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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summer means school is out, family is on vacation and there’s plenty of time to read or enjoy other educational activities. Take your summer learning to the next level with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Summer Break 2022 Challenge. Our Summer Break 2022 programs can be found online and IN-PERSON! This summer, the Library is hosting some wonderful programs online. Check out the available online programming on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library calendar.   

Thursdays at 11 a.m., the Library will host fun presenters on the ImaginOn Facebook page such as Center for Puppetry Arts, Charlotte Mecklenburg Frontline Puppeteers, Japanese Folktales & Origami and Will Parker and the Make Believe Band. Here is a full listing of events in the Summer of Stories series. 

Wanting to join the Library for some in person programs? We have that too! Check out the available in person programming on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library calendar. Some branches are having in person storytimes for little ones as well as fun STEAM programs! There are a variety of gaming programs offered if you want to explore chess, board games, or video games. 

 Reading, Fun Activities  and an App  

Visit our website or download the app, Beanstack Tracker to track your reading time and learning activities to collect  virtual badges and prizes. This summer we challenge everyone to log 1200 points. At least 600 of those points must be earned through reading (equal to 10 hours of reading). Each activity is worth 20 points and may be used to supplement a program. Continuing to read throughout the summer will help us reach our goal of reading 10 million minutes as a community. 

Comments? Questions?  

Are you having problems with the Summer Break 2022 website or your account?  Do you have questions about the program?  Feel free to chat with us online or email us at [email protected]  for help or feedback.  

The 2022 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with additional support from Wendy’s, Charlotte Football Club's Greater Goals and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. 

Did you know hoopla Digital and Freegal Music have a vast array of music you can borrow and listen to? Everything from alternative to world music is at your reach. They even have fun categories to discover music like Groove Thing: House Music Anthems and The Sounds Of Stranger Things.

Discover new artists and reconnect with your favorites!  All you need to join in the fun is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or One Access ID number!

Learn more about hoopla and checkout limits here.  Need a library card?  Sign up here.

Access hoopla here                 Access Freegal Music here

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This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing & communications specialist 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.

To recognize and understand the LGBTQ+ community, it takes the honesty of admitting societal prejudices against gay people while permitting that community to be itself without judgment. As former NBA player Jason Collins put it, the first professional male athlete to announce he is gay, “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” 

Public libraries across the country have been doing just that in recent weeks with the celebration of Pride Month.  Gay themed books are spotlighted in displays and often include representations of the multi-colored Pride symbol, resembling a rainbow. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library borrowed the color scheme for its Pride t-shirts, in its support of Pride, on sale to interested staff.   

Within the growing self-identified LGBTQ+ population, which according to the Gallup Poll is 7.1 percent of U.S. adults, is a sizable minority population. People of color make up 40% of that number with another 12% of those identifying as Black according to the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law in a demographic study.  

Collins falls in that 12% and to borrow from his quote about openness, books can help to do that in the imagination and storytelling nature of a novel. Reading the stories can stir empathy and help one to understand the present. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has several titles about those individuals in stories about coping with family, life, identity—living the human experience. Read about these stories with booklists for adult and teen readers.

Check out our Adult BLACK LGBTQ+ Booklist

Check out our Teen Black LGBTQ+ Booklist

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

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when libraries encourage community members (parents, caregivers, students – everyone) to sign up for a library card as the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers millions of resources including books, music, movies, creative materials, digital resources and programs (in-person and online) – all for FREE with a Library card. Signing up for a Library card is easy and anybody can do it. CLICK HERE to sign up for a Library card and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your tablet or smartphone. Use the app to place holds, access resources and much more.

Check out just a small sampling of all the Library has to offer:

FREE Digital Resources

The Library is a tremendous one-stop shop, not just for books but for digital resources and so much more. Whether you need resources for your small business or just want to stream the newest hit music, the Library has a vast catalog of digital resources to fit your needs. You can access online tutoring and homework help for children through Tutor.com or find the resources to support a new (or existing) business venture with LinkedIn Learning. Maybe you want to perfect an existing skill - or learn a new one - with Universal Class or learn a new language with Transparent Language. When you have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card, you can access a multitude of online resources for FREE.

Do you enjoy watching movies or listening to music? Film and music buffs can benefit from a Library card, too. With the kanopy, OverDrive/Libby, hoopla and Freegal Music apps – again, available for FREE with a Library card, you can stream or download films, documentaries and the newest songs. Stream the latest from Beyoncé, Bad Bunny and classic Pink Floyd? Yep. Rediscover the literary works of Jane Austen, Isabel Allende and John Grisham? Absolutely.

The Library has it all.

