Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, December 12, 2019 and shared six of the best titles of 2019.
 

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Adult fiction
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
A mesmerizing novel about a college town transformed by a strange illness that locks victims in a perpetual sleep and triggers life altering dreams.

Adult nonfiction
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
A economic-hardship journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
"From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world--where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she)."

Teen fiction
Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh
Fifteen-year-old Plum and her older sister Ginny find their relationship tested by family finances, personality differences, and the secrets they are keeping from each other.

Youth fiction
Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan
Eleven-year-old aspiring writer Louisa considers traveling the world with her globetrotting parents, but friendship with George helps her to see her grandparents' farm on Deer Island in a new light.

Picture Books
Another by Christian Robinson
"A young girl and her cat take an imaginative journey into another world."

NOTE: This blog is the first in a series on the history of winter holidays. This series will also cover Moravian Christmas and Kwanzza. 

 Hanukkah is celebrated from the evening of December 22 to the evening of December 30. Often called the "Festival of Lights," Hanukkah dates to 200 BC when Judah Maccabee led the Maccabees in a successful rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, a late text, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.  

The word Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple. During the second century BCE, the people of Israel were forced by their ruler, the Seleucids, to accept Greek beliefs instead of the traditional mitzvah beliefs. The small army of Jews led by Judah the Maccabee eventually drove the Greeks out and reclaimed the Holy Temple and rededicated it to God. The Jews used olive oil to light the Temple’s Holy Menorah after they found one olive oil branch that was in possession of the Greeks. The flame lasted eight days, thus starting the tradition of Hannukah.  

The Menorah is the main symbol of Hanukkah, which holds nine candles. The family chooses their finest menorah to glorify God. There are a few important requirements to light the Menorah: candles must burn for 30 minutes before nightfall, all candles must be the same  height, candles must be lit left to right, and the Shamash candle must be the tallest. Menorahs are placed in front windows or porches when lit. The Shamash (middle candle) is lit while saying the blessing along with an additional candle each night. By the last night of Hanukkah all nine candles are lit.  

Hanukkah instills several important life lessons: to never be afraid to stand up for what’s right, always increase in matters of goodness and Torah observance, a little light goes a long way, take it to the streets, and don’t be ashamed to perform mitzvahs. 

Some traditional foods enjoyed are the potato latke (pancake) garnished with sour cream or applesauce and the jelly-filled sufganya(doughnut). The Hallel prayer is recited after meals to offer praise for God for His miracles, salvations, and wonders.  



Jewish children enjoy the holiday with toys and gifts. The dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a popular game. The words num, gimmel,hei and shin are on each side and form an acronym, “nes gadol hayah sham,” that translates to “a great miracle happened here.” It is common for children to receive gifts on each night of Hanukkah. One of the most popular gifts is                       

gelt, which is money that the receiving child often donates to charities. 

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Photos courtesy of: The Chicago Tribune, The Spruce Eats and My Jewish Learning

Citations:  

“How to Light the Haunkah Menorah and Recite The Hanukkah Prayers.” Learnreligions.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-light-the-chanukah-menorah-2076507  

“What is Hanukkah?” Chabad.org. Accessed December 2019. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htm 

Update: While we prepare to close Scaleybark for our move to South Boulevard, the Scaleybark location will reduce services and programs. Starting 9 a.m. Monday January 6, 2020, only HOLDS,  PICKUPS & RETURNS for materials will be available at Scaleybark. If you need Wi-Fi, computers, programs or other services, please visit another nearby branch location including Myers Park, West Boulevard, Main Library or another location here. We apologize for the inconvenience, and look forward to serving you in the new location on South Boulevard.

Scaleybark Library moves to new location with a new name
It’s a new building with a new look. The Scaleybark Library re-opens as South Boulevard Library on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 9 a.m. The new branch is located at 4429 South Boulevard – approximately 0.4 miles south of its former location*.

The branch remains an essential connector in the community. The Library continues to offer services, programs, Wi-Fi and computer use, along with a wide selection of books and audio-visual materials including DVDs, CDs and audiobooks, but the new South Boulevard location offers more space and resources to the growing local community. 

