Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 8/10/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 8/10

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Mindful Mondays – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Traditional Storytelling – 3 p.m. (Children’s programming)   learn more

Stronger Together: Support for Your Job Search – 4 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Podcast Discussion Club – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Tuesday 8/11            

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming) register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

Story Explorers Enrichment – 2 p.m.   (Children's programming)  learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Sparking Creativity for Teens – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Adult Fanfiction Writing Club – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Engage 2020: Covid 19's Disproportionate Impact on People of Color – 7 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Wednesday 8/12

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Bridging the Social Distance – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)   register

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Teens LIVE on Instagram: Chocolate No Bake Cookies – 5 p.m. (Teen programming)   learn more

Active Reading Training for Caregivers of K-3 Students – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Thursday 8/13

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)    register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)    register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult programming) 

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book Talk: Children's – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Elevator Pitch – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Teen Fanfiction Writing Club – 4 p.m. (Teen programming)  register

Teens LIVE on Instagram: Tips for Your 1st Job Interview – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  learn more

Friday 8/14

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Nonprofit Services: Coffee & Conversation – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Baby Storytime – 10:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)   learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Connect with Yourself - Meditation for Wellness – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Adulting 101 Series: Where Did the Time Go? Time Management – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Learning Circle: How to Be an LGBT+ Ally – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 8/15

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 9:30 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Library Codelab: Intro to Web Accessibility  – 11 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Creative Connections through Letter Writing – 3 p.m.  (Adult programming)  register

In 1920, the state of Tennessee ratified the 19th Amendment and thereby put women’s right to vote into the United States Constitution as the 19th Amendment. The 100th anniversary of this event takes place this month in an intensely political year. The Library has invited a speaker who can address both these topics, Dr. Marjorie Spruill, to participate in Engage 2020: Summer Series virtual program on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.

Spruill is a Professor of History at the University of South Carolina with a specialty in women’s history and the history of the American South. Her book, "New Women of the New South," talks about the challenges the advocates for women’s right to vote faced in the early 20th century South.

Her most recent book, "Divided We Stand," describes the story of the struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Feminists argued for the ERA and conservative women organized to resist it. The ensuing political and cultural battle that lasted all decade and resulted in the defeat of the proposed amendment. The polarization of American politics that arose over this issue remains with us still, Spruill argues.

This program will be streamed live over the Library’s Facebook page. 

For more information on the Engage 2020: Summer Series - A Conversation with Marjorie Spruill, click here.

WOMEN VOTE! – That was the headline in August of 1920 as the 19th Amendment was ratified, and states could no longer deny the right to vote “on account of sex.” In commemoration of the centennial of this event, the League of Women Voters will present a program on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

The program will be hosted by community historian, Dr. Tom Hanchett, and will be streamed live by the Levine Museum of the New South and by its co-sponsor, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Visitors to the Library’s Facebook page may view the proceedings and submit comments and questions via Facebook.

The League of Women Voters has been “encouraging informed and active participation in government” since 1920, when it changed its name from the “Equal Suffrage League,” following victory in the struggle for a women’s suffrage amendment. The seven Charlotteans pictured in this image from 1914 were all members of the Equal Suffrage League. 

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering programs like this one to encourage everyone to look back at what has been accomplished in the past and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's own community. To learn more about Engage 2020, click here.

Get Carded

Are you without a Library card? Or know someone who doesn’t have one? The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers millions of resources in books, music, movies, materials, digital programs and virtual programming - all for FREE with a Library card. What are you waiting for?

Even Superheroes know it’s important to have a Library card. September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when libraries remind customers, parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning. Wonder Woman is here to remind everyone that libraries are wonderful and you shouldn’t wait to get your Library card - now’s the time.

Signing up for a Library card is easy and doesn’t require any superpowers. CLICK HERE to sign up for a Library Card and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your smartphone or tablet to place holds, access resources and much more.

In a world rapidly moving to an online format, access to digital resources  and educational materials is more important than ever before. With limits on in-person gatherings and adjusted work and school schedules, living room sofas, kitchens and bedrooms have transformed into workspaces. But what hasn’t changed is needing information – for education, work, extracurricular interests or just for fun. The Library’s mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community, and we encourage everyone in Mecklenburg County to sign up for a Library card to gain access to books, media and invaluable digital resources. Again, it’s all FREE.

