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There are more resources at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for you to love.

More resources for you to love

March 25, 2020

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

While the Library branches are closed to encourage social distancing (limiting physical closeness to others to reduce the risk of exposure to disease), online access to digital resources becomes even more important. If you haven’t had the time, now is a perfect opportunity to explore the world of e-books, e-audiobooks, movies, music, newspapers, magazines and more resources offered for FREE, from anywhere, with your Library card.

Don’t have a Library card? Sign-up for one now. You can sign-up online and begin using your Library card account immediately. We also have librarians available weekdays 9 a.m.-9 p.m. for online chat via the Library website at cmlibrary.org look for the “Ask a Librarian” prompt.

Several of the Library’s digital resources have increased the amount of checkouts customers can make each month so you can enjoy more of the content you love.

The list below is only a small sample of what the Library offers. View a complete list of FREE digital resources here.

Resources with increased borrows:

  • hoopla (10 checkouts)
  • Kanopy (10 checkouts)
  • Kanopy Kids (unlimited checkouts)
  • OverDrive/Libby (20 checkouts)
          Looking for book titles on OverDrive that are always available and never have a wait? Click below:

Always Available Indies

For Your Listening Pleasure

Always Available Classics

New to digital resources:

The Library is pleased to announce new resources added for educational learning. In addition to the resources found here for elementary, middle and high school students, here are a few new resources:

 

Más recursos que te gustarán

Mientras las sucursales de la biblioteca están cerradas para apoyar el distanciamiento social (limitar la cercanía física a los demás para reducir el riesgo de exposición a enfermedades), el acceso a los recursos digitales se vuelve aún más importante. Esta es una oportunidad perfecta para explorar el mundo de los libros electrónicos, audiolibros electrónicos, películas, música, periódicos, revistas y más recursos. Estos están disponibles GRATIS, desde cualquier lugar, con su tarjeta de la biblioteca.

¿Aún no tiene una tarjeta? Inscríbase ahora. Puede registrarse en línea y comenzar a usar su cuenta de inmediato. También tenemos bibliotecarios disponibles de lunes a viernes de 9 a.m. a 9 p.m. para chatear en línea a través del sitio web de la biblioteca en cmlibrary.org. Busque el botón "Ask a Librarian” / “Pregúntele a un bibliotecario".

Varios de los recursos digitales de la biblioteca han aumentado la cantidad de préstamos que los usuarios pueden hacer. ¡Así que puede disfrutar por más tiempo del contenido que le gusta!

La lista a continuación es solo una pequeña muestra de lo que ofrece la biblioteca. Vea una lista completa de recursos digitales GRATUITOS aquí.

Recursos con mayores préstamos:

Libros disponibles siempre

Para su placer auditivo

Libros clásicos disponibles siempre

Novedades:

La biblioteca se complace en anunciar nuevos recursos agregados para el aprendizaje educativo. Además de los recursos que se encuentran aquí para estudiantes de primaria, secundaria y preparatoria, aquí hay algunos recursos nuevos:

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, discussed six  titles that moved from print to the big screen with “Books to Movies" on WCNC's Charlotte Today.

Charlotte Today: Books to Movies

March 25, 2020

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, March 12, 2020 and shared six  titles that moved from print to the big screen with “Books to Movies."  Click here to search titles

Adult Fiction

Dune, by Frank Herbert; Coming to screen December 2020.
Follows the adventures of Paul Atreides, the son of a betrayed duke given up for dead on a treacherous desert planet and adopted by its fierce, nomadic people, who help him unravel his most unexpected destiny.

David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens; coming to screen May 2020
A classic tale of an orphan growing up in the 1800's of England. Intimately rooted in the author's own biography and written as a first-person narrative, "David Copperfield" charts a young man's progress through a difficult childhood in Victorian England to ultimate success as a novelist, finding true love along the way. Jeremy Tambling's provocative Introduction reveals subtle themes relevant today.

The Woman in the Window, by A.J. Flynn; coming to screen May 2020
"It isn't paranoia if it's really happening ... Anna Fox lives alone -- a recluse in her New York City home, drinking too much wine, watching old movies ... and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move next door: a father, a mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble -- and its shocking secrets are laid bare. What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this gripping Hitchcockian thriller, no one and nothing are what they seem."—

Young Adult Fiction

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han; coming to screen February 2020
Lara Jean didn't expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren't. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean's feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Juvenile Fiction

The Witches, by Roald Dahl; coming to screen October 2020
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter; coming to screen April 2020
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the original classic by Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor's vegetable garden.

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Man using computer at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Job Help Center.

Could your next career could be a click away?

March 26, 2020

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to providing our customers assistance and guidance even when we are not physically open. Our Job Help Center is available digitally to assist with your career and job seeking needs.

