Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 9/28/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Sunday 9/27

Engage 2020: Community Conversations - Local Voices Matter   register

Monday 9/28

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Nonprofit Services – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Active Reading Training for Caregivers of K-3 Students  –  12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Mindful Mondays - Guided Relaxation and Meditation  –  12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Stronger Together: Support for your Job Search – 4 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Tuesday 9/29         

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Getting Started with Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Story Explorers Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Planning for College: Central Piedmont Community College – 6 p.m.  (Teen programming)  register

Creating Resumes with the Job Help Center – 6:30 p.m.  (Adult programming)   register

Wednesday 9/30

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Nonprofit Services – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Active Reading to Read Words: Building Phonemic Awareness – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 5 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Teens Live on Instagram: Pancake Art – 5 p.m.  (Teen programming)   learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Thursday 10/1

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Cuentos en 2 idiomas: inglés y español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Learning Circle: American Sign Language – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Story Explorer’s Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Book Talk: Children's – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 4 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 4 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 5 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 5 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 6 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 6 p.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Friday 10/2

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Baby Storytime – 10:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Ted Talks Discussion Group: The Power of Protest – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 12 a.m. (Children's programming)   register

Mindful Friday- Meditation for Wellness – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 10/3

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Creating Your Own Children's Book – 10 a.m.  (Adult programming)    register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

As a Charlotte native, the Library has always been a huge part of Alexis Anderson’s life. She grew up less than five minutes from the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library on Beatties Ford Road, and the Library became a second home to her. “My grandparents were educators and took my brother and me weekly to storytimes and to check out books in the summer,” Alexis recalls. “What I didn’t realize at the time was they were laying the foundation for a lifelong love of reading that has continued to serve me today.”

Alexis relocated to Durham, N.C. for college in 2014 and, while the city offers a plethora of library resources to serve its numerous college and university students, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library continues to stand out above the rest as an invaluable resource for Alexis. “I am currently a Master of Arts in History candidate at North Carolina Central University writing my thesis on Black student education in Charlotte from 1956-1971. There’s so much history to cover with this topic even in this relatively short time span. Compiling my research and finding primary sources has proved challenging at times,” she states.

As any good researcher would do, Alexis turned to the Library.

She sought the assistance of Sheila Bumgarner, a librarian in the Library’s Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room (RSCR) and made an appointment to meet with her on one of her visits to Charlotte. When she arrived, Sheila was prepared with several research volumes, documents and scholarly articles she and Alexis combed through together. Alexis was able to find what she needed. “Shelia was a great help and gave me a plethora of sources to use for my thesis. The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room also provided a quiet area to study, and I returned there day after day while I was home,” Alexis says.

Just as Alexis started to dive deeper into her research, the Library closed due to rising health concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the lack of physical access to the Library’s study rooms and materials did not slow her down. Instead, she turned her attention to digital e-books and resources through apps available including hoopla, Libby and NC Live. Alexis continued to access three of the texts needed for her thesis courses, along with digital versions of the textbooks, scholarly articles and documents she viewed in the RSCR. All of this was available to her with her Library card account and the click of a mouse.

“I would highly recommend the use of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to any Charlottean or visitor,” Alexis says. “My experience has been nothing short of phenomenal thanks to my Library card.”

Sign up for your own Library card for FREE. Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and “get carded” today!

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This blog was written by Darrell Anderson of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library advances to the second phase of our multi-phased re-opening plan Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Under this new phase, customers can spend time browsing books and materials, and make reservations to use express computers at designated branches. Customers can continue to enjoy the services permitted in our initial re-opening phase which includes holds pickup, returning materials to designated bins, access to digital resources and participation in many educational and leisure virtual programs.

The Library will continue to open under these operational hours:

• Monday-Thursday - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday - closed

Also, in this next phase, customers will be able to browse inside the branches, with the maximum number of customers varying by location.



Express computers will be available by reservation at all Library locations EXCEPT Cornelius and Davidson Libraries, as well as ImaginOn. Computers will be spaced in compliance with the 6-foot social distancing rule to ensure customer safety. Staff will also be available at all Library locations to help guide, assist and direct customers, as well as answer any questions.