ACCESS RESOURCES

Value Like No Other

Are you curious about how much money a Library card can really save you? $100? $300? Even up to $1,000! Subscription services can be pricey and tend to add up over the course of a calendar year, not to mention how much you might spend on books, magazines and music. There’s no need to pay for subscription services ever again. See how much you can save with the Library by using the Library Value Calculator. Input the number of books, magazines, DVDs, music and resources you’ve purchased or used in a year, and you’ll be amazed at how much you could save by switching to the Library. The numbers don’t lie; a Library card is a great value!

Online Programming from the Library

Did you know that you can participate in Library programming even while staying home? The Library is always here to support the community online, 24/7. Join us for a online storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch. The Library offers a wide range of online programming for children, teens and adults on a daily basis.

See our listing of upcoming programs below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS CLICK HERE

Get a Card Today

Signing up for a Library card is easy. CLICK HERE to sign up for one and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your smartphone or tablet for immediate access to place holds, access resources and much more.

So, now that you know everything you can do with your Library card, what are you waiting for? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and get your Library card today!

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Ascending to the throne in 1952 at the age of 26, Queen Elizabeth II served the British people for 70 years. She was the longest-reigning monarch in Britain's history. Learn more about the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth, the Royal House of Windsor and a history of the monarchy with a curated selection of resources from the Library:

Remembering Queen Elizabeth booklist

Getting to know Britain's Royal family booklist

(Queen Elizabeth II at her 1952 coronation. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)

Additional resources on the Queen and next steps for the Royal Family below:

The Queen's Life and Reign

Death of Queen Elizabeth, a day-by-day guide

This blog was updated September 5, 2023 to reflect current Census data.

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Did you know that Hispanic Americans make up the largest immigrant group in the United States? In Mecklenburg County, an estimated 14% of the population, or 157,118 residents, is Hispanic.

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library joins in the national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, but we believe in celebrating el ritmo (the rhythm) of Hispanic culture yearlong! We honor the contributions of American citizens from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, according to the Library of Congress’ official website. Need resources or looking for ways to celebrate Hispanic culture and the Latinx community? We provide a few resources below.

Curious to learn about the rich, cultural presence and contributions of Hispanic people in the Queen City? Click here to read Con A de Arte: A history of Hispanic Presence in Charlotte which takes a closer look our culturally rich neighbors.

Looking for a great book that explores Hispanic culture? Click here to dive into curated book lists that cover topics for children, teens and adults – including detective and mystery fiction, Young Adult (YA) books with Latinx Voices and other Spanish-English bilingual reads.

In collaboration with Cine Casual (www.cinecasual.com), a Charlotte-based site that specializes in Ibero-American cinema, you can find a curated a list of books and films that tell the struggles of being Hispanic/Latinx in the United States, while also highlighting and celebrating the pride and accomplishments of the community.

As always, you can explore our calendar of events to see what programs and activities are coming up in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Looking for events around town? Check out the Latin American Coalition's 33nd Festival Latinoamericano on September 23, 2023 in Charlotte's east side and the 11th annual Hola Charlotte Festival hosted by Norsan Media in Uptown Charlotte on October 7, 2023.

We look forward to celebrating with you this month. Visit cmlibrary.org for more events, news and updates.

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers a variety of ways to immerse students in 15 different languages including Spanish, Chinese, German, and others. Along with physical copies of books, audio books, magazines, etc., the Library has the following resources and services available to support the development of educational bilingual learning:

CultureGrams details daily life and culture, including history, customs and lifestyles on more than 200 countries. You can browse by Region, Country or Continent. Use the built-in translate tool to read information in other languages.

Access

Kanopy Kids informs and assists in developing empathy, mindfulness and self-esteem through entertaining and educational videos. Categories include TV Series, Learning Languages, Animated Storybooks, Anime, Classic Films and Movies.

Access

MakeMake is a collection of e-books in Spanish for youth ages 3-15. Additionally, the interface is in Spanish and most titles are books written by Latin American writers. Click “Explorar” to expand the browsing options. Accessible on your phone or tablet.

Access

NC Kids Digital Library offers e-books, audiobooks, streaming videos and Read-Alongs. This collection was specifically designed for pre-K through 4th grade. The advanced search feature allows filtering by subject, language, reading level, format and much more.

Access

TumbleBooks is a collection of animated, talking picture books. TumbleBooks can be read by you or to you! The collection includes story books, non-fiction books, graphic novels, puzzles and games. Go to the Language “Learning Tab” to see books in French and Spanish.

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Tutor.com offers free homework help from a live, online, qualified tutor—up to 10 free tutoring sessions each week! Students can get help in English or Spanish in a wide range of subjects including math, science, English, social studies and essay review. Tutors available from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

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Transparent Language combines robust courses, supplemental vocabulary, extensive grammar resources and mobile apps for a complete language-learning experience.

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World Book Encyclopedia Online includes games, stories and activities. Information is read aloud when “moused over” or touched. Go to the “Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos” for Spanish content.

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