As we head into week 3, we’re happily overwhelmed by the number of people reading, sharing and discussing the books for Community Read 2019 and we hope even more people will join in. This year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community has come out in full force for Community Read. If you’re just getting into Community Read 2019, though, don’t worry! There are still plenty of great programs and events lined up both through the Library and our community partners (see below for more information.) Don’t forget to pledge and we’ll see you at an event this week! Please share your experiences on social media, using the hashtag - #CommunityRead2019

So, what’s been happening during the first two weeks? There have been powerful discussions and events. During week 2, community helpers made a difference by sharing their time with the community they serve. At locations like Scaleybark Library and Independence Regional Library, police officers, firefighters and librarians shared stories, songs and other fun activities while engaging with families in the community. 

Community partners also addressed issues of concerns within the Charlotte community. A program at Johnson C. Smith University packed the James B. Duke Memorial Library with residents and youths as trial attorney, Civil Rights Activist and community organizer Toussaint C. Romain delivered a passionate and honest discussion on The Hate U Give. Director of Library Services and Curation Monika Rhue said, “The program was very successful. It was good to have the community in collaboration with JCSU’s students, faculty and staff engage in this conversation.”

Another community partner, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, organized events around wellness to celebrate Community Read. Visiting author Damaris Hill and additional Charlotte organizations scheduled a day focused on using arts and literature to align the mind and body as important issues within the community were addressed. Teens and adults from the Charlotte-area shared personal experience while participated in writing and storytelling workshops and yoga.

Open Books. Open Minds.

It is not too late! There’s still time to get involved and do more in your community. Pledge online to participate, read the books and create a stronger community. Attend author visits happening around Charlotte to be inspired. Audiobooks and e-books of The Hate U Give are still available for no-wait downloads during the entire month of March.

Here is a list of just some of the events going on around Charlotte during week 3 of Community Read 2019:
 

Adults and Teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Community Read: The Hate U Give Community Dialogue Event
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 5:30 p.m. at Plaza Midwood Library
Join in a community dialogue event facilitated by the Library, in partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and discuss the situations Starr and Khalil faced in the novel as well as related current events. Recommended for adults and teens ages 15+. Space is limited. Registration required. Learn more 

Community Read: From Page to Screen: The Hate U Give
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Morrison Regional Teen Area
Whether you already love the book or want to watch the movie before reading it, join us for the film adaptation of The Hate U Give. See the story brought to life! This movie is rated PG-13. Learn more 

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at Main Library, Dowd Foundation Learning Studio
Join Spoken Word poetry coach Jah Smalls to find your voice, both in writing, editing and performing your poetry. This workshop is open to teens and adults, no experience is necessary. Attendance at both sessions is recommended. Participants will have an opportunity to perform at the Poetry Month Kickoff event on April 6th. Learn more 

Community Read: College and Career Connections: Newscaster Fred Shropshire​
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 3 p.m. at Hickory Grove Library
Teens, meet Fred Shropshire, news anchor for Channel 36, Charlotte. Learn about his career in broadcasting. We will discuss media bias and common stereotypes of minorities in the media, as well as ways to strengthen community.  Learn more 

Middle Grades: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Community Read: Drop-in Wishtree Activity
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Morrison Regional
Come write a wish to put on our wish tree! We will collect all the wishes to create an art piece at the end of March. Learn more

Community Read-Wishtree Tree Identification
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Myers Park Library
Drop in and participate in our special tree identification activity inspired by the children's fiction book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Pick up a tree identification sheet, see how many trees you can identify on our library's grounds, show the sheet to a staff member and take home a sapling (baby tree) to plant! (Trees available while supply lasts). Learn more

Story Explorers: Wishtree
Monday, March 18, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. at West Boulevard
Explore books and stories in creative ways and get your own tree seedling to plant! This March the theme will be Wishtree. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree: Forestry, Homeschool Rocks!
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 – 1 p.m. at University City Regional, Storytime Room Homeschool students are invited to join us as we learn about forestry, ecology and trees in North Carolina. Enjoy a special guest appearance by Smokey Bear. This program is in celebration of Community Read selection Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Learn more

Community Read: LEGO Program Wishtree Edition
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Plaza Midwood Library
This week at Lego Club we will be celebrating nature and community as we talk about the book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We will learn about trees and their importance in our community and build nature scenes with our LEGOs. Learn more

