Step into the Independence Regional Library and discover a unique and beautiful space with a team of people ready and willing to serve their community. Independence Regional is nestled on a triangular, park-like setting at the corner of Monroe Road and Conference Drive (just south of Independence Boulevard). The exterior stucco building with its fading mustard yellow hue may not attract your attention. More than likely, it’ll make you look away. But don’t be fooled into thinking there’s nothing here to see, because what you’ll encounter inside could possibly be the best part of your day.

A bit of history tells us that Independence Regional opened its doors in the store-front shopping center on Independence Blvd. in 1974. Then in 1996, the library was moved to its current location. The building was originally a church depository and so, underwent extensive remodeling for a beautiful, and spacious new location!

The grand entrance at Independence is like no other Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location. The rotunda should not be overlooked, although some people may do so in their haste. Walk just a few steps in to the center and turn your eyes skyward to a spectacular dome. Surrounded by windows and suspended by thin metal strands is an Artichoke chandelier inspired by Danish designer Poul Henningsen. Continue to the right and encounter several more distinct beams of light (these are called Snowballs). Two North Carolina artists adorned one long section of wall space with an eye-catching nature scene using clay tiles as a backdrop. They magically blend with the view outside the windows. Take a minute to study them closely. The details will transport you back outdoors. During a quiet lull, our tin roof offers a crackling sound as if to say “welcome!”



In each wing of the library, there are statuesque white columns giving it the southern charm synonymous with this region. Do you know of any other Library locations with these bragging rights?  It’s one of the eastside’s hidden gems. We are the Independence Regional Library!

Last but certainly not least, are the people who make Independence Regional phenomenal. They are the bonus to your visit. They’re a diverse group of individuals with many passions and interests. They all come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds which makes for interesting conversations. But most important is their common connections and desire to help any person who walks through the doors. They listen to your questions and help with the answers.

You’re cordially invited to drop by the Independence Regional Library for an amazing experience.

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This blog was written by Alice Araiza, library assistant at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Independence Regional Library.

October is National Cookbook Month, and we want to inspire you to check out a new cookbook and try a new recipe. Today, many people look for new recipes on digital platforms like Pinterest or social media sites. How many of you have gotten sucked into watching recipe videos on Instagram or TikTok? I know I have!  And while that can be a great way to find new recipes or get ideas, we want to remind you that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has TONS of cookbooks in both print and electronic formats. We have cookbooks for any type of cuisine you can imagine – Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Soul Food, Chinese, seafood – the list could go on forever.

We also have any kind of diet-specific books you might be interested in – keto, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, low-carb, whole foods, paleo, etc. The Library has cookbooks for kids, for college students living on their own for the first time, families, empty nesters, literally anyone and everyone can find something that fits their lifestyle. Check out this list of cookbooks to get started or go to your local Library branch and find the cookbooks in 641.5 to see what new cooking adventures await you!

Join our social media challenge!

During the month of October, for National Cookbook Month, CMLibrary would like to invite you to check out a new cookbook, try a new recipe, and post about it on social media. Please share a photo or short video of the cookbook and your finished recipe on the social platform of your choice (or more) and tag us @cmlibrary (be sure to use the following hashtags: #cmlibrary #cmlibrarycooking #cmlibrarycooks. Be sure to follow us on social media – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library on Facebook, @cmlibrary on Instagram and @cmlibrary on Twitter so you can see all our social media posts during National Cookbook Month and all year long.

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This blog was written by Jessica Brewer, librarian at Mint Hill Library

October is STEAM month and that means systemwide, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (CML) will be hosting plenty of exciting and engaging STEAM programs for young children, preteens and teens. Books are a great way to introduce young readers to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Representation in these books is also essential to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, creative designers and artists for social change. Encouraging and exposing young Black children to characters that look like them can help to visualize and understand that they can grow up to be great creators and problem solvers in our world.

Check out some of these books at CML that encourage learning science and other academic disciplines for pre-k through 4th grade with Black children as the main characters or subject of the book.