Note: The materials/book drop will stay open at Scaleybark until 9 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2020, when South Boulevard Library officially opens. After that time, it will close permanently and all materials should be returned to the South Boulevard location.

What's new at South Boulevard Library? 
In its brand-new location, South Boulevard Library boasts 18,850 square feet – an increase of 13,350 square feet (nearly 300%) from the old location. South Boulevard includes new spaces for both children and teens, public computers, children’s computers, three self-checkouts, an expanded community room, a dedicated children’s program room, a quiet reading room, five group study rooms, a laptop bar for customers who want to bring their own devices, many collaborative spaces and a vending café. Features include free Wi-Fi, audio-visual capabilities and a public computer lab with 12 computers.

There are two entrances to the branch, one in the front (facing South Boulevard) and one in the back of the building, along with ample parking spots in both locations.

Additionally, South Boulevard customers will be excited to know that the branch’s materials collection has increased by 20%, with the largest growth happening in picture books (50% increase), Young Adult and Teen Collections (45% increase) and World Languages (38% increase).

Library Hours
Starting January 13, 2020, South Boulevard Library begins normal operating hours. The Library is open Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The branch is closed on Sundays. The Scaleybark branch location will close its doors on Saturday, January 11, 2020, after regular business hours and will no longer accept holds or pickups.

Library Holds and Pick-ups
Scaleybark customers with items currently on hold can pick those items up at Scaleybark through January 11, 2020. Those items will seamlessly transition to be available for pick-up at South Boulevard beginning January 13, 2020. Any new holds placed after January 13, should be designated for pick-up at the new South Boulevard location by selecting it from the drop-down in the Library catalog.

Returning books and materials to South Boulevard Library
Customers may return books and materials at designated drop-boxes throughout the Library facility. (Please note after January 13, the old Scaleybark branch location will no longer accept returns.)

Funding for South Boulevard Library
Public funding for the South Boulevard project was approved in 2019 by Mecklenburg County and cost $1.7 million. The project was managed by Mecklenburg County’s Asset and Facility Management Team, the architect was Robert Johnson Architects and the builder/contractor was Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. The South Boulevard relocation is the fourth of several projects for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system; Morrison Regional Library was renovated and re-opened in 2017, North County Regional Library was renovated and re-opened in 2019, and South County Regional Library currently closed for renovations until early 2021.

When’s the celebration?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will host a Grand Opening at South Boulevard Library with a ribbon cutting ceremony and lots of activities inside the branch. Watch for dates and times to be announced.

See you at the new South Boulevard Library location soon!

*The Scaleybark branch location will close on Saturday, January 6, 2020, after regular business hours and will only be open for returns and holds during normal business hours through January 11. The materials/book drop will remain open until Monday, January 13 at 9 a.m. and then will close permanently. All materials should be taken to the South Boulevard branch for return after this time.

NOTE: This blog is the second in a series on the history of winter holidays. Hanukkah was covered in this series and Kwanzaa comes next. Stay tuned!

Before there was Winston-Salem, there were two distinctive towns-- Winston and Salem. Salem was established by the Moravians in 1766. The Moravians were a Protestant church that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic. During the colonial period, Salem became a central trading center in North Carolina’s backcountry. Today, visitors continue to visit “Old Salem” which retains its early charms.  

Several Moravian traditions are incorporated in how we celebrate winter holidays in North Carolina. The delicious Moravian sugar cookies that we enjoy are now more available than ever and are particularly popular during the holidays. Many Moravian churches throughout the state hosts a colonial tea. The Moravians further celebrate on Christmas Eve with a traditional Love Feast, which dates back to the 1700s. Tapered, beeswax candles wrapped in red ribbons are lit then distributed to everyone present including the children. Hymns are sung and it all ends with the eating of sweet buns served with milky coffee or tea.  

In many homes throughout North Carolina, you will find a Moravian Star decorating the home. This 28-point star became popular in Germany and eventually in America and Europe where there are Moravian congregations. In Germany, they are known as Herrnhut stars, named after the Moravian Mother Community in Saxony, Germany, where they were first commercially produced. 



To learn more about Moravian Christmas, visit the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room on the third floor of Main Library.

