What is Northstar Digital Literacy?

Northstar Digital Literacy is an assessment and learning tool designed to assess the skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. Online, self-guided modules assess the ability of individuals to perform tasks based on these skills. Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in three main areas: Essential Computer Skills, Essential Software Skills, and Using Technology to Accomplish Tasks.

How do I get started?

Step One: Start by requesting your Northstar Learner Account to unlock your access! Requests will be completed within 3 days of receipt. Click here to request your FREE account.

Step Two: Log in to your learner account at the www.digitalliteracyassessment.org website from anywhere.

Step Three: Click on any of the topics to take an assessment.

Step Four: When you feel you have mastered a particular skill set, sign up for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library virtual proctored assessment session. During this session, you can present your ID online to formally take the assessment and obtain your official Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment (NDLA) Certification. To sign up for Northstar virtual session, click here. 

What topics are available for the assessment?

Essential Computer Skills: 

• Basic Computer Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Internet Basics (Practice lessons also available)
• Using Email (Practice lessons also available)
• Windows and Mac OS

Essential Software Skills:

• Microsoft Word (Practice lessons also available)
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Docs

Using Technology in Daily Life:

• Social Media
• Information Literacy
• Supporting K-12 Distance Learning
• Career Search Skills (Practice lessons also available)
• Your Digital Footprint

Looking to introduce more mindfulness and overall peace into your life? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for a Serenity Walk at Matthews Library. Learn more information below:

Downtown Matthews
The Matthews Library offers a unique experience to participate in a mindful stroll around a ½ mile loop in the downtown area. The Serenity Walk incorporates activities along the way that allows you to replace the noise as you breath in a more peaceful state of mind.

Where do I start?
To begin the walk, stop by the Matthews Library and pick up a map that provides the directions and activities to assist you on your journey. The guide provides you with specific information, points of reference and instructions to enhance your experience. You will also find a QR code that will enable you to access additional resources through the Library to further assist you on your quest to natural serenity.

What should I bring?
The Serenity Walk is a personal experience. Many Library staff have enjoyed keeping a journal to jot down reflections while taking the walk and some enjoy the company of their beloved animal companions. Others have remarked on the sensory nature of the walk and have appreciated the opportunity to indulge in the fragrant offerings of coffee, bakery goods, and other treats along the way.

Are you ready to begin your journey to serenity and mindfulness? Contact the Matthews Library at 704-416-5000 or find us on the Library's Branches page.

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This blog was written by Cynthia McDonald, librarian at Matthews Library.

National Volunteer Week (NVW) recognizes ordinary people who improve our neighborhoods and our community every day – volunteers. At the Library, we celebrate the enormous contributions of volunteers April 18-24, 2021 – which is fittingly also National Library Week.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from working closely with volunteers this year, we look forward to seeing and working with them again as soon as it is safe to do so. Still, we celebrate our volunteers who continue to support the Library as customers, advocates and by providing virtual service hours through online programs such as Paws to Read.

Volunteers are an essential part of the Library’s efforts to create a more educated and literate community. Last year, 1,241 volunteers donated 38,496 hours of service to our Libraries. We couldn’t be more grateful!

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library thanks all our volunteers for their dedication and support. We are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they bring to so many roles: Reading Buddies, Technology Tutors, Circulation Helpers, Homework Helpers and our Paws to Read dogs.

We asked a few volunteers why they give so generously of their time and talent. Surabhi Kaushik has led writing programs and helped at events for about four years – in that time, she’s logged well over 400 hours of service. Kaushik shared “Volunteering at the Library has been an enjoyable learning experience for me because it has given me a space to showcase my talents, meet new people and be part of a welcoming community. The writing group has given me a sense of belonging which was important to me as a newbie immigrant.”

In November 2020, Surabhi was awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.

VolunTeen David Clinkscales has been volunteering at University City Regional Library since he was just thirteen years old. “My favorite part of volunteering at the Library is participating in storytime. Seeing the children follow the dances, run around smiling and interacting makes me always want to come back.” Clinkscales explains, “Libraries are important because the library is where most children first learn and develop the literacy, math and social skills necessary for school. The Library helps the surrounding community, and volunteering allows me to be a part of that improvement.”

We are forever grateful to Library volunteers and all volunteers who dedicate themselves to improving lives and building a stronger community. We look forward to working with our volunteers, new and current, in the future.

Questions about volunteering? Email the volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

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.

