New year, new you? You bet.

A new year gives us a chance to define, commit and achieve the personal goals that help us grow into better versions of ourselves. If you're looking for resources to help you set obtainable goals, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has you covered. Myers Park Library Leader Harold Escalante shared some of the self-improvement titles below with WCNC Charlotte Today host, Beth Troutman. Which one will you add to your reading list?

Watch the segment here

Click here to borrow titles from the “New Year, New You” book list

Adult fiction

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

A special 25th anniversary edition of Paulo Coelho’s extraordinary international bestselling phenomenon - the inspiring spiritual tale of self-discovery that has touched millions of lives around the world. Combing magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world, and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different--and far more satisfying - than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.”
 

My Grandmother Asked me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

From the author of the internationally bestselling A Man Called Ove, a charming, warmhearted novel about a young girl whose grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters, sending her on a journey that brings to life the world of her grandmother's fairy tales.”
 

Adult Nonfiction

The Self-Care Solution:  A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier and Fitter—one Month at a Time by Jennifer Ashton

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is at the top of her field as an ob-gyn and news correspondent. But even at the top there's still room to improve, and with The Self-Care Solution, she upends her life one month at a time, using her own experiences to help you improve your health and enhance your life. Dr. Ashton becomes both researcher and subject as she focuses on twelve separate challenges. Beginning with a new area of focus each month, she guides you through the struggles she faces, the benefits she experiences, and the science behind why each month's challenge - giving up alcohol, doing more push-ups, adopting an earlier bedtime, limiting technology - can lead to better health. Month by month, Dr. Ashton tackles a different area of wellness with the hope that the lessons she learns and the improved health she experiences will motivate her (and you) to make each change permanent. Throughout, she offers easy-to-comprehend health information about the particular challenge to help you understand its benefits and to stick with it. Whether it's adding cardio or learning how to meditate, Dr. Ashton makes these daily lifestyle choices and changes feel possible - and shows how beneficial a mindful lifestyle can be.
 

Bounce Back.  How to Rescue Your Finances During Tough Times by Mitch Horowitz

The five works abridged and introduced by historian and New Thought scholar Mitch Horowitz in Bounce Back give you the greatest possible opportunity to navigate economic crisis and poise yourself for recovery. Revolutionize your budgeting skills and be ready to take advantage of economic upswing with George S. Clason's classic guide to personal finance, The Richest Man in Babylon. How to Attract Money is Joseph Murphy's most effective program of visualization. Offering specific prayers and affirmations, Murphy brings you closer to your goals and helps you attain the life you want.  Russell H. Conwell's motivational classic Acres of Diamonds teaches you to think in practical ways and transform seemingly modest ideas into large returns. Transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson offers his principles for self-directed living in Power and Wealth, helping you focus and exert your will in the world. Think and Grow Rich, the world's greatest book on successful living, provides Napoleon Hill's famous thirteen steps to wealth and achievement. Open the door to financial empowerment and bounce back from challenging times with these great primers of self-potential.
 

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living - a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.
 

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Gottlieb (Marry Him) provides a sparkling and sometimes moving account of her work as a psychotherapist, with the twist that she is in therapy herself. Interspersing chapters about her experiences as a patient with others about her work, she explains, "We are mirrors reflecting mirrors reflecting mirrors, showing one another what we can't yet see." By exploring her own struggles alongside those of her patients, Gottlieb simultaneously illuminates what it's like to be in and to give therapy. As she observes, "Everything we therapists do or say or feel as we sit with our patients is mediated by our histories; everything I've experienced will influence how I am in any given session at any given hour." From "John," a successful TV producer who has walled himself away from other people, to "Julie," who has a terminal illness and is struggling to find her way through her life's closing chapters, Gottlieb portrays her patients, as well as herself as a patient, with compassion, humor and grace. For someone considering but hesitant to enter therapy, Gottlieb's thoughtful and compassionate work will calm anxieties about the process; for experienced therapists, it will provide an abundance of insights into their own work.
 

