This month the West Boulevard Library Teen Circular met with Ms. Rachel Gibbs. Ms. Gibbs is a financial literacy expert and entrepreneur who graciously uses her expertise to uplift her community. In this interview, Ms. Gibbs spoke openly about the importance of developing strong financial literacy skills and smart money tips that all teens should utilize. 

What exactly is a credit score? 

A credit score is a number that is assigned to you by a credit bureau. It is based on how well you pay your bills and if you pay them on time.

What is financial literacy, and why is it so important to learn?

Financial literacy is being able to understand how to budget your money. It is important because people need to know how to track their money and know how to spend it.

When do you think teens should start learning about financial literacy?

I started learning about financial literacy when I was seven. As you get older and navigate life, you start learning more about financial literacy. Still, it is never too early to know. Teens today are really at an advantage because there are so many resources available that can teach you how to efficiently budget your money and secure a healthy financial future.

Who taught you all about financial literacy?

My grandfather taught me all about financial literacy. My lessons started when I would roll up coins that my grandfather collected and gave to us. We would separate them, roll them, and take them to the bank to exchange them for money. He taught me how to save during that time because I would save half of what I earned rolling coins. That is where I began to develop my skills. When I went to college, I realized that many people didn’t have strong financial literacy skills so that is where I started to develop the passion for starting my business.

What advice do you have for teenagers right now?

My advice is to get an education. Getting an education is a necessary steppingstone in life and so is developing strong financial literacy skills. No matter what path you take, both are necessary to secure a successful future for yourself.

What is your advice to kids starting a business this summer? 

My advice is to pick something you love and do not do it for the money. If you do things that you naturally like to do, the money will start rolling in. Another thing that I would say is to take advantage of the resources that are around you. With all of the technology in the world, teens have so much access to learn new things and if you need help don’t hesitate to reach out to people in your community for support.

What are the three things you would say to a young adult going to college about having good financial health? 

The first thing that I would say is to DO NOT take out any refund checks. I did that in college, and that was one of the biggest mistakes I made. Refund checks are nothing but leftover loan money that they have. You are going to have to pay interest on that money. The second thing is to get a part-time job or a work-study program while in school. This will help you save up and pay for tuition. The last thing is to have a reasonable budget. I did not do this and I could have saved a lot more. Developing small healthy money habits while you are young will lead to big rewards later.

To find out more about Ms. Gibbs and the amazing work that she's doing in the community, please check out her website: https://www.gibbsfinancialfitness.com/

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This blog was written by Jordan Johnson, Teen Circular intern for West Boulevard Library

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

A year ago, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library launched our Black Lives Matter program initiative in response to the critical need to address racial inequity in our community through learning, growing and communicating with others around us. Since its launch, this initiative has evolved in its offerings, growing from booklists, learning circles, and book clubs to include community panel discussions, author talks, storytimes, equity impact circles and so much more.  

Engagement from the community and from our Library team has been incredible to see. Library customers made the commitment to engage not only in single programs, but in ongoing work that requires people to be present and vulnerable. We heard stories from people who made real changes in the businesses they frequent or the words they use based on the things they learned in Library programs. Library staff members stepped up to tackle difficult conversations, plan new programs, and publish blogs that dive deep into both Library and community aspects of racial equity.  

We are a year into this initiative and the work is nowhere near done. Black Lives Matter programs will remain an integral part of our regular programming portfolio as we move forward. The Library will continue to identify ways to support the diverse people within our community through collections, programming, and services. While we work to meet these different needs, we will continue to tell Black stories and share opportunities for all to learn about Black lives and racial inequity. 

I would be remiss if I did not extend a thank you. Thank you to all who are willing to engage with us in this work. Thank you to everyone who presented with us, all who attended programs, and all who read and listened to new perspectives in this last year. Thank you to the many staff members who contributed so much effort to a difficult endeavor. Thank you, especially, to our two team leaders for the Black Lives Matter initiative: Jasmine McNeil and Chantez Neymoss. This is truly important work, and you are so appreciated.   

The Library’s mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community. Programs like Black Lives Matter help us build that stronger community by drawing people together, building community dialogue, working to ensure that every voice is present, and every life is valued. We cannot build that community alone, and we are proud to partner with others as we continue to move this work forward.  

