The Libby app you use to access e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines has been updated!  Read about the changes and how they can make your reading life easier.

Body of Blog:

Libby is one of the apps that Library customers use to access our OverDrive collection of e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines.  OverDrive recently updated the app, and the changes are significant.  I’m here to walk you through the changes and how they can make your reading life easier.

Design updates

• OverDrive made several updates to Libby’s look and feel
• Catalog guides now appear on the home screen for quick  discovery and access.
• Filters for what’s new, what’s popular, what’s available, and subject listings now appear at the top of the homescreen for easier browsing.
• The footer navigation is updated:
  • Spyglass icon: Run a search
  • Library card icon: Go to Library home screen (click this whenever you want to go “home” or start over)
  • Libby menu: Manage libraries and get help with Libby
  • Bookstack: Go to Shelf (loans, holds, and tags)
  • Clock: Open your activity timeline

Catalog guides are special collections of materials.  We have five at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  Kids guide and Teens guide filters the collection and will only show those e-books and audiobooks that are categorized as being appropriate for kids or teens.  We have two subject guides: Business and Romance.  The newest guide is for Magazines.

Preferences is listed below the Catalog guides.  Preferences is where you can limit your searches or content to specific formats, language, audience, and availability.  Pro tip: Are you only interested in Kindle titles?  Expand the Preferences menu, click Anything alongside Supports.  Select Kindle from the list of options in Supports.  You may have to scroll up to see Kindle.

Wish list syncing, Notify me, and other tag enhancements

• Wish list syncing: This enhancement was a popular request from Library staff and customers!  Before, wish lists or tags were device specific.  Libby now supports wish list syncing with the OverDrive app and the Library’s OverDrive site.  If you have an active wish list, you will be notified in-app and prompted to sync your wish list into a single tag.

• Notify Me: Another highly requested feature!  This tag sends push or email notifications when the next issue of a magazine is available.  When you check out a magazine next time, Libby will ask if you want to add this tag.  Currently, Notify Me is only available for magazines but future updates may include other content of interest. 
• Automatic tag syncing across devices.
• Automatic tagging of borrowed or sampled titles.

This video is very helpful at explaining wish list syncing and tags in more detail.

Search improvements for customers with multiple library cards

Customers can now tap the library card icon next to a title in their search results to see if it’s available at other libraries you have added to your Libby account.  For example, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers have access to the NC Kids Digital Library OverDrive collection.  In the past you would have to toggle between libraries within Libby to search the collections individually.  Now you can check the title in both libraries at the same time!

If you have any questions, OverDrive created a tutorial for these updates.  Access it here.  Help can also be found at Libby Help.  Library staff are also available to answer questions by email, chat (click on Ask Us below), and phone.  Don’t have a library card?  Sign up here!

Happy Reading!

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This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

After a busy March full of programs, giveaways, reading, film and book clubs, lectures, and author talks, the 2021 Community Read has come to an end. But, for some community partners, like the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the conversation is not over.

Every Thursday evening, at 6 p.m., a group of high school students, known as the Y Achievers, gather virtually to discuss the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library‘s signature Community Read book, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. The book club is led by YMCA site coordinator for teen programming, Angelica Johnson. The plan was to meet every Thursday evening in March. Some of the teens attended every session, while others could make it only to a few of the meetings; while juggling studying, sports, after-school jobs, and other obligations. But each week offers a consistent place for teens to have honest, meaningful, and insightful conversations.

In their own words, here are some comments that the teens shared about the book:

“This book is amazing. It’s truly a quick read. The very first day I got it I read part 1 in one sitting. The story is so real, raw, and relatable. The very first thing I noticed was the cover page which is absolutely a great depiction of the story itself and the contract of the characters. I can relate to Lena and Campbell so much. Being the girl who’s caught up in the guy and being the girl who just wants to keep her head down. During the story it was so frustrating at points seeing Lena and Campbell in tough situations. I died of laughter the first time Lena called Campbell, “Campbell Soup.” I was triggered when they mentioned black face and Confederate flags. The authors did a great job conveying real experiences from their perspectives. One of my favorite parts of the book was the back and forth between the chapters because it allowed us to know that characters better and connect with them more.”- Ariana.

