All libraries will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 4th.
HIGHLIGHTS
 Summer Reading

 June 11 - August 9, 2014

 

The Library's annual Summer Reading program is underway. Thousands of participants have signed up and are tracking their reading during the summer for prizes provided by local sponsors. If you haven't yet signed up, there's still time to join us in reaching our community-wide goal of 24 million minutes of reading. Visit your nearest library or cmlibrary.org/summerread to get started. Like summertime itself --Summer Reading goes by quickly -- so don't wait. 

 

Freegal  
Exciting news for music lovers!

 

 

If you have a library card, you can now stream three hours a day of music on Freegal and download up to 5 songs each week. (Song downloads count as one credit while music video downloads count as two.) Freegal's music library is comprised of music from over 28,000 labels with music that originates in over 80 countries. You'll find tons of today's hits and classic gems. 
 
Visit cmlibrary.freegalmusic.com/homes/index and log in with your library card to get started. 

 
July Program Highlights for Adults
Library in the Park brings a little bit of Main Library outdoors in Center City


 

If you live, work or visit Uptown Charlotte, you may have heard the news that Charlotte leaders have unveiled plans to revitalize the North Tryon Street area of uptown Charlotte. (Learn more in this Charlotte Observer article.)  In advance of this effort, Charlotte Center City Partners is leading a collaborative effort to provide energy and excitement to the area, with several agencies coming together to provide free outdoor activities to the public now through November 30.

 

The Main branch of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, which is located on the corner of 6th and Tryon Streets, is joining this effort with "Library in the Park" a weekly series of outdoor activities in the small park outside Main. These activities bring library experiences to passersby, supporting the Library's mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.

 
To find out more about July "Library in the Park" events, Wednesdays from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m., click here: 
 

Partners in this effort include Charlotte Center City Partners, The Knight Foundation, Foundation for the Carolinas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Discovery Place. For announcements of additional partner activities at the corner of 6th and Tryon, stay tuned to findyourcenter.com.  

 

  

Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She will discuss the series as well as her memoir detailing her journey to become a kidney donor for her husband. 

 

7/19/2014 at 11:00 a.m.: University City Regional    Learn More 

  

  

  

Destination Freedom: Music and History from the Civil Rights Era
Presented by the Levine Museum of the New South, this interactive presentation spotlights key events from the Civil Rights Era through discussion, song, and historic images. 


Traveling Through Latin America with Music / Viajando a través de Latinoamérica
Explore Latin America through a combination of jazz, blues, and folk music via the acoustic performances of local singer Ana Lucia Divins and guitarist Carlos Crespo.   

 
  

  
July Program Highlights for Teens
Yummy Fashion Photography for Teens at 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library invites teens to experience fashion photography as a career possibility and compete for a chance at a week-long apprenticeship in the industry.

 

What do you get when you combine delicious food, fashion photography and teenagers? At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library you get the theme for this year's Teen Fashion Apprentice program series and contest. This annual summer event introduces teens to careers in the fashion industry through a series of workshops, culminating in a coveted apprenticeship with a partnering agency in the fashion world. This year the focus will be on fashion photography, and the apprenticeship will be with Studio 345, one of the partners with the Library in this year's effort.  This is the third year the Library has conducted the Fashion Apprentice contest, and this year the theme for the contest is "Yummy Fashion".   

  

To participate, interested teens must complete a contest packet (available online at cmlibrary.org/teens), submit an image according to the contest rules (photo entries must be related in some way to fashion and should reflect the theme "yummy" as pertaining to food), and attend one of the contest days in July. Interested participants can visit cmlibrary.org/teens for complete information or to download the Teen Fashion Apprentice Application Packet .

  

If a teen would like more hands-on experience prior to the contest days, introductory workshops taught by professional photographer Todd Youngblood are being held at six library branches in July. In these free workshops, teens will gain hands-on experience and learn different camera techniques . The workshops are open to any teen, regardless of whether they are participating in the Fashion Apprentice contest.   

