The West Boulevard Library is conveniently located along the West Boulevard Corridor on the bus line for ease of access. This close-knit community on the westside of Charlotte houses several long established neighborhoods. Serving as a meeting place for its residents, West Boulevard Library is a warm and welcoming community hub. The West Boulevard Branch’s world language collection contains a wide variety of Spanish materials for all ages, along with a sprinkling of other languages. The community looks to the staff of the West Boulevard Library for its digital literacy needs. This Library branch strives to develop and support partnerships with other community resources to enrich the lives of the residents.

Located within a mile of the Library is the Arbor Glen Outreach Facility, home of Clanton Road Community Park and Arbor Glen Recreation Center. The recreation center offers programming and sports for all ages. The park houses basketball courts, play equipment for children and features an outdoor bike playground where kids and adults can practice road biking etiquette.

Another community staple nearby is the Stratford Richardson YMCA. The Stratford Y boasts of innovative programming and hosts seasonal community block parties which give newcomers and longtime residents an opportunity to connect with Library staff and other community organizations.

The West Boulevard Library is a proud partner of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition, a non-profit organization that focuses on improving public health, economic development, and education for the West Boulevard corridor residents.

Make sure to visit the Three Sisters Market across the street from the Library. This community garden was created by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition to meet the grocery needs of the West Boulevard Corridor. Through WNC’s program called Seeds for Change, neighborhood youth are educated on urban farming and leadership development training as they work in the community garden that supplies the Market. At Three Sisters Market, you will find the freshest vegetables in the area and don’t forget to pick up a jar of local honey.

“New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.”

Resources:

• West Boulevard Branch Library – 2157 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208 | 704-416-7400
• Arbor Glen Outreach Facility – 1520 Clanton Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208 | 980-314-1110
• Seeds for Change
• Stratford Richardson YMCA – 1946 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208 | 704-716-4800
• Three Sisters Market
• West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition – P.O. Box 669755 Charlotte,
  
  NC 28266 | 704-222-1723

This blog was written by Alicia Harris, library assistant at South County Regional Library.

Reading allows complex, conceptual thoughts to be understood in a gradual, methodical way.  Using narrative, ideas and thoughts are formed in a linear fashion, allowing them to be encoded into memory.  It is true that when writing and reading became the mode of communication during Socrates’ time, this “new technology” was criticized, according to author Nicholas Carr in his book, The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, for cheapening thought processes that had historically used rote memorization and oration as the means of expression.  No longer needing to memorize in order to later recite, it could be said something was lost as many now suggest that heavy use of disruptive media is harming our minds by disallowing deep thought and shortening attention spans.  Reading is also restorative and private.  It allows one to digest another’s ideas and stories in a dialectical manner, mulling over the assertions or descriptions while perhaps eschewing the finer points.  In the process, the imparted knowledge expands perspective and enables linkages to previously read material.  Understanding grows more complex and therefore nuanced.

Carr futher goes on to say:

          “The contents of our long-term memory lie mainly outside of our consciousness. In order for us to think about something we’ve previously learned or experienced, our brain has to transfer the memory from long-term memory back to working memory. ‘We are only aware that something was stored in long-term memory when it is brought down into working memory,' explains Sweller.”’ It was once assumed that long-term memory served merely as a big warehouse of facts, impressions, and events, that it ‘played little part in complex cognitive processes such as thinking and problem-solving.’ But brain scientists have come to realize that long-term memory is actually the seat of understanding.”

     This is why reading may be such a powerful mode to long-term knowledge and understanding. It is in its gradual nature that allows what is being read to be stored.  Attention is concentrated and sustained with certain resonant facts and impressions being retained.  What one then “knows” is largely in the unconscious until brought into awareness again when challenged or refined by new information.  The new knowledge must be reorganized and remapped into what was previously learned, editing out “facts” no longer supported.  It is in this editing phase that most highlights the dialectical process that reading promotes and engages the reader and thereby ensures a lasting impression.

The Pineville community has a brand-new library! Located in the heart of downtown Pineville, the Pineville Branch Library is the newest jewel in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System’s crown.

Pineville Branch Library occupies the first floor of the new Pineville Town Hall, right in the center of the vibrant Pineville community. The town is tucked between southwest Charlotte and South Carolina. The branch’s 18,000 square feet footprint offers a beautiful community room, quiet room for adults, five (5) study rooms, plus dedicated areas for teens and children. In the children’s area, families can find a calming room and family restroom.

The branch offers a wealth of resources, helpful staff, and programs for all ages. There are materials in several world languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Spanish, Tamil, Chinese, French, Ukrainian. The new building also has a green space out front that it shares with the Police Department. Visitors should take a moment to enjoy the History of Pineville and the Holt School of Fine Art’s displays in the lobby of the building.

The library is hardly the only draw to Pineville, though! The town may only be about five and a half square miles, but this little town has a lot to offer.

Continue a journey of learning at The President James K. Polk History Site. They offer guided tours for the historic cabins on site, and so much more including cooking demonstrations from the time period and the digital learning opportunity: The Enslaved Polks.  It also happens to be a connector for the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Speaking of outdoor opportunities, the library sits right next door to the Jack Hughes Park, which hosts local children’s sports tournaments, and features picnic areas, batting cages, and a walking trail. Only a few minutes further away from the library is the Pineville Lake Park. There, folks will find playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing, Bocce Ball, the Shay Stage amphitheater, the Commons Dog Park, and, during the summer, the Splash Pad. Both parks feature a StoryWalk all year round! The Belle Johnston Center, nestled into Lake Park, offers activities, classes, and services. Lake Park may soon connect to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, and in the meantime, there’s easy parking access to the McMullen Creek Greenway a short drive away.