FREE Digital Resources

The Library is a tremendous one-stop shop, not just for books but for digital resources and so much more. You can access virtual tutoring and homework help for children through Tutor.com. You can find the resources to support a new (or existing) business venture with Lynda.com. Maybe you want to perfect an existing skill--or learn a new one--with Universal Class. When you have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card, you can access a multitude of online resources available to you for FREE.

Maybe you love watching movies and listening to music? Film and music buffs can benefit from a Library card. With the kanopy, OverDrive, hoopla and Freegal apps that are available for FREE with a Library card, you can stream or download films, documentaries and the newest songs.

ACCESS RESOURCES

Value Like No Other

Do you know how much a Library card can save you? $100? $300? Even up to $1000! Subscription services can be pricey and tend to add up over the course of a calendar year, not to mention how much you might spend on books, magazines and music. There’s no need to pay for subscription services ever again. See how much you can save with the Library by using the Library Value Calculator. Input the number of books, magazines, DVDs, music and resources you’ve purchased or used in a year and you’ll be amazed at much you could save by switching to the Library. The numbers don’t lie; a Library card is a great value!

Virtual Programming from the Library

While our branches are open with limited capacity, the Library is always here to serve the community. Did you know that you can continue to participate in Library programming while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults.

See a complete listing of upcoming programming below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS CLICK HERE

Sign up Today

Signing up for a Library card is super easy. CLICK HERE to sign up for a Library Card and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your smartphone or tablet to place holds, access resources and much more.

View this easy tutorial on how to sign up for a Library card online.

So, now that you know everything you can do with your Library card, what are you waiting for? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and “get carded” today!

This month, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates the centennial of the 19th Amendment. This amendment to the United States Constitution added the declaration that no state could deny a citizen the right to vote "on account of sex.” Many states already allowed limited voting rights for women by 1920, although North Carolina, along with nine other states, still restricted all elections to men only. (See map.) It took this amendment to make women’s suffrage universal throughout the nation.

A suffragist map from late 1919 showing the extent of voting rights for women and the progress of ratification of the 19^th Amendment by state legislatures.

The movement to win the right to vote for women was decades in the making, but it garnered very little public support in North Carolina until 1913 when a state chapter of the Equal Suffrage League opened. A few days prior to the yearly Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Day parade on May 20 (a day of local patriotism much-celebrated once in Charlotte), local chapter members decided they would participate. They hired a driver with a horse-drawn cart, decorated it, and set out along the parade route.

Suzanne Bynum, Anna Forbes Liddell, Catherine McLaughlin, Jane Stillman, Julia McNinch, Bessie Mae Simmonds, and Mary Belle Palmer stand up for women’s suffrage. Charlotte, NC, May 20, 1914.  Courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

“A success? I should say so!” said the male writer of an article for the Charlotte Observer. “The suffragist cause thrives on publicity, and [the float] was one of the features of a crowded day. Thousands who had ignored the subject discussed it that night.” -Victor L. Stephenson, “Story of that Suffrage Float,” The Charlotte Observer, (November 1, 1914).

Article in the Charlotte News, May 21, 1914

Later that same year, the Charlotte chapter hosted the statewide convention of the Equal Suffrage League in November. The event attracted luminaries from around the state and received special attention from The Charlotte Observer, which published a special edition to cover events at the convention. Attendees planned to lobby hard for women’s suffrage in the state, or, as The Charlotte Observer put it, “lay siege to the next legislature.”

The year 1915 began with high hopes that were quickly dashed. In February, both the State House and Senate of North Carolina declined – by large majorities - to amend the state constitution to allow votes for women. In the next four years, as other states embraced equal suffrage, North Carolina did not join the movement. When the 19^th Amendment was finally adopted by the United States Senate in 1919, both North Carolina Senators voted against it.

The drama then shifted to state legislatures. Thirty-six of the forty-eight states needed to say "yes" for the amendment to be ratified. By August 1920, 35 states had done so. The General Assembly of North Carolina was called into special session to consider it, and local suffragists hoped to claim the honor of putting the amendment over the top for their state. On August 18, however, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify. The North Carolina House held a vote on the amendment anyway the next day and voted it down in a purely symbolic gesture.

Alas, this expansion of the right to vote did not improve access to the polls for African Americans in North Carolina. State laws that effectively barred African Americans from participating in elections remained in place so that Black women remained as excluded as before ratification. The editor of the Star of Zion, a Black newspaper in Charlotte, pointed to the irony of celebrating a partial expansion of rights that should belong to all. He referred to the 19^th Amendment as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment,” after the woman who had proposed it in 1875.