View the first year Black Lives Matter program initiative recap video below:

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This blog was written by Caitlin Moen, library director and chief customer officer for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

Historically, the Black Lives Matter movement has always seen a rise in student activism. Ever since the movement started in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin, students have formed branches of the movement to raise awareness with notable examples including the Black Lives Matter Youth Coalition and The Youth Vanguard. In 2016, fatal police encounters involving Alton Sterling and Philando Castile caused an eruption of protests, and during this time, a spike in student activism in matters related to racial justice occurred. Later, in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, student activism reached levels that hadn’t been seen since the 2016 Black Lives Matter protests. However, student activism regarding racial justice can be traced to events preceding the Black Lives Matter movement to the beginnings of the civil rights movement.

In 1925, students at Fisk University protested for ten weeks to speak out against the school president who had refused to start a chapter of the NAACP. In 1940, nearly 2000 students protested New York University after pulling a Black player from the football roster. These two events spurred a series of student-led protests regarding civil rights in the ’60s. In 1960, four Black students organized the Greensboro sit-ins, which continued for six months. Similar actions also took place during the Brown vs. Board Supreme Court Case wherein students protested in favor of school integration. In 1963, one of the most significant civil rights actions in history took place. Nearly 250,000 students staged a boycott in Chicago protesting segregation in schools. Of those involved, 20,000 students marched to the Chicago Board of Education demanding equal resources for Black children. During the following year, in 1964, 450,000 Black and Puerto-Rican students refused to attend school for a day, boycotting racial imbalance and lobbying in public schools. Although the movement failed in forcing the school board to take immediate reform, it remained one of the largest demonstrations of the civil rights movement and eventually put an end to de facto segregation.

Nearly 50 years later, student activism plays a large part in racial justice initiatives and Black Lives Matter. Student-led groups such as the Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE) were formed to create a youth alliance surrounding issues such as equal education and racism. In 2015, the Illinois Senate passed a VOYCE Senate Bill regarding school discipline practices, eliminating zero-tolerance punishment, minimizing suspension and expulsion and more. Furthermore, many students have been calling attention to racist environments in school and college campuses in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. School newspapers have been created to inform peers about racial injustices on campus and nationwide. By spreading information about inequality, students have organized protests with over 1,000 students and speak with large news organizations about their goals for justice.

With youth activism being on the rise, they are not without critics. Many adults struggle to see younger activists as equals, claiming that their lack of experience makes them less impactful. Despite such setbacks, young activists and students have played an important part throughout history in racial justice initiatives. The number of groups and protests created by youth continues to increase. In modern days, youth activists have cultivated mass followings on social media, calling attention to racism and police brutality and creating events to help victims of such situations. With their knowledge of technology, social media, and the historical legacy of the civil rights movement, student activism continues to be at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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This blog was written by Medha Kowndinya, a sixteen-year-old rising Junior at Ardrey Kell High school.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Don’t have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card? Know someone who doesn’t have one either? The Library offers millions of resources including books, music, movies, creative materials, digital resources, programs (outdoor and virtual) – all for FREE with a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card. So, now that you know what a Library card can get you, the next question is: what are you waiting for?

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when libraries encourage community members (parents, caregivers, students – everyone) to sign up for a library card as the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning. This year, the American Library Association (ALA) installed Marley Dias, author, executive producer and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks as Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair to promote the value of a library card to the entire community. We all are unique, with varied experiences and cultures, but one thing that unites us is a drive to learn and grow as people. Libraries are great equalizers and having a library card allows everyone to fairly gain access to knowledge.

Signing up for a Library card is easy and anybody can do it. CLICK HERE to sign up for a Library card and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your tablet or smartphone. Use the app 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 the need for information – for education, work or leisure activities. In honor of our mission to improve lives and build a stronger community, the Library encourages everyone in Mecklenburg County to sign up for a Library card to gain access to a wealth of books, media and invaluable digital resources. All for 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 LinkedIn Learning. Maybe you want to perfect an existing skill - or learn a new one - with Universal Class or learn a new language with Transparent Language. When you have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card, you can access a multitude of online resources for FREE.

Are you someone who enjoys watching movies or listening to music? Film and music buffs can benefit from a Library card, too. With the kanopy, OverDrive/Libby, hoopla and Freegal Music apps – again, available for FREE with a Library card, you can stream or download films, documentaries and the newest songs.

 ACCESS RESOURCES

Value Like No Other

Are you curious about how much money a Library card can really save you? $100? $300? Even up to $1,000! 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 how much you could save by switching to the Library. The numbers don’t lie; a Library card is a great value!

