The Cornelius Library is located in the town of Cornelius in northern Mecklenburg County.  According to the 2020 Census, the population of Cornelius is around 31,400, making it one of the largest towns in Mecklenburg County, similar in population to Mint Hill or Matthews. The Cornelius Library is located in the historic district of Cornelius, almost across the street from Cornelius Elementary School and not far from Cornelius Town Hall and Cornelius Police Department. A frequently recognized aspect of the Cornelius Library is the Mark Twain bronze statue on a bench that faces Catawba Avenue, designed by Cornelius sculptor Jon Hair.

One of the defining features of Northern Mecklenburg County is Lake Norman. Cornelius has the largest shoreline (about 70 miles) of all municipalities on the lake, and has great recreation opportunities and lake access at two of the most beautiful parks in Mecklenburg County, Jetton Park and Ramsey Creek Park. 

Cornelius has a sizable population of Hispanic origin and even has a grocery store, Tienda Maria, that offers Mexican and Latin American products. Some of the local international cuisine located in the area include Osito’s Tacos and Tortas and El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar, as well as Pho NC and Pho Nam.  About 9% of the population of Cornelius is foreign-born, according to the Census Bureau.    

There are many fun activities in Cornelius, including the Cain Center for the Arts, which offers a variety of arts experiences, including classes, workshops, camps, gallery exhibits, concerts and more. Cornelius also hosts a Jazz Festival in Smithville Park, featuring local jazz bands, food trucks, craft beer and children’s activities, as well as a Laketoberfest, featuring live music, food trucks and a kid’s zone with crafts and games. The Town of Cornelius offers events throughout the year with special themes. The YMCA for the North Mecklenburg region is also located in Cornelius and features a variety of programs for members. Another resource for newcomers to the area is The Neighborhood Care Center, which provides and/or coordinates with partners to provide programs and resources to anyone in need. 

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Town of Cornelius |21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC | 704-892-6031
• Jetton Park | 19000 Jetton Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 980-314-1001
• Ramsey Creek Park | 18441 Nantz Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-314-1001
• Tienda Maria | 19816 S Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-894-9700
• Osito’s Tacos & Tortas | 20700 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-5773
• El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar | 20930 Torrence Chapel Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-2534
• Pho NC | 19420 Jetton Rd #104, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-729-3770
• Pho Nam | 18059 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-892-9133
• Cain Center for the Arts | 19725 Oak St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-896-8823
• YMCA of Lake Norman | 21300 Davidson St #8553, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-716-4400
• Neighborhood Care Center | 19711 Smith Cir, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-255-5500

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This blog post was written by Cameron Smith, branch manager for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

If you’re friends with a gardener, you’ve probably heard them praise the physical and mental health benefits of gardening. If you’re a gardener, you may view gardening as a form of artistic expression and self-care. However, did you know that horticultural therapy is widely used in physical and vocational rehabilitation and improves memory, cognitive abilities, language skills and socialization?

The terms “Horticultural Therapy (HT)” and “Therapeutic Horticulture (TH)” are often used interchangeably. However, the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) provides these distinct definitions:

• Horticultural therapy is participating in horticultural activities facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist to achieve specific goals within an established treatment, rehabilitation or vocational plan.

• Therapeutic horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well-being through active or passive involvement in plant and plant-related activities. (AHTA Definitions and Positions, n.d.)

In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, regarded as the “father of American psychiatry,” documented the positive effect working in the garden had on individuals with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, horticultural therapy gained credibility and recognition for its treatment applications to a broader range of diagnoses. As a result, the American Horticultural Association was founded in 1973 to support horticultural therapy practitioners’ professional development, education and expertise.   And each year, the third full week of March has been designated as National Horticultural Therapy Week.

In 2020, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the third week in March as Horticultural Therapy Week in North Carolina. The proclamation cited the benefits of HT for all the populations served, including children, youth and adults with disabilities, mental illness or abuse trauma; veterans; persons with delinquent or criminal convictions; seniors and the terminally ill; and patients, staff and visitors at medical facilities.