Lonnie Johnson's Super-soaking Stream of Inventions written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate

In this biography, learn about the NASA engineer, Lonnie Johnson.  As a kid, he participated in science competitions and grew up to become a great inventor. One of his most significant interventions was the Super Soaker water gun. (1st-4th grade)

Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Rocket is fascinated with staring at the sky with her telescope before bedtime each night. She becomes totally excited about the possibility of witnessing meteor showers and creates flyers to pass out to neighbors in her community. Her big brother is annoyed with her antics but has to stick around to help her out anyway. The historical references to past events and the astronaut Mae Jemison provide a great learning opportunity to expand on this subject. (Prek-2nd)

I Want to Be a Doctor, written by Laura Driscoll and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

This book is a part of the I Can Read! Series. In this series, a young and curious big sister asks many questions when she goes with her family to the hospital because her younger brother Jack injured his foot. She learns a lot about different doctors and their specialties. The illustrations are inviting and welcoming to readers. At the back of the book, readers will find a list of doctors. (PreK-1st grade)

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship, written by Markette Sheppard and illustrated by Charly Palmer

Mom says there is no outside playtime on this rainy day as a young boy uses his imagination to build a rocket ship inside his home using a pair of swimming trunks, goggles, socks, and more. The colorful illustrations and science concepts will encourage young kids to imagine having their own rocket ship and travel to faraway planets. (PreK-1st grade)

The Girl With a Mind for Math The Story of Raye Montague, written by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley

Read this biography to learn about the fascinating life of Raye Montague, a mathematician extraordinaire. As a young girl, she was inspired to become an engineer after visiting a German submarine and grew up to make significant contributions in the engineering industry. (K- 2nd)

Be sure to look out for the HallowSTEAM for Preschoolers program on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 10:30 AM, which will feature the book Ada Twist Scientist, written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. Ada Twist is a young and curious Black girl that wonders how things work. She finds great joy diving into experimental science projects that perplex her mom, dad, and older brother. This preschool program will help to show and encourage diversity in science with a likable character. This book is recommended for the PreK-2nd grades. During this program, preschoolers will be exposed to basic science concepts and can participate in some hands-on activities. The activity bags will be available for pickup at University City Regional Library. Please visit cmlibrary.org for registration and more information about the program.

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This blog was written by Alicia Finley, children's librarian at University City Regional Library.

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.

It is October, and the Supreme Court is back in session garnering its expected news headlines. Some are watching, though, with a heightened sense of concern and Irv Gornstein, executive director of Georgetown University’s Supreme Court Institute, is one of them. He fears the overwhelming switch in recent years to a majority conservative court can hurt the court’s credibility with the public.

“I think we may have come to a turning point. If within a span of a few terms we see sweeping right-side decisions over left-side dissents on every one of the most politically divisive issues of our time—voting, guns, abortion, religion, affirmative action—perception of the court may be permanently altered,” Gornstein said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Point taken. Would those decisions fairly represent the greater American public? Would they be respected and upheld?

Gornstein’s observations may be spot on or off the mark. Regardless, Supreme Court decisions impact the public for decades, and Black U.S. citizens would be significantly affected. The “divisive issues of our time” mentioned by the professor can jolt Black Americans in safety, economic status, and citizenship conditions. Affirmative action is readily associated with African Americans as a court issue. Still, voting rights is an old policy fight that has received renewed attention, detailed in a Library blog last month.

One book in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library collection, on Account of Race: the Supreme Court, White Supremacy, and the Ravaging of the African American Voting Rights by Lawrence Goldstone, examines the Supreme Court’s past decisions have not spread the right to vote for Blacks. Book critics commend accessible writing and in-depth research. Doubtless, those unfamiliar with the Court’s decision-making past may come to understand how it can operate and remain a substantial force in public conduct.

Goldstone’s book is included in a new booklist about the power the court has specifically affecting Blacks. The booklist consists of a separate book about the only Black Supreme Court justices, the revered, late Thurgood Marshall and his successor, the controversial Clarence Thomas, the current longest-serving justice.

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This blog was written by Lawrence Turner,  adult services librarian at South County Regional Library.