Social distancing and safety measures are paramount to the success of Phase 2 operations, and plexiglass safety shields are installed at all customer service points. Customers and staff should adhere to the mask mandate ordered by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on June 26, 2020 which requires a mask or face covering while visiting the Library. Staff will also remind customers to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 6-foot distancing guidelines. To ensure maintenance of comfortable distances between customers, we have placed safety decals on the floors at all locations to guide foot traffic. No seating available.

Additional safety measures include:

• Regularly scheduled cleaning of facilities and surfaces in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• Self-checkout stations available for customers to check out their own materials.
• Quarantining of returned items for a period of 96 hours. Due to this extended quarantine time for returned materials, it may take up to seven business days to reflect on your account*. NOTE: Fines and fees are suspended at this time.

The Library continues to incorporate in-person services in a responsible way that focuses on safety. We’ll continue to expand services in the upcoming weeks and months as it is safe to do so. Stay tuned for more information on the continued re-opening of services.

Thank you for your patience.



CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE LIBRARY RE-OPENING PLAN

 

Follow us on social media or visit the Library’s blog for updated information: cmlibrary.org/blog

Here’s what’s available during our second opening phase:

•  All Library staff will wear face masks or coverings, and, as of June 26, 2020 at 5 p.m., customers are required to wear masks or face coverings in accordance with North Carolina state guidelines.
• Managed number of customers in a branch at a time.
• Customers can browse for books and use express computers by reservation at all branch locations EXCEPT Cornelius and Davidson Libraries, as well as ImaginOn.
• Use of social distancing safety markers.
• Streamlined self-checkout designed for quick, in-and-out and safe, socially distanced interactions.
• Staff interaction minimal and at a distance.
• Materials and holds are available for pickup inside the branches.
• All checkouts are self-checkouts. You can scan your card (physical or on the app) and the materials. You will not need to enter your pin.
• Mobile printing is available for pickup from the branch. Learn more here.
• All material/book drops remain closed. Please return materials and books to the designated bins located at your branch during the Library’s open hours. There are signs that will direct you to the proper bin where returned materials will be received to begin the materials quarantine process.
• Fines and fees continue to be suspended.
• Programming continues online.
• Sign up for a Library card online or in person.
• No seating available.

Community and study rooms – room reservations are unavailable until further notice.

Outreach programming – continues online or virtual, as coordinated between our Outreach team and the organization.

Programming and events – all programs and events for children, teens, adults and the Job Help Center remain online in virtual formats.  Check here for the weekly schedule or visit the Calendar page on our website. 

We’re here for you online or on the phone.

You can reach our online chat during regular operating hours at cmlibrary.org and click on Ask a Librarian. Our telephone reference team is also available during normal operating hours at 704.416.0101, or you can contact your local branch location directly - visit the Branches page for more information.

*Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is working to keep materials safe by using a quarantine method. All items are held for four days upon return before check-in. Customers will see items they have returned stay on their accounts for at least seven days. Please be patient as we work to keep our collection as safe as possible. No overdue fines will be assessed during this time.

Items checked out from the Library have gone through quarantine before being placed on the Holds shelf for pickup. Please refrain from cleaning or disinfecting materials as this may damage items. Customers who wish to ensure safety of checked-out materials may do so by placing the materials in a safe space at home and letting them sit for at least 96 hours.  

Services are subject to change. 

La biblioteca ampliará sus servicios el 30 de septiembre del 2020

La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg amplía sus servicios. Esto incluye la búsqueda de libros y materiales, el uso de las computadoras exprés mediante reserva en lugares designados y la devolución y recogida de materiales en espera. Los clientes pueden seguir disfrutando del acceso a recursos digitales gratuitos y programación virtual.

La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg avanza a la segunda fase de nuestro plan de reapertura el miércoles 30 de septiembre del 2020. En esta nueva fase, los clientes pueden dedicar tiempo a buscar libros y materiales, y hacer reservaciones para usar computadoras exprés en sucursales designadas. Los clientes pueden seguir disfrutando de los servicios permitidos en nuestra fase de reapertura inicial, que incluyen la recogida de materiales en espera, la devolución de materiales a contenedores designados, el acceso a recursos digitales y la participación en muchos programas virtuales educativos y de entretenimiento.

