3 to his beloved queen. On the dedication page he wrote, “Filled with pride and joy at daring to offer you a tribute, I was finishing up these sonatas to be laid at the feet of your Majesty [Queen Charlotte]; I was, I confess, drunk with vanity and thrilled with myself, when I spied the Genius of Music at my side.”  

Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) by Sir Allan Ramsay, ca. 1761-1769. Courtesy of Royal Collection Trust, https://www.rct.uk/collection/402413/queen-charlotte-1744-1818 

According to some genealogists, Queen Charlotte is informally considered the second biracial Queen of England. She was purportedly a direct descendent of Margarita de Castro e Sousa, a member of the African branch of the Portuguese Royal House. Early portraits of the Queen show that Charlotte had hints of African physical attributes. Sir Allan Ramsay painted many portraits of Queen Charlotte, seen above. Writings from the period also alluded to her “mulatto” appearance, meaning “one with mixed black and white ancestry.”  

As anti-slavery movements in England became more prevalent, royal portrait painters were instructed to soften “undesirable” features in their subjects’ faces. This included making Queen Charlotte’s skin tone appear lighter and manipulating other physical features. In fact, Ramsay’s Coronation portrait of Charlotte was distributed in England and the colonies to subtly stoke anti-slavery sentiment due to the prevalence of Charlotte’s African features.  

A photo of Kew Gardens, the royal botanical garden Queen Charlotte helped maintain. Photo by Kew Gardens. 

Queen Charlotte had a keen interest in botany and played a large role in expanding and preserving Kew Gardens, the Royal botanical gardens in Kew, England. She was known by the British public as the “Queen of Botany,” and botanists named the Bird of Paradise, a flower native to South Africa, the Strelitzia reginae in her honor. Charlotte turned to botany when she struggled with her mental health, which is when she planned the gardens of the Frogmore House in Windsor.  

Queen Charlotte was also a philanthropist, founding several orphanages in England. She founded and was named the Patron of the General Lying-in Hospital in London, which was later named The Queen’s Hospital and is now known as The Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital. Queen Charlotte was also known to offer aid to poor families, as well as helped struggling musicians. 

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Sources:  

Blakemore, Erin. “Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal.” History. https://www.history.com/news/biracial-royalty-meghan-markle-queen-charlotte. Accessed August 2019. 

Cooper, Jean L. and Angelika S. Powell. “Queen Charlotte’s Letters.” http://people.virginia.edu/~jlc5f/charlotte/letter_intro.html. Accessed August 2019.  

“England’s 18th Century Black Queen, Sophie Charlotte born.” AAREG. https://aaregistry.org/story/englands-first-black-queen-sophie-charlotte-born/. Accessed August 2019. 

Fraser, Flora. “Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III.” New York: Knopf, 2005. (CML Call No. 941.073 Fraser) 

Hanchett, Tom. “The History of Charlotte.” Charlotte. https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/articles/history/the-history-of-charlotte. Accessed August 2019. 

Hedley, Olwen. “Queen Charlotte.” London: J. Murray, 1875. (NCR B C479c H455) 

“History Timeline, Rural Beginnings 1730-1772, 1776- The First Mecklenburg County Courthouse.” Charlotte Mecklenburg Story. https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/history-timeline-rural-beginnings-1730-1772/1766-first-mecklenburg-county-courthouse. Accessed August 2019. 

“History Timeline, Rural Beginnings 1730-1772, 1768- Charlotte Chartered.” Charlotte Mecklenburg Story. https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/history-timeline-rural-beginnings-1730-1772/1768-charlotte-chartered. Accessed August 2019.  

Jackson, Marshall R., III. “Great Wagon Road.” NCPedia.  https://www.ncpedia.org/great-wagon-road. Accessed August 2019.  

“Queen Charlotte (19 May 1744- 17 November 1818.” The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/. Accessed August 2019. 

Valdes y Cocom, Mario de. “The Blurred Racial Lines of Famous Families: Queen Charlotte.” South Carolina etv. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/royalfamily.html.  

Walk-Morris, Tatiana. “Five Things to Know About Queen Charlotte.” Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews-arts-culture/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-queen-charlotte-180967373/. Accessed August 2019. 

In 1875, St. Peter’s Hospital, the first non-military hospital in North Carolina, was founded to serve the underprivileged Charlotte community.  

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1910 

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church formed the Church Aid Society after an inspiring message by Reverend Benjamin Bronson on taking care of the underprivileged and sick in Charlotte’s community. Patients were first treated at the church, but Jane Wilkes and other Church Aid Society women recognized the need for a hospital setting to better serve their patients.   

Jane Wilkes (1827-1913) 

St. Peter’s underwent several location changes and renovations in its operation. In 1875-1876, the hospital rented two rooms in Mr. Ferdinand Kuester’s home on East Seventh Street between College Street and the North Carolina Railroad. While serving patients at this location, St. Peter’s Hospital came to be known as the Charlotte Home and Hospital, which only served white patients (Jane Wilkes later aided in the fundraising and founding of Good Samaritan Hospital in 1892 to serve the black community). 