On October 29, 2021 at 5 p.m., Main Library will close to the public. We look forward to reopening a reimagined destination library to serve the Charlotte Mecklenburg community for decades to come. During this period, we know this closure will impact how customers use library services Uptown. Building a newly designed Main Library will allow us to serve customers and Mecklenburg County in better and more advanced ways. The new Main Library will continue the community and neighborhood tradition of having a trusted public library in the same place that it has stood for 118 years. The new Main Library will be designed with customer and community interests and input in mind. Funding for the project is provided through a public-private convention with generous support from Mecklenburg County and private donors.

As always, customers can visit any of our 19 Library locations throughout Mecklenburg County to access helpful resources, programs and services. Throughout the closure period, we also ensure convenient library access through two interim Uptown locations for which we will soon share opening dates. Until then, we are excited to provide a glance at the services we will offer at each location. They are as follows:

CMLibrary @ Founders Hall, located at 100 North Tryon Street in suite 290, will be a hub for Library users to retrieve materials on hold, browse and check out materials from a select, popular collection, return materials, obtain Library cards and search the catalog. 

CMLibrary @ College Street, located at 406 N College Street (in the fellowship hall at First United Presbyterian Church), will provide Library users a space to study, sit, read and more. This location will be equipped with publicly accessible Wi-Fi and computers, as well as a variety of programs, resources and services including job help and career services, and printing and copying.

Cardholders will continue to have access to the same great programs and printed materials at all Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations, as well as a growing digital collection that includes books, music, videos, research and leisure resources and more. We hope this information helps community members understand service options during the closure and keeps patrons engaged with the Library. The patronage of our customers is vitally important, so please read on for helpful information as well as other useful updates.

During the closure, we hope you will continue to use library services by connecting with another branch for browsing, borrowing, classes/workshops, family storytimes, and the many other ways you engage with your Library, or by using our online services at cmlibrary.org.

Other local branches near the Uptown area
There are other branch locations in proximity to the Uptown area that continue to offer a variety of online, virtual and limited outdoor programs, as well as access to extensive services and resources. We encourage Main Library customers to explore the option closest to them and to continue their library experiences at:

• Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library – 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte 28216 (704) 416-3000
• Myers Park Library – 1361 Queens Road, Charlotte 28207 (704) 416-5800
• Plaza Midwood Library – 1623 Central Avenue, Charlotte 28205 (704) 416-6200
• South Boulevard Library – 4429 South Boulevard, Charlotte 28209 (704) 416-6400
• Sugar Creek Library – 4045 North Tryon Street, Suite A, Charlotte 28206 (704) 416-7000
• West Boulevard Library - 2157 West Boulevard, Charlotte 28208 (704) 416-7400

Library Holds and Pick-ups
As of October 15, 2021, Main Library will no longer be an available option for placing items on hold. Any items placed on hold for pick up at Main, before October 15, will be available through October 29, 2021. Items will then become available for pick up at Plaza Midwood Library beginning November 1, 2021. After October 15, cardholders who normally pick up materials at Main Library will be prompted to select a new holds pick-up location the next time they place a hold in the Library catalog

Customers who wish to choose a different location for their holds pick-up rather than Plaza Midwood Library, can do so in the following ways:

1. Request assistance from Library staff at any Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location; or
2. Call the Library at 704-416-0101

Click here to learn how to update your default holds pick-up location in the catalog.

Returning Books and Materials to the Main Library Book-drop
Please note that on October 29, Main Library will no longer accept book returns and the book drop return boxes will be closed. Customers can drop off items at any of our other 19 Library locations, including at the nearby ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center located at 300 East Seventh Street.

For more information, please visit our  Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about our Building Projects? Click here

Thank you for your patience during the rebuilding of our new Main Library. We encourage customers to continue using a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location – either at one of our other 19 locations or online at cmlibrary.org. We appreciate your patronage and support over the years at our Uptown location and look forward to welcoming everyone back to our new library in the future!

Main Library is located at 310 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, 28202. For information on all branch locations, click here.

November is an exciting month for aspiring writers!  November is National Novel Writing Month when writers worldwide write with a goal of ending the month with 50, 000 words of a brand-new novel.  Are you inspired to write the next great American novel?  Do you want to create a book of family history to share with cousins near and far?  The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has resources for every type of writer to get you started on your journey.