Online Programming from the Library

While our branches are open with limited services, the Library is always here to support the community online, 24/7. Did you know that you can continue to participate in Library programming while staying home? Join us for a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch. The Library offers a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults on a daily basis.

See our listing of upcoming programs below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS CLICK HERE

Sign up Today

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

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

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This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

¿No tiene la tarjeta de biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg? ¿Conoce a alguien que tampoco la tenga? La biblioteca ofrece millones de recursos, como libros, música, películas, materiales creativos, recursos digitales y programas (al aire libre y virtuales), todo SIN CARGO, mediante la tarjeta de biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Ahora que sabe todo lo que ofrece la tarjeta de biblioteca, la pregunta es: ¿qué está esperando?

Septiembre es el mes de las tarjetas de biblioteca, una época en la que las bibliotecas alientan a los miembros de la comunidad (padres, cuidadores, estudiantes, ¡todo el mundo!) a que soliciten una tarjeta de biblioteca como primer paso hacia el éxito académico y el aprendizaje continuo. Este año, la Asociación de Bibliotecas de los Estados Unidos (ALA) designó a Marley Dias, autora, productora ejecutiva y fundadora de #1000BlackGirlBooks como presidenta honoraria del mes de las tarjetas de biblioteca con el fin de promover el valor de las tarjetas de biblioteca en toda la comunidad. Todos somos únicos y tenemos experiencias y culturas diversas, pero algo que nos une es el deseo de aprender y desarrollarnos como seres humanos. Las bibliotecas son un gran elemento igualador, y contar con una tarjeta de biblioteca permite que todos tengan un acceso adecuado al conocimiento.

Solicitar la tarjeta de biblioteca es fácil y cualquiera puede hacerlo. HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para solicitar una tarjeta de biblioteca y descargar la aplicación móvil CMLibrary en su tableta o teléfono inteligente. Utilice la aplicación para hacer reservas, acceder a recursos y mucho más.

En un mundo que se encuentra en rápida transición hacia los formatos en línea, el acceso a recursos y materiales educativos digitales es fundamental. Como consecuencia de las restricciones a las reuniones presenciales y los cambios en los horarios escolares y laborales, el sofá de la sala de estar, la cocina y la habitación se han convertido en espacios de trabajo. Sin embargo, la necesidad de obtener información para educarse, trabajar o entretenerse no ha cambiado. En honor a nuestra misión de mejorar vidas y forjar una comunidad más fuerte, la biblioteca alienta a todos los vecinos del condado de Mecklenburg a que soliciten una tarjeta de biblioteca para acceder a una gran cantidad de libros, medios e invaluables recursos digitales. ¡Todo SIN CARGO!

Recursos digitales GRATUITOS

La biblioteca es una estupenda tienda integral, no solo para acceder a libros, sino a recursos digitales y mucho más. Puede acceder a tutorías virtuales y asistencia escolar para niños a través de Tutor.com. También puede obtener recursos para impulsar un negocio nuevo (o uno existente) con LinkedIn Learning. O tal vez desea perfeccionar una habilidad existente —o aprender una nueva— con Universal Class, o aprender un idioma con Transparent Language. Con su tarjeta de biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg, podrá acceder a una infinidad de recursos en línea SIN CARGO.

¿Le gusta ver películas o escuchar música? Los cinéfilos y los melómanos también pueden sacarle provecho a una tarjeta de biblioteca. Con las aplicaciones Kanopy, OverDrive/Libby, hoopla y Freegal Music, disponibles SIN CARGO con su tarjeta de biblioteca, puede reproducir o descargar películas, documentales y las canciones más recientes.

 ACCEDA A RECURSOS

Valor sin precedentes

¿Acaso se pregunta cuánto dinero puede ahorrar si tiene una tarjeta de biblioteca? ¿$100? ¿$300? ¡Hasta $1,000! Los servicios con suscripción pueden ser costosos y se van sumando durante el año, por no mencionar las sumas que podría gastar en libros, revistas y música. Nunca más deberá pagar servicios con suscripción. Descubra cuánto puede ahorrar gracias a la biblioteca mediante la calculadora de valor de la biblioteca. Introduzca la cantidad de libros, revistas, DVD, música y recursos que ha comprado o usado en un año, y le sorprenderá todo lo que puede ahorrar si comienza a usar la biblioteca. Los números no mienten; ¡el valor de una tarjeta de biblioteca es incomparable!

