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 online programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 12/7/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 12/7

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Nonprofit Services – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Mindful Mondays - Guided Relaxation and Meditation – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

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

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming) register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Learning Circle: Childhood in the Digital Age – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

True Crime Podcast Discussion Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Tuesday 12/8       

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

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

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Parent Lunch & Learn: Developing and Supporting Initiative and Attentiveness in Young Children – 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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 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 Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)    register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

ACT Strategy Session with The Princeton Review – 5 p.m. (Teen programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Wednesday 12/9

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

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

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Thursday 12/10

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

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

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

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

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 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 Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming) register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Teens Live on Instagram: Ask CFNC about Paying for College – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Friday 12/11

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

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

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Mindful Friday- Meditation for Wellness – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 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 Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

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

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 12/12

Free ACT Practice Test with The Princeton Review – 9 a.m. (Teen programming)  register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

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

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

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.

When the world shut down last March, the show playing at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (CTC) at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center was the world premiere of Grimmz Fairy Tales, a hip-hop retelling of classic European fairy tales, performed by an all-Black cast with mic-dropping talent. When CTC launched their all-virtual 2020-2021 season, reintroducing Grimmz was at the top of their list.

The show is an inventive remix of familiar classics, telling stories like Snow White and the Seven Shawties, which deals with cyber-bullying, Hansel and Gretel: Lost in the Hood, which addresses the foster care system, Down with Rapunzel, about pursuing your joy despite adversity, and Break, Cinderella. Break, which tackles issues of abuse and neglect and adjusting to mixed families. It was poised for a national tour when the pandemic hit, and now, thanks to the ingenuity of CTC in partnership with Broadway HD, a filmed version of the show can be streamed into every home.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Black Lives Matter program blog team got to sit down via Zoom with local artists and Children’s Theatre acting veterans Ron Lee McGill and Rahsheem Shabazz, Grimmz’s co-creators, stars, and emcees, to get their take on what the show’s message means now, more than ever.

Check out our booklist of recommended fairytale reads for even more inspiring stories for the entire family.

Grimmz Companion Titles

LIBRARY: When you started developing Grimmz back in October 2018, the idea was to redefine fairy tales through a legacy of hip hop, but each of the stories you picked also deals with a challenging modern topic. What made you want to tackle such difficult issues in a piece of children’s theatre?

SHABAZZ: Kids deal with divorce or moving into a house with a new stepparent; they’re dealing with this at the age of six, seven, eight, and they don’t know how to process it, and they feel like they’re the only ones going through it. We asked ourselves, “How can we reach kids and give them hope in themselves, to know that they are beautiful, and they are amazing, no matter what situation—what grim situation—they might be in?” In a way, I feel like the kids picked those stories for us.

MCGILL: It definitely speaks to the human side of fairy tales, and in selecting and reading and looking back at the essence of the tales, no matter what is going on, it is representative of the human situation, the human struggle. We were able to use the familiarity of the original pieces, but with a different context that can make different contemporary points.

SHABAZZ: And there’s a call to action: what are you gonna do? What you gonna do when you see someone else in this situation? And what you gonna do when you’re in this situation?

LIBRARY: Speaking of that call to action, do you think the message is going to resonate differently or more powerfully with audiences now, given the activism and discussion surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement this past year?

MCGILL: I would hope so. To be honest with you, the representation of us being on stage says something in and of itself. For better or worse, I felt that being a cast of color may not appeal to every school or every administrator, and being a hip-hop play with European fairy tales may have turned some people off without us even having a chance to express ourselves artistically. I hope for this generation coming up, that we are able to do something good and positive for them. It was worth taking that risk of maybe not being accepted by everyone in order to really connect with those that could see themselves in us. Representation and authenticity—using stories to help humans empathize—is so important.

LIBRARY: Do you feel like the challenges you faced in your youth have more similarities or differences than those faced by the current generation?

SHABAZZ: I think there’s a lot we dealt with that kids still deal with, but then also there’s a pandemic. And I think it’s so different because technology has put everything in your face. No one saw me getting smacked by my teacher or getting jacked up in class. Whatever we went through, no one saw that, but today it’s in your hand in an instant. And as we grow and understand that, now with technology, each of us can see, “Wow, I’m going through this; you’re going through this; we’re all going through this; and we’re all different colors.” I think that’s why I went through the things I did, that’s why Ron went through the things that he went through, because we are here to be the change in the world that we want to see.