  

Photography 101 Workshops (for teens ages 12-18)  


Click here to learn more about the 2014 Teen Fashion Apprentice. 
 
Teen Summer Reading: I Can Be a DJ 
Test out the turntables with local DJ Kwad-T and learn what it takes to be a DJ. This hands-on program will teach you the tips you need to get started as a DJ. Learn More

Teen Summer Reading: I Can Be a Chef 
Learn what it takes to make a delicious dish from scratch while participating in our Teen Cooking Challenge. During this hands-on program, teens will learn about the challenges and rewards of a career in this field, as well as how to read a recipe and measure ingredients. Learn More

Teen Summer Reading: I Can Create 3D Objects 
Heard of 3D printing? Join us to learn about this growing field and experiment with how to make 3D objects using 3Doodler printing pens. Learn More
    

 
July Program Highlights for Children & Families

 

 

"Once Upon a Time" exhibit invites children to experience fairy tales from around the world. 

 

This summer, children can visit ImaginOn to step inside beloved stories from around the globe in the nationally-traveling exhibit, "Once Upon a Time - Exploring the World of Fairy Tales". The exhibit is open now, and will be on display at ImaginOn until September 7. It is free and open to the public during ImaginOn hours.

 

Appealing especially to children ages 2-10, "Once Upon a Time" takes visitors on an interactive visit into the larger-than-life pages of seven favorite fairy tales from around the world. Explore the jungle from Ansasi and the Talking Melon and sit on the Monkey King's throne, assemble pairs of boots and shoes at The Elves and the Shoemaker, set the beast's banquet table while dressing up as Beauty or the prince from Beauty and the Beast, ride in Cinderella's coach and watch scenery pass by while trying on the magic glass slipper, and scramble up the beanstalk from Jack and the Beanstalk. These are just a few of the activities available in the exhibit! For more information visit imaginon.org/programs_&_events/OnceUponaTime.asp 
 
Preschoolers learn about financial literacy skills through making choices and decisions. Come prepared to have fun learning how people, things and money have value. This program was made possible thanks to the generous support of PNC's national Grow up Great initiative, to help prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life. 
Audience: Preschool (3-5)

 

Family Storytime: For Me, for You, for Later™ 

 
Get Set for Kindergarten 
Starting school is a big milestone in a child's development. You are your child's first and best teacher, and you know how important it is to have your child ready for school so that he or she is prepared to learn. The library is here to help! Join us with your child for stories and activities that build prereading skills and help prepare children for success in school. At some events, you'll also learn about bus safety skills by a visit from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Gus the Bus and have a chance to board a real bus! These events are part of the Library's partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to help ensure children enter school ready to learn. 

Click to see the schedule of Get Set for Kindergarten events happening in July and August.
 
Looking for more ways to get ready? 
Visit the Library's Get Set 4K web page to find fun activities you can do together at home. 
 
   
Good to know news...

Increased funding in FY 2015 means more Library hours

 

The new Mecklenburg County fiscal year began July 1, and thanks to an increase in funding approved by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, the Library has received additional funding for hours of operation, books, and digital services. As a result, Library customers will see neighborhood libraries open on Thursdays, and Main Library and ImaginOn open on Mondays, beginning after Labor Day. Customers may also notice incremental changes to the Library's digital offerings as work is done behind the scenes to create a better customer experience. 

 
 
  

 

Donate Gently-Used Books to Support the Library
July 24, 2014

Chick-fil-A Cotswold will host a book drive with the Friends Council, a grassroots fundraising and advocacy group of the Library Foundation, on July 24 from 5-8 p.m. Chick-fil-A will give one FREE small milkshake to those who donate five books. Book donations will be used for the Friends Council Pop-Up Sales and Little Free Library Initiative.

 

Chick-fil-A Cotswold, 4431 Randolph Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211

 
 

For more information about how to host a book drive at your location or how to volunteer, contact foundation@cmlibrary.org 

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