Every so often, I like to remind myself and others that Black lives still matter. I don't use this to fall in line with current trends, but it is very much a fact. Since the beginning of time, the lives of all people have mattered. Still, there have been incidents in the history of America where the criminal justice system has tried to prove otherwise when we see a lack of accountability around justice for Black people. Hence, I've got to be specific — Black lives matter. They mattered when our ancestors were brought to this country as slaves 400 years ago. They mattered in the Jim Crow South. They mattered during the Civil Rights movement, when Dr. King was assassinated, and they matter to the families and friends of the many Black individuals that have been killed at the hands of those who don't value Black lives. The rallying cry moved from "we shall overcome" to "Black lives matter," and today and every day I declare, and we declare, that Black lives matter.

It has been almost one year since George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, and the trial for his death is currently underway. The trauma of his killing is real. Amid last year’s rallying cries for justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed at the hands of someone paid to protect and serve. There is a long list of Black people that have suffered this same fate at the hands of police, and it's sad to say, but justice has not been yielded in any instance involving Black lives.

Now, the world is eagerly watching to see if justice will be served the same way we watched the viral video of George Floyd’s death. In his final moments George Floyd called out that he "can't breathe" the same way in which Eric Garner did seven years prior. However, instead of being choked by an officer like Garner, he had the weight of an adult human on his neck. The compassion that should have been shown for Floyd in the final moments of his life was absent, and in the coming days and weeks as the trial for the man who killed him continues, I hope that justice is finally served.

George Floyd's life mattered — no matter what he did, it mattered. As in many other incidents involving unarmed Black people and the police, there is a video which shows the officer's lack of compassion for George Floyd’s life. However this time there is a trial, and while Derek Chauvin's defense attorney grasps for straws to free him, I hope that the jury uses their eyes and their heart to serve justice to the family of George Floyd and the many other Black lives that have faced the same circumstances. Because Black lives still matter.

Learn more about social justice, mass incarceration, antiracism and more with this Library curated booklist:

Social Justice Book Club Booklist

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This blog was written by De’Trice Fox, adult services librarian in the Job Help Center at Main Library.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Get ready to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) in April 2021 with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Also known as Día (Diversity in Action), this initiative emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This year's Día theme is "Every Story Matters, Each Child Counts." and families are encouraged to experience a variety of online programs throughout the month.

These programs feature fun, interactive activities for the entire family ranging from storytimes and book talks as well as virtual author visits by this year’s signature authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Suzanne Bloom. This year’s celebration also features an exciting virtual visit from Charlotte Hornets mascot Hugo the Hornet.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates Día as part of its commitment to connecting children and their families to multicultural books, bilingual services, and educational resources. Learn more about the services provided by the Library by visiting www.cmlibrary.org. Learn more about Día.  

Contact for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: Meryle A. Leonard 704.416.0558 or [email protected]

En Espanol Irania Patterson 704.416.0557 or [email protected]

Special Día Guest

Jay Baron                           Suzanne Bloom            Lester Laminack        Carmen Agra Deedy

Prepárese para celebrar el Día del Niño/Día del Libro en abril de 2021 con la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Esta iniciativa, también conocida como “Día (Diversidad en Acción)”, hace hincapié en la importancia de la alfabetización para los niños de todos los orígenes lingüísticos y culturales. El tema de Día de este año es “Cada historia cuenta, cada niño cuenta.”, y se anima a las familias para que disfruten de una variedad de programas en línea durante todo el mes.

Estos programas ofrecen actividades divertidas e interactivas para toda la familia, desde narraciones de cuentos y charlas sobre libros hasta visitas virtuales de las autoras exclusivas de este año: Carmen Agra Deedy y Suzanne Bloom. La celebración de este año también cuenta con la emocionante visita virtual de Hugo el avispón, la mascota de los Hornets de Charlotte.

La biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg celebra Día como parte de su compromiso de conectar a los niños y a sus familias con libros multiculturales, servicios bilingües y recursos educativos. Visite www.cmlibrary.org para obtener más información sobre los servicios que ofrece la biblioteca. Obtenga más información sobre Día.  

Contacto de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg: Meryle A. Leonard, 704.416.0558 o [email protected].

En español: Irania Patterson, 704.416.0557 o [email protected].

The scholastic information is William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 and died April 23, 1616. He did not grow up in a noble family but attended the local grammar school and was married at 18 before moving to London. There, he made a name for himself as an actor and then a playwright.