La biblioteca continuará ofreciendo sus servicios en este horario de operaciones:

• De lunes a jueves - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Los viernes y sábados - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Los domingos - cerrada

Además, en esta próxima fase, los clientes podrán entrar a las sucursales para buscar materiales. El número máximo de clientes permitidos varía según la ubicación.



Las computadoras exprés estarán disponibles con reserva en todas las ubicaciones de las bibliotecas EXCEPTO en las bibliotecas de Cornelius y Davidson, así como en la biblioteca de ImaginOn. Las computadoras estarán espaciadas de acuerdo con la regla de distanciamiento social de 6 pies para garantizar la seguridad del cliente. El personal también estará disponible en todas las ubicaciones de la biblioteca a fin de guiar, asistir y dirigir a los clientes, así como para responder cualquier pregunta.

El distanciamiento social y las medidas de seguridad son fundamentales para el éxito de las operaciones de la Fase 2, y se instalarán escudos de seguridad de plexiglás en todos los puntos de servicio al cliente. Los clientes y el personal deben cumplir con el mandato de mascarillas ordenado por el gobernador de Carolina del Norte, Roy Cooper, el 26 de junio del 2020. Este mandato requiere usar una mascarilla o una cubierta facial mientras visitan la biblioteca. El personal también les recordará a los clientes que cumplan con la pauta de distanciamiento de 6 pies establecida por los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC por sus siglas en inglés). Para garantizar el mantenimiento de distancias cómodas entre los clientes, hemos colocado calcomanías de seguridad en los pisos en todos los lugares para guiar el tráfico peatonal. No habrá asientos disponibles.



Las medidas de seguridad adicionales incluyen:

• Limpieza programada regularmente de las instalaciones y superficies de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de los CDC.
• El uso de computadoras de autoservicio disponibles para que los clientes retiren sus propios materiales.
• Poner en cuarentena los artículos devueltos por un período de 96 horas. Debido a este tiempo de cuarentena extendido para los materiales devueltos, puede tomarse hasta siete días hábiles para que esta transacción se refleje en su cuenta. NOTA: Las multas y tarifas están suspendidas en este momento.

La biblioteca continúa ofreciendo servicios en persona de una manera responsable y segura. Continuaremos expandiendo los servicios en las próximas semanas y meses, siguiendo lineamientos de seguridad. Esté atento para obtener más información sobre la reapertura de servicios. Agradecemos su paciencia.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA VER EL PLAN COMPLETO DE REAPERTURA DE LA BIBLIOTECA.

Síganos en las redes sociales o visite el blog de la biblioteca para obtener información actualizada: https://cmlibrary.org/blog

 Esto es lo que está disponible durante nuestra segunda fase de apertura:

• Todo el personal de la biblioteca usará mascarillas o cubiertas faciales y  desde el 26 de junio del 2020 a las 5 p.m., los clientes deben usar mascarillas o cubiertas faciales de acuerdo con las pautas del estado de Carolina del Norte.
• Habrá un número limitado de clientes en una sucursal a la vez.
• Los clientes pueden buscar libros y usar computadoras exprés con reservación en todas las sucursales EXCEPTO en las bibliotecas de Cornelius y Davidson, así como en la biblioteca de ImaginOn.
• El uso de marcadores de seguridad de distanciamiento social.
• Computadoras optimizadas de autoservicio diseñadas para interacciones rápidas que procuren la entrada y salida segura del cliente  y socialmente distanciada.
• La interacción del personal es mínima y a distancia.
• Los materiales en reserva están disponibles para recogerse dentro de las sucursales.
• Todas las computadoras para retirar materiales son de autoservicio. Puede escanear su tarjeta (física o en la aplicación) y los materiales. No necesitará ingresar su PIN.
• La impresión móvil está disponible y puede recoger los documentos en las sucursales.  Infórmese más aquí.
• Todos los depósitos de materiales y libros permanecen cerrados. Devuelva los materiales y libros a los contenedores designados ubicados en su sucursal durante el horario de apertura de la biblioteca. Hay letreros que le dirigirán al contenedor adecuado donde se recibirán los materiales devueltos para comenzar el proceso de cuarentena de materiales.
• Las multas y tarifas están suspendidas por ahora.
• La programación de servicios continúa en línea.
• Regístrese para obtener una tarjeta de la biblioteca en línea o en persona.
• No habrá asientos disponibles.