LIBRARY: Last question: if there is one piece of advice you’d give to Black youth in your community today, what would it be?

MCGILL: Study who you are. Know who you are. Know your history — your true history going beyond this country. Africa is the birthplace of humans. Period. Be aware of the rich history of life and civilization and culture and every aspect from the ground to the sky, I would advise Black youth to search and understand the roots of their essence and of who they are and to be proud of every bit of it.

SHABAZZ: Love yourself. You are not your environment. You are not your situation, and as you learn your history, build yourself up. Embrace that history and continue to love because sometimes through that history you can brainwash yourself into hatred, so empower yourself and continue to love with no fear. To keep fighting, to keep doing, to keep moving, you show yourself your power.

MCGILL: That’s our obligation as Black men in America and Black men within the world. We owe it to our ancestors, and we owe it to our future generations to continue moving that needle of positive change, to continue having that positive representation, that authenticity, that beauty, and that love within our craft. And we’re doing that in Grimmz in the way we’re using hip-hop and theatre, blending that together and using these wonderful tales to show that we deserve the same love. We deserve and are obligated to give the same love as everyone on the planet.

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This blog post was written by Becca Worthington, children’s librarian at ImaginOn. The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s production of Grimmz Fairy Tales is available for streaming from now through March 31, 2021. Tickets are available at https://ctcharlotte.org/.

Photo credits to John Merrick

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit North Carolina in March 2020 and k-12 school was disrupted, North Carolina’s state government began a rapid response effort. As part of that response, remote learning has become a critical public health measure in maintaining social distance and continuing to educate our young people. Hometown Strong, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Governor’s Education Advisor and the NC Business Committee for Education lead a partnership of state agencies and private organizations to rapidly connect students with remote learning under the banner of NC Student Connect.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is pleased to share that the State Library of North Carolina has installed parking lot Wi-Fi at six of our locations as part of the first phase of the NC Student Connect project. These Mecklenburg County “Park and Learn” sites are a few of more than 400 throughout the state.

This Wi-Fi is available 24/7 and is filtered for student safety.

The State Library selected these Library locations to participate in this Park and Learn Project:

• Allegra Westbrooks Regional
• North County Regional
• South Blvd
• Sugar Creek
• West Blvd
• Independence Regional

To use:  Go to Wi-Fi settings on your devices, this Wi-Fi network has the name NCGuestWifi. After you are connected, there is a screen for NC Student Connect Free Wi-Fi where you click to accept the terms of service. You are then connected and ready to use the Internet.

To learn more, visit the Hometown Strong website here.

Culture and language have a powerful impact on a child’s education. Some kids come to school only needing to learn what the teacher is teaching that particular day. Other kids come to school needing to learn the basics of how school works in a new culture – what's expected, what’s accepted, and what isn’t. And try learning that when everyone around you is speaking a language you don’t understand and your parents are still learning, too. These challenges create a huge hurdle for even the brightest and most persistent students.

Dr. Paola Pilonieta is uniquely qualified to address this situation from both a personal and professional perspective. Personally speaking, she moved to the US from Colombia at age six and now has a child in a CMS language immersion school. Professionally speaking, Dr. Pilonieta is a professor and coordinator of the undergraduate reading education program at UNC-Charlotte. Her areas of expertise include effective strategies for diverse learners as well as emergent and early literacy.    

Dr. Pilonieta will cover the following topics:

• Learning the benefits of being bilingual
• Supporting your home language at home
• Preparing your child (and yourself) for the transition to school
• Working with the school to support your child

The 30-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period for the audience.

This program is available in Spanish at 12 p.m. and in English at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.  Click to register for the Spanish program or the English program.

Hora de almuerzo y aprendizaje para padres: Cómo la cultura afecta la educación del niño. 

La cultura y el idioma impactan poderosamente el proceso de aprendizaje de un niño. Algunos niños vienen a la escuela solo con la necesidad de aprender lo que el maestro enseña ese mismo día. Otros niños llegan a la escuela con la necesidad de aprender las nuevas dinámicas culturales de esta nueva institución: ¿Cuáles son las expectativas, qué es aceptable y que no, en un mundo e idioma nuevo para él y para sus padres.  

Estos desafíos son de gran obstáculo, incluso para los estudiantes más brillantes y persistentes. 