Community Read Wishtree: Rookie Science Jr - Forestry
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Morrison Regional Library, Children's Programming Room 
Discover the world of science through books, hands-on educational activities, and experiments. This month, we talk about the Community Read book Wishtree and learn about the forest from the NC Forest Service. This program is for ages 4-6 and registration is required. Learn more

Community Read Wishtree: Rookie Science - Forestry
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 4 p.m. at Morrison Regional Library, Children's Programming Room 
Discover the world of science through books, hands-on educational activities, and experiments. This month, we talk about the Community Read book Wishtree and learn about the forest from the NC Forest Service. This program is for ages 7-11 and registration is required. Learn more

Community Read Book Club: Wishtree
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. at Cornelius Library 
Join us as we read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. New members welcome! Learn more

Community Read Story Explorers: The Five Languages of Love
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 12:30 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
Explore books and stories in creative ways through interactive activities including math, science, games, and more! Two of our Community Read titles this month deal with the issues of love and acceptance: Love by Matt de la Pena and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. In this special program, we will learn about the five different ways that people express and receive love (inspired by a study by Dr. Gary Chapman), discuss both titles, make a love-themed literacy activity to take home with you, and contribute to a temporary ImaginOn wish tree. Learn more

Children: Love by Matt de la Peña 

Community Read: The Love Scavenger Hunt
Monday, March 18, 2019 – All day and every day at Myers Park
Drop in and participate in our special literacy scavenger hunt activity inspired the children's picture book Love by Matt de la Peña. Complete this activity and receive a prize! Learn more

Community Read: Community Helper Storytime
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library
Bring your family out to join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña and other stories with your favorite community helpers. Enjoy stories, songs, with police officers, firefighters, and more! For ages 0 - 5. Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 11:30 a.m. at University City Regional Library
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña. We will also have songs, rhymes, and movement activities featuring love in all its different forms. Learn more

In the spirit of Community Read, keep reading the books, keep participating in events and keep doing more to improve lives in your community.

With this year’s Community Read selections, the Library intended to bring the community together through discussions, events and programs featuring the three chosen titles. The goal is a community that reads together, is a community that grows together.

At the Independence Regional Library’s Lunch and Munch book club, the contemporary fiction book club meets the first Wednesday of each month, and participants bring their own lunch, snack and opinions.

During their March monthly meeting, the book club’s chosen book was The Hate u Give by Angie Thomas, the main title for Community Read 2019. For the first time with the book club, the teen and adult services department coordinated the inclusion of the teen-aged patrons to attend and participate, timely for those CMS students who had only a half-day of classes that day.

That month’s meeting turned out to be the largest, most diverse and most energetic group the Lunch and Munch Book Club had ever seen. Seventeen teenagers participated along with the regular twenty members of the club. The group held a serious discussion on race, and each participant’s reflection on the book was received with respect, thoughtfulness and empathy. The discussions, from a diverse group of participants, were rich in perspectives. 

Community Read provides a safe, accepting and caring environment where participants can come together and share stories while breaking down barriers. The Lunch and Munch book club leader, Gay Loesch has been with the book club since its inception in 2014. After the March meeting Gay said, “I consider this the most successful Community Read ever. This intermingling of races and generations touched me deeply. All attendees are to be commended for their open and caring attitude. Together we made a step forward to better mutual understanding. And, together, we bridged the racial and generation gap toward a more peaceful and just world.”

During Community Read 2019, this story is an excellent reminder of the importance of sharing thoughts and keeping an open mind to build a stronger community. While there are different perspectives, common ground can always be found.

As we head into the final week of Community Read, the enthusiasm and open-mindedness people are showing during the discussions and programs are inspiring. We hope everyone in Charlotte will be touched in some way by Community Read. With only eight days left, there is still time for you to make an impact. There are more programs and events scheduled at Library locations and with community partners. 

So, what’s the newest buzz with Community Read since last week? The lineup of events was truly amazing with intense and inspiring moments. 

Week 3 kicked it up another notch when famed author Angie Thomas inspired more than 600 guests to find their voices and pursue their inner activism during her appearance at the Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College on March 19, 2019. A diverse group came prepared with questions for Angie Thomas and her book, The Hate U Give. The energy in the room was electrifying and afterwards, fans lined up to have their books signed and photos taken with Angie. The major takeaway from the evening was that “empathy is the key [to fighting] equality and equity.”  Erika Dunlap from sponsor Bank of America opened the evening and Chief Kerr Putney of CMPD provided closing remarks. Also, supporting sponsors Foundation for the Carolinas and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation were in attendance with other community partners. It was an inspirational evening!

