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

One of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s most popular resources is getting an upgrade. Lynda.com is transitioning to the LinkedIn Learning platform on March 15, 2021.

Why?  In 2015 LinkedIn acquired lynda.com.  LinkedIn began to build a new and improved platform. You may remember that in August 2019 the Library almost canceled its lynda.com subscription because of concerns about privacy and barriers to access with the LinkedIn Learning platform. Your Library works hard to maintain our status as a trusted community institution, and we were not willing to compromise that. We are happy to report that LinkedIn listened to the concerns of libraries across the United States and made improvements and changes to their platform regarding privacy and access.

When?  March 15, 2021 LinkedIn Learning will migrate lynda.com learning activity to the new platform.  This process should take a few hours and lynda.com will be unavailable during this time. When LinkedIn Learning is live, you will log into LinkedIn Learning from the Library’s Resources page.

• Use your Library card number and PIN to access LinkedIn Learning. 
• Students, use your student ID and birth year as PIN.

Lynda.com customer accounts will automatically transfer to LinkedIn Learning. Don’t have an account to lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning? All you need is a library card. Don’t have one? Sign up here!

When you first sign into LinkedIn Learning, it will ask you to choose three skills that you are interested in learning about. This is so LinkedIn Learning can suggest courses you may want to take. You must choose at least one skill to continue.

LinkedIn Learning will also ask if you want to set a weekly goal for learning. LinkedIn Learning will remind you of your learning goals and keep you on track. If you do not want to choose a weekly time goal, click “Maybe later.”

Welcome to LinkedIn Learning! The new interface is fresh, modern, and easy to navigate.

Let’s explore the Dashboard.

The navigation bar, located at the top of the page, is where you browse for courses, search for skills or subjects, access your learning and settings, and change your language preference.

Click the Browse icon to open the menu of courses. Topics are categorized by Business, Creative, and Technology. Click the topic you are interested in learning about and the results will display. There are filters on the left side of the page to narrow your results. You may want to filter your results by courses (rather than videos) or the time you want to spend learning. When you find a course or video, click “Save” to save it in your learning activity or click the video to start learning.

There is also a search box in the navigation bar. Enter keywords, skills, or software that you are interested in learning. For example, enter “Excel” in the search box and click the magnifying glass to execute the search. The results displayed will be courses and videos containing information about Excel.  Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.

The banner showcases new and popular courses that LinkedIn provides. Under the banner, there will be a reminder of your weekly learning goal (if you set one) and a link to the course you are currently taking.  Scroll down for more recommendations from LinkedIn Learning for suggested courses based on your preferences.

All your lynda.com learning activity will transfer to LinkedIn Learning. Click “My Learning” to see your “In Progress” courses, “Saved” courses, and “Learning History.” Remember LinkedIn Learning asked you to choose three skills you were interested in? That’s here too. Click “Skills” to update or add new skills.

LinkedIn Learning content is available in seven languages! Click the drop-down arrow beside “EN” in the navigation bar. Select from English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Portuguese. While most of the courses are in English, when a language is selected, available courses offered in that language will be displayed in the Browse menu. 

Now you are ready to explore and learn new software, management techniques, and more from LinkedIn Learning! If you need help, LinkedIn Learning has a customer FAQ page. You can also use the search bar on the FAQ page for help on playing a video, saving a LinkedIn Learning course, and more.  Your Library is also here to help. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available by email, chat, and phone. 

Happy Learning!

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 This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator for 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.

Teresa Clay and Carmella Powers, library staff with the Sugar Creek Branch Library, have organized a Black Lives Matter book club for fifth graders at Sugar Creek Charter School. While sitting in on one of their book club discussions in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., one thing was obvious, these fifth graders love this book club. They were engaged and listened attentively throughout the entire program, asked thoughtful questions, and most importantly to us as librarians, discovered the cathartic power of reading.

Andrea Davis Pinkney wrote a piece recently for NPR that spoke to the power of reading aloud with children and its role in the Black Lives Matter movement. 

“When I invite kids to read select passages with me, they're empowered to speak up about their beliefs. Each time they hear the words of a story coming out of their own mouths, they're emboldened to keep reading," says Andrea. "These same kids are more inclined to seek out more books, and they're encouraged to share the books they love with their friends. That's what activism is. A movement begins when a passionate person gathers like-minded people and says, "Let's do this together."