We will continue to update our Job Help Center Virtual Job Board daily with new employment opportunities. New jobs can be accessed here

Job Help Center staff can also provide feedback and guidance via our resume review process, where you can submit your resume to [email protected]  and we will review it, provide notes and feedback within 3-4 business days.

If you need additional employment information or resources, please access the North Carolina Employment Security Commission for all of your employment needs.

 

Additional resources:
Access NC job postings and information here

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library makerspace 3D printers assist in medical mask production.

Mask by Mask, Together

March 30, 2020

Throughout Charlotte, 3D printers are whirring around the clock. Eight of them belong to your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the phrase “we’re all in this together” has never been more apparent. A shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers has brought together a local and national community of “makers” to fill the gap between supply and demand with creativity and collaboration.

On Monday, a surgeon from Atrium Health sent an email to Seth Ervin, the Library’s Innovation Leader, asking about the Library’s 3D printer capacity. Using a design from a local doctor, she was seeking community help in printing materials to assemble face shields urgently needed in area hospitals.

With libraries closed and the city sheltering in place, 3D printers were quickly moved from Library makerspaces to staff members’ homes, and round-the-clock production began immediately.

Aubrey Hedrick, the Library’s Makerspace Coordinator, oversees the Library’s involvement. Each mask requires a faceplate mechanism, printed on the 3D printers. The parts are collected in batches and brought to a centralized area where they are sanitized and assembled with a face shield cut of clear plastic. Library printers can produce parts for about 20 masks each day. “We are contributing to a much larger community effort, with participants ranging from local makers to professional designers, led by a team from UNC Charlotte, Charlotte Latin, and Discovery Place Education. They’ve formed a group called Charlotte MEDI (Medical Emergency Device Innovation) and have reached out into the maker community to build a solid process and infrastructure to make it all happen. The Library is glad to help.”

The Library team began using Library supplies, but those are quickly running out. Charlotte MEDI has set up a gofundme campaign, and donations will be used for purchasing 3D filament, PETG sheeting (for the face shield) and elastic, which is already becoming hard to find. The group is also working on scaling up production by involving area manufacturing companies with injection molding capabilities. Today, the group’s goal is to produce 1,000 masks per week. With injection molding, that can increase tenfold.

Printers are whirring. We’re in this together.

 

Library makerspaces began in 2015 with an investment in innovation from the Knight Foundation. The latest is at the newly renovated North County Regional location, outfitted with a generous gift from Lowe’s Corporation.

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National Poetry Month at the Library

March 31, 2020

Since 1996, April has been designated National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets.  The purpose of this monthlong celebration is to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering a variety of online poetry programs during April to celebrate.

National Poetry Month each April is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry's important place in our culture and our lives. 

On April 21, Charlotte Readers Podcast, named best podcast in Charlotte 2019 by Queen City Nerve, will host five Queen City poets, who share their love of poetry and their poetry journeys and perform two of their poems.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Charlotte Readers Podcast partnered to bring these local poets to the podcast stage in celebration of National Poetry Month. You will hear poetry by Bluz, Jay Ward, Kathie Collins, Kia Flow and Shane Manier. 

About the poets --

Bluz:

slam champion, spoken word artist, Emmy award winner and coach of SlamCharlotte, a competitive poetry team that won multiple National Poetry Slam  championships

Jay Ward:

poet and teaching artist, youth slam poetry coach and winner of National Poetry Slam and Individual World Poetry Slam championships.

Kathie Collins:

a published poet, student of Jungian psychology, graduate instructor and co-founder of Charlotte Center for Literary Arts.

Kia Flow:

poet, author, stage performer, National Poetry Slam championship team member and recipient of Poet of Influence award by The Jax Poetry Fest

Shane Manier:

creative coach, artist, live event painter, poetry mentor, National Spoken Word Poet and youngest poet to  be inducted into the Poetry Council of North Carolina

Be sure to check our social media channels for special sneak previews leading up to the poetry panel discussion podcast.

The panel discussion with the local poets will be available on the Charlotte Readers podcast on April 21. 

 

National Poetry Month Booklist

Please watch the Library website for updates on events and available resources.

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Stay connected while staying home with virtual programming from the Library.

Virtual Programming from the Library - Week of 4/6/20

April 2, 2020

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 4/6/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 4/6

Family Storytime - 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn More

Mindful Monday -12 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

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

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REgister

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  Learn More

 

Tuesday 4/7               

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

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   Register

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

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.  Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   Register

WFAE Presents: Podcasting 101 – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   Register

 

Wednesday 4/8

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

Poetry in Pajamas – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)   Register

Learning Circle: Intro to HTML and CSS – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

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

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Basics of Active Reading for Parents – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   Learn More

 

Thursday 4/9

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

Write Like You Mean It – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

e-Resource Highlight Video for Adults – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

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

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Active Reading Mentor Training – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   Register

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

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   Register

 

Friday 4/10 - Library Holiday, no programming

 

Saturday 4/11

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

Read Like A Star Book Club – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   Learn More

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers courses from Universal Class.