Then, On Wednesday, March 20, Dana Eure of the Library, along with the Reverend Frances Cook-Mahood of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, appeared on Charlotte Today WCNC to discuss how Community Read is bringing the community together through reading and discussing The Hate U Give. Dana reiterated the importance of getting people engaged and talking about the book as a means to have a stronger community. Reverend Cook-Mahood said, “We knew we wanted to partner with the Library and have officers present at dialogues about the book.”

The discussion continued with WSOC-TV when the station highlighted the upcoming visit of children's book author Matt de la Peña to discuss his Community Read title Love. This event is scheduled for March 28, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, The Wells Fargo Playhouse. He will also make a special appearance earlier that day at the StoryWalk in Seversville Park where his book is featured. 

Open Books. Open Minds.

Don’t miss out on the discussions and programs during this final week of Community Read 2019. Pledge online to participate, attend a program and let your voice be heard. For the next few days only, download an audiobook or e-book of The Hate U Give for no-wait during the remainder of March. Find a complete calendar listing here.

Here is a list of just some of the events going on around Charlotte during week 4 of Community Read 2019:

 

Adults and Teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Community Read: Adult Book Club The Hate U Give

Monday, March 25, 2019 – 11 a.m. at Scaleybark Library

Join us on as we discuss The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. New members welcome! Learn more 

Community Read: Sole Food

Tuesday, March 26, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at Independence Regional Library

Join Professor Jemayne King as he shares small bites from his English course "Sole Food: Digestible Sneaker Culture." The course addresses societal ills, life and identity within the sneaker culture. Learn more 

Community Read: Community Dialogue

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at Matthews Library

Join Community Resource and Public Information Officer, Tim Aycock from the Matthews Police Department, for a discussion about police-community relations. Learn more 

Community Read: College and Career Connections: Alvin Jacobs and Braxton Winston

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – 5:30 p.m. at Hickory Grove Library  

Teens, meet photographer Alvin C. Jacobs Jr. and Councilman Braxton Winston. Learn how they have used their career paths to effect change through activism. This program is designed to help you figure out your next step to successfully plan for your future. Meet African Americans from various professions. Hear their stories and learn about their career and educational paths. Learn more 

Community Read: Deconstructing Systems Workshop

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – 6 p.m. at West Boulevard Library

Sunday, March 31, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Main Library

Join Patrice Funderburg of Educate To Engage, LLC, for this 2-hour interactive session focused on relevant themes in our Community Read title, The Hate U Give. Using a self to systems approach, this workshop will localize the themes of the book into actionable take-aways related to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Report. Learn more 

Community Read: Graffiti - Art of Vandalism

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library

In The Hate U Give, graffiti is found on the Rose Park basketball courts and on the walls and broken-down cars in the Cedar Park Projects. Learn about art in public places and in streets, which is often seen as graffiti by society but can also be used a tool for mass communication and can influence a generation and positively affect our communities and schools. Create your own personalized graffiti. Learn more 

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at Main Library, Dowd Foundation Learning Studio

Join Spoken Word poetry coach Jah Smalls to find your voice, both in writing, editing and performing your poetry. This workshop is open to teens and adults, no experience is necessary. Attendance at both sessions is recommended.  Learn more 

Middle Grades: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Community Read: Drop-in Wishtree Activity

Sunday, March 24, 2019 – All day and every day at Morrison Regional

Come write a wish to put on our wish tree! We will collect all the wishes to create an art piece at the end of March. Learn more

Children: Love by Matt de la Peña 

Community Read: The Love Scavenger Hunt

Monday, March 25, 2019 – All day and every day at Myers Park

Drop in and participate in our special literacy scavenger hunt activity inspired the children's picture book Love by Matt de la Peña. Complete this activity and receive a prize! Learn more

Community Read: Matt de la Pena Visits StoryWalk

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – 10 a.m. at Seversville Park, 530 S. Bruns Ave, Charlotte, NC

Join us for StoryWalk at Seversville Park on March 28 as we celebrate Love. As part of Community Read, Matt de la Peña will make a special appearance as a prequel to his visit at ImaginOn. Click here for more information. Learn more

Community Read: Matt de la Peña Visit

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – 7 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, The Wells Fargo Playhouse

Meet Matt de la Peña, the New York Times Bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of six young adult novels and four picture books. He will be visiting ImaginOn as part of our Community Read 2019 celebration. Presentation by Matt to begin at 7 p.m. in Wells Fargo Playhouse with book signing to follow. Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. at Spangler Library at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center

Bring your whole family out to enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate. Learn more

Community Read: Story Explorers: Love

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – 2 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, The Round

Explore books and stories in creative ways through interactive activities including math, science, games, and more! In this Community Read based program, we'll explore the book Love by Matt de la Pena, then use image theatre and pantomime to deepen the book discussion. Learn more

Community Read 2019 is not over yet. There are still books to read, events to attend and more opportunities to get inspired and make an impact in your community.