Young Adults (YA)

Top 10 tips for Developing Money Management Skills by Larry Gerber

Readers are encouraged to think about money as a tool-like a Swiss Army knife that can be used for many different tasks, to create things we want in our lives. Money is like a tool, in more ways than one. It is an all-purpose survival kit because life gets tough without it. If we handle money carelessly, it can do serious damage. And just like any tool, sometimes it works great, sometimes it doesn't. The ten tips found in this book are ideas shared by many people, from billionaires to working-class moms, dads and kids. Readers will learn about spending, saving, investing, setting financial goals, budgeting, borrowing and seeking financial advice. Some tips involve doing specific things: writing, adding and subtracting. Others suggest ways of thinking about money and what we do with it. This volume is intended to help readers get the most out of this tool we call money, whether dealing with a lot of it, or just a little. Readers are encouraged to think further with 10 Great Questions to Ask an Economics/Finance teacher and Myths & Facts.
 

Chicken Girl by Heather Smith

Poppy used to be an optimist. But after a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter is mocked online, she's having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. There, Poppy meets six-year-old girl Miracle, who helps Poppy see beyond her own pain, opening her eyes to the people around her: Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis, a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition. As the summer unfolds, Poppy stops glorifying the past and starts focusing on the present. But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal.
 

Children

B is for Breathe: The ABC’s of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings, by Melissa Monroe Boyd

From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe celebrates the many ways children can express their feelings and develop coping skills at an early age. Fun, cute and exciting illustrations, this colorful book teaches kids simple ways to cope with fussy and frustrating emotions. This book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings, show positive behaviors and practice calm down strategies.

If you Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

Meeting children from around the world gave Caldecott Medalist Blackall (Hello Lighthouse) a vision of a book "that would bring us together," she explains in an author's note. This exquisite catalogue of human experience is the result. A child with an elfin red cap, white skin, and black hair frames the story, addressing a "Visitor from Outer Space." Magnificent spreads journey through the solar system and descend toward the Earth's surface, zeroing in on a quilted landscape. Fragmentary, often droll descriptions of Earth-side existence follow, about bodies and aging, home and travel, eating and drinking ("Some of us have more food than others") and relationships ("Sometimes we hurt each other. It's better when we help each other"). Wide-eyed human characters of varying shapes, ethnicities, and abilities show kind regard for each other: a librarian offers a tissue to a man overcome; dinner table companions share animated conversation. Even for the accomplished Blackall, the artwork is dazzling. Encyclopedic paintings of the natural world - birds, sea life, an acorn and more - are rendered in painstaking detail and brilliant colors. It is a book that can be shared with strangers, visitors, friends old and new - a work in which differences build to reveal an inclusive human family on a single, precious planet.

A Year in Our New Garden, by Gerda Muller

Anna and Benjamin move with their parents to a new house in the middle of a busy city. The wonder of this house is that it includes a large garden among the tall apartment buildings. Muller explores the design and planting of this city garden through the eyes of the children. This title can be read to younger kids as the story of a family creating a garden. Older readers will appreciate in-depth explanations about the actual components needed to design a real garden. The narrative follows the family as they move from planning to planting to harvest. Multiple illustrations cover each page. Larger drawings that show the garden as a whole are combined with small framed and unframed insets that highlight specific details. The beautifully detailed paintings invite close inspection as the seasons change and the children play, picnic, plant, harvest and enjoy the garden's wildlife.

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.

I often find myself relating my feelings with music as it seems to express my sentiments exactly when my own words fail me. Other times, I'll read a sentence confirming, once again, I'm not alone in the ongoing negative sequences specifically related to Black folks. Solange’s album A Seat at the Table, and Amanda Seales’ book Small Doses made me feel seen and heard as a Black woman. While it's been four years since the release of Solange's most notable album and one year since Amanda Seales' debut book release, the need for acknowledgment by other Black women is still ever-present. Solange’s album and Amanda Seales’ book gave me a presence as a Black woman. My words no longer fail me, and hopefully, others will feel seen and heard as well. Below, you will find lyrics and thoughts from Solange Knowles and Amanda Seales accompanied by my interpretation of their work.

“Word,” a shortened phrase from "Word is bond," is used in a sentence as a question, comment or statement. It means "truth" or "I speak truth."

Ex:

"Word is bond, I checked out 99 books yesterday."

"Word? 99 books. Say, word."

"Word."

Word to Solange and Amanda Seales

"Don't touch my soul/ When it's the rhythm I know."-- Solange

Having to move through life always on the defense, while our white colleagues whimsically live life on the offense, inserting themselves in conversations instead of listening, and claiming allyship with bare minimum effort while audaciously high expectations of reward and recognition. Knowing your smile isn't owed to anyone but expected to soften the blow of truth because fragile feelings take precedence. This is the price you pay when you're Black and work in corporate America.