Salas comunitarias y de estudio: – las reservas de los salones no están disponibles, hasta nuevo aviso.

Programación de programas comunitarios, Outreach  – estos programas continúan realizándose virtualmente, según la logística de coordinación de programas del equipo de Outreach y de la organización.

Programación y eventos – todos los programas y eventos para niños, adolescentes, adultos y el centro de ayuda laboral permanecen en línea en formatos virtuales. Consulte aquí el programa semanal o visite la página del calendario en nuestro sitio web.

Estamos aquí para servirle en línea o por teléfono.

Puede comunicarse con nuestro chat en línea durante el horario de atención habitual en cmlibrary.org y hacer clic en Ask a Librarian (pregúntele a un bibliotecario). Nuestro equipo de referencia telefónica también está disponible durante el horario normal de atención llamando al 704.416.0101, o puede comunicarse directamente con su biblioteca local; visite la página de las sucursales para obtener más información.

*La Biblioteca de Charlotte Mecklenburg está esforzándose para mantener los materiales seguros mediante el uso de un método de cuarentena. Todos los artículos se guardan durante cuatro días a partir de su devolución para luego ser procesarlos. Los clientes verán que los artículos que han devuelto permanecen en sus cuentas durante un período aproximado de siete días. Tenga paciencia mientras trabajamos para mantener nuestra colección lo más segura posible. No se cobrarán multas atrasadas durante este tiempo.

Los artículos devueltos a la biblioteca pasan por un período de cuarentena antes de colocarse en el estante de la biblioteca para su recogida. No limpie ni desinfecte los materiales, ya que esto puede dañar los artículos. Los clientes que deseen garantizar la seguridad de los materiales prestados pueden hacerlo colocando los materiales en un lugar seguro en casa y dejándolos reposar durante al menos 96 horas.

Nuestros servicios están sujetos a cambios.

Libraries across America celebrate Freedom to Read Week each year in support of free expression and the dangers of censorship. In honor of this year’s celebration, which takes place nationally on September 27-October 3, 2020, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is providing programming for ages 0-18 to celebrate intellectual freedom, First Amendment rights and raise awareness for youth and teens about censorship and book banning.

Please consider registering for one of the following virtual events and starting (or continuing) this discussion with any children and teens in your life. Help us celebrate the freedom to read.

ImaginOn Family Storytime: Freedom to Read Week

Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

You’re never too young to celebrate the First Amendment, we say! If you have a little one age 0-5, you are welcome to join our special Banned Books storytime, where we will be reading age-appropriate picture books such as And Tango Makes Three, This Day in June or Prince & Knight that have been banned or challenged in other communities for their representation of gay and trans characters. Eight of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2019 were challenged because of LGBTQIA+ content. We invite you to join us virtually with an open heart and an open mind for a gentle storytime celebration of acceptance and free expression. This program will be provided by ImaginOn children’s staff. Register HERE.

ImaginOn Story Explorers: Banned Books Bingo

Wednesday, September 30th at 2 p.m.

What do the Harry Potter series, Captain Underpants, A Wrinkle in Time, and the Goosebumps series all have in common? They are on the top list of the most frequently banned books in America. If you are between ages 5-11 and would like to learn more about what books are banned and challenged in schools across the U.S. and why, please join us for this virtual Banned Books Bingo program. This program will be provided by ImaginOn children’s staff. Register HERE.

Banned Book Teen Trivia

Saturday, October 3rd at 2 p.m.

Calling all trivia fans! Test your knowledge on a variety of topics such as popular and fandom culture to win bragging rights. Come join us for an afternoon of trivia and test your knowledge for Banned Book Read. This program will be provided by South Boulevard Library staff and is recommended for teens ages 12-18. Register HERE.

