Thumbnail

Children are home from schools, families are in town to visit and sometimes you can’t think of something new or different to do. Or maybe you just need to find a place to escape! Look no further than the Library for great ideas during Winter Break!

Below is highlight of the programs available across all Library locations. The Library has a full list of programs and events available during the Winter Break, with offerings for all ages. There’s no way you can be bored with all the learning and exploring you can do! Check your local branch calendar for all activities, or search system-wide and find a new program at a branch in a different area.

(Holiday hours: All Libraries will close on December 23, 2019 at 5 p.m. and are closed December 24, 25 and 26, 2019, reopening on December 27 at 9 a.m. Please check local branches for Sunday hours. On December 31, 2019 all Libraries will close at 5 p.m., are closed on January 1, 2020. All Libraries will reopen on January 2, 2010 with regular hours.)

Adults

Looking for technology help of any kind from learning how to use Microsoft Word to setting up an email account? Or did you receive new devices during the holidays and need help setting them up? The Library offers many Technology Tutoring classes.Times may vary at each location. Click below.

 

Technogology Tutoring

Saturday, December 28

Main Library 9:30 am  to 10:00 am Click here

University City 10 am to 12 pm  Click here

Beatties Ford Road Library 10 am to 12 pm   Click here

Independence Boulevard (in Spanish) 2 pm to 3 pm  Click here

Monday, December 30, 2019 - Morrison Library 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm  Click here

Healthcare Navigator

Friday, December 27, 2019 9 am to 4 pm. Do you need health insurance? Do you have questions about your coverage? Speak with a Health Insurance Navigator from the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy for help with Marketplace coverage through the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare. These appointments are FREE. Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment with a Navigator can do so by calling 1-855-733-3711 or going online to ncnavigator.net.  West Boulevard Library  Click here

Billy Wilder Film Series

Saturday, December 28, 2019 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Join us as we screen and discuss three works from one of Hollywood's most acclaimed directors. The last film in our series is The Lost Weekend (1945). Morrison Library  Click here

Genealogy Discussion Group

Thursday, January 2, 2019 1 pm - 2:30 pm Do you have a family mystery to solve or a favorite relative you would like to learn more about? Join the Matthews Genealogy Discussion Group! You can explore resources in the library, community, and online. Learn how to search, evaluate, organize, and share your discoveries. Newcomers and experienced researchers are welcome! Matthews Library Click here 

Genealogy One-on-One

Thursday, January 2, 2019 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm Learn to trace your roots and family history in an individualized one-on-one session. Learn how to get started and tips for research. University City Library Click here

1-on-1 Adult Reading Support Session

Thursday, January 2, 2019 9 am to  8 pm Increase your reading confidence, fluency and comprehension by reading aloud with a library volunteer/staff member during a 30-minute one-on-one session. Beatties Ford Road Library Click here

Teens

Measure Up Cooking: Cooking on a Budget

Monday, December 23, 2019 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Learn how to source, select and prepare healthy to go foods on a budget. This program will detail helpful tips for teens and first-time college goers living on a budget. Beatties Ford Road Regional, Randolph Room  Click here 

Community Service Project

Saturday, December 28, 2019 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Do you want to help the Library with improving lives and building a stronger community? Join us for a unique service project where you can earn community service hours, while also giving back to the city of Charlotte. Independence Regional   Click here 

Teen Anime Club

Thursday, January 2, 2020 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Participate in a discussion about anime, manga and the Japanese language, history, and culture. University City Regional, Teen Corner  Click here 

Preteens

STEAM 101: Virtual Reality for Preteens

Tuesday, December 31, 2019 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.  Experiment and explore new technologies. This session we'll be working with Virtual Reality. North County Regional, Makerspace Room A  Click here 

Children

Winter Festival

December 30, 2019  1 pm to 3 pm  Join us as we celebrate the new season with storytelling, literacy activities, music, treats and more for the entire family to enjoy. Beatties Ford Road  Click here 

New Year's Eve at Noon

December 31, 2019  1 pm – 3 pm. Cheers! Celebrate with the kids during an early New Year’s Eve at noon at several branch locations:

Cornelius   Click here

Morrison  Click here

Myers Park  Click here



Snowflakes

January 2. 2019 1 pm – 2 pm. The beautiful ice crystals we call snowflakes are a magnificent work of art created by nature. Learn all about these unique crystals and the man who photographed them, Snowflake Bentley. Ages 5-11. Mountain Island  Click here

Thumbnail

On Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 2:30-3:30 p.m., renowned artist Martha Clippinger will discuss the inspiration behind and the process she used to create "Open Stacks," the new public artwork at North County Regional Library.