"When they go low, we keep the same energy."-- Amanda Seales

This is the thought process of every person of color when dealing with colleagues — or any person who checks the "white" box on survey sheets — who meets them with microaggressions, racial complicity or bias. Unfortunately (and fortunately for others), our way of action is often, if not always, a watered-down version of the reflection. We must always remain professional and calm in the face of clear wrongdoings because our tone, body language and facial expressions are heavily considered before our words. Even still, when armed with facts and professionalism, your chances of being called into Human Resources are often too great. To anyone who's lived life at the center of everyone else's world, accountability will always feel like an attack.

"Don't test my mouth/ they say the truth is my sound." -- Solange

2020 called out and urged organizations to state their position in the movement of racial injustice and inequity. Across industries, companies have filled their leadership boards of vital decision-makers. Where diversity lacked, there was an acknowledgment and pledge to diversify. While leadership roles are important, it's the critical roles of decision making that are important to have filled by people of color — especially if your organization magnifies its efforts with equity and diversity training across departments. Yet still, it doesn't reflect its diversity speech in administration roles.

The promises of tomorrow with what can be done today gives little hope to those who believe in the companies they work for. It gives, "We want your opinions, but we'll box them up and store them in the basement for never later" vibes.

"Don't touch my crown/ they say the vision I've found."-- Solange

There was an unmasking and undoing taking place when we clocked out of work for the evening. Now, more than ever, in the face of racism and racial inequity, we remain undone and unmasked, showing our true selves without apology. Taking up space and creating tables to fit our needs. Our dreams, desires and needs are no longer deferred but made into reality on our own accord.

P.S. "I'm not hostile, I'm passionate." -- Amanda Seale

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This blog post was written by Tiffany Grantham, a senior library assistant at West Boulevard Library.

Allegra Westbrooks was the first African American public library supervisor in North Carolina. Ms. Westbrooks grew up in Fayetteville, NC where she spent her childhood peeking through the windows of white-only public libraries. Her mother, a schoolteacher, passed a love of books down to her. She attended Fayetteville State Teachers College and Atlanta University where she received a Bachelor of Science in library services. 

Brevard Street Library, 1944 



When she moved to Charlotte in 1947, only two libraries existed for the Black community: Brevard Street Library and its “sub-branch” in Fairview Homes Public Housing on Oaklawn Avenue. 

Citizens Advisory Council meets with Allegra Westbrooks, Head of Negro Library Services  

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (then Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County) hired Ms. Westbrooks in 1947 as the head of Negro Library Services at the Brevard Street Library. To attract the Black community to these two branches, Ms. Westbrooks launched a campaign to host prominent speakers at Black churches “to sell the gospel of books and reading.” She also visited the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and Girl Scouts to form coalitions to increase usage of the Black libraries. 

Female librarians assisting children on the bookmobile, 1966 

Ms. Westbrooks influenced many people to go to libraries through her public efforts. Many community members remember her visting them with a bookmobile to inspire them to read. Ms. Westbrooks said, “It is gratifying, when you’ll be on the street and see somebody, and they say, 'I used the book mobile. I want you to meet my four children. I insist that they read'.” She would also pick up books that the Black community requested at Main Library once a week.

Man entering Brevard Street Library, 1948

The library system was desegregated in 1956, but the Brevard Street Branch continued to operate until December of 1961 when it was closed and demolished as part of the Brooklyn area urban redevelopment project.

Ms. Westbrooks was promoted Head of Acquisitions in 1950 at Main Library. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library officially integrated on November 19, 1956.  Hoyt R. Galvin, director of libraries 1940-1971, spoke to her undeniable skills and knowledge:

“Her recommendations were good, and I was pleased to have her join our staff, but I didn’t realize the library and the community were getting a jewel. She carries a major responsibility for the countywide public library system in coordination of adult book selection and is head of all book acquisitions. In a day when 1,000 new book titles are published every day, this is a major task. There are subject specialists who know the literature of their field in a superior fashion, but Miss Westbrooks is the most knowledgeable all-around book specialist in North Carolina.”

Ms. Westbrooks’ career with the Library spanned 35 years, but her legacy continues today. She is not only honored for her incredible achievements as a pioneer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system, but also for the many extracurricular activities and organizations she served on. In 1969, she was named “Outstanding Career Woman of 1969” at The Gold Rose Awards hosted by the White House Inn. 