All three events will take place on Zoom. You’ll receive an email with a link to the secure Zoom meeting 24 hours before the meeting. Hope to see you there!

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This blog was written by Becca Worthington of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center.

*update: the RBdigital migration has been delayed until October 21, 2020

Do you use RBdigital to check out and download digital audioboooks? OverDrive has acquired the RBdigital platform, and on October 15, 2020 audiobook content from RBdigital will move to the OverDrive platform. Read more about the acquisition here.

The RBdigital website and application will eventually be retired but for now this change will only affect RBdigital audiobook content. Digital magazines will still be available via RBdigital. 

If you are a current RBdigital user, please read the answers to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below to learn how this change will affect you.

Why are RBdigital audiobooks moving to OverDrive?

OverDrive has acquired RBmedia’s library business, RBdigital. This means that audiobooks from RBdigital will be transferred to the OverDrive platform. You will be able to access these titles through the OverDrive website, and the Libby app. When this transfer is complete, audiobooks will no longer be available through the RBdigital platform and app.

When will audiobooks be transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive?

RBdigital audiobooks will be transferred to OverDrive on Thursday, October 15, 2020. The process will take approximately 24 hours. During this time, RBdigital audiobooks will not be available.

What happens if I have a title(s) currently checked out on RBdigital?

Current checkouts will be available through the remainder of their lending period in the RBdigital app. Current checkouts will not be moved to OverDrive. This will allow you to finish your title without disruption or risk of losing your place in the book.

What happens to the holds I have through RBdigital?

Holds will not be moved to OverDrive. You can export your Transaction History from the RBdigital website by accessing My Account > Profiles.

Can I move my holds to OverDrive?

Yes! You can manually place yourself on a new holds list in OverDrive.

• To place holds on titles in OverDrive, search Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive collection to see if the audiobook you’d like to place on hold is already part of the collection. If the audiobook is already in the collection, place a hold on this title again in OverDrive or Libby to add yourself to the list. Don’t worry if you do not see the title in the collection. It will show up soon after the title is transferred from RBdigital to OverDrive.  In the event that the title does not transfer, you can suggest the Library purchase titles here.

What happens to my checkout history and wish lists from RBdigital?

Checkout history and wish lists will not be moved to OverDrive. You can export your Transaction History from the RBdigital website by accessing My Account > Profiles. To re-create your checkout history in Libby, mark titles you’ve already read using Tags. You can also re-create your wish list in Libby using Tags or on the OverDrive website and classic app using the Wish List feature.

If you’re new to OverDrive, visit our OverDrive resource page, check out this getting started guide, or watch these videos to learn more.

Don’t have a library card? Sign up for one here!

If you need more support, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library staff are available by email, chat, and phone.  

Since the beginning of time, artists have been one of history’s greatest proponents of change by using their platform for civic engagement, discourse, and to expose injustices within the country. Whether capturing the past or reimagining the future, artists are often tasked with the responsibility to captivate the present for the preservation of history and culture. Art has been clever in its method of storytelling and the role of an artist has been debated by politicians, churches, and everyday civilians and it’s one conversation that while you agree or disagree, work is still being made.

In the 1930’s President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration hired artists as part of the New Deal programs. One of the most popular displays of artistic activism around that time was the Harlem Renaissance. Portraits of Black Americans’ identities and cultures emerged from Harlem and were seen around the world. This challenged racist ideals and criticized stereotypes Black Americans faced during the era of the Jim Crow, segregated south. While it was important to reject those biases for the safety of Black people, it renewed a sense of pride, determination, consciousness, and commitment to activism. 

Artists such as Zora Neale Hurston, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Effie Lee Newsome, Josephine Baker, and Paul Robeson are just a few of the many artists who decided to advocate for their community by simply reflecting themselves in their work. 

This is just a small lens into Art Revolutions in America. There have been multiple art movements throughout the country depicting the hope, despair, and fortitude of demarginalized groups facing a stream of social and civic issues such as rightful citizenship, police brutality, displaced families, and under-reported murders of LGBTQIA+ women and men.

