Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month is May and serves as a destined time to identify the historic and cultural achievements of this diverse population within the United States largely consisting of Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese residents. The Library can help as it offers books, ebooks, streaming videos and more about this community. 

One way is through the library booklist specifically entitled for AAPI month with 32 titles for multiple ages. Another related booklist with 12 titles for adult readers is Asian American Authors to Celebrate Heritage Month.    

Access AAPI Month Booklist          Access AAPI Adult Booklist

This year, that observation takes a heightened alert as concerned individuals nationally and locally have drawn attention to the rise in instances of hate and violence directed towards Asian Americans. Tragically, these citizens are being accused and blamed by some for the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. 

On May 17, The Charlotte Observer published a guest editorial column from a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student about the urgency to protect Asian Americans locally. The column also included signatures from a city county member, county commissioner and several officers of associations affiliated with the Indian, Chinese and Asian American communities. The article concluded with a charge to encourage Charlotteans to extend their “Southern hospitality” to protect and to share awareness about the rise of anti-Asian violence. 

Regrettably, that violence has occurred as reported in local news when an Asian grocery store owner was shot in east Charlotte by an assailant intent on inflicting bodily harm last month. On the national news scale, President Joe Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act last Thursday, as a response to the growth of violence against Asian Americans related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

To delve further into the background of the AAPI community’s assimilation into the United States and, conversely, its bouts with periods of racism then look at the booklist entitled “Experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” with newer titles from the Library collection.

Access Experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Booklist

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

What’s one more thing to add to your already hectic schedule that you have in your final year of high school or college? Partying and celebrating your forthcoming freedom from school is most likely at the top of that to-do list. But before you celebrate that freedom, consider this: an internship.

An internship is when a student works in an organization (paid or unpaid), which allows the student to gain valuable experience, learn new and valuable skills and develop priceless relationships. Internships can last for as little as three months (summer is coming) and as much as six months, so it doesn’t take up your whole final year of high school or college. Think about all the things you’ve learned as a student and the type of advantage having an internship will give you when you finally enter the workforce.

THE BENEFITS OF INTERNSHIPS

Having recognized the benefits of an internship and taken advantage of those opportunities, here are some great reasons to get an internship:

Gain Valuable Experience 

This is your opportunity to “try out” the job or career of your choice. You also gain skills that you can only learn on the job. Not only have you gained skills, but you’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate them. The individuals that you work with during your internship can vouch for your skills and experience.

Spruce up your resume

College is a great way to begin your career journey with clubs and organizations. Still, viable experience as an intern could turn the eye of many employers, creating an edge over others in the job market.

Develop Skills 

Your skillset is limited when you first finish school. An internship will help develop and enhance soft and hard skills. Today’s employers are just as interested in your soft or transferable skills as they are in the specific skills to the job.

Build Relevant Relationships 

Networking is a vital skill to have in the job market. The relationships that you build while interning is critical to your future success. Once you build those relationships, they, in turn, can set you up for success just based on the relationships that you’ve built.

Meet Your Mentor 

It would be best if you had direction, and one of the best ways to get that is to acquire a mentor. Many people meet their mentors in their internships. Mentors are experienced and trusted advisers — they are a part of that relationship-building you should be doing in your internship. Still, they work with you to ensure you are successful. Mentorship is not a one-way relationship. It requires giving and taking to be effective.

REACH OUT

So, did I spark an interest? Do you want to learn more about internships? Learning more about finding an internship is as easy as talking with your guidance counselor or visiting your college and career center. All the resources you need to get started are right there in the palm of your hands. The staff there are there to help you succeed in this aspect.  Your school may have partnered with large corporations and medium-sized businesses to offer internships to students just like you. 

When moving into the workforce soon after school, taking advantage of internships creates opportunities beyond the time spent during an internship. It’s not easy to get work right out of school, so the more experience you can gain to include in the work experience section of your resume, the better. Get a leg up on other students entering the workforce by obtaining vital skills that employers crave under your belt. Internships are not all fun and games, though. They are meant to test your ability to work a job and give you hands-on experience in the industry or field of your choice.