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

See/Listen to WFAE's coverage of The Poet Is IN.

Here is just a sample of the many programs celebrating poetry:

Poetry Month Kickoff Ceremony

Monday, April 1, 2019 from 11:30am to 12 p.m. at Main Library

Join Slam Master Bluz and other local poets for the unveiling of the 2018 National Poetry Slam Championship trophy at Main Library. Learn more.

The Poet is IN: Meet a Local Poet--Leave With a Poem

Select weekdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Main Library

Come meet local poets and see them in action! Poets will craft poems on the spot based on suggestions. The Poet is In will be on the first floor near the entrance. Come join us for poetry fun! Learn more .

Writing Workshop: Wild Words Poetry Workshop

Thursday, April 4, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Matthews Library

Poets and lovers of verse of all experience and skill levels are encouraged to join this group to read, write, and discuss poetry. Register here.

Spoken Word with Bluz

Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Main Library

Emmy Award Winner Bluz, Slam Master of the 2018 National Championship Slam Poetry team, presents a riveting poetry performance and workshop. Register here.

Writer's Workshop: Guerilla Poets Art & Poetry

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Independence Regional Library

In honor of National Poetry Month, learn how to express yourself and be uplifted through the arts involving poetry, music and artwork. Learn how to write poetry, play music and create art. Register here.

Cannonball Into the Deep End-Writing the Poem that Leaves Us Breathless

Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Main Library

Join award-winning poet J. Ward for a workshop featuring a performance of his poetry and some prompts to begin writing your own. Ward’s work has graced many stages. He is best known for his excellent writing and incomparable stage presence. Register here.

Adult Poetry Club Presents: ADULT POETRY SLAM

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Independence Regional Library

Come join us for an interactive ADULT POETRY SLAM where you are invited to recite, share and hear the poetic works of others during National Poetry Month. Register here.

Buried Treasure Poetry Workshop

Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Main Library

Join award winning visual artist and poet Shane Manier for a poetry performance and prompts to develop your own writing in this workshop, geared towards how to get breathtaking metaphors in your poetry. Manier is the founder of Guerilla Poets, a nonprofit artist collective with branches in the US and UK, has served on the Poetry Council of NC board, has been a member of Respect Da Mic slam team from 2017-2019 and has been featured and published across the Southeast. She released her first chapbook Fallen Heroes of the Awful Waffle with Main Street Rag in 2017, along with her first spoken word album Bootstraps. Register here.

All of the programs are free to attend. A comprehensive listing can be found here.

https://www.wsoctv.com/community/power-of-poetry-helps-heal-mans-trauma/935432492

Get ready to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) in April 2019 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, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library focuses the Día theme on science. Children and families are invited to visit all our branches and experience unique STEM programs. There is also a bilingual book fair and bilingual theater performance of the play "Los Zapatitos Rosa" on April 20, 2019 at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center. 

Dia 2019 programs

This year's finale celebration is on Saturday, April 27, 2019 and will be at Discovery Place (301 N. Tryon, Charlotte NC 28202) from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The event features a Mad Science Experience, find time to Explore with Casey Neese, and enjoy a special author visit by Margaret Reed MacDonald.

Margaret Reed MacDonald breathes life into traditional folktales, sharing them in exciting performances, using them to enable beginning storytellers, and publishing them in picture books and folktale collections. A complete listing of her books and fairytales available through the Library can be found by clicking here.

National Volunteer Week recognizes ordinary people who improve our neighborhoods and our community every day – volunteers. At the Library, we celebrate the enormous contributions of volunteers April 7 – 13, 2019 – which is fittingly also National Library Week.

Volunteers are an essential part of the Library’s efforts to create a more educated and literate community. Last year 1,421 volunteers gave a whopping 53,386 hours of service to our Libraries – a value of more than $1.8 million dollars.