The plaque on her artwork reads: "In Open Stacks, two-and three-dimensional elements combine to create a colorful mural reflecting the act of reading. Horizontal planks exist on the wall, like text on a page. Blocks of jewel like colors leap from one plank to another, skipping from left to right and back again. The movement created by these arrangements of colors guide our eyes back and forth across the page. Where the words of a text remained fixed to the paper, our imagination transforms the author's words into visions of our own."

Martha is a Durham-based artist who was born and raised in the textile town of Columbus, Georgia. Her father sold shirts, her grandfather was a quilter and her ancestors were cotton-mill workers. Her rich and creative history led her to become a textile artist.

Most of Martha’s pieces are quilts that take 50-60 hours to create. They consist of highly saturated colors and lighter ones with corduroy, polyester and seersucker textures. Her first quilt, made in 2000, was formed with patches from one of her father's shirts and the patches were evenly cut to make grids.

Martha is no stranger to having her masterpieces put on public display. She’s had exhibits in the Smith Gallery at Appalachian State University, The Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill, the Southampton Arts Center in Southampton, New York, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, Lexington, Kentucky and the Ella Pratt Gallery at the Durham Arts Council.

Martha attended Fordham University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She has received grants and numerous awards.

In 2013, Martha received a Fulbright-Garcia Robles research grant to complete work in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2014, she was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Letters Purchase Award and, in 2017, she received the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council.

Come out and learn more about Martha and her work on Saturday.

Learn more and register here

Photo courtesy of Chris Hildreth

Thumbnail

NOTICE: This blog was updated on October 6, 2021 to reflect that the Robinson-Spanger Carolina Room is currently closed to the public.

October is Family History Month, but the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room offers access to historical and genealogical resources all year long. In celebration of discovering family ties, Carolina Room staff interviewed Sue Abbate, a family history researcher, who used Carolina Room librarians and resources to find her birth parents. 

“It was a major moment in my life. It was like these invisible puzzle pieces finally shifted and started to fit together.”  

Sue (left) with her mother, Terry (right).

How the story begins

Sue was adopted as a newborn by John and Mary Ann through Catholic Social Services. She had a wonderful childhood, growing up in a small town in Arizona, but always had a deep curiosity about her biological parents. She often wondered: Who did she look like? Where did her sense of humor come from? Did she share any of the same mannerisms with someone else? She remembers writing a letter to the adoption agency once when she was in high school, but never sent it. 

Sue’s curiosity intensified as she married and had children of her own. “I couldn’t imagine having my daughter and not taking her home,” Sue explained. "Me and my friends sometimes share birth stories [from each pregnancy], which made me really want to know more about my own birth story.”  With both of her adoptive parents having passed away years ago, Sue felt free to one day see if she could find her birth mom. 

A DNA discovery

In December 2017, Sue’s youngest daughter, Amanda, almost 16, encouraged her to send in a 23andMe DNA test to get more information on their medical history. “We sent our tests in but I didn’t expect anything other than the basic stuff, like our ethnic identities, medical information and other types of results.”  Sue remembers not thinking much about the adoption angle, as it didn’t cross her mind that she might actually find her birth parents. 

Shortly after receiving the results online that March, they were contacted by Dana who said they were related by blood. Sue was excited that they had found a family member only hours after the results had been posted. “We were so surprised that someone reached out to us so quickly. Dana knew we were related, but she didn’t know how.  I was a mystery to her.” According to the DNA, Dana could tell that they were second cousins on Sue’s father’s side. Dana investigated our new relationship that weekend, and determined that her mom’s cousin, Joe, was Sue’s birth father.  Dana shared Sue’s contact information with Joe, who then contacted Sue. “I never thought I would know who my birth dad was. Maybe I would somehow find my birth mom, but not him.”  

Sue and Joe had a long conversation about his life and family. Sue learned that she was one of 10 kids (7 biological and 3 step). Joe had been married three times. Sue also learned that her biological mother’s name is Terry. Joe explained that their relationship hadn’t been serious and that he left to serve in Vietnam shortly after Terry found out she was pregnant. The two of them hadn’t kept in contact. 