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This blog was written by Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room staff at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

 

Sources

Borden, Pat. “Retiring Worker symbol of change in local library.” The Charlotte Observer, February 10, 1984.

Osborne, Dorothy. “Top Career Woman Is ‘Giant For Good’.” The Charlotte Observer, October 17, 1969.

Perlmutti, David. “A love of books, nurtured by mother.” Black History Month, Crossing the Barrier, February 4, 2009.

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.

I recall my first inaugural experience in 2009. My entire family (parents, sister, cousins, aunts, and uncles) traveled to Washington, DC to attend special events and witness President Barack Obama take the Oath of Office with First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters, Malia and Sasha. As a mom, it was important to have my sons experience this historic moment and see a President who looked like them. As a family, we also knew the importance of sharing in this special time together particularly for our youngest generation who were filled with awe and excitement.

Fast forward to Inauguration Day 2021. We reminisced and re-lived how we felt then and rejoiced again as we watched Madam Vice President Kamala Harris take her Oath of Office surrounded by her beautiful family. Although we were unable to gather in person, this occasion was enormous in nature with history being reshaped once again.

Just like my sons got to see their reflection in President Obama, now girls can see their reflection in Vice President Harris proving that the narrative can change. What a sight to behold! What a fervent expression of how every child can feel and see unlimited possibilities.

Historically, Black, brown, and indigenous people have often been relegated and made to feel that moments like this are reserved for just a few. Not so, I declare! These moments are for ALL.

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This blog post was written by Helen Hope Kimbrough. Helen is a reading evangelist, literacy advocate, and racial equity champion. She serves as the Second Vice Chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation.

Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back and listen to someone read you a story. That’s just what Library on Call plans to do.

Library on Call is an outreach service of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where customers can call a dedicated number to hear pre-recorded, frequently updated messages tailored for our senior audience.

Selections include short stories, poems, chapters from famous and popular books, jokes and more. At least one option will be offered in Spanish. Selections range in time from one to 30 minutes long. They can be heard any time, day or night, seven days a week.

To hear a story for yourself or play one for someone else, just dial (980) 331-7700. You'll hear an automated menu. Make your selection, sit back, and enjoy.

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.

I recently snapped a photo of myself and three other Black male co-workers as we were the only staff in the facility at the time. It was a moment of pride — and perhaps reckoning — for me to realize that in the 20+ years that I’ve worked in libraries, this was the only time I could recall working alongside all Black male colleagues. Truthfully, it was my first time working alongside all male colleagues, but the fact that we were all Black men was glaring. It took me back to a conversation I had a few years ago, when a young Black male asked me where I worked. When I told him where and what I did (I referred to myself as a librarian), his response was incredulous. He shared with me that he didn’t know of any librarians that looked “like him.” It was a sad acknowledgment, but not necessarily a surprising one.

From L-R, Kyle Hearns, Reggie Villegas, Kenya Sloan, LaJuan Pringle

Librarianship is one of the many career fields where Black representation lags. As Black Americans make up roughly 13% of the country’s population, 9% of librarians are Black according to the American Library Association, and out of credentialed librarians nationwide, Black male representation among this group is less than 1%. This issue has become well-known throughout the profession. The lack of Black males in librarianship has been well documented in numerous discussions and academic studies throughout the years. Some of the reasons cited for lack of Black males in the profession include:  

• Black males may not see librarianship as a viable option when they are young. It’s during these years that many of us start to think about what we want to do or who we want to be in life. As I look back on my own story, my first job in high school was a library page. If it hadn’t been for my library work in high school, I’m certain I would have never entertained the thought of becoming a librarian as an adult.
• Librarianship is a female dominated profession. Over 80% of librarians are women. There’s the belief that because women represent the overwhelming majority of librarians, it’s viewed as “woman’s” job. However, once you get past these stereotypes, librarianship is a great profession for anyone regardless of gender.

The lack of representation of Black males continues to be an issue for the library profession, but on the day we took the picture above, for me, it was a vision of what library staff could look like. In this vision, libraries would employ staff that reflect and, in many cases, look like the communities they serve. If I ever again see the young man I mentioned earlier, I’d like to invite him to West Boulevard for a visit. It would be great for him to see library employees who look like him.

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This blog post was written by LaJuan Pringle, branch leader at West Boulevard Library.

The 2021 Community Read program is designed to get our community, “On the same page” by promoting a community of readers, learners and creating a platform for discussion. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Wells Fargo, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and Publix Super Markets Charities, the Library is able to give away a limited number of books at our branch locations. Beginning February 15, 2021 customers can request a free copy of one of the four Community Read titles to keep.