Programas en línea de la biblioteca

Mientras nuestras sucursales ofrecen servicios limitados, la biblioteca siempre está aquí para apoyar a la comunidad en línea, todos los días, las 24 horas. ¿Sabía que puede seguir participando en los programas de la biblioteca mientras se queda en casa? Acompáñenos a disfrutar de un cuento virtual con su familia o reciba ayuda para crear su currículum, todo desde la comodidad de su hogar. La biblioteca ofrece una amplia variedad de programas virtuales para niños, adolescentes y adultos todos los días.

Consulte el detalle de nuestros próximos programas a continuación.

PARA OBTENER MÁS INFORMACIÓN Y REGISTRARSE EN PROGRAMAS, HAGA CLIC AQUÍ

Regístrese hoy mismo

Solicitar la tarjeta de biblioteca es fácil. HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para pedir la suya y descargar la aplicación móvil CMLibrary en su tableta o teléfono inteligente, que le permitirá hacer reservas, acceder a recursos y mucho más.

Ahora que sabe todo lo que puede hacer con su tarjeta de biblioteca, ¿qué está esperando? ¡Regístrese en la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg y obtenga su tarjeta de biblioteca hoy mismo!

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Este blog fue escrito por Darrell Anderson, especialista en marketing y comunicaciones de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is excited to introduce MakeMake, our first Spanish language digital resource for children ages 3 to 15. 

 MakeMake offers a careful selection of high-quality books from over 50 renowned Latin American publishers to promote literacy comprehension, vocabulary, and reading fluency in our youngest readers and teens.  Spanish speakers and learners can engage with books based on reading level and interest. Interactive books that stimulate participation are available for emerging readers, while older readers can choose from picture books, comics, storybooks, novels, and non-fiction books. Our collection includes classics as well as new authors for a varied reading diet.  Digital literacy activities accompany many of the books.   

MakeMake is available to all customers from inside all libraires as well as for home use.  Access MakeMake from the Library’s Resources page.  If you are accessing MakeMake from home, enter your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or your school ID number.

Click “Explorar” to expand the browsing options.  Choose books in subjects such as Arts and Crafts, Science, History and essay, Narrative, Letters and Numbers, and Songs and Poetry.  You can also filter by age group or reading level in this menu.

Once you’ve selected your book, click the yellow “Leer” button.  The book will open in your browser.  Use the arrows on each side of the book to move forward and backward.  Click the “Descubre” button to discover similar books.

MakeMake is mobile friendly and be used on any phone or tablet as long as you have internet access.  You may want to make sure you are on a wifi connection so you don’t incur data charges.

Access all the Library’s resources for free with your library card. Don’t have one? Sign up here! If you need more help with resources covered in this blog, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available to help by email, chat, and phone.   

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This blog was written by Veronica Corral, bilingual outreach specialist at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

La biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg tiene el agrado de presentar MakeMake, nuestro primer recurso digital en lengua española para niños de 3 a 15 años. 

 MakeMake ofrece una detallada selección de libros de alta calidad de más de cincuenta reconocidas editoriales latinoamericanas, con el fin de promover la comprensión de textos, la adquisición de vocabulario y la fluidez entre nuestros niños y adolescentes lectores. Así, los hispanoparlantes y los estudiantes de español pueden acceder a distintos libros según su nivel de lectura y sus intereses. Los principiantes encontrarán libros interactivos que estimulan la participación, mientras que los más avanzados podrán escoger entre libros con imágenes, cómics, libros de cuentos, novelas y libros de no ficción. Nuestra colección incluye una variada selección de clásicos y de autores nuevos. Muchos de los libros, además, traen actividades de alfabetización digital. 

MakeMake está disponible para todos los clientes desde todas las bibliotecas y también desde sus hogares. Accede a MakeMake desde la página de recursos de la biblioteca. Si accedes a MakeMake desde tu hogar, introduce tu número de tarjeta de biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg o tu número de ID de la escuela.

Haz clic en “Explorar” para ampliar las opciones de navegación. Elige libros sobre temas como arte y manualidades, ciencia, historia y ensayos, narrativa, letras y números, y canciones y poesía. También puedes filtrarlos por grupo etario o nivel de lectura en este menú.

