A great story needs great characters. Become a library volunteer!
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If you would like to make a difference in your community as a volunteer at the Library, contact Volunteer Coordinator Chauna Wall at cwall@cmlibrary.org or (704) 416-0711. Visit the Library's volunteer page to see a complete list of opportunities.
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Want a sneak peek
at what's coming
to your library?
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Find out about the Library's latest book, DVD and CD offerings through a free, weekly e-mail or RSS feed. Visit Wowbrary, put in your ZIP code, select "Charlotte Mecklenburg Library," enter your e-mail address, and follow the on-screen instructions!
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FACEBOOK FAN OF THE MONTH
| |  Congratulations to Virginia!
Little Virginia is the winner of the March Facebook Fan of the Month contest; her wide smile shows how much she loves visiting her library.
You could be the April Fan of the Month! Simply go to our Facebook page and post a photo of you or a loved one that shows a love of literacy. Then, encourage friends to "like" your photo. The photo that receives the most "likes" by midnight, March 31, will be featured on our Facebook page in April.
So get your camera ready and start snapping. We can't wait to see you!
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MARCH READING RECOMMENDATIONS
| |  The Lost Painting
by Jonathan Harr
Request this book
A page turning thriller, The Lost Painting is a dramatic and factual story. Two young art history interns working in a small Italian village find information in ancient family records that lead to the rediscovery of a Caravaggio masterpiece. A dark Baroque revolutionary, Caravaggio's life was one of murder, imprisonment, narrow escapes, and various other acts of violent mayhem. His 'Taking of Christ' shows the lantern lit betrayal of Christ, by Judas' kiss. Later editions of this book cast doubt as to which version of this painting might be genuine, but this doesn't spoil a fantastic true tale.
~Reviewed by Alex C., Morrison Regional.
See more titles featured in Novel Non-Fiction.
See more titles featured in Picture This: Artists and Their Masterpieces.
 Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won
by Tobias J. Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim
Request this book
Sports + numbers = Scorecasting, or a unique method of analyzing with statistics the hidden, and sometimes infuriating, forces that determine how basketball, baseball, football and hockey games are played, won and lost. Economist Moskowitz and Sports Illustrated journalist Wertheim argue some of the common held sports truisms by looking closely at the numbers, attempting to answer: Why does the home-field advantage influence the outcome of games? Does defense really win championships? Why are draft picks overvalued by many professional teams? Can teams really ride a wave of momentum? Avid sports fans will find insight, humor and a lesson on how to watch the next big game, seeing it a bit more clearly whether played on the field or in HD on a large screen TV.
~Reviewed by Kim W., University City Regional.
See more titles featured in Beyond the Sidelines: True Stories from the World of Sports.
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UPCOMING & RECENT FUND RAISERS
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Here's how members of the community are stepping up to help the Library!
Friends Need Books for Upcoming Sale
The Friends of the Library will be hosting a Spring Benefit Book Sale from April 28-May 2 at Quail Corners Shopping Center. In preparation, the Friends will be collecting donations of gently-used materials on these dates:
- April 2 from 9am-3pm at Park Road Shopping Center (For every 10 books donated on this day/site, donors get a voucher for $1 off at Park Road Books!)
- April 4 - 25 at Quail Corners Shopping Center.
- April 20 from 10am-4pm at Mint Hill Branch Library parking lot.
For details, visit www.cmlibraryfriends.org/book_sales.
Bobcats Book Drive Bring a new or gently used book to Time Warner Cable Arena for the team's matchup with the New York Knicks this Saturday, March 26, and the Bobcats will give you a voucher to buy a $5 seat in the 200-level for any April home game. The book drive is to benefit the library's literacy efforts, and it's part of "Blocks for Books," a season-long partnership between the library, the team and Sprite. Learn more about the partnership at www.cmlibrary.org/blocksforbooks. "Eat Good, Drink Good, Do Good" at Whiskey Warehouse On April 7 at 7 p.m., they're hosting a four-course dinner with expertly-selected beer pairings, and 20% of all revenue will go to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Tickets are $25 with the donation of 3 books ($28 without). To view the delicious four-course menu or to buy tickets, visit www.bandtastic.com/Library. |
YOUR LIBRARY IS A PARTNER IN EDUCATION
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 Need homework help or study time? Your Library is here to help.