“The entire book was a moment that I needed to realize as a person. I really think that it was a really good book especially being able to see two different races get through the same thing together and come out stronger than what they could have ever done. I also think that I learned the importance of friendship in between because I was able to realize that when you are down who is going to be there for you when you are not doing well.  – Taylor.

“I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” was a great book. It conveyed a very important message in such an intriguing way, and I couldn’t put the book down. The characters each had such striking personalities in their own unique ways, and it was interesting to see how their interactions with each other would unfold.” – Anusha.

“I think the book was an emotional ride. There were many unexpected decisions made by both Lena and Campbell, and I want to [be] clear and say they were unexpected to me, I wouldn’t have done some of the things that the girls did. But at the same time, I have not experienced anything quite like the situation they were in. So even through aspects of their personalities were relatable, their situations and decisions were not.  Overall, I enjoyed the book, but would love to know more about Lena and Campbell’s personal lives and the aftermath of their experience. How does Campbell’s father react to all this? Does Lena break up with Black? Why did she not listen to her grandfather and really get to know him? How does she really feel about Black? Is something forcing her to stay with him? Will Campbell have to move again?”- Ananya.

“This book has been a great reading experience for me. Throughout the story I felt as if I was in the situation. It has brought light to many issues that most are afraid to address.  While addressing these issues they gave you two or more sides which will open your eyes. This book has made me fall back in love with reading and I highly recommend.” – Naomi.

As the end of March neared, the participants knew that the conversations were far from over.  So, the group unanimously decided to continue meeting to talk about the book in April!  Candidly and openly, these teens are talking about issues that we should all be discussing. 

What are your reflections as you think back on the past month of Community Read events at the Library and in the Charlotte Mecklenburg community? We want to hear your Community Read stories. Kindly take a brief survey here (LINK). And, just like these inspirational young adults are doing, continue the meaningful conversations!

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This blog was written by Tara Kehoe, children’s librarian at SouthPark Regional Library

What is Northstar Digital Literacy?

Northstar Digital Literacy is an assessment and learning tool designed to assess the skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. Online, self-guided modules assess the ability of individuals to perform tasks based on these skills. Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in three main areas: Essential Computer Skills, Essential Software Skills, and Using Technology to Accomplish Tasks.

How do I get started?

Step One: Start by requesting your Northstar Learner Account to unlock your access! Requests will be completed within 3 days of receipt. Click here to request your FREE account.

Step Two: Log in to your learner account at the www.digitalliteracyassessment.org website from anywhere.

Step Three: Click on any of the topics to take an assessment.

Step Four: When you feel you have mastered a particular skill set, sign up for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library virtual proctored assessment session. During this session, you can present your ID online to formally take the assessment and obtain your official Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment (NDLA) Certification. To sign up for Northstar virtual session, click here. 

What topics are available for the assessment?

Essential Computer Skills: 

• Basic Computer Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Internet Basics (Practice lessons also available)
• Using Email (Practice lessons also available)
• Windows and Mac OS

Essential Software Skills:

• Microsoft Word (Practice lessons also available)
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Docs

Using Technology in Daily Life:

• Social Media
• Information Literacy
• Supporting K-12 Distance Learning
• Career Search Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Your Digital Footprint

Looking to introduce more mindfulness and overall peace into your life? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for a Serenity Walk at Matthews Library. Learn more information below:

Downtown Matthews
The Matthews Library offers a unique experience to participate in a mindful stroll around a ½ mile loop in the downtown area. The Serenity Walk incorporates activities along the way that allows you to replace the noise as you breath in a more peaceful state of mind.

Where do I start?
To begin the walk, stop by the Matthews Library and pick up a map that provides the directions and activities to assist you on your journey. The guide provides you with specific information, points of reference and instructions to enhance your experience. You will also find a QR code that will enable you to access additional resources through the Library to further assist you on your quest to natural serenity.

What should I bring?
The Serenity Walk is a personal experience. Many Library staff have enjoyed keeping a journal to jot down reflections while taking the walk and some enjoy the company of their beloved animal companions. Others have remarked on the sensory nature of the walk and have appreciated the opportunity to indulge in the fragrant offerings of coffee, bakery goods, and other treats along the way.