Book pick up will continue while supplies last. Call your local branch location to reserve your pick and schedule a pick up time. Each of the four Community Read titles are available for checkout in our collection as well with a Library card.

Everyone in the community can participate in Community Read: read a book, share perspectives, attend a program, engage on social media and build a stronger community together.

Visit the Community Read page for additional information, to register for programs and take the pledge today.

CMS students can take the pledge here.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has hired nationally recognized library leader Marcellus “MT” Turner as its next Chief Executive Officer and Chief Librarian after an extensive national search, effective April 1, 2021. Turner comes to the Library with more than 30 years of library experience, most recently serving as the Executive Director and Chief Librarian at The Seattle Public Library (SPL) in Seattle, Wash.  

“Marcellus Turner is an exceptional leader whose experience and visionary approach make him the ideal person to lead the development and direction of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library,” said Joe Helweg, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees Chair and head of the search committee. “A respected voice in the national conversation about the future of libraries, MT will be a strategic local leader for our region with his thought leadership on how urban libraries can become more socially conscious and more impactful in helping to solve the challenges facing our communities today.” 

Turner’s three decades of experience includes 10 years at SPL, where he led and managed a system of 27 libraries, including the world-renowned and iconic Central Library, a staff of 679 and more than 500 volunteers. He brings comprehensive experience at every level of system, program and community engagement management of public libraries. Turner is also a highly regarded speaker and guest lecturer, sharing his views and vision on the future of libraries at local, state, national and international library conferences and universities. Turner earned his master’s degree in library science from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi University for Women.  

“I am excited about joining Charlotte Mecklenburg Library at such an important time in its growth and role as a community resource,” Turner said. “There is a tremendous opportunity to better understand and serve the evolving needs of Charlotte Mecklenburg, and I am committed to ensuring the Library supports, enhances and empowers the changing ways our residents live, learn and engage.” 

In addition to leading the Library’s essential mission, Turner will assume responsibilities for several important initiatives at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: activating the Blueprint 2025 Vision Plan; advancing the Library’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion; and, supporting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s continued fundraising while working with County leadership, architects and builders, to realize the completion of the new $100 million, 115,000-square-foot Main Library. The new Main Library is poised to become a major destination in Uptown Charlotte, designed to be an architecturally distinctive, state-of-the-art, technologically advanced knowledge center, welcoming everyone in the community to access the resources of a 21st century library.   

Turner will officially become Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s CEO and Chief Librarian on April 1, 2021 following the retirement of Lee Keesler, who has led the library since 2012 and served as the 117-year-old public library system’s first CEO. Coleman, Lew, Canny, Bowen led the national search, along with a diverse search committee made up of members of the Board of Trustees, Library Foundation Board and County Leaders.  

“The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Marcellus Turner, and we are thrilled to have him join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library,” Helweg said. “MT’s accomplished career in governing library systems and his vision for the future of libraries ensures Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will continue to be an engaged, dynamic and invaluable resource for our entire community.”

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.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, the same can be said for the picture book, I Am Every Good Thing. Written by Derrick Barnes, and illustrated by Gordon C. James, I Am Every Good Thing is a multiple award-winning, New York Times bestseller that celebrates Black boyhood. As the mother of a Black son, this book resonated with me as it is an affirmation. It represents the qualities that I see in my son and embodies the characteristics that I hope society will also see in him. After reading and re-reading this book with my son, it struck me that for many Black men, books like I Am Every Good Thing were nonexistent during their childhoods, and books that reflected their humanity were exceedingly rare.

On Thursday, February 11, 2021, please join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for A Conversation with Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James as we discuss I Am Every Good Thing. This program is part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s commitment to Black Lives Matter programming. Registration for the live-streamed event is preferred but not required. Click here to register online.

In the meantime, read on as five Black male Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staffers, Ayinde Best, Darius Smalls, Jamey Rorie, George Peterson, and Zuri Davenport share their thoughts on this special book.

Darius Smalls, Children’s Specialist at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, describes I Am Every Good Thing as “an awesome rarity and a contrast to our current culture which struggles to create positive images of young Black children, especially boys.” Smalls, a self-proclaimed HUGE fan of Crown: An Ode to The Fresh Cut, also by Barnes and James, remarked, “It’s great to see something with Black boys in it that isn't solely sports or music-oriented either: young Black astronauts, engineers, politicians, educators!”