“The name of the 19^th Amendment savors of universal freedom. Susan B. Anthony herself was as ardent an abolitionist as she was a suffragist, and her amendment presupposes that all citizens in free America should have the use of the ballot. And if she were living, she would keep up the fight for it.” (Star of Zion, August 26, 1920).

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering programs like this one to encourage everyone to look back at past accomplishments and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's own community. To learn more about Engage 2020, click here.

--

This blog was written by Tom Cole of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Molloy, Jill. “Timeline of Women’s Suffrage,” NCPedia, published by the North Carolina Government and Heritage Library, accessed July 22, 2020. https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/timeline-womens-suffrage

Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 8/17/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Sunday 8/16

Engage 2020: Community Conversations - Local Voices Matter – 3 p.m.  (Adult programming) register

Monday 8/17

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Remote Learning 101: Library Resources to Enhance Your Child's Learning – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Mindful Mondays – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Traditional Storytelling – 3 p.m. (Children’s programming)  learn more

Tuesday 8/18            

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Email Basics – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   register 

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Nonprofit Services: Intro to Foundation Directory Online – 2 p.m.  (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

Caregiver Class: Active Reading Training for Caregivers of 2-5 Year Olds – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Story Explorers Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Wednesday 8/19

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Teens LIVE on Instagram: DIY Jean Embroidery – 5 p.m. (Teen programming)  learn more

Learning Circle: The 1619 Project – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Thursday 8/20

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)    register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book Talk: Children's – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Caregiver Class: Active Reading Comprehension Strategies for Upper Elementary – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Teens LIVE on Instagram: Build a Terrarium – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  learn more

Social Justice Book Club: Reading to Understand – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Friday 8/21

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Baby Storytime – 10:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)   learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Nonprofit Services: Coffee & Conversation – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Engage 2020: Ted Talks Discussion Group: Overlooked History – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)  register 

Mindful Friday - Meditation for Wellness – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Learning Circle: How to Be an LGBT+ Ally – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Writers Conversation Hour – 6 p.m.  (Adult programming)   register

Saturday 8/22

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Laundry Day – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register 

Bullet Journaling Group – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Social Justice Book Club: Reading to Understand – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One hundred years ago this very month, women earned the right to vote.

In celebration of this epic moment in our nation’s history, the centennial of the 19th Amendment, Engage2020 presents a filmed theatrical performance for the whole family of the short play, Failure is Impossible.

Playwright Rosemary Knower was originally commissioned to write the script in 1995 for the 75th-anniversary commemoration at the National Archives. The piece uses eyewitness accounts and original documents—drawing in great detail and accuracy from the Congressional Record, personal letters within the government’s legislative records, petitions to Congress and archival sources (newspaper editorials, diaries, memoirs, etc.)—to provide a dramatized account of the debate for women’s suffrage. And what a debate it was.

To bring this struggle to life, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Theatrical Training Team hired a team of talented local professional actresses (in fact, faces that Charlotte families might recognize from Children’s Theatre of Charlotte shows at ImaginOn) to portray real-life heroes and heroines of the suffragist movement such as Sojourner Truth, Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony.

This family-friendly, digital theatre experience supports the ongoing goal of Engage 2020: to connect the community in a conversation around the history of voting in the United States, past and current civic and social trends, as well as to spotlight the history of voting rights, particularly concerning women and women of color.

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering special programs like this—which received generous support from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ "She Changed the World" project—to encourage everyone to look back at past accomplishments and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's community. Learn more about Engage 2020 here.

We hope you enjoy the show and that it inspires youth and adults alike to join the conversation.

Yes, you read that right!  

The legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Lee made three main points, to include a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances and a “plan for confederation”: 

Lee’s Resolution, June 7, 1776 (National Archives and Records Administration: 301685 )

After approving Lee’s Resolution, Congress turned its attention to The Committee of Five’s drafted statement of independence. The Committee met and wrote what became the Declaration of Independence between June 11-28. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin all served on the Committee, with Thomas Jefferson leading as the principle author.  On July 2 the document was approved, and by July 4, 1776 Congress agreed on the final wording, thus leading to the official adoption of the Declaration of Independence. 

The Committee of Five (National Archives and Records Administration: 532924 )

So, should we celebrate July 2 as our actual day of independence? It seems that John Adams thought so. He wrote to his wife Abigail: 

“The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” 

Portrait of John Adams (National Archives and Records Administration: 50780435)

Adams's prediction of how Americans would celebrate this occasion was accurate, despite being off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.  

