Looking for a romance novel with a bit of suspense? That’s easy. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has books that fit the bill in our Library catalog. Type in "romantic suspense" as a search in the Library catalog and nearly 3,500 matches will appear!

Don’t be fooled by the occasional book cover with someone brandishing a handgun because you’re in the right place. These books are more than traditional romance novels with couples dealing with domestic hardships and bliss.   

Romantic suspense is fiction, defined by the Romance Writers of America, where “…suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.” With a love stories as the basis, these novels may feature many additional themes. The most prolific authors in the genre include authors such as Heather Graham, Kat Martin, Nora Roberts and B.J. Daniels.

For all fans, the famous Harlequin brand of romance books steps into this genre too with its Harlequin Romantic Suspense series. The Library owns more than 100 titles from this brand, mostly e-books. Library customers can find titles available in multiple formats to enjoy, but e-books are most prominent.

Find a title to read from our list of New Romantic Suspense Fiction here.

If you're hungry for poetry, bring your appetite to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Main  Library for 12:15 at Main: Poetry Exploration on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. This meetup is the first in a series of monthly to bi-monthly meetings where poets of all levels can  create or recite poetry at lunchtime. Listening ears are welcome to participate as well.

 

The 12:15 at Main program will run until Main Library closes its doors for renovation in early 2021. Meetings, held the first and third Wednesday of each month, will vary in topics topics based on presenters. Attendees will also enjoy short video screenings and new discussion prompts.

The goal of the program is to build an anthology for continuing attendees so that they have a variety of personal work that spans different topics and styles. 12:15 at Main: Poetry Exploration is a program for everyone and there is no skill requirement.

Patrons who know little about poetry will have the opportunity to learn new styles and writing mechanisms along the way. To see the complete schedule of 12:15 at Main: Poetry Exploration, click here.

For more information about 12:15 at Main: Poetry Exploration, please contact  Rob Smith at [email protected].

Written by: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Historian-in-Residence, Dr. Tom Hanchett.

For decades in Charlotte, Attorney J. Charles Jones was a buoyant, familiar community presence on the city’s mostly African American west side. History-seekers and city leaders often invited him to speak about his role in Charlotte’s 1960 sit-ins. He advocated enthusiastically for civic projects and strove to help neighbors join together for change. His cheery greeting, “Gracious good day!” was usually followed by reference to The Elders, the previous generations who had gotten us here and demanded that we keep moving forward. He wanted you to know the Civil Rights history that his generation had made — so that you would pick up the torch, in turn, and make history yourself.

Charles Jones’ role in the Civil Rights movement ran deeper and reached even further than his listeners often realized. Not only did he co-lead Charlotte’s successful 1960s sit-ins, the largest such action in the early days of that student movement, he went on to:

• Take part in the meetings in 1960s that created the nationally important Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
• Do jail-time in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on SNCC’s behalf in 1961 – a “jail, no bail” protest that foreshadowed Rev. Martin Luther King’s later stay in the Birmingham jail.
• Join the 1961 Freedom Ride in Mississippi and again go to prison at the legendarily harsh Parchman Farm Penitentiary
• Take part in tumultuous SNCC campaigns for voting rights in McComb, Mississippi (1961) and Albany, Georgia (1961 – 62) – where he helped launch the SNCC Freedom Singers with Bernice Johnson Reagon and others.
• Initiate a high-profile 1966 march around Washington DC’s beltway that is credited with opening housing to all in the DC area.

In the late 1960s he returned to Charlotte, earned a law degree and began a career as Attorney J. Charles Jones, spending half a century representing mostly poor, mostly African American clients.

When Jones passed away at the end of 2019, the national media took notice. This essay pulls together those sources along with other essays and research materials that give a sense of his work and his personality. It starts with the funeral program distributed to mourners at the Chapel on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University on January 4, 2020. Then come links to obituaries and profiles in national and local news media. Finally, there are links to oral histories and photo collections in Charlotte and elsewhere. This list is by no means complete, but rather a starting point for those interested in Jones and his legacy.

Neil Genzlinger, “J. Charles Jones, Civil Rights Activist, Is Dead at 82,” New York Times, January 10, 2020.