The illustrations struck a chord with George Peterson, Children’s Specialist at Cornelius Library. He said, “They were so vivid and every page showed that Black boys have the same aspirations as every other young kid. It was so refreshing seeing young Black faces on each page. Seeing a boy of color riding a skateboard really hit home for me because I wanted to be Tony Hawk when I was young. Then I had the opportunity to see Ray Barbee skate. He was the only Black professional skater I had ever seen. He probably didn't know how many people of color he inspired, but he gave me hope that we could do this sport and excel in it.”

Jamey Rorie, a Teen Specialist at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library is also a fan of Crown: An Ode to The Fresh Cut, especially for its depiction of the barbershop and its importance in Black male culture. He said, “Crown depicted Black boys smiling and being confident in who they are and realizing their worth beyond what society might think they are. I had a feeling I Am Every Good Thing would have similar themes, and I wasn't disappointed. The artwork and the message within it are excellent. The world we live in tends to only highlight the negative, especially when directed to Black boys. They are labeled as "thugs," "up to no good, "troublemakers," etc. Not a single positive adjective outside is used outside of sports, music, or some physical attribute. Nothing is said about who they are, their passions, their loves, their dreams, their future. Young Black boys believe they have to hide who they truly are to prevent themselves from being made fun of by their peers and feeling like outsiders. I Am Every Good Thing is a book that every young Black boy should read so they know that they are more than what the world thinks of them - that it is ok to smile, that it is ok to laugh, be silly, to be themselves because they are more than what people see, that they are good, wonderful, fantastic and worthy of love and respect.”

As each staffer reflected on their childhood, they could only identify a few books in which they specifically saw themselves reflected. Zuri Davenport, a Teen Librarian at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library who also holds an affinity for Crown, could not pinpoint a specific book or character that resonated with him as a youth. He said, “just about any kind of book with Black characters, I see myself reflected back. It may not be me personally, but my family and friends, who are also a part of me.”

Ayinde Best, a Circulation Specialist at Main Library, saw himself reflected in picture books as a child because he and his parents frequented a local Afrocentric bookstore to buy books. Some of his most cherished favorites of are the Ezra Jack Keats books, A Story a Story, Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, and a book about a young boy and the adventures he has with the village medicine woman. The opposite is true for Rorie. He gravitated to nonfiction as a child and attributed that to the lack of books he could relate to. He said, “the only picture books that stuck with me growing up were those books that had animals as characters or some other nonhuman protagonist.” For Smalls and Peterson, Ezra Jack Keats stood out, too, especially The Snowy Day. Peterson said, “the only book that I saw myself reflected as a child was Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day. My family used to read this to me and have told me stories of me pointing to Peter and saying, ‘that's me!’” He even remembers having a red snowsuit like Peter. Smalls also recalled Feast for Ten but regrets that there weren’t more books with Black boys as he was an avid reader.

Each of the five men interviewed agreed that I Am Every Good Thing and books like it are necessary for children’s literature. Davenport said, “all positive books depicting children of color are necessary because we are a diverse people that often get narrowed down to one thing. Reading and seeing diversity in your literature helps you connect to the diversity that is around you.” Peterson added, “this book is necessary because it gives young Black boys and boys of color hope and gives them the knowledge that they can strive to be successful in any journey they have.” Best said, “I think it's great that books like these exist. I wish we could see more books with Black protagonists/with Black cultural themes; a wealth of both should be available to parents looking for good stories to read to their kids.”

“This book as well as writers like Derrick Barnes and illustrators like Gordon C. James are precious and rare in children’s literature. Most of what I was exposed to as Black representation in literature was related to slavery while in elementary school. Still, certainly, our history and culture are broader than just that. Having a book where a character is just living and enjoying life and having regular experiences while being Black is just plain rare. More books like this need to exist to help normalize people seeing Black kids as kids too. May there continue to be more books like this, but also more Black men as authors to create stories like these,” Smalls said.

Rorie thinks that every young Black boy should read books like I Am Every Good Thing. He says that this book will “let them know that they are more than what the world thinks of them - that it is ok to smile, that it is ok to laugh, be silly, to be themselves because they are more than what people see. They need to know that they are good, wonderful, fantastic, and worthy of love and respect. Previous generations had no such books that spoke directly to them to let them know that they matter and are unique. "I personally wish I had books like this growing up, it took me well into high school to realize that I was more than what society thought I was and that I didn't have to hide who I was because of what others might think.” Peterson added, “on the next to last page there is a line that states, ‘I am my ancestors' wildest dream’ that made me think back to what I have become." I am the grandchild of Alabama sharecroppers. My grandmother was a booklover, and for me to be in the position that I am in, I know she would be beyond proud.