St. Peter’s Hospital, 1907 

In 1877, a single story, four-bedroom permanent facility was built on the corner of Sixth and Popular Streets. In 1907, the facility expanded to twenty-one rooms, five baths, seven closets and several storage rooms. By 1899, Charlotte Home and Hospital returned to its original name, St. Peter’s Hospital, after the organization amended its charter. 

Donations from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church board members and their belief in strengthening Charlotte’s healthcare system enabled the hospital to stay open as their services rapidly expanded. The success of the hospital soon attracted people as far away as New Hampshire and Alabama.  

Charlotte Memorial Hospital, 1940 

With many patients visiting from other states, St. Peter’s eventually expanded to the edges of its property lot in 1935. Five years later, the hospital moved to Memorial Hospital due , in part, to the trustees of St. Peter's Hospital, who worked to form the new medical facility. Today, it is known as Atrium Health (formerly named Carolinas Medical Center). 

St. Peter’s Hospital served patients in the Charlotte community for 60 years and became one of the most recognizable hospitals in the southeast. After much expansion and growth over the years, the hospital is now known as the Carolinas Medical Center. 

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Sources 

Houser, Jeffrey. St. Peter’s Hospital, Charlotte’s First Civilian Hospital. Charlotte Museum of History. Accessed March 2020. https://charlottemuseum.org/st-peters-hospital-charlottes-first-civilian-hospital/ 

Photos courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. 

St. Peter’s Hospital. CMStory.org. Accessed March 2020. https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/turn-20th-century-life-charlotte-1900-1910-medicine/st-peters-hospital 

Do you suddenly find yourself working from home? Are you, like many of us, learning how to juggle work responsibilities with your kids’ schoolwork, figuring out how to stay organized, motivated and learning new software so you can connect with your coworkers (and, let’s face it – family and friends, too)? 

lynda.com, one of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s many digital resources, offers courses that can help you navigate your new at-home work environment. The great news is that it’s free for you to access through the Library’s website with your Library card. (If you don’t have a card, you can apply for one online.) 

Connect with Your Coworkers 

lynda.com offers courses on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts and more so you can learn how to meet virtually with your coworkers, friends and family. Instructional videos range from a few minutes to a few hours, and courses include links that allow you to skip right to the section you need most. 

Skills for Working at Home 

Search “work from home” or “remote working” to find videos on the challenges of working from home, time management, security tips, and how to lead and manage teams remotely. If you don't have time to scroll through all the options, click on “Learning Paths” on the left side of your screen to find a collection of courses that lynda.com has gathered for you.  

Once you’ve nailed this working at home thing, take some time to explore the rest of lynda.com. You’ll find courses related to animation, photography, music production, web design, business and marketing, and much more to keep you busy and learning while you’re doing your part to stay at home. 

Here is a list of digital resources to keep teens well informed, educated and entertained.

Help with homework:

Gale in Context: Middle School: Middle school students can research their next topic to find videos, newspaper and magazine articles, primary sources, and more.

This resource is being offered temporarily by the publisher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ebook Central Academic and Public Library Complete: Support your research with e-books on general nonfiction topics such as school & studying, career development, arts & leisure, and practical life skills.

Teen Health & Wellness Center: Provides middle school and high school students with nonjudgmental, straightforward advice and self-help support. Topics include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, financial literacy, and more. Submit your own writing to the “Tell Your Story” feature, take part in a poll, submit your questions, and see what’s “In the News.”

Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC): Create a free account to gain access to practice tests, including ACT, PSAT, SAT and AP Exams, as well as basic skills tutorials in English/Writing and Math.

tutor.com: Get free homework help in English or Spanish from a live, online, qualified tutor—up to 10 free tutoring sessions each week! Get help in a wide range of subjects including math, science, English, social studies and essay review.

NOTE: One Access students should enter your Student ID number as your username and your 4-digit birth year as your password.

World Book Encyclopedia: This dynamic and interactive online encyclopedia includes access to a Spanish version, e-books for homework help and research projects, and timelines of historical events. World Book Advanced, specifically for grades 8 and up, has been temporarily added by the publisher in response to COVID-19.

Entertainment:

Freegal: Freegal offers download or streaming access to more than 10 million songs, including Sony Music's catalog of legendary artists. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers get 5 free downloads per week (songs count as 1 download and videos count as 2). Streaming has temporarily been extended to 24 hours per day until 9/30/20 by the publisher. Once downloaded, the songs or videos are yours to keep!

hoopla: Access e-books, e-audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and tv. Hoopla has temporarily increased its checkouts to 10 per month but also offers “Bonus Borrowers” which do not count against your 10 checkouts.

kanopy: An award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films. During Library closure for COVID-19, you can view 10 items from Kanopy each month. Look for their “Credit-free Viewing” section to find films that will not count against your 10-item limit.

OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection: The OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection filters the Library's OverDrive collection to show only Teen content, which gets you to the titles you want faster! OverDrive currently allows up to 20 checkouts at a time.

RBdigital: Downloadable e-audiobooks and e-books in popular, literary, and classic fiction, mystery, biography and nonfiction. Filter to see the “young adult” titles. Due to COVID-19, you can have 20 items checked out with 10 requests. RBdigital also offers popular magazines with no limits.