As part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Engage2020 Art and Activism series, we offer a glimpse into present-day artists who have shared their talents and even lives to create social and civic change. 

Paintings, architecture, installations, dramatizations, filming, music – these are only a few demonstrations of how art has been used to encourage thought, then action. The goal of this program is to motivate our viewers to simply – start. Start in your home. Start at your school. Start in your garage. Your voice, pen, or paintbrush are the only tools you need. 

Please join us on the following dates. 

• Rosalía Torres-Weiner - 10/1 
• Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr. - 10/8 
• Angie C -10/22 

Stay tuned for future dates and artists.

In this election year, the Library is partnering with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offering programs like this one to encourage everyone to look back at what has been accomplished in the past and to move forward with empowerment to make a difference in one's own community. To learn more about Engage 2020, click here.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Summer Break Double Challenges for 2020! We have definitely experienced a number of challenges as a community this summer, but we united together to read more than 6 million minutes! Great job everyone!

Top Five Books Read   

Here are the top 5 books read all summer by our Summer Break readers! Are they what you expected? What were your favorite summer reads?

1. Holy Bible 
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
4. Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes 
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Beanstack

For 2020, we were excited to introduce a new Summer Break software tracker: Beanstack. The previous year, we knew we wanted a more user-friendly website to grow the program. Beanstack offered this and more, including flexible options for readers to log as individuals, families, groups, and classes. There’s also an easy-to-use app, Beanstack Tracker. With bright colors and a simple layout, Beanstack made it fun to track your reading time. We hope you enjoyed the redesign and improved experience. Did you know Beanstack works year-round to log books and reading? Yes! And the Library is also planning for future Beanstack challenges! Keep visiting the Library online or in-person when details become available.

Thank you, Summer Break Team!

Did you know Summer Break, the Library’s summer learning initiative, happens due to the coordinated efforts of over 20 dedicated library staff, all of whom do this project aside from their primary library jobs? Summer Break is actually a year-round planning process. We often joke it never ends!

The Summer Break 2020 Team started planning and researching in July of 2019. Even in the midst of the previous Summer Break, the Library is always thinking and planning ahead. From July to September, the team leaders work on recruiting new team members, establishing goals, and preparing for the year to come - all while wrapping up that current summer. In October, the work begins in earnest as the team uses participant and staff feedback from the previous year to improve the program. The team researches ideas and improvements in November and December before making final decisions in January. Spring is when things really heat up! During this time, the team works diligently to select learning activities, create reading lists, identify fun incentives and design new marketing materials.

This year everything was going great until...

The pandemic hit. Our community all but shut down, and the Library closed for an undetermined amount of time for the safety of customers and staff. The team quickly realized that Summer Break 2020 would not look anything like past Summer Break programs.

Decisions would need to be made, and fast. After all, at the beginning of the pandemic, there were only two months until June 1^st and the start of Summer Break. Almost every aspect of the program would have to be reconsidered and adapted in light of the new reality. The team needed to finalize the new Summer Break website with Beanstack and figure out how to transition the program to fit within the community guidelines of the “Stay at Home” order.

During this time, Summer Break team members held almost daily online meetings, wrote late night emails, and brainstormed ideas while keeping tabs on current community recommendations and the Library’s own swiftly changing plans.

Usually, Summer Break activities encourage participants to get out and try new adventures in Mecklenburg County and beyond. But the need to stay in resulted in the June challenge of Summer Break: At Home, where participants were encouraged to do activities at home or participate with the Library virtually. However, the expectation was that the situation would improve later in the summer, so Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere was planned for July 1^st.

At this time, there was only a month left until launch. The team needed to adapt the program to Beanstack’s new platform, design new marketing materials, plan various scenarios for prize distribution, train the Library staff virtually, and prepare for the Library to reopen.  Our amazing Summer Break team did all of these things and more; pivoting the program and pulling out all the stops in record time to ensure that Summer Break could still happen. As the team knows, it would not be possible to do Summer Break without the support of all Library staff. Members of administration volunteered to sort prizes; other staff pitched in to make suggested summer reading lists; and some staff took the first leap to train on a new platform to help customers sign up. All staff embraced training and sharing information with the public at their locations. It’s truly a BIG team effort!