 La Dra. Paola Pilonieta está capacitada para abordar este tema desde una perspectiva personal y profesional. Ella, proveniente de Colombia, llegó a los Estados Unidos a los seis años. Actualmente tiene un hijo en una escuela de inmersión lingüística de CMS. Profesionalmente, la Dra. Pilonieta es profesora y coordinadora del programa de educación en lectura de pregrado en UNC-Charlotte. Sus áreas de especialización incluyen estrategias efectivas para estudiantes diversos, así como la alfabetización temprana y emergente. 

El Dr. Pilonieta expondrá lo siguientes temas: 

• Los beneficios de ser bilingüe 

• La importancia de apoyar el idioma materno en casa 

• Cómo preparar a su hijo (y a usted mismo) para la transición escolar 

• Cómo trabajar con la escuela para apoyar a su hijo 

La presentación de 30 minutos será seguida por una sección de preguntas y respuestas para la audiencia. 

Este programa está disponible en español a las 12:00 del mediodía y en inglés a la 1:00 p.m. el martes 2 de marzo. Haga clic aquí para inscribirse en el programa de español o haga click aquí para el programa en inglés. 

This is a South County Regional update you don’t want to miss. We have exciting news to share - are you ready?

South County Regional Library (located at 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277) re-opens today, February 22, 2021, with limited services. We are opening South County Regional in compliance with the latest Mecklenburg County public health directive. During this phase, the Library will ONLY offer limited services including: “Grab and Go” holds pickup, mobile printing, materials returns and online programs for children, teens, adults, Outreach and more.

Upon re-opening on February 22, South County services will align with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system service schedule. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The branch is not open on Sundays.

Please note the new traffic pattern in the parking lot. With a new automated material handling unit that will soon be available at our new materials/book drop, customers should enter the parking lot and proceed to the LEFT in front of the building and then travel counter-clockwise through the front parking lot. Please be sure to follow the arrows and signs for safety.

On February 22, customers can expect the following adjusted services (which rolled out systemwide on January 15, 2021):

• Customer holds will be available as “Grab and Go” at the front entrance of the branch. Materials can be reserved through the online catalog. Note: If you placed a hold at another Library branch and want to move your hold to South County Regional for pickup, see information at the end of this blog on how to complete this process.
   
• Once you place a hold and receive notification that your items are available, please contact South County Regional by phone to schedule a pickup time. Options are by the hour and only available during regular operating hours. Please call the branch directly at (704) 416-6600.
   
• Staff will complete the check-out of materials for customers prior to placing them at the front entrance. Note: Customers will notice a change to the traffic flow at South County Regional. For your safety and the safety of others, please exercise caution and follow the signs in the parking lot.
   
• Staff will wear face masks/coverings and protective equipment. Masks/coverings are also required for customers.
   
• All material/book drops remain closed. Materials and books should be returned to the designated receptacles located at branch locations only during open hours. Signs will direct customers to the proper bin.
   
• Wi-Fi access is available outside the facility 24/7.
   
• Mobile printing is available online and can be picked up at the front entrance of the branch the same as holds. Click here to access mobile printing.
   
• Free mobile hotspots are available for customers to place on hold for checkout for seven (7) days at a time.
   
• Fines and fees are suspended.
   
• Facilities, restrooms and computers will not be open to the public.
   

To move existing holds from another Library branch to South County Regional:
If you currently have holds you would like to move to South County, please call any Library branch for assistance. Note: Customers cannot complete this action through the Library catalog or mobile app. Only Library staff can reroute existing holds to South County. Click here for Library contact information.

To access programs and support
The South County Regional staff is ready to see all of you again. For now, all programs and events for children, teens, adults, Outreach and the Job Help Center are available in online formats. Click here to see our calendar of online programs. 

The Library’s online chat is available at cmlibrary.org - click on the “Ask a Librarian” button at the bottom of the screen. Telephone reference is available during normal operating hours at (704) 416-0101.

The Library is always open online at cmlibrary.org. For more information on our reduced services plan, click here.

Note: Materials and books will be quarantined for 24 hours before they are checked in. There is no need for customers to “clean” or disinfect Library materials.

This blog was updated on August 5, 2021.

If you love reading and enjoy diverse topics, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has a Book Club Kit for you!

Our ever-expanding Book Club Kit collection currently contains 177 titles including adult fiction, young adult (YA) fiction, mystery, science-fiction, nonfiction, biographies and graphics all available in one handy dandy shoulder bag. Click here to find your next favorite group read.