TeenBook Cloud: An online collection of e-books, enhanced novels, graphic novels, videos and e-audiobooks, which offers teens all reading levels access to an amazing range of content.

This resource is being offered temporarily by the publisher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn a Skill:

Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center: Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center is a comprehensive resource for career exploration and planning that allows you to quickly find the valuable career information you need, whether it’s learning about a profession, school planning resources, or skills and career advice.

lynda.com: Online learning courses in popular fields like web design, web development, IT, education/instruction, media production, and business.

Mango Languages: Language-learning with over 70 world language courses and over 17 ESL/ELL courses, featuring an engaging user interface, voice comparison, fresh design, foreign language films, and cultural anecdotes.

Universal Class: Online learning offering over 540 courses. Take a writing or art class, learn how to knit, improve your cooking or baking skills, or take Babysitting 101.

Spring has sprung, and you know what that means—spring cleaning! Many of us are using this time to start cleaning out old closets, drawers, basements and attics.  

The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room is here to offer some general advice on how to properly handle and preserve your family treasures.  

1. Handle every item with care. Use both hands while moving fragile items to prevent any damage.  
   
   
   
   
   
   Courtesy of Burke Museum 

1. Wear nitrile gloves while handling photographs or negatives to prevent natural oils from transferring to the surface. Be sure to identify anyone in your photos on the back so future generations know who is pictured. 
   
    

1. Keep a clean working space free of food, liquid, and any obstructions that could cause documents to rip or crinkle.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

1. Avoid using adhesives that are not archival quality, like Elmer’s glue or Scotch tape. These adhesives will yellow and dry out over time. 
   
   
   
   
   
    Courtesy of Massillon Museum 

1. Remove all metal fasteners, such as paper clips and staples. These materials will rust and could permanently damage your documents. Try using a plastic fastener instead. 
   
   
   
    
   
   Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution 

1. Store your materials in properly sized containers (preferably in acid-free boxes and folders). Old books, diaries and albums should be stored flat.  
   
   

1. Arrange your family treasures in a way that makes sense to you, that will also be easy for future generations to access and use.  
   
   
   
   
   
    

1. Store your boxes and other family treasures in a cool, dry and dark place. Avoid basements, attics and direct sunlight.  
   
   
   
   
   
    

For those who feel strongly about donating your family treasures to the Carolina Room instead, here’s a brief list of items* we collect: 

1. Annuals (K12 and college) 

1. Business records 

1. Family papers 

1. Clubs and organization records 

1. Manuscripts and correspondence 

1. Maps 

1. Music (recorded/produced in Charlotte) 

1. Historical photographs and postcards 

*All items must relate to Charlotte/Mecklenburg  County history.  

If you have any questions or want more information on how to donate to the Carolina Room, please email the archivist at [email protected]. To see what archival collections we currently have, take a look through our Finding Aids. 

Stay tuned for an in-depth program on spring cleaning and preserving your family’s decorative art early this summer, hosted by Independence Regional Library! 

Written by Kristi Madron, children’s librarian at SouthPark Regional Library

Summer is in swing, and for most parents, that means leaving behind all the pressures of school until the fall. But these last couple of years have had an outsized impact on some kids. Reading proficiency scores, which determine how well a child will do in school overall, have completely dropped significantly. Only a small percentage of kids are now reading on grade level. If your child is one of those kids who needs some help to level up, the library and some amazing volunteers have a couple programs to help kids in kindergarten through fifth grade improve their literacy this summer.

Paws to Read is an in-person program where volunteers with licensed therapy dogs help children practice reading skills. Studies show that time spent reading and an environment of enjoyment around reading has a measurable impact on a child’s reading abilities. Therapy dogs provide an uncritical ear and reduce stress hormones and anxiety. Kids will get one on one attention and an experience of reading that isn’t high-pressure.

Currently, six libraries are offering regular and on-going Paws to Read therapy dog sessions: Matthews, Mountain Island, North County, South County, SouthPark and Steele Creek. Schedule a session here

Reading Buddies is available in-person this summer in select locations. Children set up a regular weekly appointment to read 30 minutes with a specific volunteer. The summer sessions begin on June 21st and last until July 30th, for a total of six weeks. A responsible adult should remain in the library during the session, and attendees should arrive a few minutes before their session is to begin so they can select a book and get signed in. Adult volunteers will use Active Reading practices to ask questions, build vocabulary and connect to the child’s world.

This program is available this summer at four locations: Matthews, North County, SouthPark, and University City. You’ll need to contact the children’s department by phone or in-person to schedule your child for their weekly slot. See cmlibrary.org/branches for phone numbers and addresses of these locations. There are also virtual Reading Buddy appointments. To set up a virtual regular appointment, click here

Masks are currently required for all one-on-one sessions. All adult volunteers have passed a background check and have received training for these programs.

These programs could make a big difference for how your child approaches reading this fall. If they are all full, however, please stop by the children’s desk at your favorite location and ask for recommendations, it’s one of the best part of the job!