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse behind-the-scenes and the Double Summer Break Challenges of 2020. We look forward to reading with you next year!

Leaves are changing, fall is in the air and, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, that means STEAM Month is here! Search the Library's calendar for all STEAM-related events here, or visit your favorite branch to find out what is happening during October as we celebrate STEAM Month. In the meantime, get ready to celebrate science, technology, engineering and math with these books! 

Science Is Magic by Steve Mould

Try exploring experiments with your young scientist at home. Science Is Magic by Steve Mould is loaded with entertaining and educational ideas. The improbable nature of each experiment makes it seem like a magician’s trick, but a section on each experiment called, “The Science Part” explains exactly how and why the action happens. Mould presents natural wonders and explores the science of classic magicians and mysteries between experiments. He also includes an experiment based on scientific observation he made himself! The experiments are based around ordinary household items. Most of them can be performed by children alone, but an easily-recognized logo indicates when parental involvement might be necessary. Prepare to be amazed as you discover Science Is Magic! 

100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers, and Coding by Alice James

Recognizing how technology and math interact – and how they fit into the world as a whole – is crucial. 100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers, and Coding by Alice James, Eddie Reynolds, Minna Lacey, Rose Hall and Alex Frith, helps kids develop that understanding in a fast-paced, fact-and-fun-filled way. Big, colorful infographics are sure to capture the interest of kids captivated by coding. There are even two ways to read this – in a linear fashion from Infographic 1 to Infographic 100, or by skipping around between infographics. From Pythagoras to Pascal’s Triangle to pixels, the facts presented here are sure to keep school-age kids occupied for hours. 

Skyscraper  by Jorey Hurley 

Even the youngest engineers are sure to love Skyscraper by Jorey Hurley. Colorful, one-word and two-page spreads chronicle the construction process from demolition to completion. A glossary at the end, complete with images, offers extra detail including exact vocabulary for all the heavy equipment and their pivotal roles in the building process. This deceptively simple, beautifully illustrated book is sure to foster fascinating conversation! 

Which One Doesn’t Belong: Playing with Shapes by Christopher Danielson

Keep the conversation going with Which One Doesn’t Belong: Playing with Shapes by Christopher Danielson. Colorful arrays of four shapes present the questions, “Which one of these is different from the others, and why?” The book models possible thought processes for identifying the unique shape, then presents more shape sets for further consideration.  With no right-or-wrong answers but lots to talk about, it works well for both one-on-one reading and whole-family interaction. In 2017, it won a Mathical Book Prize. An edition released in 2019 updates the color palate but maintains the excellent conversation-starting content.

Find these great books and get ready for STEAM month at your local branch! 

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This blog was written by Larisa Martin of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

This year has been hard. It has challenged our hope, resiliency and our optimism. If there's one thing this year has proven, it's that, when we work together and unite with a focus on justice and equality, actionable change is possible.

Being a teenager is challenging enough without feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders and, even worse, not being able to do anything to lighten that load. That's what ImaginOn's Real Talk and Teen Summit programs want to accomplish. There is power in youth. There is power in unbridled imagination. These are complex problems, and complex problems require creative, unique solutions.

This isn't a burden you have to carry by yourself. From mental health, confronting authority, gender identity and feeling othered, we've gathered experts from different fields who will help us navigate these trying topics.

The issues of today are going to be iterations of the issues of tomorrow. We're facing these battles, and we're tasked with finding enduring solutions. Setting a groundwork of knowledge and experience exploring these topics is necessary to understand how we got where we are and where we want to go.

Please join us for the Teen Summit:

Boost Hope for A Better Tomorrow Teen Summit

Thursday, October 8, 5-6 p.m.

A community discussion is an opportunity for youth to engage our panel experts around current social issues within society. Our goal is to have a discussion of empowering our youth towards creating awareness around matters considering them. Our panel experts will consist of teen community leaders and educators throughout Mecklenburg County.

Register

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This blog was written by Alana Esposito, a VolunTeen for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.