Photo courtesy of Our State Magazine 

NOTE: This blog is the third and final in a series on the history of winter holidays. We've covered Hanukkah,  Moravian Christmas and now Kwanzaa.

What is your favorite memory from celebrating Kwanzaa?  

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-January 1. The celebration was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach, in 1966 to celebrate the African culture and the African harvest.  

After the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles and a series of police clashes, Karenga formed a discussion group called “The Circle” to spread awareness of issues that plagued the Black community. He felt that the black community didn’t have a holiday that they could identify with, so he created one. 

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Courtesy of SporcleBlog 

Kwanzaa is a Pan-African cultural holiday, uniting people of African descent all over the world. Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.” 

There are seven candles to represent each pillar of Kwanzaa:  

• Unity (Umoja) 
• Self-determination (Kujichaguila) 
• Collective work and responsibility (Ujima) 
• Cooperative economics (Ujamaa) 
• Purpose (Nia) 
• Creativity (Kuumba) 
• Faith (Imani)

Unity means doing everything together as a family, community, nation and race. Self-determination is defining, naming, creating and speaking for themselves as a nation. Collective work and responsibility mean solving family problems together. Cooperative economics is to profit from businesses together. Purpose is restoring people and their community to greatness. Creativity is to do everything possible to make their communities more beautiful than it was when it was inherited. Faith is believing in the community and the victory of their struggle. 

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Courtesy of History.com 

There are also seven symbols of Kwanzaa:  

• Woven mat (Mkeka) 
• Candleholder (Kinara) 
• Seven candles (Mishumaa saba) 
• Unity cup (Kikombe cha umoja) 
• Ear of corn (Vibunzi) 
• Bowl of fruits and vegetables (Mazao) 
• Gifts for children (Zawadi).  

African culture, history, foundation, identities and aspirations are demonstrated by the woven mat. During Kwanzaa, reflections on the past and how it benefits the future are made. The mats were made from straw, African mud cloth, and other African textiles. This is the foundational symbol upon which the other symbols are placed. 

Ancestry is honored through the candleholder, standing tall as the original stalk from which African ancestors came. Sun and light are depicted by the seven candles (3 red, 3 green, 1 black). The red candles stand for Kujichaguila (self-determination), Ujimaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity); the green candles stand for Nia (purpose), Ujima (collective work and responsibility and Imani (faith); the black candle stands for Umoja (unity). Each night, one candle is lit, and the purposes are reflected upon.  

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Courtesy of KwanzaaKeepers.com

The unity cup celebrates the ritual that takes place on the sixth day of Kwanzaa (tambitko). During this ritual, each person takes a sip of a libation (a drink made of juice, wine or water). The eldest person in the room blesses the cup, holds the libation to the four winds (north, south, east, and west) to bless their ancestors, pours some on the floor and says "Amen." The elder will always drink the last drops of the libation. 

One ear of corn is given to each family to represent the children. It signifies the lessons in discipline, positive thinking, expectations, compassion and self-direction the child is expected to carry forward to future generations. In families without children, an ear of corn is given to support the children of the community.  

Fruits and vegetables depict the African harvest festival, reaffirming the commitment to the unity, thanksgiving, joy and sharing of the work put into planning all economic parts of the community. Laws, values and customs recognize those that fed the community and the animals. 

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Courtesy of the Long Beach Post 

Joy, family and thanksgiving are the meaning behind the fruit basket. The baskets of fruit also demonstrate the farmers’ sacrifice and collective labor to reaffirm commitment and responsibility to the community.  

Throughout Kwanzaa, gifts are given to children in order to promote self-determination, purpose and creativity. These are normally handmade to avoid the chaos of the Christmas shoppers. Examples of gifts include dolls, mats or cards. You become part of the family when you accept a gift, and it is that person’s responsibility to continue the gift giving if they are the host.  

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“Kwanzaa.” History.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history 

Watson, Stephanie. “The History of Kwanzaa.” HowStuffWorks. Accessed December 2019. https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/kwanzaa2.htm. 