Pinkney’s experience reading aloud with children is a mirror of what can be observed with the Black Lives Matter book club organized by Teresa and Carmela.

Teresa Clay (Left) and Carmella Powers (Right)

Since it began in November, this book club has become the highlight of everyone’s afternoon, including Library staff, teachers and students. At first, they only met twice a month, but due to its popularity, it has been bumped up to a weekly meeting. Each week Library staff provide stories and activities that leave the class wanting more. As the kids in the book club say, this class has been “POPPIN” ever since.

Teresa discussed the book club’s necessity with her fellow staff and shared some of the “nerve-wrenching” discussions she was having during these meetings. 

“Without a doubt, most of these children have felt sad in their own personal battle with racism. Whether it was something they've gone through or something they’ve witnessed firsthand," Teresa says. "Some kids talk excitedly over one another, while others let their faces talk for them. One student provided an example of when he was scared for his life. Another talked about the justice system not being fair ‘at all’.  A few students have lost all respect for the police department. These students know racism very well. During one discussion, a student asked, "What did we do to deserve all of this?"

 Nerve-wrenching is right.

With all that has happened this year, and all that is on the horizon, reading books that feature Black stories allow students the opportunity to process what is happening in the world around them. It empowers them to learn more and find creative solutions to make our world better. Above all else, it is the thoughtful lesson planning by Sugar Creek Branch Library staff and the fact that students are looking for an outlet such as this that make this book club not only needed, but the best part of their week.

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This blog post was written by Lonna Vines, children’s librarian at Hickory Grove Branch Library.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we are adaptable. When we went home nearly a year ago, I don’t think we had any understanding of how we would be translating our services from in-person to online. And yet, we have done just that with so many of our programs. We have discovered new ways to reach out and engage the community. We altered our programs, bought tripods and ring lights, and maybe even learned how to edit videos. Within the Outreach Department, we took our existing programs and made them accessible to the public while everyone cozied up at home. After all, what’s better than donning sweatpants while listening to or watching a good story?

The joy and beauty of a book club is the connection between its members. It provides a forum for meaningful discussion, personal connection and self-exploration. Transitioning book clubs from in-person to online has opened new ways to interact while reading and discussing a published work.

For my fifth graders at Berryhill, it means a lot more comments but typed rather than spoken. It also allows for immediate reactions to the text as I read. This type of response to the text allows for a unique interaction, since I as the reader can glance occasionally at the chat to see how students are responding to the narrative. It serves as a stream of consciousness that students feel safe to express, where they otherwise may not. When we do take breaks, I am able to refer back to those comments to generate discussion or follow-up responses, building on the conversation. I’ve found online book clubs to be a unique and engaging experience for students and that’s definitely something to chat about.

Translating a sensory program to an online format is certainly not easy, but with some creativity and effort, it’s possible. For Amrita Patel, Library outreach coordinator, it meant working with a range of adults ages 18-50 and conducting a variety of engaging activities, which she’s been doing since June of 2020.

“Truth be told,” Amrita says, “they seem more vested in the Library than ever before!” Her most recent program was in honor of Read Across America Day, where participants listened to a read-aloud of Yertle the Turtle and then engaged in discussions and activities relating to the book. It may have taken some time to get into a rhythm of sensory online programming, but this program isn’t toppling any time soon.

In the wake of quarantine, the Library pivoted fairly quickly to Facebook and other platforms as a means to conduct storytimes with our community. At an April 2020 Cable Access board meeting, Pamela McCarter, Library outreach coordinator, shared the success of these online programs with board members and pitched the idea of producing a show to air live on Access 21. John Rocco, the executive director, provided space to the Library for exactly that. The idea initially was that members of the community without access to the internet could also enjoy these storytimes. The show has since grown and engaged all parts of the community since its start.

While Library at Home is an outreach-led initiative, it now involves staff from across the system. We have taken live storytimes, edited and trimmed, and condensed them into perfectly cable-worthy 27-minute segments. The next step for the program is to use the platform to engage older adults that still may be experiencing isolation.