Una vez que hayas seleccionado tu libro, haz clic en el botón amarillo que dice “Leer”. El libro se abrirá en tu navegador. Usa las flechas a cada lado del libro para avanzar o volver atrás. Haz clic en el botón “Descubre” para explorar libros similares.

MakeMake es apta para dispositivos móviles y puede usarse desde cualquier teléfono o tableta, siempre que tengas acceso a Internet. Asegúrate de tener conexión wifi para no consumir tus datos móviles.

Accede a todos los recursos de la biblioteca sin cargo con tu tarjeta de biblioteca. ¿Aún no tienes la tuya? Solicítala aquí. Si necesitas más asistencia con respecto a los recursos que aparecen en este blog, el personal de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg está disponible para ayudarte por correo electrónico, chat o teléfono.  

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Este blog fue escrito por Verónica Corral, especialista de difusión bilingüe de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

Family reunions are a time for families to gather and create lasting memories and experiences, share wisdom, pass along tradition, have fun and EAT good food! The summertime is also when Black families commonly plan their weekends around the summer tradition of their annual or bi-annual family reunion.

Covid has put this summer tradition in a chokehold for two summers now. In 2020 due to Covid-19, large gatherings were suspended, including family reunions. Families spend a lot of time planning a family reunion - scouting locations, booking entertainment, setting up activities and catering food. As a matter of fact, my extended family spent much of 2019 preparing for the bi-annual family reunion, only for it to be canceled in 2020.

Here we are, capping off the summer of 2021, and I have heard very minimal talk about family reunions. As a matter of fact, I've only heard inklings of anticipation for when we can have traditional family gatherings again. Usually, Black families prioritize family by blocking off a weekend to celebrate with each other and reconnect the family generations. Have you ever seen four generations in one place?

Family reunions are usually a festival-type of celebration, and as a kid, preparing to attend a family reunion was full of excitement to reconnect with my cousins. I'd live for the days when my great-aunts would make their specialty dishes like homemade ice cream and pound cake.

Historically, family reunions date back to the Emancipation, when formerly enslaved people sought out the family they were separated from while enslaved. This tradition would become something that would be a continuous celebration of kinship and resilience that Black families endured. Although the reunion of the family was once steeped in struggle and pain, Black people use their resilience to celebrate family.

Although family reunions have been quiet for two summers, they'll be back. We can't let this traditional celebration of family die. The Black family won't die, and neither will the Black family reunion. Even on a smaller scale, we will celebrate.

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This blog was written by De'Trice Fox, a librarian for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Anna Jean Mayhew has been a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library cardholder for most of her life, and while the details of where and when she first received her card may be a bit foggy, the fond memories and joy her library card have brought her over the years are crystal clear. Growing up in Charlotte in the 1950s, Anna Jean remembers taking weekend visits with her mother to the Main and Myers Park (then called South Branch) Libraries, and the rush of excitement she felt whenever she checked out a new book. “Books took me to places I could never go to, from the Arabian desert of Ali Baba to an island in the Pacific where boys went from innocent to feral — Lord of the Flies. I used my treasured library card for journeys to the unknown,” she recalls. “The books I borrowed had glued-on pockets inside the back cover with date-stamped cards that bore the names of previous borrowers. I was thrilled to see my name added to such lists.”

It was through her Library card that Anna Jean first discovered her love of storytelling. Among her favorite childhood books was Horton Hatches the Egg, which she read so many times she was eventually able to recount the story to friends and family word for word. “Kids were delighted by my rendering of that fantabulous story; I had a querulous voice for Mazy the Lazy Bird and a faithful voice for Horton,” she recalls. “I was the family teller of tall tales, and it didn't matter that most of my stories were not original, but adapted from Dr. Seuss, Carolyn Keene (fictitious author of the Nancy Drew books), and Edgar Allen Poe — I loved the gasps at my horror stories, especially after dark in a dim room where my listeners shivered in anticipation of my next gruesome fable.” Anna Jean also drew inspiration for her storytelling style from the countless hours she spent during Saturday matinees at the historic Manor Theater on Providence Road, watching films of heroic tales and cowboys. There, she would sit with her friends in the dark with Charms suckers and bags of popcorn, imagining all the ways the handsome cowboy on screen might escape his almost certain fate.

                There is one memory she’d rather forget, however. “Fines! To this day I dread fines, which have always seemed like a judgment on me, tokens marking my failure to conform,” she says. She dislikes fines so much that she has taken up the practice of rounding up her fine amount to the next dollar as a personal form of penitence for “breaking the rules.” Lucky for Anna Jean, she no longer has to pay penitence or anything ever again as the Library is officially fine free as of July 1, 2021.