Matt Schudel, “J. Charles Jones, Civil Rights Activist Who Led Protest Walk Around Beltway, Dies at 82,” Washington Post, January 18, 2020.

“Life Well-Lived: J. Charles Jones -- American Civil Rights Leader Dies at 82,” NBC Today Show, January 19, 2020.  

“Johnson C. Smith University Remembers J. Charles Jones,” Happenings page, JCSU website.  

“Interview with J. Charles Jones,” interviewer Kara Miles, June 16, 1993, Duke University Libraries. 

“Interview with J. Charles Jones,” interviewer Debbie Howard, May 18, 2005, Special Collections, J. Murrey Atkins Library, UNC Charlotte.

“Oral Histories with J. Charles Jones and Charles Sherrod,” June 23, 2005, Miami University of Ohio.  

Corey Inscoe, “Meet the Man Who Led Charlotte’s Lunch-Counter Sit-Ins and Went to Jail with Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Charlotte Observer, February 07, 2017.

David Aaron Moore, “Stumbling Across a Hero,” Charlotte Magazine, January 2, 2011. 

Frye Gaillard, “Days of Hope and Courage: Reunion Will Celebrate Local Civil Rights Sit-Ins,” Creative Loafing, January 29, 2003. 

A video interview with Jones about the Charlotte Sit-ins is part of the permanent exhibition Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers at Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte.

The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library holds photographs and other materials related to Jones. This Facebook post from February 9, 2020, gives a glimpse.

--

The main photo on this blog is by Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer (2016).

The only thing that separates Southwest Middle School and Steele Creek Library is a narrow grass median. Though the two are near in proximity, they have never been relationally close. Inspired to change that dynamic and build a closer relationship with students at Southwest Middle, Steele Creek Librarian Sarah Story began attending open houses at Southwest Middle to make the Library more visible to students and parents. 

In August, Steele Creek and Outreach staff teamed up to attend three open houses at Southwest Middle where they were able to connect with students stopping by to pick up their schedules and meet their teachers.  

“This was a great way to increase Library visibility in the school community, advertise Teen programs and meet parents who we don’t often see during the school year,” Story said. 



In December 2019, another Librarian, Kara Hunter,joined Story on outreach visits to Southwest Middle’s sixth grade classes. 



“Kara and I visited almost every 6th grade class to show them online resources that they could use for upcoming research projects,” Story said. “In total, we visited 11 classes, 210 students and 13 teachers,” she added. 

Their visit resulted in students excitedly running up to Story when they noticed her in the Library just a few days later. They told her about the resources they remembered, how they used CultureGrams that day for a class assignment and introduced a new group of students to staff and what the Library has to offer. 

Story was also inspired to create positive change at Southwest Middle where she’d heard stories of vandalism, fights and noise occurring on campus. Story decided to create bi-weekly afterschool Teen programs where students could safely play board games, participate in cooking challenges, take Library tours, enjoy Lunch and Learn topics and more. Eventually, behavioral incidents at the school declined, prompting the school to get involved with the planning of afterschool programs. 

“We needed more involvement from the school, and I wanted it to be a positive relationship, not just passing on disciplinary requests,” Story said. “So, I started sending emails trying to get to know school staff and offering outreach ideas,” she added. 



Story believes anyone can be a hero and help teens through creative programming. She is especially grateful of the support from the Steele Creek staff and is excited about the positive progress they have made with Southwest Middle. 



 “Everyone has their own unique ways to Be A Hero (a Library culture principle) for these kids, whether it’s implementing new program ideas, helping them find a book or offering them a smile after a long day at school,” Story said. “Our relationship with Southwest Middle is still growing and evolving, requiring consistent and frequent communication with administration and teachers about ways we can support each other. It will probably always be a work in progress and creative and innovative approaches are the best way to move forward and continually improve.” 

Did you know that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers customers FREE access to lynda's expansive library of instructional videos?

Valued at more than $300 a year, this benefit is yours FREE just by logging in with your library card number or ONE Access account number and password.

Turn on. Log in. Get smart.

For 20 years, lynda.com has helped students, leaders, IT and design pros, project managers – anyone in any role – develop software, creative and business skills.

Become an expert in that thing you've always wanted to know more about by creating your own tutorial playlists or browsing lynda.com's "Learning Paths"—bundled tutorials designed to provide a crash course for a particular topic.