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 nearly three years – in that time, she’s logged 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.”

VolunTeen David Clinkscales has been volunteering at University City Regional Library for three years, 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.

If you or your group are interested in volunteering:

• Visit www.cmlibrary.org/volunteer
• Call or visit your local library branch
• Email the volunteer coordinator at [email protected]

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrated Community Read the entire month of March 2019 with the hopes of bringing the community together to discuss the issues that are important to Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Close to 200 programs and events were scheduled by Library and community partner locations covering many topics including wellness, culture and education, activism, and the arts. The entire community was all in from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to the Levine Museum of the New South and many more. 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg community welcomed Community Read with great enthusiasm and support. We were pleased by the candor and passion people brought to the discussions and programs. There were diverse perspectives and the Library is hopeful that with this year’s Community Read, Charlotte-Mecklenburg is on the right track to becoming a stronger community. Together.

Open Books. Open Minds.

Community Read brought all races and ages together to initiate dialogues and affect change in the racial, generational and gender divide that exists in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. During the monthly Lunch and Munch book club at Independence Regional Library, readers of all ages reached a better mutual understanding while bridging the racial and generation gap toward a more peaceful and just world.

Tackling the big issues.

Much of the dialogue during Community Read programs centered around the heavily-weighted issues in Charlotte-Mecklenburg such as police involvement and racism. The Library offered programs in collaboration with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. One program focused on “How to Talk About Race,” where attendees gained a deeper understanding of moderating conversations about race.

Another program at the Levine Museum of the New South offered a powerful and moving experience where participants toured the K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace exhibit and held a discussion. The program is a community-created exhibit about police-involved shootings throughout the nation and in Charlotte, and was co-created with activists and law enforcement, the media, students, clergy and civic leaders.

At Johnson C. Smith University, trial attorney, Civil Rights Activist and community organizer Toussaint C. Romain tackled the topic of racial injustice as he delivered a passionate and honest discussion on The Hate U Give after a viewing of the movie.

Activism and making a difference.

Community Read delivered a message of getting involved and using one’s voice to make a difference in the community. In a College and Career Connections program at Hickory Grove Library, photographer Alvin C. Jacobs Jr. and Councilman Braxton Winston stressed the importance of using the tools at your disposal to affect change.

During Angie Thomas’ appearance on March 19, 2019, she spoke to a crowded theater at Central Piedmont Community College and said, “I did the only thing I knew how to do – I wrote. I shed light on the darkness. I made the political personal.”

At various Library locations, members of the community made a difference by sharing their time with the community they serve. At locations like Scaleybark Library and Independence Regional Library, police officers, firefighters and librarians shared stories, songs and other fun activities while engaging with families in the community.

Then came the authors.

Community Read provided an extra bonus for participants to meet and interact with their favorite Community Read authors. On March 19, Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give presented to a full house with her honest and personable talk. She left the entire auditorium at the Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College in awe and inspired to not only find their voice but to use their voice to change the world. 

Then at the end of the month, Matt de la Peña, author of Love, mesmerized young Community Read participants with his message of love. He spent the morning of March 28 at Seversville Park for StoryWalk® featuring his picture book, Love. There he shared personal behind the scenes stories about the book and illustration process. During the day he visited several Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Later that evening, de la Peña wowed the audience at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center where he discussed his picture books with educators and families. He shared that for him writing children’s books is his form of activism. “My job is to facilitate the story and leave space for the reader to add their own context to the margins. Once a book is out in the world and in the library, it’s a collaboration between the writer and the reader.”

Community Read 2019 may be over for this year but remember what happened here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg: the discussions, the messages and the coming together of our community. Keep the spirit of Community Read alive all year long in your heart, your household and your overall community. Continue reading and looking for opportunities for open dialogues and being a force in your community.

We’ll see you next year for Community Read 2020.

Angie Thomas makes the political personal, and that’s what she believes makes her an activist.

The author of the New York Times best-selling novel and Community Read 2019 featured title The Hate U Give spoke at Central Piedmont Community College’s Halton Theater on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 about finding her voice. She also encouraged the audience – especially young people – to find and use theirs.  She spoke of growing up in segregated Mississippi in the shadow of the KKK and discovering the story of Emmett Till in an  issue of Jet magazine when she was six years old. “He could have been my brother,” she remembers.