The extracurricular information is that nearly 500 years later, the Bard’s prolific work as poet and writer is still as relevant today as when first published. Very few authors or their works can transcend time or adapt to cultures, yet somehow his work does. With themes like love, death, ambition, power, fate and free will, along with his influence on language, Shakespeare’s works have become timeless. Some of the most popular words you may recognize that the Bard coined include bandit, critic, dauntless, dwindle, green-eyed (to describe jealousy), lackluster and swagger. In total, Shakespeare came up with 422 whole new words. Read them here. 

Watching one of his plays live onstage is a unique experience. Shakespeare in the Park in New York City’s Central Park was first conceptualized in 1954 and put on more than 100 plays and musicals since the Delacorte Theater was opened in 1962.

Shakespeare’s Globe based in London, which houses the Globe Theater along with the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, welcomes more than 1.25 million visitors a year from all over the world (pre-COVID times). On May 20, 2021, the Theater is presenting a webinar for its Anti-racist Shakespeare series that focuses on A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. The webinars enable as many audience members, theatre professionals, teachers and scholars as possible from all backgrounds to engage in this vital discussion. This event takes place on Zoom and is free, but you will need to register in advance to receive a link to attend the live webinar. The event is open to all and you do not need to be a ticket holder for a performance. Click here for more information.

Many of Shakespeare’s works have inspired other works of fiction. Romeo and Julie transformed into West Side Story in the 1960s. Hamlet has been made into many adaptations, including movies like Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Lion King.

A few years ago, I attended the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of Othello. It took the play out of Renaissance Venice and into the biker gang culture of contemporary times with gang-attire and an incessant rock beat bringing to life all the great dialogue. Framed as rival motorcycle gangs The Venetians and The Turks, it was, basically, Othello on a Harley with a love relationship between a white woman and a Black man. I remember watching enthralled, astonished and entranced that a play written in 1603 could resonate so clearly more than 400 years later. (Othello production photos courtesy of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.)

Shakespeare isn’t always for everyone, but his themes carry strong and bold through hundreds of years of change. If you take another look, you might see Shakespeare in a whole new light. 

Find reading lists here, curated by our own Library staff:

Shakespeare  - For All Ages

Shakespeare - All About the Bard

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This blog was written by Ann Stawski, marketing & vommunications leader at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A carefully crafted resume is an essential part of your job search. If you take the time to search the internet for resume tips, you will see thousands of hits on how to design a resume. However, there are no set rules for resumes, but below are some suggestions to make your resume more effective for your job search.

Do’s

Add POWER (action) words. Resumes are no longer lists of duties and responsibilities. They are a display of your impact in your previous roles. When listing experience on your resume, you should make sure that the accomplishments of previous jobs are highlighted and described in a way that piques the reader’s interest. Always start your sentence with a powerful word to dynamically describe your experience. The use of action words allows you to be more concise and provide instant information to hiring managers. Often hiring managers skim resumes, so it is recommended that you use active words instead of passive words.

Tailor your resume to the desired job. Though tailoring your resume for every job application is time-consuming, it shows the hiring manager that you have a genuine interest in the position. Dissect the job description -- pulling keywords and skills from the description into your resume to show that you are the right person for the position. You want to make it easy for your resume to be picked up by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which screens your resume before it reaches an actual person.

Find someone else to review your resume. Always have another set of eyes review your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. Having someone proofread your resume will allow them to spot the mistakes that you have missed. The worst thing that you can do is submit a resume that has typos. There are preconceived notions that hiring managers can and will make about you if your resume isn’t correctly proofread. If you don’t have a friend or colleague willing to review your resume, consider submitting it to the Job Help Center’s resume review service. Please email your resume to [email protected] and have one of our staff provide a review (expect 3 to 5 days for review). Plus, it’s completely free!

Don’ts

“References available upon request” should be removed from your resume. To apply for a job, you should have 2 to 3 references. References are people who will attest to your ability to perform tasks. However, you should not include them in your resume- keep them on hand to use when filling out a job application.

Take out the Objective. Instead of listing an “objective,” consider a qualifications summary section instead. Include a list of your skills or strengths to place at the top of your resume for a quick read of your resume. This will help you make better use of available space.

Remove your mailing address. The mailing address is a thing of the past for your resume. The employer will not be reaching out to you via snail mail about the job; it is more efficient to contact you via email or phone. So, remove your mailing address, but list your city and state. Save space and omit.