This holiday season, many people will give the gift of genetic ethnicity tests. During the last few years, the popularity of consumer DNA tests like AncestryDNA and 23andMe has noticeably soared. As of early 2019, MIT Technology Review estimated that more than 26 million people had taken an at-home ancestry test. Continuing at that rate, they estimate that the number could grow to more than 100 million people within 24 months.



As additional people submit their DNA to these test providers, existing customers may find their test results evolving. In fact, the top-selling test, AncestryDNA, recently announced to customers that their test results have been updated. Ancestry calls it their “most precise breakdown yet.” This is not the first time that results have been updated, and updates will continue to happen periodically as more people take the test (at no additional charge to the customer). So, why exactly do these updates happen and how do they impact your ethnicity estimate? 

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com 

Though they are always adding new features, AncestryDNA test results are primarily made up of an ethnicity estimate and DNA matches. When calculating ethnicity estimates, customers’ DNA is compared to a reference panel comprised of DNA samples from people with long family histories in a single region or group. Test takers’ DNA segments are assigned to the population in the reference panel that they are most similar to.

With each update, customers may find that their ethnicity estimates change—sometimes quite drastically. In some cases, your percentages from a specific region may differ from those in previous estimates, or new regions may suddenly appear. Some regions, especially those with low percentages, may disappear from your ethnicity estimate entirely. According to Ancestry, more samples allow them to do two things: divide the world into more regions and create a more precise picture of what the DNA “fingerprint” from those specific regions looks like. With the latest update, the more closely related ethnicities have been better resolved and the ethnicity estimates have been split into smaller, more defined regions. Simply put—your DNA has not changed, but as the data pool has grown, your results have evidently become more precise.  

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers free access to Ancestry.com Library Edition in all library branches. Here in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, where we specialize in local history and genealogy, we often get questions from patrons about deciphering their genetic ethnicity test results. If you have any specific questions about AncestryDNA or genealogy in general, feel free to contact us. We can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (704) 416-0150. Our staff is always happy to offer guidance! 

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The feature photo of the Ancestry DNA test kits accompanying this article is from SmarterHobby.com.

Countries around the world celebrated the new year at different times based on the calendar they chose to follow. The first of the year would align based on an astrological or agricultural event, which explains the difference in calendars. For Egyptians, it was after the Nile River flooded. In China, it was after the second new moon.



The earliest recorded new year’s celebration occurred in March (on the Gregorian calendar) about 4,000 years ago in Babylon, in an ancient Mesopotamian city located in what is present-day Iraq. Babylonians observed Akitu (derived from the Sumerian word for barley) to celebrate the new year with an 11-day religious festival. This festival allowed them to practice rituals, elect a new ruler or approve the continuation of the current ruler and celebrate the victory of the sky god, Marduk, over the sea goddess, Tiamat. (Right photo: Chinese New Year Mongkol Chuewong/Getty)                                              



What we know as a 365-day year used to be much shorter. Romulus, the founder of Rome and ruler in the 8^th century BC, created and enforced a 10-month calendar with 304 days. A later Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, added the two months of Januarius and Februarius, but the calendar eventually fell out of sync with the sun.

Julius Caesar ultimately created the Julian calendar, which is closely related to the Gregorian calendar the world uses today. Caesar is credited with choosing January 1 as the first day of the year to honor the month’s namesake, Janus, the god of beginnings. Janus was believed to be a two-faced god who could look behind into the past and forward into the future.

Today, the world continues to celebrate the new year in a variety of festive (and delicious) ways. In Spain, a dozen grapes are hung right before midnight to symbolize hope in the months ahead. Financial success is symbolized by eating legumes and lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. In Cuba, Austria and Hungary, pork is eaten to represent progress and prosperity. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries are eaten in the Netherlands, Mexico and Greece to show how the year has come full circle. Good luck and fortune are represented in Sweden and Norway by a hidden nut in rice pudding. (Left photo: NYE Copenhagen, dailyscandinavian.com)

It is encouraging to know that for at least 4,000 years, the new year has always been perceived as a fresh start with hope, joy and pending success.

What are some of your New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions?

Times Square Seth Wenig/AP

This blog was updated December 31, 2020.