Learn something new with Universal Class

April 2, 2020

You’re doing a great job social distancing, but what happens when you start to run out of ideas? Or maybe you’ve read everything on your wish list for the wonderful e-books and e-audiobooks you’re downloading from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s digital resources.  

One of many great online resources the Library offers is Universal Class. Universal Class provides 540 self-paced courses and offers learners the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as well as certificates of completion. It’s a wonderful asset if you want to further your education or need to brush up on work skills, but you might be surprised to learn that there’s much more to Universal Class than that. 

Pet and Animal Care 

Dog lovers will find several courses to help with your “new coworker,” from Dog Training 101 and Advanced Dog Training to Dog Grooming and Dog Psychology. If you enjoy hearing the twitter of birds, consider learning about Bird Watching and then spend some time admiring your backyard visitors or learn more about marine life, snakes or wildlife rehabilitation. 

 

Cooking and Baking 

Many of us want to become better cooks or bakers, but don’t usually have the time. Universal Class can teach you basic cooking and baking skills or you can take a more tailored class on baking bread, pies or cookies; cake decorating; or even Italian and Tex Mex cooking. Feel free to share your new skills with your favorite Library staffers when we re-open! 

 

Mix it Up 

Looking for something a little off the wall? How about a course on Dream Interpretation or Haunted Places? Or maybe, after you’ve thrown out everything that doesn’t bring you joy, you can learn How to Decorate a Room or Feng Shui techniques and then do some interior re-designing of your own.  

Looking for something considered to be more traditional?  Get your creativity going with drawing, knitting or writing classes.  

All you need to explore all of this (and more) is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card. Don’t have one? You can apply online and start enjoying everything the Library has to offer from home. 

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room takes a historical look into the evolution of St. Peter's Hospital.

Before Atrium, there was St. Peter's Hospital

April 3, 2020

In 1875, St. Peter’s Hospital, the first non-military hospital in North Carolina, was founded to serve the underprivileged Charlotte community.  

 

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1910 

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church formed the Church Aid Society after an inspiring message by Reverend Benjamin Bronson on taking care of the underprivileged and sick in Charlotte’s community. Patients were first treated at the church, but Jane Wilkes and other Church Aid Society women recognized the need for a hospital setting to better serve their patients.   

           

Jane Wilkes (1827-1913) 

St. Peter’s underwent several location changes and renovations in its operation. In 1875-1876, the hospital rented two rooms in Mr. Ferdinand Kuester’s home on East Seventh Street between College Street and the North Carolina Railroad. While serving patients at this location, St. Peter’s Hospital came to be known as the Charlotte Home and Hospital, which only served white patients (Jane Wilkes later aided in the fundraising and founding of Good Samaritan Hospital in 1892 to serve the black community). 

 

St. Peter’s Hospital, 1907 

In 1877, a single story, four-bedroom permanent facility was built on the corner of Sixth and Popular Streets. In 1907, the facility expanded to twenty-one rooms, five baths, seven closets and several storage rooms. By 1899, Charlotte Home and Hospital returned to its original name, St. Peter’s Hospital, after the organization amended its charter. 

Donations from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church board members and their belief in strengthening Charlotte’s healthcare system enabled the hospital to stay open as their services rapidly expanded. The success of the hospital soon attracted people as far away as New Hampshire and Alabama.  

 

Charlotte Memorial Hospital, 1940 

With many patients visiting from other states, St. Peter’s eventually expanded to the edges of its property lot in 1935. Five years later, the hospital moved to Memorial Hospital due , in part, to the trustees of St. Peter's Hospital, who worked to form the new medical facility. Today, it is known as Atrium Health (formerly named Carolinas Medical Center). 

St. Peter’s Hospital served patients in the Charlotte community for 60 years and became one of the most recognizable hospitals in the southeast. After much expansion and growth over the years, the hospital is now known as the Carolinas Medical Center. 

--

Sources 

Houser, Jeffrey. St. Peter’s Hospital, Charlotte’s First Civilian Hospital. Charlotte Museum of History. Accessed March 2020. https://charlottemuseum.org/st-peters-hospital-charlottes-first-civilian-hospital/ 

Photos courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. 