Learn more about Fine Free

The Library continues to serve Anna Jean in adulthood and in her career as a writer as well. The author of two novels, The Dry Grass of August and Tomorrow’s Bread, she uses her library card to access valuable historical resources that aid in her story development and research. Her latest novel, Tomorrow's Bread, is a fictional story centered in the very real Charlotte neighborhood of Brooklyn, a thriving Black community that was wiped out during Charlotte’s urban renewal. It is a story which required extensive research and attention to historical details. Anna Jean knew just who to turn to for help – the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room. “I was determined to know the facts about the neighborhood of Brooklyn before I began to write that story, and without the help of the great librarians in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, I would never have uncovered details that were by then sixty years old,” she says. “So, a library card assists in time travel, from the known present into an ancient world unnumbered millennia ago.”

Are you ready to take your own journey with the Library? Signing up for a Library card is easy. 

Click here to sign up for one and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your smartphone or tablet for immediate access to place holds, access resources and much more. Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and get your Library card today!

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This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communications specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Charlotte has seen remarkable growth in craft breweries – places that make and sell their own beer onsite (Hartis 2020). The 2020 city directory lists nineteen brewers in Charlotte and five more in Mecklenburg County beyond the city limits, all established in the last decade. Beer brewing in Mecklenburg County didn’t begin yesterday, though. The history of brewing in Charlotte is a story of experimentation, immigrant expertise, entrepreneurship and prohibition.

In his 1828 dictionary, Noah Webster of Connecticut defined beer as a beverage made "from any farinaceous grain, but generally from barley," but added, "beer is a name given in America to fermenting liquors made of various other materials." Barley was hard to come by, especially in the South, so North Carolinians tried fermenting apples, persimmons, and molasses into something fizzy with a kick. “My wife makes excellent beer,” began one story in the Catawba Journal (12/26/1826), showing what Americans called beer was usually made at home - and by women.

In the 1860s, Martin Munzler became the first successful brewer in Mecklenburg County. He evidently brought the craft of making lager beer with him from his native Bavaria. During the Civil War years, he ran advertisements offering top dollar for barley. After the war, he, and then later his son, Frederick, sold their fermented product in a typically German setting: the beer garden, an outdoor place where families could gather and men could drink beer. It was located at the edge of town near the present-day intersection of McDowell and E Trade St. (Houser, n.d)

By the end of the nineteenth century, Charlotte consumers could choose locally made and bottled beer, as well as products from Atlanta and Philadelphia. (Hartis, 2013, Chapter 2) In 1904, however, 18 years before the 18^th Amendment banned alcoholic beverages nationwide, city voters approved an “anti-saloon” ordinance. Beer makers and distributors disappeared from City Directories for the next thirty years. Until after the national experiment with Prohibition ended. Covert home-brewing must have taken place during Prohibition, but without the opportunity to meet and share tips or to read how-to books on the subject, the quality must have varied. “Beer today is better than home brew was yesterday,” said one commenter after repeal. (Charlotte Observer, 10/17/1935, p.1)

Atlantic Ale and Beer was made in Charlotte in the 1930s, but from World War II until the craft beer era, the beer drinkers of Mecklenburg chose from the same national and regional brands as everybody else.

Makers of beer in the United States finally lived up to Noah Webster’s definition of beer by the late nineteenth century, then went back to brewing “various other materials” under the pressure of Prohibition. In the era of mass-produced beer after Prohibition, consumers drank products made from barley again. The growth of craft beer in this century has begun a new cycle of diversification, which will continue as long as consumers seek novelty more than familiarity.

Sources:

Daniel Anthony Hartis

• Charlotte Beer: A History of Brewing in the Queen City (2013)
• “A Look Back at Charlotte’s craft beer scene” Charlotte Observer (Web Edition) January 8, 2020

Jeffrey Houser, “The Munzler Lager Beer Brewery in Charlotte, North Carolina,” Charlotte Museum of History 

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This blog was written by Dr. Tom Cole, librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Robinson-Spanger Carolina Room.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

Pregnancy should be a time of excitement and hopefully a pleasant experience for expectant mothers. Sure, there can be complications, uncertainty and unexpected health concerns. However, there should be measures to assist mothers with their overall well-being with those kinds of risks. During this time, mothers-to-be need much support and care as they go through this journey, and help from family, friends, and the health care systems set in place is necessary to provide the needed kind of care. So, many factors play a role in supporting maternal health during and after pregnancy, but what happens when there are inequalities in the health care system against women?