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Citations:

“New Year’s.” History.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years

Did you know that the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is present on multiple social media platforms? It’s true and we’d love to connect with you! Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or all four, following or “liking” us on social media can help you stay better informed about Library events, programs, news and updates.

Are you a Mecklenburg County teen? Connect with us on Instagram at @CMLibraryTeens. CMLibraryTeens is a safe place, exclusively for teens, to connect with their favorite Teen Services staff and peers. It's also a place for book hauls, talks, games, live programs and more. Don't miss out!

But It doesn’t stop there. Nope!

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to improving lives and building a stronger community by also ensuring customers and community members see themselves reflected in the inclusive, rich and diverse content we post. Customers and members of the community are also welcome to follow us on Flickr where they can find photos from Library events and programs happening at branch locations and other partner organizations in their own neighborhoods.

Don’t miss your opportunity to “friend” the Library and engage with us. Whether you decide to add, like or follow the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, we look forward to socializing with you. Connect with us today!

The Charlotte Mecklenburg library system in a large library system with many teen volunteers across twenty branches. Our focus for the grant this year was to choose a branch that does not have a high recruitment and retention rate for teen volunteers. Our Sugar Creek branch is in a low-income and widely served area in our county, and in the past, we have had teens not complete the summer volunteering program at this branch.

Our teen interns were integral to making some of our summer programs a success. Summer Interns assisted with our Summer Reading Kickoff at the beginning of summer. Each intern operated a STEAM station and helped the Children’s Department with various projects such as, prepping Summer Reading materials, Summer Reading registration, book displays, and programs. They maintained weekly shelf-reading assignments which included pulling duplicate copies from our fiction and nonfiction collection as well as processed Book Sale items, and they have assisted the Circulation Department by pulling morning holds and processing daily delivery. 

The teen interns were asked which experience this summer was the most meaningful, and each of them gave a different view of why libraries are so important for teens. One of our interns, Treyson, also volunteered to be Clifford the Big Red Dog as part of the Summer Reading Kickoff. As Treyson was dressed as Clifford the Big, Red Dog in the summer sun, he said that even though it was a very hot costume, he “didn’t have to wear it” and that he “wanted to”, especially seeing how happy it made the children to see him.

Aleah shared about a moment when she was shelving in the children’s department, there was a child who told her she did not have anyone to play with. So, Aleah started coloring on the chalkboard with her, and she commented that she enjoyed spending time with the child, instead of leaving her alone. Aleah also stated that volunteering “gave her an excuse to read”. She never put books on hold before this summer, and now has a large stack. She also discovered ebooks and audiobooks and sometimes requests them at the same time!

Kaliyah has goals to become a graphic designer, and during this internship, she spent time with a staff person who is also an artist. The staff member gave her tips for her art and showed her how she can market her art as well. This internship gave her a connection she may have not made before.

Giving the teens several opportunities to work and collaborate with each other and library staff really benefited Sugar Creek. They were able to shine through their different personalities and have a fun experience, while learning how a library operates. This experience showed growth in each of the teens as well. By giving them a variety of tasks, they were able to find their niche, and they had a very positive impression of the library. By making the tasks fun and diverse, the teens committed 229 hours this summer, and there was no concern about retention.

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This post was reprinted with permission from the Young Adult Library Services Association blog. It was writen by Hayley Burson, teen librarian, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

See yourself changing jobs or finding the career of your dreams in 2020? We can help.

First Mondays Employer Spotlight is a monthly hiring event in the Job Help Center at Main Library, typically showcasing 2-3 employers at a time. However, the inaugural First Monday 2020 event on January 6, 2020, will be held at Main Library from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and feature more than 15 employers to kick off the new decade with big opportunities.

The companies currently scheduled to host a table at the event (subject to change) are:

• Carowinds
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• ConferenceDirect
• Elite Resources Premier Staffing
• Grace-Mar Services
• LSG Sky Chefs
• Occupancy Heroes Inc.
• Parks and Recreation Mecklenburg County
• PromoWorks
• QuikTrip
• Snyder's lance-/Campbell Soup
• The Princeton Review
• The Reserves Network
• United States Postal Service
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Come out and discover what could be your next career! Learn more about the event here.