Book Club Kits can be checked out by one member of the group for six weeks (no renewals) and include 10 books, an information packet that includes discussion questions, author biographies and interviews. Some authors even include music selections to enhance your reading experience.

Did you miss out on this year’s Community Read? Book your kit today and catch up! We have five for the main selection, I’m Not Dying with you Tonight as well as one for the adult companion title, Just Mercy. Click here to explore the Library’s new Book Club Kit titles.

Interested in social justice issues? There are titles for you, too. Feel free to reference and check out a read from this list.

We understand wanting to exercise caution during these unusual times. If you’re unable to meet in person, there are many titles available in digital formats so your group can read the same title and meet virtually. Explore the following lists:

CMLibrary Suggests: Book Club Kits go Overdrive List 1

CMLibrary Suggests: Book Club Kits go Overdrive list 2

CMLibrary Suggests: Book Club Kits go Hoopla

Can’t make up your mind about what to read next? Let us help by sharing some of our latest and favorite lists:

CMLibrary Suggests: My Favorite Book Club Kit Selections

New Fiction Book Club Kit Titles

CMLibrary Suggests: Award Winners from our Kit Collection

CMLibrary Suggests: Classics from our Book Club Kit Selections

CMLibrary Suggests: Series books from our Kit Collection

If you would like to be kept up to date on  Adult Book Club kits at the Library, we recommend following these accounts: CMLibrary_gjd or CMLibrary_AdultBookClubs.

If you have other questions or problems, please call Main Library at (704) 416-0300 and ask for Gina or Julian.

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This blog was written by Gina J. deLisle, book club kit coordinator for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Library offers many resources that entrepreneurs and small business owners can access for free. We recognize the entrepreneurial spirit of our community and honor all small businesses and entrepreneurs that play a pivotal role in strengthening our local economy.

Find the information you need here:

SimplyAnalytics - SimplyAnalytics is a web-based mapping application that enables you to quickly create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using powerful demographic, business and marketing data.

Gale Business: Entrepreneurship - Covers all major areas of starting and operating a business, including financing, management, marketing, human resources, franchising, accounting, taxes and more. Gale Business: Entreneurship is an easy-to-browse interface mapped to four key stages - plan, fund, start and manage. It includes access to 700+ business plans with new plans added monthly. This resource also includes a collection of business eBooks, journals, magazines and directories listing thousands of associations and consultants.

Gale Business: Plan Builder - This step-by-step planning tool can be used for starting, managing and optimizing a business. The Gale Business: Plan Builder program's intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration; etrepreneur profile, business ideation, break-even analysis, business plans and financial projections. These tools help develop a comprehensive plan for any business or nonprofit.

Business Shelf on OverDrive – OverDrive is a collection of e-books and digital audiobooks offered by the library. Within OverDrive, we have a designated Business Shelf where you’ll find information ranging from business to entrepreneurialism to job-related topics. E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, (including Kindle), or mobile device.

The Library also offers programs and events throughout the system on small business topics. For more information, click here for the calendar. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library returns to the second level of our reopening plan Monday, March 1, 2021. In this level, customers can spend time browsing books and materials, and make reservations to use express computers at designated branches. Customers can continue to enjoy the services permitted in our initial reopening level which includes holds pickup, returning materials to designated bins, access to digital resources and participation in many educational and leisure virtual programs.

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

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.

Also, during Level 2, customers will be able to browse inside the branches, with the maximum number of customers varying by location.

Express computers will be available by reservation at all Library locations EXCEPT Cornelius and Davidson Libraries, as well as ImaginOn. Computers will be spaced in compliance with the 6-foot social distancing rule to ensure customer safety. Staff will also be available at all Library locations to help guide, assist and direct customers, as well as answer any questions.

Social distancing and safety measures are paramount to the success of Level 2 operations, and plexiglass safety shields are installed at all customer service points. Customers and staff should adhere to the mask mandate ordered by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on June 26, 2020 which requires a mask or face covering while visiting the Library. Staff will also remind customers to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 6-foot distancing guidelines. To ensure maintenance of comfortable distances between customers, we have placed safety decals on the floors at all locations to guide foot traffic. There is no seating available.

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.

• Quarantining of returned items for a period of 24 hours. Due to this quarantine time for returned materials, it may take several business days to reflect on your account*. 
  NOTE: Fines and fees are suspended at this time.

