HIGHLIGHTS
Impromptu Jazz in the Library
Musicians surprised library patrons at several Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches last month as part of Library Acts of Culture, a program put together under the umbrella of the Knight Foundation and in connection with Random Acts of Culture. More Library Acts of Culture are expected to happen in March. For clues about where and when, follow us on Twitter @cmlibrary.
 
Watch a clip: 
Library Acts of Culture
Library Acts of Culture
Job Help Center success includes job placement and Urban Ministry Center partnership
One of the community's best kept secrets
is the library's Job Help Center. Founded in 2010 at Main Library, the Job Help Center has since expanded its services to include centers at Steele Creek and Sugar Creek libraries. Yearly, the Center helps more than 4,000 library users with job-related services like interview skills classes and resume help. This video recognizes recent success stories.
 
Thanks to a partnership between Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Urban Ministry Center, about 600 homeless or disadvantaged individuals received services  designed to bring Job Help Center resources to the community. The initiative was funded with $25,000 by the State Library of NC. Read the full article. 


Creative efforts to raise awareness about Library wins awards 
The Library's new "I Can" campaign netted two 2014 Charlotte ADDY awards for Wray Ward, a Charlotte marketing communications firm. Library trustee Jennifer Appleby, who is also Wray Ward's president and chief creative officer, offered the services of the firm pro bono last year. The integrated campaign won a gold award and the video received a silver award. The campaign was created to support the Library's Strategic Committee findings that more should be done to raise awareness of the positive impact of Library programs and services on the community. 
March Programs Highlights for Adults
Independence Writers Group - Special Writing Workshop with Barbara Lawing 
Come get your writing turbocharged! Local author and CPCC instructor, Barbara Lawing will give a writing workshop on editing a narrative, fiction or memoir. She has published poetry and also edits books for others. Independence Writers Group offers an open discussion of the art and business of writing short stories, poems, and novels. Critiques of materials are provided. The group meets twice a month on the first and third Saturday.


Outdoor Survival & Nature Education (7 Priorities of Survival)

Having the correct information to survive in the outdoors is an essential life skill. Trevor Hudspeth, a wilderness emergency medical technician from the McDowell Nature Center, will introduce topics like camping, navigation, survival basics, and woodland wildlife recognition. This program is in partnership with Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation. 
 
Starting & Growing Your Small Business: Your Library & SCORE 
This workshop focuses on testing your business idea & identifying key factors that influence start-up success. Hear about free SCORE support services & library resources for collecting reliable information on competitors, prospects, suppliers, and more.
  
Main Pages Book Club 
Come join our new Main Library book club, meeting the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Discuss A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. An aging punk rocker and record executive and his young employee's secret lives are explored. This book is about the interplay of time, music, and survival. Pick up a copy of this month's selection & register in person, online, or call 704-416-0101.
 
 
Technology Tutors: 1-on-1 Support 
Sessions
Sign up for an individual session with a volunteer or staff member to get help with computer basics, Microsoft Office, Internet, email, or other topics. 
Audience: Adults, Seniors Various Times and Locations
March Programs Highlights for Teens
Celebrate Teen Tech Week at the Library!

 
Teen Tech Week (TTW) is a national initiative to get the word out about libraries' great nonprint resources for teens and will be celebrated March 9-15, 2014. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers DVDs, music, gaming, video production, online homework help, social networking, tech workshops, audiobooks and more.
 

If just playing with technology for its own sake doesn't motivate you, consider how important it could be for your future.  In order to gain the skills necessary to compete in today's competitive job market, you need to be tech savvy and confident when navigating digital and online information.  The public library is a great place to interact with trained professionals who can help you use technology resources effectively, efficiently and ethically.

 

Be sure to DIY @ your library during Teen Tech Week and check out one of these TTW Programs! And don't miss the big kick-off on March 10 at Independence Regional. Details at www.cmlibrary.org/libraryloft.

 
March Programs Highlights for Pre-Teens
Career Exploration
Join Che Farmer of Cake Couture to learn about the types of education and work experience that will prepare you to be a Pastry Chef. Explore a typical work day as well as the highs and lows of this profession. Attendees will also get a hands-on perspective of being a pastry chef when they design and decorate a cookie of their own.
March Programs Highlights for Children
Dia
Wee Read West Finale 
It's that time again! Year two of Wee Read West is coming to a close. Join us, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 10:15am, at the Wee Read West Finale as we enjoy books, literacy activities, and music to celebrate all the reading we've done since the Wee Read West Year 2 Kickoff! Wee Read @ WBL is a year-round reading program for babies, toddlers and preschoolers from birth to age 5. Funded by an IMLS grant, the program encourages children and families to read more. Once they've signed up for the Wee Read West, children should track the books they read on their reading record. Each week, they can bring their reading record to West Boulevard Library to receive a small prize. 
 
For more information, please visit West Boulevard Library's Information Desk.
COMING IN APRIL
Library Day at the Gantt rescheduled for April 5th

The Gantt Center and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library are partnering to bring you this great day that highlights the connection between literature, history, and art. Explore the Center's exhibitions, sign up for a library card, enjoy story times, and participate in workshops with author Kelly Starling Lyons and

multi-media artist Antoine Williams. 

 

The event is free to all Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card holders. Details at www.ganttcenter.org

One book. One week. One community. 

 

The Library is sponsoring a "One Book" community reading event during National Library Week, April 13-19, 2014. We're encouraging adults and teens to read and discuss Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and will be hosting readings, book discussions and other programs that bring the book's themes to life. The Library will be joined by other community partners to enhance the reach and impact of this significant reading event. Details at www.cmlibrary.org/onebook 

(Left to right) Director of Libraries David Singleton, One Book Ambassador Sarah Shifflet, and Library CEO Lee Keesler are ready for One Book with their copies of Fahrenheit 451.

 

LOCAL JOURNALIST'S LEGACY INCLUDES 
LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Libraries were important to Kathleen McClain, who left $60,600 to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. The Foundation was one of 12 charities to receive a bequest from Ms. McClain, a local journalist who passed away in June. Funds received will go towards the unrestricted endowment, providing long-term support for general library services, books and materials, and programming. With this gift, Ms. McClain becomes a member of the Dewey Circle, established to acknowledge the outstanding generosity of friends and donors who have included the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation in their estate plans. 

 

Learn more about this bequest and how to include the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation in your estate plans. 

 

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