But, wait. There's...more  

After getting Terry’s name from Joe, Sue said “I immediately started to search online for her. I even messaged a few people on Facebook with the same last name. I posted online about my excitement about this new chapter in my life.” It was at that moment that the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room’s Senior Librarian, Shelia Bumgarner, became part of Sue’s story:  

“Helping Sue locate her birth Mom, Terry, was one of the biggest highlights of my career. Armed with only a name, location and birth year, I started my search. I remembered that Sue said Terry was Catholic, so when I came across a Catholic High School Annual in Ancestry.com, I immediately clicked on the resource. When I saw the photo of Terry, my jaw dropped-- it was like staring at a young Sue with bigger hair. This finding led me to conduct more genealogical research, tracing Terry’s family back for several generations. I also found Terry’s current phone number and address. I called Sue to share my findings and we were both so happy and close to tears. I am so happy for Sue. It was a perfect ending to hear that she spoke to her birth mother that night. I really felt chuffed for a few days. All of my experience and knowledge had come into play to connect two people separated by time and circumstances.” 

Shelia also found the obituary of Terry’s mother, which mentioned Terry’s children’s names as survivors. “All of a sudden I had a mother and more half-siblings!” Sue excitedly explained. She said she felt “an adrenaline rush and overwhelming excitement, followed by anxiety and a strange mix of emotions.” 

Mamma mia! 

Sue turned to Facebook again to see if she could connect with any of her half-siblings on her mother’s side. She found Rachel and decided to message her for Terry’s number. Sue didn’t tell Rachel who she was— she wanted to keep the matter between her and Terry, in case Rachel didn’t know. Little did she know, Terry had told Rachel, and her son, Matt, about Sue just a few months earlier. When Rachel called Terry to tell her about Sue contacting her, she said “Mom, your other daughter is trying to get in touch with you.” Terry called Sue on the phone that night and Sue remembers being speechless several times. 

Over the course of the next few months, Sue got to meet both Joe and Terry, Rachel and Matt. Connections were made, relationships were started and some questions were answered. Joe and Sue’s older daughter, Emily, share a love of engineering. Joe and Sue have the same sense of humor. Sue learned about family she never thought she would ever meet. Sue immediately felt a strong connection with Terry. 

A meeting between Terry and Sue.

When Shelia found an online photo of Terry from high school, Sue saw an uncanny resemblance to a photo of herself taken at the same age.  When they met, Sue remembers “We had lunch and we kept catching ourselves staring at each other. We are so similar that I know exactly what I’m going to look like when I’m 70.”    

Terry's high school photo (left) and a picture from Sue's passport (right).

When asked what her first moments were like with her biological mother, she replied, “That hug healed me to my core.” Sue explained how she had always felt a sense of holding back to protect herself from the unknown. “I don’t know if I felt abandoned, like other adoptees feel. I knew [Terry] did the best she could by making the most loving choice in giving me up for adoption.”  

Pieces to peace

Sue is over the moon that her biological parents were willing to meet her and answer questions that she’s had her entire life. “Do you start with the now? Do you start with what happened before? How do you navigate? It’s definitely a dance.”   

The adoption agency had a fire that destroyed Sue’s birth records, so the DNA test through 23andMe was her only chance at finding her family. “It was truly life changing. Genealogy is such a great way to learn about history based on your own family’s history.”    

Sue’s greatest hope is to learn more about who she is, where she came from and where these new relationships with her biological family will go. “It’s bizarre and comforting at the same time. It's like we are blood strangers. We share DNA, but what do we talk about?” 

New and emerging family ties.

Sue summarized her journey by speaking to how blessed she felt when Shelia saw her Facebook post. “It moved me how librarians in the Carolina Room were so excited to work with me. Having that support was incredible. It was more than just help. Shelia went above and beyond to help me find the answers, and family, I never thought I’d have.”



--

NOTE: The Carolina Room is currently closed to the public as Main Library prepares to close this fall for a total replacement project.  Click here for contact information and available services.

Thumbnail

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, December 12, 2019 and shared six of the best titles of 2019.
 

Click here to search titles

Adult fiction
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
A mesmerizing novel about a college town transformed by a strange illness that locks victims in a perpetual sleep and triggers life altering dreams.

Adult nonfiction
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
A economic-hardship journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
"From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world--where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she)."

Teen fiction
Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh
Fifteen-year-old Plum and her older sister Ginny find their relationship tested by family finances, personality differences, and the secrets they are keeping from each other.

Youth fiction
Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan
Eleven-year-old aspiring writer Louisa considers traveling the world with her globetrotting parents, but friendship with George helps her to see her grandparents' farm on Deer Island in a new light.

Picture Books
Another by Christian Robinson
"A young girl and her cat take an imaginative journey into another world."

Thumbnail

NOTE: This blog is the first in a series on the history of winter holidays. This series will also cover Moravian Christmas and Kwanzza. 