Lynda.com courses are taught by industry professionals with real-world experience and can be filtered by category, length, skill level and more to provide a personalized, reliable learning experience. Lynda.com also offers courses in five languages!

Learning on lynda.com can happen anywhere with apps for your computer, mobile device and TV, featuring enhanced navigation and faster streaming. And now that lynda.com is owned by LinkedIn, you can easily post the training you complete to your profile.

So, what's available with lynda.com?

More than 3,000 courses (and more than 130,000 videos) in popular fields like web design, web development, IT, education/instruction, media production and business. Most tutorials last several hours but are broken into multiple chapters.

• Photography: how to shoot photos that tell a story, choose the right gear, edit photos and more.
• Software: Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and more.
• Web design: Web graphics, Interactive Design, Prototyping and more.
• Social media and web publishing tools like Facebook, Twitter and Wordpress.
• Business and career skills: productivity, marketing, time management and more.
• Job Search Tools: Resume design, Searching for Positions, Working with Recruiters and more.

Course offerings on lynda.com are always being updated, so check back often for even more learning opportunities.

Don't know where to start?

Those who aren't sure what they need can browse curated playlists to get started in any subject. These playlists are like a mix tape—they're a great way to discover new topics you never knew you wanted to learn.

You can access lynda.com using your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or ONE Access account (CMS student or staff ID number). If you don't have a library card yet, you can apply below.

If you do have a library card, start using lynda.com today! Once you are logged in, the next step is to create a personalized account by entering a name and email address. This account can help manage your course history, playlists, bookmarks and Certificates of Completion.

What are you waiting for?

Take a closer look at lynda.com today and discover a new skill you'd like to learn—on your time!

i Prepárate para la Feria del Libro!

As part of its celebration of “El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)," Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, in conjunction with the Artist Studio Project present the 2nd Annual "Cervantino Bilingual Book Fair" on Saturday, April 20, 2019. As part of the Artist Studio Project's Annual El Quixote Festival, the Library invites authors of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, satire and anthology (Spanish, English – bilingual) to read, promote, sell and sign their books at the Book Fair.

The purpose of the "Cervantino Bilingual Book Fair" is to provide authors an outlet to build a fan base, create social networks and establish contacts with other authors. The event is free, but participants who wish to exhibit, sell or share their work must register here by March 1, 2019. For more information about this program, visit iamquixote.com. 

“We're excited to bring our Cervantino Bilingual Book Fair to the Queen City,” says Rafael A. Osuba, artistic director of the Artist Studio Project. “We can't think of a better partner than Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, as this is exactly what libraries should be doing: opening and creating opportunities for members of the community while providing access to community resources. Our goal and hope is to bring the community together by a shared passion for books, storytelling and reading as we work together to make North Carolina a great place to live.”

“El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)", also known as Día, emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds with events at select Library locations and community agencies throughout April.

The Library has promoted Día since 1998, and the celebration has experienced great growth and expansion throughout the years. What began as a storytelling celebration has now evolved into an impactful community cultural celebration.

For more information about the Día program from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, visit here. 

It’s finally here, the holiday we’ve been waiting for all year: Soup-er Bowl Sunday!

Patriots and Rams aside, this soupy celebration is the real party during the cold, wintry months.

A great soup recipe makes the most out of basic ingredients like beans, lentils and fresh or frozen vegetables. Throw in a few spices in your pantry, and you have a wallet-friendly main dish that’s healthier than the ones from the can. Keep reading for creative recipes to ‘bowl’ you over! 

"Souper” selections

• A Southerner will tell you “Pot Likker Soup” isn't a misspelling but a delicious ham and greens soup. Try this recipe and more favorites in Nancie McDermott’s Southern Soups & Stews. 
• Chili just tastes better when it’s cooked in a cast iron pot. Try the recipe from The Best of Lodge cookbook by the makers of the beloved cast iron cookware. 
• Use your high-speed blender for more than just smoothies with soup recipes from Vanessa Simkins’ Power Blender Revolution. 
• The Hungarian “Night Owl” Soup featured in An Exaltation of Soups is great for hangovers (we hear) or any other ailments!
• Soup swaps are the new cookie swap!  Kathy Gunst’s Soup Swap is full of recipes like Sopa de Lima and Chorizo and Clam Stew to exchange with your neighbors and friends. 
• Keep with your new year’s resolutions by incorporating recipes from the American Heart Association’s Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook or EatingWell Soups. 
• Try the coconut pumpkin curry soup from the latest issue of Rachel Ray Every Day. Read this and all your favorite magazines for free with your Library card on RBDigital!
• Mystery lovers, stir up trouble with Connie Archer’s cozy mysteries A Broth of Betrayal, A Clue In The Stew and Ladle To The Grave.