Are you ready to begin your journey to serenity and mindfulness? Contact the Matthews Library at 704-416-5000 or find us on the Library's Branches page.

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This blog was written by Cynthia McDonald, librarian at Matthews Library.

National Volunteer Week (NVW) recognizes ordinary people who improve our neighborhoods and our community every day – volunteers. At the Library, we celebrate the enormous contributions of volunteers April 18-24, 2021 – which is fittingly also National Library Week.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from working closely with volunteers this year, we look forward to seeing and working with them again as soon as it is safe to do so. Still, we celebrate our volunteers who continue to support the Library as customers, advocates and by providing virtual service hours through online programs such as Paws to Read.

Volunteers are an essential part of the Library’s efforts to create a more educated and literate community. Last year, 1,241 volunteers donated 38,496 hours of service to our Libraries. We couldn’t be more grateful!

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library thanks all our volunteers for their dedication and support. We are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they bring to so many roles: Reading Buddies, Technology Tutors, Circulation Helpers, Homework Helpers and our Paws to Read dogs.

We asked a few volunteers why they give so generously of their time and talent. Surabhi Kaushik has led writing programs and helped at events for about four years – in that time, she’s logged well over 400 hours of service. Kaushik shared “Volunteering at the Library has been an enjoyable learning experience for me because it has given me a space to showcase my talents, meet new people and be part of a welcoming community. The writing group has given me a sense of belonging which was important to me as a newbie immigrant.”

In November 2020, Surabhi was awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.

VolunTeen David Clinkscales has been volunteering at University City Regional Library since he was just thirteen years old. “My favorite part of volunteering at the Library is participating in storytime. Seeing the children follow the dances, run around smiling and interacting makes me always want to come back.” Clinkscales explains, “Libraries are important because the library is where most children first learn and develop the literacy, math and social skills necessary for school. The Library helps the surrounding community, and volunteering allows me to be a part of that improvement.”

We are forever grateful to Library volunteers and all volunteers who dedicate themselves to improving lives and building a stronger community. We look forward to working with our volunteers, new and current, in the future.

Questions about volunteering? Email the volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

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.

Every so often, I like to remind myself and others that Black lives still matter. I don't use this to fall in line with current trends, but it is very much a fact. Since the beginning of time, the lives of all people have mattered. Still, there have been incidents in the history of America where the criminal justice system has tried to prove otherwise when we see a lack of accountability around justice for Black people. Hence, I've got to be specific — Black lives matter. They mattered when our ancestors were brought to this country as slaves 400 years ago. They mattered in the Jim Crow South. They mattered during the Civil Rights movement, when Dr. King was assassinated, and they matter to the families and friends of the many Black individuals that have been killed at the hands of those who don't value Black lives. The rallying cry moved from "we shall overcome" to "Black lives matter," and today and every day I declare, and we declare, that Black lives matter.

It has been almost one year since George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, and the trial for his death is currently underway. The trauma of his killing is real. Amid last year’s rallying cries for justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed at the hands of someone paid to protect and serve. There is a long list of Black people that have suffered this same fate at the hands of police, and it's sad to say, but justice has not been yielded in any instance involving Black lives.

Now, the world is eagerly watching to see if justice will be served the same way we watched the viral video of George Floyd’s death. In his final moments George Floyd called out that he "can't breathe" the same way in which Eric Garner did seven years prior. However, instead of being choked by an officer like Garner, he had the weight of an adult human on his neck. The compassion that should have been shown for Floyd in the final moments of his life was absent, and in the coming days and weeks as the trial for the man who killed him continues, I hope that justice is finally served.

George Floyd's life mattered — no matter what he did, it mattered. As in many other incidents involving unarmed Black people and the police, there is a video which shows the officer's lack of compassion for George Floyd’s life. However this time there is a trial, and while Derek Chauvin's defense attorney grasps for straws to free him, I hope that the jury uses their eyes and their heart to serve justice to the family of George Floyd and the many other Black lives that have faced the same circumstances. Because Black lives still matter.