 Hanukkah is celebrated from the evening of December 22 to the evening of December 30. Often called the "Festival of Lights," Hanukkah dates to 200 BC when Judah Maccabee led the Maccabees in a successful rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, a late text, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.  

The word Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple. During the second century BCE, the people of Israel were forced by their ruler, the Seleucids, to accept Greek beliefs instead of the traditional mitzvah beliefs. The small army of Jews led by Judah the Maccabee eventually drove the Greeks out and reclaimed the Holy Temple and rededicated it to God. The Jews used olive oil to light the Temple’s Holy Menorah after they found one olive oil branch that was in possession of the Greeks. The flame lasted eight days, thus starting the tradition of Hannukah.  

The Menorah is the main symbol of Hanukkah, which holds nine candles. The family chooses their finest menorah to glorify God. There are a few important requirements to light the Menorah: candles must burn for 30 minutes before nightfall, all candles must be the same  height, candles must be lit left to right, and the Shamash candle must be the tallest. Menorahs are placed in front windows or porches when lit. The Shamash (middle candle) is lit while saying the blessing along with an additional candle each night. By the last night of Hanukkah all nine candles are lit.  

Hanukkah instills several important life lessons: to never be afraid to stand up for what’s right, always increase in matters of goodness and Torah observance, a little light goes a long way, take it to the streets, and don’t be ashamed to perform mitzvahs. 

Some traditional foods enjoyed are the potato latke (pancake) garnished with sour cream or applesauce and the jelly-filled sufganya(doughnut). The Hallel prayer is recited after meals to offer praise for God for His miracles, salvations, and wonders.  



Jewish children enjoy the holiday with toys and gifts. The dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a popular game. The words num, gimmel,hei and shin are on each side and form an acronym, “nes gadol hayah sham,” that translates to “a great miracle happened here.” It is common for children to receive gifts on each night of Hanukkah. One of the most popular gifts is                       

gelt, which is money that the receiving child often donates to charities. 

-----

Photos courtesy of: The Chicago Tribune, The Spruce Eats and My Jewish Learning

Citations:  

“How to Light the Haunkah Menorah and Recite The Hanukkah Prayers.” Learnreligions.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-light-the-chanukah-menorah-2076507  

“What is Hanukkah?” Chabad.org. Accessed December 2019. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htm 

Thumbnail

We’ve seen brighter days and, surely, we’ll see them again. As early as this weekend it seems.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library invites you to stay home while staying connected to Library resources and each other with an all-day “In Living Color” virtual activity day on Saturday, April 11, 2020! Anyone can participate in this event, which features fun, color-themed activities and lists we’ve curated to help enliven your spring, despite our collective circumstances. You can enjoy all of the activities listed below from the comfort of home, on your own time.

Our commitment to improve lives and build a stronger community is not limited by distance and we hope that however you spend your weekend, you know that your Library is thinking of you during this critical time.

Come along with us for your personal adventure. You can post your photos and videos to social media, tag @cmlibrary and use the hashtags #CMLinlivingcolor and #icanwithCML. 
Remember, we’re all in this together.

So, what can you look forward to on Saturday, April 11, 2020? Try any (or all!) of the following*:
 

Go for a color walk

What’s a color walk? Pick a color of your choice and go for a relaxed stroll near home. Look for things in nature, and in your surroundings, that match the color you picked! Find color walk instructions here.

Spell your name

Have a long name? You’re in for a ton of fun this weekend! Choose the letters that comprise your name and complete the actions assigned to each one. You might not finish them all in one day, but, then again, you might. Besides, who doesn’t want to make an orange creamsicle smoothie or play a game of Trouble online? Click here to spell your name.

Get into the groove

Our colorful Freegal Music playlist is head-bob worthy. We encourage foot-tapping as well. Listen here (hint: you’ll need your Library card number or ONE Access ID to access this list. Need one? Apply for a Library card here).

Head to class

That’s Universal Class, if you were wondering. Sign up for a class such as Face Painting 101, Cake Decorating 101 or Digital Photography 101. If you’re going to be home, you might as well learn something you’ll love. Find the perfect class for you here.

Put on your game face

Everyone wins with this colorful game list. Don’t have a suggested boardgame on hand? That’s ok – we’ve thrown in some online games as well. Find a game you love here.

Recline and rewind

If watching a film or movie is more your speed, we have that covered for you as well. The hue-named titles on this list are a good pick on any day. Explore movies for children and for older teens and adults.