If you’d like to tune in, Library at Home airs Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in English and 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in Spanish. ¡Es la hora del show.

A year later and here we are with amazing programs adapted, altered and entirely focused on reaching every pocket of our community. The pandemic has changed the direction of our work and our lives and in many ways has forced us to grow and adapt. And nothing says “self-reflection” like watching ourselves on video and seeing every single idiosyncratic thing we do. My advice, though? Embrace them all. From what I’ve seen, we translate great to 1s and 0s.

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This blog was written by Clay Freeman, outreach coordinator, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

This blog was written as part of the 2021 Community Read program. Learn more about Community Read and take the pledge here.

With eyes wide with fear and heart pounding, you take in the violent scene in front of you. What was supposed to be a simple football game between rivals has turned into a racially fueled riot. You find yourself trapped with someone you don't know, having to depend on them for safety. Could you make it through the night?  

Authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal have tackled the difficult topics of racial bias, rioting, privilege, and police brutality in their book I'm Not Dying with You Tonight, which serves as the signature title for Community Read 2021. Drawing inspiration from the Baltimore protests in 2015, the authors created two very different girls with diverse life experiences who have found themselves trapped together as a social justice protest turns violent, resulting in riots across the city. As they try to survive the night, the two girls are forced to confront their own assumptions about racial inequality. This book will serve as a discussion opener for teens and adults as they take a hard look at current events and their own biases.

There are so many ways to engage with Community Read throughout the month. Sign up for the Community Read Beanstack challenge and choose from the wide range of online programs for teens, inspired by I'm Not Dying with You Tonight. You can discuss what a healthy teenage relationship looks like, create story quilts, write poetry and more. Join us on Wednesday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. for our Community Read signature author event and meet Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal to learn about their writing process and inspiration for the book. This live event will be streamed on the Library's YouTube and Facebook pages and features a Q&A session moderated by WSOC-TV news anchor Genevieve Curtis.

Regsiter for signature event

Teens can also follow the Library on Instagram @cmlibraryteens and participate in Community Read challenges.

Community Read has something for everyone. Families can engage with their children in Community Read programs through a StoryWalk or by attending a storytime based on the Community Read picture book title, You Matter. Tweens are invited to participate in a book club or poetry night based on the award-winning book, Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, and adults who want to learn more about our companion title Just Mercy can attend a book talk, a film discussion, or a book club. Click here for the complete calendar of Community Read inspired programs and events.

Everyone in your family can pledge to participate in Community Read. Check out the Community Read page for everything you need to get started.

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This blog was written by Jessica Reid, teen librarian at Mountain Island Library.

According to Death Penalty Information Center, since 1973, 185 death row prisoners have been exonerated of all charges related to their death row conviction. Of the 185 prisoners exonerated, 99 of those exonerated were African American. 

The adult Community Read title, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a powerful and thought-provoking book about Stevenson's fight for justice and the changes needed in the criminal justice system. As a young attorney, Stevenson began the Equal Justice Initiative to help defend the poor, the incarcerated, and the wrongly condemned. In this book, Stevenson covers the early days of EJI as they fought against the nation's highest death sentencing and execution rates. Walter McMillian was one of EJI's first clients. He was a young African American man who was wrongly sentenced to die for the murder of a young white woman. The book shows the emotional journey that Stevenson and McMillian went through as they fought for freedom and justice.

America has the highest incarceration rate in the world. This book is guaranteed to start a conversation on capital punishment in America and the flaws in our criminal justice system.  Adults who want to learn more about our Community Read title, Just Mercy can attend a book talk, a film discussion, or a book club. For those inspired by "Just Mercy", you may want to check out our suggested reading list. 

For the entire month of March, the Library offers Community Read inspired programs and events. Take the Community Read pledge and read Just Mercy (and the other selected titles). Click here for a calendar.

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This blog was written by Jessica Reid, teen librarian at Mountain Island Library.

The last 12 months have proven to be a “year of different” for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Nonprofit Services. I use the word “different” rather than “challenge” as the Nonprofit Team has seen more success and growth during this time than in the last five years. Access to our specialized databases for nonprofit research are traditionally in house use only. We were grateful when the vendor, Candid, quickly responded to the COVID crisis by providing free, remote access to a limited version of the Foundation Directory Online (FDO), FDO Essential.