Learn more about social justice, mass incarceration, antiracism and more with this Library curated booklist:

Social Justice Book Club Booklist

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

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Get ready to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) in April 2021 with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Also known as Día (Diversity in Action), this initiative emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This year's Día theme is "Every Story Matters, Each Child Counts." and families are encouraged to experience a variety of online programs throughout the month.

These programs feature fun, interactive activities for the entire family ranging from storytimes and book talks as well as virtual author visits by this year’s signature authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Suzanne Bloom. This year’s celebration also features an exciting virtual visit from Charlotte Hornets mascot Hugo the Hornet.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates Día as part of its commitment to connecting children and their families to multicultural books, bilingual services, and educational resources. Learn more about the services provided by the Library by visiting www.cmlibrary.org. Learn more about Día.  

Contact for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: Meryle A. Leonard 704.416.0558 or [email protected]

En Espanol Irania Patterson 704.416.0557 or [email protected]

Special Día Guest

Jay Baron                           Suzanne Bloom            Lester Laminack        Carmen Agra Deedy

Prepárese para celebrar el Día del Niño/Día del Libro en abril de 2021 con la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Esta iniciativa, también conocida como “Día (Diversidad en Acción)”, hace hincapié en la importancia de la alfabetización para los niños de todos los orígenes lingüísticos y culturales. El tema de Día de este año es “Cada historia cuenta, cada niño cuenta.”, y se anima a las familias para que disfruten de una variedad de programas en línea durante todo el mes.

Estos programas ofrecen actividades divertidas e interactivas para toda la familia, desde narraciones de cuentos y charlas sobre libros hasta visitas virtuales de las autoras exclusivas de este año: Carmen Agra Deedy y Suzanne Bloom. La celebración de este año también cuenta con la emocionante visita virtual de Hugo el avispón, la mascota de los Hornets de Charlotte.

La biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg celebra Día como parte de su compromiso de conectar a los niños y a sus familias con libros multiculturales, servicios bilingües y recursos educativos. Visite www.cmlibrary.org para obtener más información sobre los servicios que ofrece la biblioteca. Obtenga más información sobre Día.  

Contacto de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg: Meryle A. Leonard, 704.416.0558 o [email protected].

En español: Irania Patterson, 704.416.0557 o [email protected].

The scholastic information is William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 and died April 23, 1616. He did not grow up in a noble family but attended the local grammar school and was married at 18 before moving to London. There, he made a name for himself as an actor and then a playwright.

The extracurricular information is that nearly 500 years later, the Bard’s prolific work as poet and writer is still as relevant today as when first published. Very few authors or their works can transcend time or adapt to cultures, yet somehow his work does. With themes like love, death, ambition, power, fate and free will, along with his influence on language, Shakespeare’s works have become timeless. Some of the most popular words you may recognize that the Bard coined include bandit, critic, dauntless, dwindle, green-eyed (to describe jealousy), lackluster and swagger. In total, Shakespeare came up with 422 whole new words. Read them here. 

Watching one of his plays live onstage is a unique experience. Shakespeare in the Park in New York City’s Central Park was first conceptualized in 1954 and put on more than 100 plays and musicals since the Delacorte Theater was opened in 1962.

Shakespeare’s Globe based in London, which houses the Globe Theater along with the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, welcomes more than 1.25 million visitors a year from all over the world (pre-COVID times). On May 20, 2021, the Theater is presenting a webinar for its Anti-racist Shakespeare series that focuses on A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. The webinars enable as many audience members, theatre professionals, teachers and scholars as possible from all backgrounds to engage in this vital discussion. This event takes place on Zoom and is free, but you will need to register in advance to receive a link to attend the live webinar. The event is open to all and you do not need to be a ticket holder for a performance. Click here for more information.

Many of Shakespeare’s works have inspired other works of fiction. Romeo and Julie transformed into West Side Story in the 1960s. Hamlet has been made into many adaptations, including movies like Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Lion King.

A few years ago, I attended the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of Othello. It took the play out of Renaissance Venice and into the biker gang culture of contemporary times with gang-attire and an incessant rock beat bringing to life all the great dialogue. Framed as rival motorcycle gangs The Venetians and The Turks, it was, basically, Othello on a Harley with a love relationship between a white woman and a Black man. I remember watching enthralled, astonished and entranced that a play written in 1603 could resonate so clearly more than 400 years later. (Othello production photos courtesy of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.)