Let’s get cooking

Whether you know your way around the kitchen or you’re a novice to the stove, these tasty, vibrant and handy recipes will ensure your everyone’s favorite chef by summertime. Find yummy recipes here.

Get ready to read color titles

Are you an avid reader? Great! Because we dove deep to find the perfect books for you. Access your next favorite color-themed read here: Adult reading list, Children’s reading list, Teen reading list.

Have an active day and don't forget to tag your social media posts! #CMLinlivingcolor  #icanwithCML
 

*Please remember that borrower checkout limits apply for digital and online resources

Thumbnail

Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 4/13/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 4/13

Family Storytime - 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Mindful Monday -12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

 

Tuesday 4/14               

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)    LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Teen and Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   REGISTER

WFAE Presents: Podcasting 101 – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Matthews Fiction Writing Group – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

 

Wednesday 4/15

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

History and Historical Fiction Book Club – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Learning Circle: Intro to HTML and CSS – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Basics of Active Reading for Parents – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Poetry Workshop (Virtual) A Journey Through the Senses – 4 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

 

Thursday 4/16

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Write Like You Mean It – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

e-Resource Highlight Video for Adults – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult and Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Active Reading Mentor Training – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Books on Tap Book Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

 

Friday 4/17

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

 

Saturday 4/18

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE
 

Thumbnail

When he was a boy growing up in Charlotte, Reginald Ardrey went to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to escape.

Now 69, Ardrey, who lives full-time in Oakland, Calif., but has returned to Charlotte to care for his elderly parents, says, once again, it’s the Library where he spends most of his time. This time, though, it’s not books Ardrey spends his time with – it’s the past.

Through the expanded free offering of Ancestry® Library Edition -- made available at all Library branches in December 2018 -- Ardrey has learned more about himself through unlocking the past.

“It’s opened up a wealth of information for me,” Ardrey said as he sat by a computer in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room in Main Library one November afternoon, explaining how his great aunt lived just down the street from Romare Bearden. “I found a whole bunch of family members I didn’t even know existed. I found out things even my parents didn’t know!”

Sifting through United States Census records (from as far back as 1840) on Ancestry as well as birth and death certificates, Ardrey was able to trace his family’s roots all the way from the mid-19^th century in South Carolina to today, where his mother grew up in Uptown on Alexander Street.

Ardrey’s great-great-great grandfather, Reuben Barber, Ardrey learned through research, was a corporal in Company A of the 47^th US Colored Infantry. For his service, his name is etched into a monument in Washington, D.C., that honors black soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

But it’s not only the past Ardrey’s unlocking through Ancestry. Through his research, Ardrey said, he’s found several living family members to whom he’s reached out, proudly telling them their ancestor’s name is forever inscribed on a prominent Washington monument.

Yet, it’s perhaps the future that interests Ardrey most. An avid gym-goer and self-described health-nut, Ardrey often looks for his family’s death certificates to see their causes of death. Ancestry revealed in the early 1900s, many of his family members died of diabetes-related complications.

Ardrey wants others to know about this free resource and the benefits he’s gained from it.

“Even if you weren’t interested in genealogy before, it can open up a lot of doors for you.”

There’s one thing, though, that evades Ardrey’s research, something he just can’t discern through Census records and death certificates.

“I wish I knew what kind of people they were,” he said.

Unlock your own history by accessing Ancestry® Library Edition for free online. Ancestry is extending access to the its Library Edition online for Library customers while Library locations are physically closed during the COVID-19 crisis.

Read one woman's life-changing biological discovery here.  

Thumbnail

Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 4/20/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

 

Monday 4/20

Family Storytime - 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Mindful Monday -12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

Strange New Worlds Book Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

 

Tuesday 4/21              

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)    LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

The Detection Club Book Club  – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Teen and Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

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

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m.  (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   REGISTER

WFAE Presents: Podcasting 101 – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

 

Wednesday 4/22

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

History and Historical Fiction Book Club – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Poetry in Pajamas – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)   REGISTER

Learning Circle: Intro to HTML and CSS – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Pocket-Size Book Club – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Active Reading Basics: Learn How to Help Your Child at Home – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

 

Thursday 4/23

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

Write Like You Mean It – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE

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

e-Resource Highlight: Learn to Work from Home (Lynda) – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  LEARN MORE

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

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

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult and Teen programming)   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Active Reading Mentor Training – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   REGISTER

Books on Tap Book Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)  REGISTER

 

Friday 4/24

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   LEARN MORE

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 2 p.m. (Teen programming)  REGISTER

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

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   REGISTER

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REGISTER

 

Saturday 4/25

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  LEARN MORE