Free Tutoring for Elementary School Children
Each Saturday, you can get help with reading, math or homework from a high school student at Morrison Regional Library. To register for a 45 minutes session call 704-416-5421 or sign up at the Children's Desk.
Study Zones for Teens
Provides teens with a place to spread out and get some school work done, study for tests, work on group projects, get homework help or free online tutoring.
· Sundays, 1 - 6 p.m. at ImaginOn. Info: 704-416-4660
· Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at University City. Info: 704-416-7200
Tutoring Tuesdays
Hands on Charlotte provides tutoring to all students grades K-12.
· Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. at Sugar Creek. Info: 704-416-7000
Amigos Tutoring on Wednesdays
Join us Wednesdays at University City Regional from 4 - 5:30 p.m. for free tutoring for students in grades K-5. Info: 704-416-7200 |
TAX RESOURCES
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 It's not too late to file your taxes.Tax Day is just a few weeks away, and to help you navigate this sometimes complicated process, your Library has compiled a list of helpful tax resources.
Looking for paper tax forms at the Library? While you can still pick up your federal tax forms from libraries, the N.C. Department of Revenue has opted not to provide state tax forms to public facilities like libraries and post offices this year. Read more about how you can obtain the NC State tax forms you need.Volunteer Income Tax AssistanceThe Family Financial Literacy Coalition is coordinating free income tax assistance for low to moderate income seniors and families. Sessions will be at various locations in Mecklenburg County, including several (but not all) libraries. Learn more. |
CHART OF LIBRARY HOURS
| |  When are you open? Ever since we had to reduce operating hours due to budget cuts, this has been our most frequently asked question. The schedule of hours can be challenging to remember, so we've created printable chart to help you plan your next visit. Just click on the chart above to view and print.
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UPDATE ON THE LIBRARY
| | Future of the Library Task Force gives recommendations
On Monday night, the final report and recommendations of the Future of the Library Task Force were presented by Chair Dr. Jim Woodward to the Library Board of Trustees and the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners.
In summary, the Task Force recommendations and observations included the following: - Prior to the recent budget cuts, the Library was neither overfunded nor overbuilt as compared with peer communities.
- The Library should be funded at $27.89-28.66 per capita for FY2011-2012, based on average per capita funding of 13 peer communities, which would result in an additional $1.8-2.5 million from Mecklenburg County for the Library's budget.
- The Library should focus its resources on providing Basic Library Services.
- Private fundraising support will not fill the funding gap. However, the Library should increase its emphasis on private fundraising with both long and short-term goals including raising $1 million each year from private sources. These funds should support annual basic library services, support priority enhanced services and programs, and help grow the Library's endowment for future needs.
- The Library should use volunteers to provide 5% of the overall staffing hours needed to provide basic library services.
- The County Manager or his designee will serve on the Library's Board of Trustees as a non-voting, ex-officio member.
- Additional recommendations about Main Library, ImaginOn, the Library/County relationship, and the Library's longer-term future.
You can watch a recording of the presentation or read the full report at www.charmeck.org/libraryfuture.
What's next?
A work group of Library Trustee members and County Commissioners will begin meeting to review the report and its recommendations, and determine which recommendations will be implemented. Implementation may begin as early as July 1.
Want to know more?
Get the facts about the Library's budget and learn how you can help. Visit our web site for frequently asked questions and information about what you can do.
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There simply isn't enough room here to share all that's going on at your library, so for information on classes, events and everything else, visit www.cmlibrary.org
We hope that you find this e-mail useful. If so, please forward to a friend so they won't miss a thing.
We'll see you at the Library! | |
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