Internships test all the work you put in your classes by thrusting you into the reality of the job — giving you the chance to try out the job before you work the job. Now, take the first step into your future and sign up for an internship.

The Job Help Center at the Library can help with your college and career path and goals. From one-on-one resume reviews to mock interviews, the Job Help Center can help you find, apply and be ready to interview for that internship. See the calendar here.

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This blog was written and updated by De’Trice Fox, adult services librarian in the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

Let’s face it: the past year has been challenging for many reasons, but, for some, the lack of travel opportunities really put a damper on life. Now that the world is reopening, some stir-crazy feelings can be put to rest with exciting travel programs and helpful travel resources available at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The only passport or ticket you need is your Library card! (Need a card? Get one here.)

Whether your next trip is mentally mapped out or planned to a “T,” let the Library provide fuel for the journey.

Consider your Library card a personal travel experience curator when you use it to:

1. Plan a trip – Use traditional guidebooks to help you navigate your next adventure. Complete with titles such as The Family Travel Handbook by Imogen Hall, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz and The Backpacker’s Bible by Suzanne King, you’ll be able to travel near, far, on or off the beaten path any day. (Library tip: Download the Hoopla app to access hundreds of recently published guidebooks, maps included, from well-known publishers such as Frommer’s and Fodor’s
    
2. Learn a new language – Parlez-vous français (Do you speak French?)? Do you want to? You can certainly learn with FREE access to Transparent Language. This culturally rich and effective learning resource is perfect for all skill levels. Transparent Language provides an engaging experience that helps learners build listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in over 110 languages. It also combines robust courses, supplemental vocabulary, extensive grammar resources and mobile apps for a complete language-learning experience.

If you prefer to learn a language in a group setting, the Library offers online conversation clubs that may pique your interest. With languages currently ranging from Arabic and English to Spanish and French. You may also meet likeminded travelers when you sign up for engaging conversation here.

1. Stay connected – You’ll likely document your travels and want to share them with family and friends along the way. If you’re unsure about the availability or the cost of internet access while you’re away, rent a Wi-Fi hotspot. Rentals are only available for use in the continental United States.
    
2. Travel by chair – Did you know the Library offers opportunities for you to explore faraway places without having to leave the comfort of your home? It’s true! Our online Armchair Travel programs provide customers a sensory experience and the chance to learn about exotic lands, important past events in a meaningful manner and much more. Armchair Travel programs are suitable for adults and teens ages 12-18. Click here to find your next adventure.

   If  solo-video travel is more your jam, escape to the sunny tropics or frigid Arctic by watching more than 220 travel videos on our video service, Kanopy. Kanopy is perfect because it has video options for children and adults.
    

3. Learn about culture and history – Learning the culture of the people and places you plan to visit is paramount. Luckily, your Library card gets you access to Universal Class where you can study the cultures of Japan, China, France, Spain and more. Click here to start learning.

If exploring culture is music to your ears, consider immersing yourself in the beats and sounds of desired travels. Find amazing Afrobeats, brilliant Brazilian sambas and bossa novas, or hear the gongs of Shanghai with a quick and FREE search in Freegal. Freegal offers download or streaming access to more than 10 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists. Even better? Library customers get five (5) free downloads (songs are one download whereas videos count as two) and five (5) hours of streaming each week.

Now that you know some ways to travel the world with your Library card, the next question is: where will you go first?

Share your travels with us on our social media platforms (@cmlibrary on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and tell us what you love by leaving a comment, tagging us or using the hashtag #cmlibrary.

Happy travels!

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This blog was written by Asha Ellison, marketing and communications specialist at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Library is excited to offer new merchandise in June for Pride and our Black Lives Matter programming.  Shirts, tanks and sweatshirts are available in men's, women's, unisex and children's sizes.

Order your new gear here today.

Don't wait - this is a limited time offer - orders close at midnight on June 14, 2021. 

Order Pride shirts here

Order BLM Program clothing here

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.