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not all present on July 4, 1776, although Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin did write that they signed it the same day the document was approved and adopted. Other members of Congress, led by John Hancock, the President of the Congress, signed the Declaration nearly a month later on August 2. 

The King of England viewed the members of the Second Continental Congress as traitors, rebelling against the crown. None of the signers were sentenced to death in response to their rebellious actions, but most were punished indirectly through the burning of their homes, imprisonment, or physical harm. 

Oddly, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. 

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Sources:  

Massachusetts Historical Society. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776. Accessed July 2019. https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/popup?id=L17760703jasecond&page=L17760703jasecond_2   

National Archives and Records Administration. Declaration of Independence. Docs Teach. Accessed July 2019. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the-declaration-of-independence 

National Archives and Records Administration. Lee’s Resolution. Docs Teach. Accessed July 2019. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/lee-resolution-independence  

Did you know that babies, toddlers and preschoolers can join in on Summer Break too? Reading time includes time spent being read to and time spent reading to someone else. This means that parents can log reading time for everyone whether they read to or with their child! 

This summer discover the learning moments all around us. The library is here to help you get your child ready to read with simple activities every day.  

When you register your child ages 0-3 years for Summer Break, we'll give you a colorful pamphlet with ideas for learning activities and lots of great literacy tips. Some of our ideas include:  

• Draw a picture and make up a story about it. 

• Read a book together. Create voices for the characters and use your body to tell the story.  

• Take your child to storytime. 

• Talk about the beginning, middle and end of the story while reading a book.  

Learn About the Benefits of Active Reading 

Active Reading is a great way to engage with your child while you read together. The ABCs of Active Reading are:  

• A: Ask Questions. Open ended questions get kids talking. “What do you think will happen next in the story?” 
• B: Build Vocabulary. Demonstrating new words builds vocabulary. Don’t just read the word “whisper” – actually whisper.  
• C: Connect to Child’s World. Relating the story to what kids know helps them learn more about the world.  

The Summer Break program is wonderful for all ages! We have activities, book suggestions and programs for babies, children, teens and adults.  Celebrate Library Week at Carowinds! 

In addition to offering free Carowinds tickets to eligible Summer Break participants, Carowinds also offers Library customers the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets and use them during Carowinds Library Week. This year Carowinds Library Week runs July 22-28, and the discounted ticket price is $39 per person, which includes parking. Purchase discounted tickets to be used during Library Week and help us celebrate Summer Break at Carowinds! 

Click here to access the portal 

User name: CM  

Password: LIBRARY   

These are case sensitive.  

Additional discounts may also be available through this portal throughout the summer. 

REMINDER: all libraries are closed for July 4. 

Comments? Questions? 

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to stop by your local library for assistance, call 704-416-0101 or email [email protected]. 

The latest exhibit at Main Library is out of this world.  Truly.  

Earth as Art 4: A Fusion of Science and Art features colorized, infrared Landsat satellite images of Earth from creative vantage points. All the images were acquired by Landsat 8, the satellite launched by NASA in 2013, and the exhibition is on loan to the Library from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The 38-image collection will be displayed on the first and second floors at Main Library through August 31, 2019.

NASA and the USGS have been taking photos from space since the 1970s, and this ongoing record allows scientists to monitor changes over time. But they’re also stunning – by combining different wavelengths of light, some invisible to the human eye, ordinary views of clouds, mountains or rivers are transformed into museum-quality works of art.

And that’s how Earth as Art was born. In the late 1990s staff tasked with image calibration began a collection of their favorites. “Every once in a while, we’d see an image that was so amazing, so remarkable, that we started squirreling them away,” said Earth Resources Observation and Science engineer Jon Christopherson. “We wrote them to CDs back then, and it wasn’t long before we had a drawer full of spectacular images.”

The exhibit began touring worldwide in 2002 and the Library is thrilled to host it at the Main branch in Uptown for the summer. “This exhibit came about through an unexpected combination of the scientific search for geographic changes on earth, some people in an office who happened to recognize something extraordinary, the artistic application of enhancing colors and the desire to freely share knowledge about our world,” said Mimi Curlee, Librarian at Main Library. “It is truly amazing!”

Explore these masterpieces for yourself!

More information about Earth as Art 4 can be found at https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth-as-art-4-a-fusion-of-science-and-art/.

The images are online and in the public domain, so people can download and use as they like.

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/earth-art-4?qt-science_center_objects=7#qt-science_center_objects

The Library also has print and online resources available for checkout that contain similar images:

Earth as Art by Lawrence Friedl

Earth as Art eBook

Earth by Michael J. Carlowicz