Effective March 25, 2021, Candid is changing how Library customers access FDO Essential. You will continue to access FDO Essential via the Library’s Resources page. When you land on FDO Essential page, you will be asked to create an account and sign up for a day pass. The day pass allows remote access of FDO Essential for a 24-hour continuous window. A new day pass can be activated every thirty days.

A clock at the top of the screen indicates how much time remains in the pass. After the 24 hours expires, the clock will show the next date on which you can activate a new pass (every 30 days).

Since you will be able to create individual accounts in FDO Essential, you will have access to the MyFDO features that were not previously available. You will be able to create dashboards and save searches and return to them each time you activate a new pass!

Detailed instructions on how to create an account can be found on the Learn More page of the Foundation Directory Online Essential resource page.

The Nonprofit Services team is currently offering a variety of programs online, including our Introductory classes every Tuesday at 2:00 pm via Zoom. You can also make an appointment with a member of the Nonprofit Services team for more personalized instruction. Click here to see the programs offered by the Nonprofit Services team.

Please email Christina Dooley at [email protected] if you have questions or comments.

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This blog was written by Christina Dooley, adult librarian and lead of the Nonprofit Services team for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

It’s been one year since Charlotte Mecklenburg Library temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, the full potential and extent of the health threat was unknown. The Library’s news release ominously stated: “Library announces all locations will close on March 17, 2020 at 5 p.m. until further notice.” Not knowing when we would return, but hopeful it was only for the recommended two-week quarantine period, staff gathered belongings, closed the facilities and were sent home. We did not know that the first phase would last 10 weeks while all Library in-person operations paused.

With the news of the first closure, the community responded with loud, clear voices.

Disappointed we will not have access to this wonderful resource but grateful for the effort to lower the curve of contagion. - Cindy P. (Facebook)

Y'all the @cmlibrary has closed. While I know this is absolutely the right decision, this hurts. It feels like saying goodbye to a dear friend. Books are life.  #covid19sux - Elizabeth M. (Twitter)

Nearly cried when I saw the that @cmlibrary is closing but also keeping Wi-Fi on and for a larger area for residents in need. - Monica (Twitter)

My heart goes out to all library personnel and your families. We will miss you so much. Stay well during this time and please know how much you are appreciated! - DorH. (Instagram)

So glad you are keeping the library staff and the community safe! I will definitely be using the e-resources and promoting One Access to my students! - Lenna B. (Facebook)

Thank goodness for digital content! Paige H. (Facebook)

Now twelve months later, after what we were then calling the novel coronavirus became a global COVID-19 public health pandemic, we take a moment to pause and reflect.

During those first 10 weeks while our community was in lockdown, Library administration monitored the situation and kept all staff updated with daily posts about the behind-the-scenes activities and news on organizational updates and health information. It was during this time under the direction of an internal strategy and safety response team that we created our re-opening levels and a service model that would become a major shift in how the Library provided customer services in digital and online formats.

Also, rather than pressing pause, the Library responded to a community need and played a pivotal role as one of the first organizations to step forward and print personal protective equipment (PPE) face shield components on 3D printers. These were a critical part of a local program providing PPEs for frontline health care workers at a time when much-needed equipment was in short supply. Library staff took the 3D printers to their homes and produced the units there. Providing the PPE components proved that our mission of Improving Lives and Building a Strong Community goes well beyond traditional Library services.

Awesome, thank you!! – Beth ML (Instagram)

Love this so much!!! – Chrissy M. (Instagram)

Wonderful. Thanks. – Linda B.S. (Facebook)

During the first lockdown, programming staff also pivoted with the first virtual storytime.  Shortly after, all programming followed to the online format and were produced out of our staff homes.

This is giving me LIFE right now - Caitlin M. (Facebook)

This is great! Thanks guys!!! I miss you all! – Ed B. (Facebook)

Hey! Yay for story time from home!! – Julie K. (Facebook)

I was doing in person adult sensory and when all stopped. I realized I HAD to learn Zoom to stay in touch with my groups. It was a little daunting but with help from coworkers I was able to continue my programming. - Library staff Cathy F.