The Library continues to incorporate in-person services in a responsible way that focuses on safety. We’ll continue to expand services in the upcoming weeks and months as it is safe to do so. Stay tuned for more information on the continued re-opening of services.

Thank you for your patience.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE LIBRARY REOPENING PLAN
 

Follow us on social media or visit the Library’s blog for updated information: cmlibrary.org/blog

Here’s what’s available during our second opening level:

• Staff and customers will wear face masks/coverings as required by the state of North Carolina.

• 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. Customers can scan their card (physical or on the app) and the materials. No need to enter the pin.

• All material/book drops remain closed. Return materials and books to the designated bins located at branch locations only during open hours. Signs will direct customers to the proper bin where returned materials will begin the quarantine process.

• Fines and fees continue to be suspended.

• Programming continues online.
   

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.

*Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is working to keep materials safe by using a quarantine method. All items are held for 24 hours upon return before check-in. Customers will see items they have returned stay on their accounts for several days. Please be patient as we work to keep our collection as safe as possible. No overdue fines will be assessed during this time.

Items checked out from the Library have gone through quarantine before being placed on the Holds shelf for pickup. Please refrain from cleaning or disinfecting materials as this may damage items. Customers who wish to ensure safety of checked-out materials may do so by placing the materials in a safe space at home and letting them sit for at least 24 hours.  

Services are subject to change. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is proud to announce South County Regional Library at 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, opens its doors on March 1, 2021 at 9 a.m. for expanded public access under Level 2 of the Library’s re-opening plan. Level 2 services will allow customers to browse materials and use express computers within branch occupancy limits. To see what other services are available in Level 2, please click here.

South County Regional, which closed to the public in November 2019 and underwent at 15-month renovation, re-opens with an increase of nearly 1,100 square feet and now offers 33,800 square feet of new and reimagined spaces. Here’s what’s new at South County Regional Library:

Starting on the second floor of the branch, customers will find a new Teen Loft, surrounded by ample open seating, computers, and cozy lounge areas with scenic views of the branch’s beautiful trees and lush landscaping. It’s the perfect place to find your next favorite Young Adult title or graphic novel! In addition to tempting cookbooks on display, when the branch is fully accessible to the community, customers will enjoy community seating and collaborative spaces, a public computer lab, a brand new community room, individual and group study rooms, a training lab/studio, laptop bar and bright alcoves overlooking the front of the branch.

On the first floor, customers can enjoy the new Children’s programming room, a second community room, vending café, patio and a Calming Room for anyone who needs a peaceful space such a nursing mothers, those who may experience sensory overload and more. Additionally, South County Regional features a refreshed collection that includes 40 new launchpads preloaded with educational apps for children. Customers can experience the best of the collection at South County Regional!

Other features customers can enjoy in the renovated library, include free Wi-Fi, an efficient checkout system using radio frequency identification (RFID), and enhanced audio-visual capabilities in community rooms and the training lab/studio. A new exterior book/materials drop that feeds to and an automated materials handling unit (AMH) is part of the new traffic flow in the parking lot which requires cars to travel to the left in front of the building and drive in a clockwise direction. Visitors are encouraged to pay attention to directional signs in the parking lot to ensure safety for themselves and others.

South County Regional visitors will also notice the new, interactive outdoor public art display Open Book, Open Mind by North Carolina artist and sculptor Jim Gallucci. The installment, made possible by the Arts & Science Council and the Public Art Commission in partnership with Mecklenburg County, is located at the Library’s entrance and provides a welcoming and exciting walk through a whimsical canopy of colorful books featuring diverse authors and encourages visitors to explore and learn. The title of the work was chosen by the South County community and South County Regional staff chose the featured titles.



The entire location has been refurbished and reorganized to fit the needs of a growing community. Library hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The branch is closed on Sunday.

New customers are encouraged to sign-up for a Library card online or at the branch.

Funding for the South County Regional Library renovation

Public funding for the South County Regional project was approved in 2014 by Mecklenburg County and cost approximately $11.1 million. The project was managed by Mecklenburg County’s Asset and Facility Management Team, the architect was Liollio Architecture, and the builder/contractor was Edifice Inc. The South County Regional renovation is the fourth of recent projects for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system.

Celebrating the new South County Regional

Join us for a celebration of South County spirit May 16-22, 2021 with a week of assorted, themed activities for all.

See the Spirit Week Schedule