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This blog post was written by Alesha Lackey, children’s services manager at Allegra Westbrooks Regional 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.

February is the month of love! Just as we celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th, we celebrate Black Love Day on February 13th. This year Black Love Day and Valentine’s Day should not be exclusively celebrated by couples — we should all shower ourselves with some extra love this month. We are mindful to adhere to the safety measures set in place to protect our loved ones and us from COVID-19. The Library is here to ensure that you have the resources you need to celebrate safely at home. Below you will find a guide that can be used to design the perfect evening of love for yourself or that special someone in your life.

This guide features one of my favorite Charlotte Mecklenburg Library e-resources hoopla. This resource is a one-stop-shop that allows you to instantly check out e-books, audiobooks, movies, television shows, and new music. You can check out six items per month, and the materials you check out expire on their own so you do not have to worry about pesky due dates. Use this guide to set up your hoopla account and begin checking out materials today.

hoopla Set-Up Guide

hoopla Tutorial

Set the vibe with the perfect playlist:

The perfect evening starts with the perfect playlist. Use this curated collection of music by Black artists to set the vibe for your special evening. Since this collection features the lovely sounds of new and classic artists, there is sure to be something there for everybody to enjoy.

hoopla’s Special Collection Music by Black Artist

Watch a riveting film on hoopla:

I love hoopla because they have a massive collection of movies featuring talented Black directors, writers, and actors. This month use hoopla’s “Maverick Black Cinema” collection to find the perfect film for your love filled evening.

Maverick Black Cinema Movie Collection on hoopla

Learn something new using lynda.com

One of the best self-care practices or ways to invest in your relationship is to learn a new skill. If you’re planning the perfect night just for yourself, taking an enrichment course can be fulfilling and fun. If you’re looking to invest in your partner and make the night impactful, taking an online course together can be a positive bonding activity that will strengthen your relationship.

Lynda.com is one of my favorite resources because it is filled with tutorials and courses. Many of the courses are brief, but they are filled with useful information. Look at the collection and plan your impactful and love-filled evening today.

lynda Set-Up Guide

lynda Tutorial

Order to-go from one of these restaurants and feed your soul:

Below you’ll find some of my favorite Black owned restaurants in Charlotte. With their diverse menus and charismatic owners, you’ll know that without a doubt their food was made with love! 

Leah and Louise

Location: Camp North End

“We interpret classic southern dishes, ingredients and techniques in a way that honors our heritage. We're inspired by Mississippi River Valley foodways. Think Memphis, Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans.”

Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken and Seafood

Location: 2400 Tuckaseegee Road Charlotte, NC 28208

“The best and ONLY Maryland Style Crab Cake, Chicken and Seafood in Charlotte!”

Skrimp Shack

Location: (Eastway) 3718 Central Ave. Charlotte, NC 28205, (Pineville) 8328 Pineville-Matthews Rd. Suite 301 Charlotte, NC 28226

“Skrimp Shack has a fish “samwich” that’s as big as your face! Chaz Crenshaw, owner of the Eastway franchise, calls himself the Skrimp King.”

Dee’s Vegan to Go

Location:  1540 West Blvd, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28208

“We started our business at the Charlotte Regional Farmer’s Market in 2016.  We are a family owned and operated business with a focus on locally sourced fresh ingredients. Our commitment is to homemade, carefully prepared vegan comfort foods.”

Mert’s Heart and Soul

Location: 214 N College St. Charlotte, NC 28202

“Husband-&-wife-run spot for Southern soul food, including Lowcountry dishes, in a colorful setting.”

Cuzzo’s Cuisine

Location: 3415 Tuckaseegee Rd. Charlotte, NC 28208

“Cuzzo's Cuisine is a Gourmet restaurant specializing in Southern Cuisines. Andarrio and Anglee are 1st cousins and were born and raised in South Carolina (Low Country).  You will always receive the best customer service and the most delicious Southern Cuisine.”

I hope this guide helps you plan the perfect love filled weekend. Happy Black Love Day!

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This blog post was written by Cearra Harris a teen services librarian at West Boulevard Library.