A ladle full of learning

There’s more to a good soup recipe than dumping ingredients in a pot and hoping for the best. Improve your cooking skills with these resources: 

• Get a free private chef lesson with step-by-step cooking instructions on Films on Demand.
• Through Universal Class, learn to make gazpacho in Spanish Cooking 101 or hearty Italian one-pot soup meals in Italian Cooking 101—all free with your Library card!

For younger readers

• Follow along with the video of the children’s classic Stone Soup in American Sign Language. If you want to learn more about signing, take our free sign language class at the Matthews Library, beginning Feb. 6, 2019. 
• Rescue Max the Duck in the children’s favorite Duck Soup. Adults can check out the Marx Brothers’ classic DVD, as well.
• Teach the entire family new languages with a bilingual picture book like Dādī Mām̐ Kā Śanivāra Kā Sūpa or La Soupe Du Samedi De Grand-mére, Hindi and French versions of Grandma’s Saturday Soup.   
• Our children’s librarians put together this list of their favorite books about soup. 
• Homeschool families can attend the rally at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center on March 6, 2019.  Listen to the classic Stone Soup and explore STEAM activities. 

Whether you’re making a touchdown-worthy steaming bowl of soup or reading the classic Stone Soup with your children, happy Soup-er Bowl Sunday from your friends at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library!

P.S. Remember to stay tuned for Community Read in March and check your local library calendars for events in your neighborhood. 

There’s bound to be a great pleasure in playing catch-up with the recommended “best books” of the previous year. That’s even more true when a handful of those books are mysteries. The trade magazine, Library Journal,  recently named its 2018 favorites in the December issue, and we’ve compiled three of our favorites here. Happy reading!

Big City Private Investigator:  Broken Places introduces Cass Raines, an African-American Chicago police officer turned private detective. She launches an investigation into the death of a local priest, who served as her surrogate father, when she finds him dead in his church next to the body of a young gang member. Earlier, the priest had asked Raines to investigate vandalism at his church. Now, she suspects the worse. What follows is a lively, realistic story with a relentless detective following the trail wherever it takes her. This book is written by Tracy P. Clark, and the next book in the series is scheduled for a May 2019 release.

Amateur Sleuth in Early Twentieth Century: A Death of No Importance features maid Jane Prescott intruding into the murder investigation of a high-society playboy. Set in 1910 Manhattan, Prescott joins the Benchley family to work as its new maid. The playboy, Norrie Newsome, is dating the family’s youngest daughter, Charlotte. That is, before Prescott finds him dead in the family’s library. The crime is big news for the New York City press. With the murder at a Christmas Eve ball, and multiple murder suspects revealed, the crime offers the opportunity for a long series of news stories. However, Prescott tries to solve the case before her employer continues to sink amid the scandal and gets help from one resourceful reporter. This is the first adult fiction novel by Mariah Fredericks, who had previously written young adult novels. The next book in the series is scheduled for an April 2019 release.

Depression-Era Mystery: Death of a Rainmaker takes place in Vermillion, Okla., during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when much of the Plains suffered from an extreme, prolonged dry spell. No rain has fallen in Jackson County for 240 days. Though, luck may come with a stranger visiting town with the promise to make the skies rain…for a price. His attempts are fruitless, of course, and after a tremendous dust storm, the man is found in dead in an alley. The town’s sheriff, Temple Jennings, investigates with his deputy and they arrest a suspect who winds up with an unusual champion for his innocence -- Jennings' wife, Etha. This book is written by Laurie Loewenstein, who’s writing the novel's sequel set four months later with a new murder occurring days after a train wreck in the Oklahoma town.   

You’ll have to wait until 2020 for this sequel, though.