Shakespeare isn’t always for everyone, but his themes carry strong and bold through hundreds of years of change. If you take another look, you might see Shakespeare in a whole new light. 

Find reading lists here, curated by our own Library staff:

Shakespeare  - For All Ages

Shakespeare - All About the Bard

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This blog was written by Ann Stawski, marketing & vommunications leader at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A carefully crafted resume is an essential part of your job search. If you take the time to search the internet for resume tips, you will see thousands of hits on how to design a resume. However, there are no set rules for resumes, but below are some suggestions to make your resume more effective for your job search.

Do’s

Add POWER (action) words. Resumes are no longer lists of duties and responsibilities. They are a display of your impact in your previous roles. When listing experience on your resume, you should make sure that the accomplishments of previous jobs are highlighted and described in a way that piques the reader’s interest. Always start your sentence with a powerful word to dynamically describe your experience. The use of action words allows you to be more concise and provide instant information to hiring managers. Often hiring managers skim resumes, so it is recommended that you use active words instead of passive words.

Tailor your resume to the desired job. Though tailoring your resume for every job application is time-consuming, it shows the hiring manager that you have a genuine interest in the position. Dissect the job description -- pulling keywords and skills from the description into your resume to show that you are the right person for the position. You want to make it easy for your resume to be picked up by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which screens your resume before it reaches an actual person.

Find someone else to review your resume. Always have another set of eyes review your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. Having someone proofread your resume will allow them to spot the mistakes that you have missed. The worst thing that you can do is submit a resume that has typos. There are preconceived notions that hiring managers can and will make about you if your resume isn’t correctly proofread. If you don’t have a friend or colleague willing to review your resume, consider submitting it to the Job Help Center’s resume review service. Please email your resume to [email protected] and have one of our staff provide a review (expect 3 to 5 days for review). Plus, it’s completely free!

Don’ts

“References available upon request” should be removed from your resume. To apply for a job, you should have 2 to 3 references. References are people who will attest to your ability to perform tasks. However, you should not include them in your resume- keep them on hand to use when filling out a job application.

Take out the Objective. Instead of listing an “objective,” consider a qualifications summary section instead. Include a list of your skills or strengths to place at the top of your resume for a quick read of your resume. This will help you make better use of available space.

Remove your mailing address. The mailing address is a thing of the past for your resume. The employer will not be reaching out to you via snail mail about the job; it is more efficient to contact you via email or phone. So, remove your mailing address, but list your city and state. Save space and omit.

Don’t list any job older than 10 years. Have you been in the workforce for over 10 years? If so, any job older than 10 years or more can be excluded from your resume. A caveat to this is if you feel the experience is relevant to the job you are interested in, then feel free to add those critical skills to your qualifications section.

These are just a few of the tips that will make your resume more effective and bring you one step closer to getting your dream job. 

Looking for more advice and help as you search for your new career? Click here for the Library's Job Help Center's calendar.

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This blog post was written by Job Help Center staff and updated by De’Trice Fox, librarian at the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is excited to announce our newest resource, Black Life in America. Black Life in America is a unique digital archive covering the African American experience from the early 18th century to the present day. This primary source collection offers a window into centuries of African American history, culture, and daily life from more than 19,000 American and global newspapers including over 400 current and historical Black publications. Updated daily, Black Life in America provides critical perspectives on the experiences of being Black in America. 

Black Life in America provides full text searching as well as access to content organized by era for easy browsing or choose from nearly 800 suggested searches such as "Emancipation Proclamation," "Brown v. Board of Education," and "Black Lives Matter."  This video gives a detailed overview of how to use Black Life in America.

Black Life in America supports discussions and research around social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also illustrates the significant impacts African Americans have had on culture, the arts, sciences, politics, religion, and more.

Black Life in America can be found on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Resources page.  Access all the Library’s resources for free with your library card. Don’t have one? Sign up here! If you need help, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available by email, chat, and phone.   

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This blog was written by Amy Richard, digital collections coordinator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.