Pineville offers a unique variety of dining and entertainment venues including the staff favorite Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market. There are lots of shops and services to explore, and of course, the library is only minutes from Carolina Place Mall. The town itself hosts fun events throughout the year, including Fall Fest and Rockin’ and Reelin’—a series of movies and concerts. To find out what great offerings are coming up next, check out the “Upcoming Events” section of the Town of Pineville Website. There is no shortage of things to do in Pineville!

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Pineville Branch Library – 505 Main Street Suite 100 Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-416-3200
• Belle Johnston Community Center – 1000 Johnston Dr, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-2400
• Canine Commons Dog Park – 181 Lake Dr, Pineville 28134 | 704-889-2400
• Carolina Place Mall – 11025 Carolina Pl Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-542-4111
• Holt School of Fine Art – 315 Main St #4a, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-835-0007
• Jack D. Hughes Memorial Park – 513 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-2255
• Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market – 316 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-0470
• Pineville Lake Park – 909 Lakeview Dr, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-2291
• Pineville Police Department – 427 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-7867
• President James K. Polk History Site – 12031 Lancaster Highway, Pineville, NC 28134 | 704-889-7145

The Steele Creek Branch Library is located in the Southwest area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Using I-485, I-77, highways 49 and 160, we are only 20 minutes from the Uptown Charlotte area, as well as only minutes away from these South Carolina cities/towns: Lake Wiley, Tega Cay, and Fort Mill. Additionally, Carowinds, our local amusement park, as well as the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is within 15 minutes from the branch.

The Steele Creek area has a history dating back to the 17^th and 18^th century when it became a township instituted by immigrants traveling through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by wagon in search of an environment that had moderate rainfall, mild summer temperatures, as well as cool winters. The area receives its name from a Scottish/Irish family that also named the small creek. Steele Creek is known as being a family friendly area.

The Steele Creek library serves several diverse neighborhoods: Berewick, Yorkshire, Westinghouse, Olde Whitehall, Harbor House, the Palisades, and Griers Fork, just to name a few. The library branch has an indoor gazebo in the Children’s area and a beautiful outdoor garden that features statues, colorful benches, greenery and a smaller gazebo area to enjoy a meal or to have fun with friends and family. The rear porch area houses two large rocking chairs for all to use as a reading nook and benches on the side under a trellis. Our World Language collection includes: Spanish, French, Arabic, Hindi, Gujarati, Chinese, Marathi, Tamil, German, Russian, Korean and Vietnamese. Our community is also chock full of diverse cultures: from Ukraine, France to Brazil, Russia, India, China, Japan, Korea, Costa Rica, Latin and Central Americas, just to name a few.  The Spanish newspaper, Progreso Hispano is delivered twice a month.

Being that this area has a reputation of excellent schools, the Steele Creek community is surrounded by several preschools, elementary schools, preparatory schools, a Montessori school, a classical charter school, as well as middle and high schools. The Steele Creek library provides in-house and outreach programs to these locations. One fun fact about this library is that it shares a parking lot with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public School – Southwest Middle.

Another wonderful highlight of Steele Creek is that of the Charlotte Regional Farmer’s Market. Located on York Road, this market is the largest fresh food market in the region. Local eateries range from Greek, Asian, Mexican, Indian, Italian and Mediterranean foods. Also nearby is the Charlotte Premium Outlets. The outlet mall has plenty of fantastic shopping options, restaurants, as well as employment opportunities. Near the outlet mall area, LifeSpan, a non-profit organization that supports disabled communities, houses its corporate office. Steele Creek provides adaptive learning and sensory programs for this facility.

The Steele Creek area is considered to be an excellent place to live in North Carolina and continues to increase its population daily.  There is on-going construction in the area pertaining to apartment living, single-family housing, medical centers, hotels, and other businesses for employment opportunities. This area has many parks and streets for walking. It is popular for seniors, families, as well as young professionals who work in the Uptown Charlotte area. We want you to become a part of our community!

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Steele Creek Branch Library | 13620 Steele Creek Road Charlotte, NC 28273 |704-416-6800
• Carowinds |300 Carowinds Blvd Fort Mill, SC 29709 | 704-588-2600
• Charlotte Premium Outlets | 5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278 | 704-837-8100
• Charlotte Regional Farmer’s Market | 1801 Yorkmont Road Charlotte, NC | 704-357-1269
• LifeSpan | 1511 Shopton Road Suite A Charlotte, NC 28217 | 704-944-5102
• Southwest Middle | 13624 Steele Creek Road Charlotte, NC 28273 | 980-343-5006

The Sugar Creek branch of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is blowing out its birthday candles today -- all 15 of them. 

Opened in 2003, the Sugar Creek branch serves serves the Hidden Valley, Sugar Creek, NoDa, Briarwood, Tryon Hills, Atando Junction, Druid Hills, Newell South and Eastway communities, connecting them with resources, internet access and more. 

While this branch (one of 20 within Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's system) has remained at its current location at 4045 N. Tryon St., its original location was in the Tryon Mall, opening in 1968.  In 1992, it moved to the North Park Mall Branch before moving in 2003 to its current location.

Since then, the branch has been busy, creating 1,368 programs in Fiscal Year 2018 alone. That's nearly four programs every single day! 

Celebrate with all of us today as we wish our Sugar Creek branch a very happy birthday! Here's to 15 more wonderful years.