Since that first day and through the following year, the Library continued to adjust service levels, keeping the safety of customers and staff at the forefront of every operational discussion and decision. On June 1, 2020 we re-opened and moved into our first service level with limited access inside branches and a full transition to online programming and expanded digital resources. We experienced varying levels of joy in reuniting with co-workers and customers in the branches. The community expressed their thanks.

I'm glad it's open at all. But I care about library staff staying safe more than anything. It's worth it. - Carrie D.R. (Facebook)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library thank you for all you do to continue to serve the community. We miss you and can’t wait to come back.  - Shaguana H. (Facebook)

When our regulars, especially older adults, come in and say that this is a huge part of their social life and that they are so happy to be able to see and talk with us! – Library staff Andrea M.

That despite everything so far, there were still people who wanted to know how the library was doing. – Library staff William L.

A mom and her daughter came in to pick up holds but, of course, couldn't sit down in the library to read. They went outside and sat under one of our Japanese maples for about 30 minutes and read through her books.  I took a picture of them and it is a very cherished shot of how we all learned to adapt during this time. – Library staff Cindy R.

As if the health crisis and its devastating repercussions weren’t enough to withstand, there were local, regional and world events during this time that affected us and will continue to affect and change us for years to come. There were days when we were certain we couldn’t withstand one more change, and then we were faced with more that compounded on top of everything else. The Library, though, continued to stand as a beacon for equity, access, inclusion, diversity and democracy and released its statement, including:

21st century libraries stand up for equity, access, inclusion, diversity and democracy. We believe in providing equal access to the resources required to help anyone and everyone ascend to the best version of themselves. We are dedicated to freedom of expression in all its forms, whether printed in a book, spoken in library venues or chanted by friends, family or community members in streets outside our libraries.

Rob Harrington, chair Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees

and Lee Keesler, CEO Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

In the summer of 2020, the Library launched its own Black Lives Matter program and continues to promote diversity, equity and inclusion through resources, programming and community conversations.

Keep doing your part because no one else can. Someone has to stand while others are gaining their strength. – Library staff Sabrina R.

The Library then advanced to its second level of opening in September 2020, reduced services in January 2021 when the numbers of positive cases once again spiked, and then moved back to it's second level again in February 2021. The decision to adjust services was difficult and not always welcomed by all. However, as a trusted and responsible community organization, it was important to keep our customers and staff safe. The positive responses from the community are appreciated.

Hope that you're keeping staff and patron safety as your first concern. I care about my library staff! - Jennifer L. (Facebook)

Yes !!! The @cmlibrary system is so awesome for eBooks and audio books. I've started sharing info about public library access to texts for my classes - so many students don't realize they can get a public library card! - Dr. Laura S. (Twitter)

Shout out to my fantastic library @cmlibrary for doing the most today to help everyone get what they need ... Staff at the University branch just incredible telling us about website features for things other than books. Well done!! Very impressive. – Laura NCB (Twitter)

Customer regularly thanked us for being there for them. – Library staff Ivy M.

[As a meaningful customer interaction] Honestly, any time a customer thanked us for returning, for being open and for doing our best to get them what they want in whatever way we can. – Library Staff Ivy M.

@cmlibrary is open to browsing again. And I am "100" here for it!!  :-) – Daughterofinanna (Twitter)

I love the library, and I couldn't wait to browse the stacks when it opened to the public! @cmlibrary in Matthews #librarynerd - Andra G (Instagram)

Thank you for the care you have done during all of this. - Jennifer C. (Facebook)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library thank you. - Sumru G. (Facebook)

The [moments]ones that stick out in my mind are the people who have thanked us for being open. There have been a lot of those interactions from people of all ages. It reminds me just how much the library means to people. – Library Staff Meghan G.

Throughout this year, we’ve experienced many highs and lows but – as always - the Library remains a trusted institution and the one place where the community can gather, even if for now it is online rather than in person.

As we look forward, although still uncertain of what lies ahead, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is grateful for the support of the community and reaffirms our commitment to serve. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Onward and upward. – Library Foundation leader Jenni G.

This blog is written by Ann Stawski, Marketing and Communications Leader with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.