Digital Resources

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has resources to help you in writing, publishing, and sharing your creation. 

Pressbooks is an easy-to-use online software program that allows writers to create professional e-book and print ready files in ePUB, MOBI, and PDF formats.  Pressbooks covers all aspects of writing your book, start to finish.  All you need to get started is a library card!  Access Pressbooks from the Library’s Resources page and create a Biblioboard profile to get started. 

After creating your masterpiece, you can submit your work to be self-published using the Indie Author Project resource.  Submitting your work to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Indie Author Project resource can promote your work and increase readership.  After being vetted by Biblioboard, your work is added to the statewide Indie North Carolina Collection on Biblioboard Library.

Biblioboard Library is an e-book resource.  Content on Biblioboard Library includes titles from independently published authors in North Carolina, a curated K-12 Classroom Collection of literature, philosophy, history and geography topics, and other top independently published e-books.  E-books created by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers can be found here!  Biblioboard Library e-books are always available with no wait! 

Print Resources

Need some help getting started on your writing journey or just want to learn more about the writing craft?  Recommendations from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff can be found in our catalog.

• Writing for Authors
• Editor Betsy Thorpe Recommends Writing Titles
• Memoir Writing Resources

Events and Programs

Want to connect with fellow local writers?  Attend one of our writing group programs!  Love poetry?  We have a program for you!  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has programs and events for writers of all ages.  Explore our event calendar here.

Access all the Library’s resources for free with your library card.  Don’t have one?  Sign up here!  If you need more help with the resources covered in this blog, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available to help by email, chat, and phone. 

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 This blog was written by Amy Richard, library collections manager at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

November marks National Family Literacy Month, a time to celebrate families- adults and children- learning together! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library always strives for families learning together, and this month we place a special emphasis on promoting and sharing all the resources, services, and programs you and your family can utilize to improve your literacy practices at home.

Read Together

Visit your local Library branch often as a family to check out books together! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who are read to have better language skills, have more interest in reading, and have better nurturing relationships with their parental figures (AAP, 2014).  Make it a habit to read as often as you can as a family. If you cannot make it in person to our Library locations, thousands of digital e-books await you online! Browse one of our digital book resources, and spend time reading together as a family.

Talk Together

Talking about books and what is going on in your child’s life will help to improve your child’s language and vocabulary skills. Cognitive scientists from MIT found that conversation between an adult and a child can actually change and enhance a child’s brain physiology (Association of American Universities, 2018)! Active Reading, or the practice of reading aloud a children’s picture book by asking questions, building vocabulary, and making connections to the child’s world and experiences, is a wonderful way to talk together as a family. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library provides Active Reading Family Workshops and Active Reading Training programs to help you and your family have meaningful conversations about books together.

Write Together

There are many ways to practice writing as a family at home. Start a family journal, where family members write back and forth to one another, or simply send notes and letters to each other! Seek inspiration from our storytellers at the Library to write your own story together as a family. Drawing counts too! The practice of writing aids in fine motor skills, self-expression, and language development. Feel free to write a book review as well together as a family and add it to our catalog for others to enjoy!

Learn Together

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s mission and vision is to improve lives and build a stronger community. We do this by learning together! There are many ways to learn together as a family at the Library. Programs are available daily that you can attend together as a family including storytimes, story explorer programs, puppet shows and more! Check out step-by-step books to create a new recipe or craft together as a family too. Discuss what you learned together as a family and share it with others.

Celebrate with Us

To celebrate National Family Literacy Month, you and your family are invited to participate in a special Virtual Family Literacy night on November 16, 2021 at 6 p.m. Expect singing, dancing, reading, writing, and learning together as a family to improve your literacy practices at home!

Improve your family literacy this month and beyond by checking out all that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has to offer. Read together, talk together, write together, and learn together. We consider your family a part of our family, and we hope you consider Charlotte Mecklenburg Library part of your family too. Happy National Family Literacy month!

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This blog post was written by Elyse Berrier, Library Program Coordinator, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

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.