Sadly, there are numerous disparities in the health care industry for pregnant women, especially for Black women. The mortality rate for Black women during and after pregnancy is alarming compared to white women and other races. Despite some Black women being high-income earners, they too can succumb to the inequalities in healthcare. Bias, negligence, discrimination and dismissive attitudes towards Black women’s legitimate concerns about their health are problematic. 

As reported by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), around 700 people die during pregnancy or within the first year after delivery. It is reported that 50,000 women experience severe pregnancy complications that impact their overall health.

Preventative care is necessary. Black women should have access to adequate healthcare and be informed about the best options for their health through the duration of their pregnancy and healthcare providers should be attentive and listen to the needs of expectant mothers to better advise them. 

According to National Partnership for women & families (2018), “Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women.” Also, the care that Black women receive during pregnancy is significantly lower than that of white women. Furthermore, Black women are most likely to suffer from preventable diseases and lifelong health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension. Systemic racism and biases in the health care industry, low work wages, little to none or limited health insurance and poverty can all be detrimental to the health of Black women. Hospitals that typically serve a predominately Black population offer substandard maternity care.

How do we address these and other disparities, and what services are available in our community?

One way is through awareness, empirical research monitoring the health care industry, organizations advocating for adequate health care for Black women and overall health care reform.

MINE-R-T Doula Company, founded by Kira Kimble, is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and provides numerous services that address pregnant women’s essential needs. Kira advocates for the needs of Black women and is also a founding member of the National Black Doulas Association. 

Support systems need to be in place to address Black maternal health concerns. Combating these disparities that Black women face with their maternal health will need more awareness with radical and substantial changes implemented in health care, including diversity training.

So, how can Black maternal health be supported?

Here are some actionable measures that expectant mothers and healthcare providers can apply.

• Consult with medical providers and express your needs and health concerns
• Seek out the best obtainable medical services in your area
• Understand your employment benefits and insurance coverage during and after pregnancy
• Reach out to reliable family and friends
• Medical providers should inform pregnant mothers about health risks and how to manage chronic illnesses
• Search for local agencies that provide services for expectant mothers

The Library will also host a program hosted by University City Regional Library staff called “Self-Care for Black Mothers During and After Pregnancy” on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Register for that program below:

Register
 

For more information and resources on this topic, please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html

https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/reports/black-womens-maternal-health.html

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This blog was written by Alicia Finley, library associate at University City Regional.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

When was the last time you practiced self-care by taking the time to care for your mental and physical health, not just buying things that make you feel good? While there is nothing wrong with quality retail therapy there are just some things that money cannot buy. 2020 was a whirlwind of a year, 2021 has held no punches this far and it seems like the world doesn't stop. It’s at this time that you take active steps to make sure the one thing you can control – even to a small degree – is safe: your mental health.

I’m sure you’ve heard that you should apply your oxygen mask before helping others in the event of an emergency on a plane. In the same way, you cannot help someone else if you can’t help yourself, and in the Black family dynamic, this is heavily underlined. The collective trauma of COVID and the loss of life – however it may be – can be a lot to process for adults and growing minds of children and teens. There are questions you don’t know the answers to that you might not have the capacity to answer.

In any case, it’s essential to find things you enjoy doing. Allow yourself to feel the emotions you’re feeling and pay attention to them. Create boundaries for yourself and how you interact with others, and in doing so, try to focus on your coping mechanisms and your social media intake.

A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself questions like:

• "Do I need a break?"
• "Do I need to have this conversation?"
• "Do I want to do this right now?"

Treat yourself with care, not as an emergency response, but as a daily way of living. In this time of constant change, you are your best constant. Suppose you need guidance in finding methods of self-care amid the state of the world. In that case, the Library offers programming that focuses on the self-preservation of people of color.

Join the Library for a special self-care Facebook Live event called “The Nuances and Need of Self-Care for People of Color” on Thursday, September 9, at 6 p.m. to engage in an intimate discussion about self-care, the importance of developing a routine that is beneficial for your health & wellness and how to psychologically manage in these unprecedented times.

Register

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This blog was written by Ellie Howie, a library associate at ImaginOn: the Joe and Joan Martin Center.