Don’t list any job older than 10 years. Have you been in the workforce for over 10 years? If so, any job older than 10 years or more can be excluded from your resume. A caveat to this is if you feel the experience is relevant to the job you are interested in, then feel free to add those critical skills to your qualifications section.

These are just a few of the tips that will make your resume more effective and bring you one step closer to getting your dream job. 

Looking for more advice and help as you search for your new career? Click here for the Library's Job Help Center's calendar.

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This blog post was written by Job Help Center staff and updated by De’Trice Fox, librarian at the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

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.

In June 2020, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library made a statement that “systemic racism and inequity have no place in our Library as we stand up for equity, access, inclusion, diversity and democracy.” Library staff has been working to find ways to support our community by creating opportunities to learn and dialogue with one another through Library programs and resources.   

As part of the Library's commitment to Black Lives Matter programming, a new Storytime series, "i can Read Black Stories" launched on Saturday, January 2, 2021. The target audience for the weekly program is families with children between the ages 0-5. During Storytime diverse Library staff members read picture books that feature characters who are Black, African American or people of color. The stories, songs, and movement activities will support empathy and understanding of issues affecting the Black community and offer strategies to foster conversations on equity and inclusivity.

Some books like The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson or Ruth and the Green Book by Alexander Ramsey Calvin have historical overtones, while others like Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and Sonya’s Family by Elliot Riley feature “everyday diversity.” Books to affirm and empower, like I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and I Am Enough by Grace Byers are also shared often.

Why read Black stories? Educator Rudine Sims Bishop, professor emerita at The Ohio State University, devoted her career to multicultural literacy. In her seminal work, Mirrors, Window, and Sliding Glass Doors she writes, “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.”

Of the 3,717 children’s books published in the United States in 2019, only 1,094 of them were about Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Color (BIPOC). Data on books by and about Black, Indigenous and People of Color published for children and teens is compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center determines that a book is about characters of a specific ethnicity or racial identity if the main character is BIPOC or if a BIPOC character or real person is featured significantly in the book, even if the main character is white. If the main character is white and there are secondary characters of color who do not play a key role in the story, then a book is not considered to be about BIPOC.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates Día during April. Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages, and cultures. On Saturday, April 24 at 11 a.m., join the Children’s Services department for a special Día-themed I Can Read Black Stories program. The program which will be live streamed via the Facebook Page for ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center. It will celebrate Afro-Hispanic and Afro-Latino authors and illustrators and Afro-Hispanic and Afro-Latino characters. To watch live Storytime programs visit the ImaginOn's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ImaginOn/ and choose “LIVE” on the left-hand navigation list. There will be a red dot next to the word “LIVE” to indicate that Storytime is in session.

Learn more about the program here

Programs like Día and i can Read Black Stories help children to embrace diversity by accepting differences in others. Teaching children to accept differences when they are young helps them to have responsible, caring and positive social interactions when they are older. We hope that you will join us for these programs as we further our mission to improve lives and build a stronger community.

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

Mecklenburg County 7 Recycling FAQs & Answers

On May 11, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will host a FREE webinar to teach our patrons ages 12+ how to Recycle Right! Advanced registration is required to receive the participation link. Recycling resources will be shared with registrants before and after the program.

Register here

Library staff is organizing the event with two residential recycling educators. In preparation for the event we asked the public educators what they most need residents to understand. They didn’t hesitate to explain how materials need to be prepared correctly to be efficiently sorted at the recycling center. Here are their two critical requests:

• Do not bag recyclables! Plastic bags cause tremendous operational and financial challenges for our processing facility. No flexible plastic wraps, films, bags or packaging should ever be put in the recycling cart.
• Recyclables must be loose, clean, dry and empty! Recyclable items must be placed individually in the recycling cart, not in bags, for the separation equipment to function properly. Never put one type of recyclable inside of another (i.e. aluminum cans in a cardboard box.) All recyclables must be non-contaminated. This means every individual item must be clean, dry and empty, with no residue of the original contents (i.e. food.)

Following are the questions solid waste staff receive weekly*:

*Please note these are the recycling guidelines for Mecklenburg County, requirements may differ slightly in other counties.

1. What plastic items can I put in my residential curbside cart?

ONLY plastic bottles and jugs, with a pourable neck or spout that is smaller at the top than the base, are accepted. These are the only pure plastic types that we can sell on the recyclable materials commodity market. Labels do not need to be removed.

