Summer Break lasted from June 1^st to July 31^st, with support from Wendy’s, Charlotte Football Club, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, and, of course, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

We read, learned, and explored the summer away. The last 8 weeks were filled with incredible displays, lots of badges, photos with Queen Charlotte, plenty of points earned and activities completed, and, of course, lots and lots of reading! In fact, we ended up with 9,129,360 total minutes read system-wide. Wow!

Now that Summer Break is at its end, don’t forget to pick up your prizes, and keep an eye out for the drawing for a 4-pack of tickets to a Charlotte Football Club game (with one 4-pack per branch, ages 5-17)! The top 20 readers of Summer Break will also be given the opportunity to tour the Charlotte Football Club stadium (ages 5-17)!

Have any thoughts to share? You can always talk to the staff at your local branch, or email us at [email protected].

We hope you had a wonderful summer, and thanks for joining us this Summer Break!

The 2023 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with additional support from Wendy’s, Charlotte Football Club and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation.

This blog was written by Elyse Berrier, program coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has always been a trusted provider of educational resources and services. With a growing catalog of over 700,000 items, as well as online learning resources, programs, and services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s mission to improve lives and build a stronger community remains at the forefront of programming for all learners in our community.  

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Nation’s Report Card providing important information about student achievement and learning experiences in various subjects, there has been little change in fourth grade reading scores from 1992-current. Data from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools reports that 28.5% of third graders are defined as College and Career Ready in Reading. As a response to this ever-growing need in our community, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is implementing a new program called the Student Success Center this fall.

The Student Success Center will be a physical learning space that will open in Library locations at least one afternoon every week. Trained volunteers will work with students in kindergarten-fifth grades who will seek help in one of these three ways: Homework Help, Skills Practice and tutor.com login help.

The fall semester will begin September 18^th and run through December 15^th. The Library plans to utilize their strengths through this program: providing physical welcoming learning spaces, providing high quality learning resources and tools, and uniting the community to provide this support. For the initial launch this fall semester, six Library locations will open a Student Success Center, with a plan to add five more Library locations each semester, with a goal for all Library locations to have a Student Success Center available to the community by Spring of 2025. For more information about the Student Success Center and how to volunteer, visit https://cmlibrary.org/services/student-success-center.

As the name of these spaces- Student Success Centers- suggest, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library remains committed to the success of students in our community, a task not taken lightly. Do you have a student in elementary school that needs support? Visit the Student Success Center this fall!

*Written by Katie Sullivan, Program Manager, Urban Libraries Council*

This summer, four library systems launched new initiatives focused on expanding reading opportunities for children with the help of a vital community hub, the barbershop.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Cleveland Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library and Shreve Memorial Library are participating in the Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries, an initiative in partnership with the Urban Libraries Council and Barbershop Books and supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Barbershop Books is an award-winning literacy nonprofit that inspires Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through child-centered, culturally responsive and community-based programming and content. Numerous research demonstrates that an endemic cycle of inequitable policies has made Black boys "among the most marginalized groups of children in the U.S." Yet, a culture of care at school and in the community that includes activities such as mentoring can provide a path for excellence for Black boys.

The Barbershop Books program model centers the barber as a trusted messenger for Black boys that enter their space. The encouragement of reading by a Black male role model may contribute to increased reading motivation and therefore reading performance. This is especially critical in 2023, as the U.S. reckons with racial disparities in school performance that have been deepened by the impacts of the pandemic.

Libraries participating in the pilot program with ULC are working with local barbershops in their communities to provide stocked bookshelves in each shop, hosting events and providing other engagement opportunities focused on expanding reading access and supporting the development of reading identities for children. Additionally, Barbershop Books is providing expert training sessions so that libraries and barbers are positioned to help young readers develop literacy skills and a love of reading.

The launch events took place in June, July and August 2023 and provided an opportunity to encourage community members to visit the participating barbershops, where children will have access to engaging and age-appropriate reading materials while they or a family member receive a haircut. Libraries were also able to use the opportunity to connect attendees with other library services.

“I met a host of passionate library professionals who are committed to bringing books and fun reading experiences to underserved communities," said Irby of the recent launch events. "Witnessing local families experience the joy of reading in a barbershop for the first time and having the opportunity to distribute free books were memorable mission moments that demonstrate the transformative power of this innovative collaboration."

On June 3, 2023, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hosted its kickoff event at Just for You Barber/Styling Academy, a barber school located in one of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity. Barbershop partners offered free haircuts to children in attendance. At the event, the Library led story times, offered face painting and brought its “MoLi” mobile library, so children and families could borrow books and sign up for its summer reading program. Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation also joined the event and shared valuable family-friendly resources.

“The Barbershop Books program is an evidenced-based program that can help us expand our reach into the community by putting books in the hands of young Black and brown boys and get them excited about reading.” said Meryle A. Leonard, Assistant Director of Outreach Services at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. “We are honored and very excited to bring the Barbershop Books program to our community.” 

Participating Locations in Charlotte

- Fourth Ward Barber & Hairstyle: 516 Graham St. #G

- Lucky Spot Barber Shop: 3240 Wilkinson Blvd Suite 3

- KD's Barbershop: 8824 Bellhaven Blvd A

- Prostyle and Barber: 4016 Wilkinson Blvd Suite D

- Boss Lady Blendz: 6932 North Tryon Street

- Touch of Precision School of Barbering: 2734 Freedom Drive Suite A-1

- Just For You Barber/Styling Academy: 5108 Regan Drive

- Rhodie's Barber and Styling: 5741 N Graham St

- Mar'Cutz Barbershop: 602 W Sugar Creek Rd #3