Even as a child, Thomas connected political landscape with her personal reality – and she saw the same quality in the outspoken activists she admired. Musicians used their art as activism, and much of it spoke to her. “As a teen, I connected with hip hop. Tupac [Shukar] cared about me, even when nobody else did – I heard it in his lyrics.”

Like the main character of Starr in The Hate U Give, Thomas attended a mostly white, suburban college. It was only a few miles from the house she grew up in, but it was worlds away. There, she developed a second persona. “Code-switching” became her defense mechanism, and it also made her angry. “I was often the only black student in my classes, and I was so careful to fit in. When Oscar Grant was killed by California police in 2009, my classmates saw what the media presented – that maybe he deserved it, he was an ex-con, he may have been selling drugs, all of it. They didn’t see his value, and I took that personally. He could have been my brother too.”

Thomas took action. “I did the only thing I knew how to do - I wrote. I shed light on the darkness. I made the political personal.” She wrote a short story for her creative writing class, and her professor suggested she expand it to a novel – which became The Hate U Give.

“Empathy is far more powerful than sympathy,” Thomas explained, “and books are one of the best ways to create empathy. If you spend 300 pages in the shoes of a character, you WILL feel empathy.” She challenged the diverse audience to ask themselves whether they know what it’s like to be someone different, and further challenged them to go find out.

That’s what Community Read 2019 is all about, and what libraries have the power to do – to be a platform for learning about one another, about issues important to our shared community, and about the world. Libraries bring us together around books, ideas, curiosity, and around the shared goal of building a stronger community.

Angie Thomas left an inspired audience with a final thought: “If you change the world around you, you will find yourself changing the world. There are issues you can change. Care enough to change them.”
 

Community Read 2019 was made possible with the generosity of presenting sponsor Bank of America and additional support from Foundation For The Carolinas and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation.

There's still time to participate by donating books during the 9 Books For Kids book drive. If you would like to help as an individual, you can drop off new and gently used children’s and teen books at any of the donation locations – including all 20 Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations.

9 Books for Kids is an easy way to have a huge impact on students and their learning experience. Help improve student learning and achieving by the simple act of donating books.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can drop off your book donation at any Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location or partner location through April 12, 2019. 

Collect books for kids! Feel great about ensuring that children can enjoy their own library - at home. Donate books!

The week of April 7- 13, 2019 is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will participate by highlighting different services and programs on social media each day beginning April 7, using the theme “Libraries = Strong Communities.”

This year's theme truly aligns with our mission of improving lives and building a stronger community. It illustrates how today’s libraries are at the heart of our cities, towns, schools and campuses, providing critical resources, programs and expertise. Libraries also provide a public space where all community members, regardless of age, culture or income level, can come together to connect and learn. National Library Week is an opportunity to highlight the changing role of public libraries in our society. Libraries are about more than just the services they offer, they are about the people they serve. 

Library programs are designed to encourage community members to meet and discuss civic issues, work together using new technologies like 3D printing or learn alongside one another in English language or technology classes. Library staff also partner with other civic and service organizations to actively engage the people they serve, always striving to make sure their community’s needs are being met.

Celebrate National Library Week by sharing your library story—how do you library?

We invite our community to follow along, share and comment on social media at twitter.com/cmlibrary, facebook.com/cmlibrary and instagram.com/cmlibrary using the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform.

Melinda Gates Serves as Honorary Chair

Melinda Gates has dedicated her life to achieving transformational improvements in the health and prosperity of families, communities and societies. Now she will lend her support to advocate for our nation’s libraries as honorary chair of National Library Week. Over the last 20 years, Gates has invested more than $1 billion through her foundation’s Global Libraries initiative to enhance the power of libraries to improve lives. As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she sets the direction and priorities of the world’s largest philanthropy. She is also the founder of Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company working to drive social progress for women and families in the United States.

Celebrations during National Library Week include:

• Monday, April 8: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2018.
• Tuesday, April 9: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. #nlwd19
• Wednesday, April 10: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make high-quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities. #BookmobileDay2019
• Wednesday, April 10: Library Giving Day is a one-day fundraising event with the goal of encouraging people who depend on and enjoy public libraries to donate to their individual library system. #LibraryGivingDay

Make a gift to your Library

• Thursday, April 11: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to speak up for libraries and share your library story. #MyLibraryMyStory

We also invite you to support the Library - not only on April 10 but every day of the year! - by making a donation to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. 

DONATE NOW

“Libraries = Strong Communities” is a national campaign sponsored by the American Library Association.