St. Peter’s Hospital. CMStory.org. Accessed March 2020. https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/turn-20th-century-life-charlotte-1900-1910-medicine/st-peters-hospital 

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lynda.com with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Work successfully from home with lynda.com

April 6, 2020

Do you suddenly find yourself working from home? Are you, like many of us, learning how to juggle work responsibilities with your kids’ schoolwork, figuring out how to stay organized, motivated and learning new software so you can connect with your coworkers (and, let’s face it – family and friends, too)? 

lynda.com, one of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s many digital resources, offers courses that can help you navigate your new at-home work environment. The great news is that it’s free for you to access through the Library’s website with your Library card. (If you don’t have a card, you can apply for one online.) 

Connect with Your Coworkers 

lynda.com offers courses on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts and more so you can learn how to meet virtually with your coworkers, friends and family. Instructional videos range from a few minutes to a few hours, and courses include links that allow you to skip right to the section you need most. 

Skills for Working at Home 

Search “work from home” or “remote working” to find videos on the challenges of working from home, time management, security tips, and how to lead and manage teams remotely. If you don't have time to scroll through all the options, click on “Learning Paths” on the left side of your screen to find a collection of courses that lynda.com has gathered for you.  

Once you’ve nailed this working at home thing, take some time to explore the rest of lynda.com. You’ll find courses related to animation, photography, music production, web design, business and marketing, and much more to keep you busy and learning while you’re doing your part to stay at home. 

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Teen digital resources guide

April 6, 2020

Here is a list of digital resources to keep teens well informed, educated and entertained.

Help with homework:

Gale in Context: Middle School: Middle school students can research their next topic to find videos, newspaper and magazine articles, primary sources, and more.

This resource is being offered temporarily by the publisher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ebook Central Academic and Public Library Complete: Support your research with e-books on general nonfiction topics such as school & studying, career development, arts & leisure, and practical life skills.

Teen Health & Wellness Center: Provides middle school and high school students with nonjudgmental, straightforward advice and self-help support. Topics include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, financial literacy, and more. Submit your own writing to the “Tell Your Story” feature, take part in a poll, submit your questions, and see what’s “In the News.”

Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC): Create a free account to gain access to practice tests, including ACT, PSAT, SAT and AP Exams, as well as basic skills tutorials in English/Writing and Math.

tutor.com: Get free homework help in English or Spanish from a live, online, qualified tutor—up to 10 free tutoring sessions each week! Get help in a wide range of subjects including math, science, English, social studies and essay review.

NOTE: One Access students should enter your Student ID number as your username and your 4-digit birth year as your password.

World Book Encyclopedia: This dynamic and interactive online encyclopedia includes access to a Spanish version, e-books for homework help and research projects, and timelines of historical events. World Book Advanced, specifically for grades 8 and up, has been temporarily added by the publisher in response to COVID-19.

 

Entertainment:

Freegal: Freegal offers download or streaming access to more than 10 million songs, including Sony Music's catalog of legendary artists. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers get 5 free downloads per week (songs count as 1 download and videos count as 2). Streaming has temporarily been extended to 24 hours per day until 9/30/20 by the publisher. Once downloaded, the songs or videos are yours to keep!

hoopla: Access e-books, e-audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and tv. Hoopla has temporarily increased its checkouts to 10 per month but also offers “Bonus Borrowers” which do not count against your 10 checkouts.

kanopy: An award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films. During Library closure for COVID-19, you can view 10 items from Kanopy each month. Look for their “Credit-free Viewing” section to find films that will not count against your 10-item limit.

OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection: The OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection filters the Library's OverDrive collection to show only Teen content, which gets you to the titles you want faster! OverDrive currently allows up to 20 checkouts at a time.

RBdigital: Downloadable e-audiobooks and e-books in popular, literary, and classic fiction, mystery, biography and nonfiction. Filter to see the “young adult” titles. Due to COVID-19, you can have 20 items checked out with 10 requests. RBdigital also offers popular magazines with no limits.

TeenBook Cloud: An online collection of e-books, enhanced novels, graphic novels, videos and e-audiobooks, which offers teens all reading levels access to an amazing range of content.

This resource is being offered temporarily by the publisher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Learn a Skill:

Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center: Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center is a comprehensive resource for career exploration and planning that allows you to quickly find the valuable career information you need, whether it’s learning about a profession, school planning resources, or skills and career advice.

lynda.com: Online learning courses in popular fields like web design, web development, IT, education/instruction, media production, and business.

Mango Languages: Language-learning with over 70 world language courses and over 17 ESL/ELL courses, featuring an engaging user interface, voice comparison, fresh design, foreign language films, and cultural anecdotes.

Universal Class: Online learning offering over 540 courses. Take a writing or art class, learn how to knit, improve your cooking or baking skills, or take Babysitting 101.