Examples include: Water and soda bottles of any colors, milk or juice jugs, laundry jugs, shampoo or lotion bottles (pumps should be removed and trashed first.)

Please note the following common household plastics are not accepted in Curbside Recycling:

Plastic bags/bubble wrap, produce clamshells, yogurt cups, dairy tubs, takeout food containers, styrofoam, zip pouches, vitamin and medication bottles, disposable utensils and plastic cups, buckets, storage containers, hoses.

1. What recycling symbol numbers (1, 2, 5, 7 etc.) are accepted locally?

None. See question FAQ #1 above listing the only plastics that are acceptable.

The RICs (resin identification codes) listed inside the chasing arrows triangle on the bottom of plastic packaging are, unfortunately, no longer reliable. Therefore, we do not use them anymore.

1. What do I do with lids and caps?

Never place loose lids or caps in the recycling cart. Loose lids and caps are small and fall through our machines and end up contaminating the glass that is collected. Glass mixed with plastic and metal caps (among other things) cannot be sold to processors as raw materials as it is considered contaminated – so keep the plastic caps on the bottles.

It is “ok” to leave securely attached plastic caps and lids on clean, dry and empty cartons, bottles, jugs and jars. Never try to recycle caps by themselves.

1. How much grease is tolerated to recycle pizza boxes?

Somewhere between a smidge and a tad; Yes that is an intentionally vague answer! Of course we prefer to only accept clean and dry cardboard to only process and sell by the ton the highest quality recyclables. We definitely do not want whole pieces of pizza or crust left in the box (yes it happens!) Cheese, sauce and crumbs are also contaminants. If ½ your box is clean, rip that part off to recycle and please trash anything with food or grease residue.

1. Are aluminum foil and pans (pie, lasagna, roasting) recyclable?

No. Our machines can only recognize and sort aluminum cans. Additionally, more often than not these common aluminum food storage items are contaminated with food. Remember we do not want food residue on anything.

1. How do I dispose of household batteries?

Rechargeable batteries must be disposed of properly because they contain hazardous elements such as lithium, nickel, and metal hydrides. Never place rechargeable batteries in your trash or recycling carts as they are the number one cause of fires at our facilities. Please take rechargeable batteries to the household hazardous waste station at one of our full service drop off centers.

Traditional alkaline batteries can be put in the trash to be sent to the landfill, because they do not contain any hazardous elements.

1. What types of glass can be recycled?

Similar to plastics (see FAQ #1), only glass bottles and jars typically used in your kitchen or bathroom are accepted. All colors of glass are accepted. Caps and lids can remain on, if securely attached, (see FAQ #3). Labels do not need to be removed.

We prefer separated glass be brought to our full service drop off centers and deposited into the large yellow dumpsters marked, “Clean Glass Only.”

Please note the following common household glass items are not accepted:

Dishes and glasses, pyrex/corning ware, vases, bulbs, picture frames, windows, aquariums, ceramics, porcelain, crystal.

To learn more and have all of your questions answered live, please register for an upcoming Recycle Right presentation. If you still have questions, email [email protected] or visit wipeoutwaste.com.

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This blog was written by Maitri Meyer, residential waste reduction educator for Mecklenburg County.

Does the clutter in your home have you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Does your home look out of control? An organized home helps you focus more, it relieves stress and saves you time. It improves your overall health.

Join us online as Joanna Clausen, Owner of NEST Organizing in Huntersville, NC, shares her tips and tricks for getting organized. Joanna is a mother of three and a professional organizer. She uses her passion for organization to help others take control of their home and stuff. Learn more about Joanna here.

To learn the NEST organization process for how to reset, declutter, sort, purge and clean:

May 4, 2021 at 7 p.m. Register here.

May 5, 2021 at 6 p.m. Register here

Make cooking meals easier by having a clean and ready-to-go kitchen. To learn techniques to organize your kitchen and pantry:

May 11, 2021, at 7 p.m. Register here.

May 12, 2021 at 6 p.m. Register here.

Turn your home office into a productive workspace. To declutter and sort your home office and papers:

May 18, 2021 at 7 p.m. Register here.

May 19, 2021 at 6 p.m. Register here.

Keep, donate, trash and shred. This is a personal journey. Let’s create organizational habits, reenergize your home and organize for success.