This year National Horticultural Therapy Week is March 20 through 26. On Monday, March 21, 2022, Myers Park Library and Matthews Library will co-host a virtual program with Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Rita Stanley on Therapeutic Horticulture: Plant-People Connections -- exploring nature-based therapies’ history, psychology and practicality. 

Rita completed the Master Gardening training program in 2017, and then the first Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program offered at UNC in 2019.  She states that the knowledge regarding the power of therapeutic horticulture has changed her perspective.  She enjoys sharing what she has learned with others in hopes that they will also find ways to incorporate it into their lives.

Horticulture Therapy might sound like a weighty topic, but it’s very down-to-earth. You probably already practice a few of these strategies and don’t realize it.  To learn more about this program or register, click here.

For this presentation, a suggested companion book is Therapeutic Gardens: Design for healing spaces by Daniel Winterbottom and Amy Wagenfeld - ISBN 9781604694420. Copies are available at the Library here.

If you’re interested in visiting a local therapeutic garden, visit The Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden located in the Van Landingham Glen of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. The Polly Rogers Sensory Garden engages and stimulates all the senses through plantings and interactive elements. The designers wanted to create a magical space that is both contemplative and peaceful and colorful, whimsical, and fun (Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden, n.d.).

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This blog was written by Pamela Kemp, Library assistant at Myers Park Library

Footnotes:

AHTA Definitions and Positions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions

Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://gardens.charlotte.edu/polly-rogers-memorial-sensory-garden/

Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine who are in the middle of unfathomable crisis. We offer our support to those on our staff and in our community who may have family, friends, and loved ones in Ukraine.

While Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates and supports the joy of reading and learning, fosters exploration and personal growth, and connects individuals to each other, the community and the world, it can be difficult to locate resources when conflict and humanitarian crisis arise in our local and global community. We’re here to help.

We hope the resources below help provide insight to what's happening in Eastern Europe.

Ukraine: A List for Understanding the War 2022 

Real Talk for Teens & Middle Grade: War & Ukraine

Ukraine and Talking to Your Kids about War

Kanopy list: Conflict in Ukraine | Kanopy

To provide further context on Ukraine and its tense history with Russia, we’ve carefully curated a collection of documentary and narrative films focused specifically on this country and region. Find these helpful resources below:

• Support Ukraine with hoopla Digital. This list includes books and audiobooks by Ukrainian authors, music by Ukrainian artists, and the Oliver Stone documentary, Ukraine on Fire.
• Better understand the Crisis in Ukraine with this OverDrive collection. These titles will help you understand the history of Ukraine and the current invasion from Russia.

When the Academy Awards airs its “In Memoriam” segment this year, it will include Sidney Poitier who was the first Black actor to win the award for Best Leading Actor in 1963.

Poitier, who passed away earlier this January at the age of 94, was a role model for Black performers for years, and that legacy continues to this day. Two current Academy Award nominees for best actor, Will Smith and Denzel Washington have expressed such to the public with Smith sharing the following message on Instagram:

"An icon, legend, visionary, and true pioneer. Thank you Sidney Poitier for breaking down barriers, creating the path and making it possible for there to be a Will Smith!" 

Washington also reflected on their longstanding friendship stating, “He was the one we all followed and it was an honor to be able to call him a friend.”

The longevity of Poitier’s impact on Hollywood is undeniable. The New York Times reported that his “portrayal of resolute heroes in films like To Sir with Love, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (all films released in 1967) established him as Hollywood’s first Black matinee idol and helped open the door for Black actors in the film industry.” 

What’s more, the newspaper reported how Poitier shaped his extraordinary film career. It stated the actor’s characters often simmered “with repressed anger” and “responded to injustice with quiet determination.” Overall, Poitier portrayed restrained and calm individuals. That typecasting calculation by Poitier led to success as white viewers were pacified by his work. Conversely, some Black moviegoers came to expect more aggressive behavior and emotion on the screen. To partially explain his plight, Poitier once wrote “I felt very much as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made.”  

Entertainment Weekly Columnist Mark Harris wrote, “Famously, he refused to play bad guys, even those that would have allowed him to challenge himself and stretch his talent. Near the height of his success, he even turned down the chance to star in a film version of Othello, unwilling to risk playing a Black man inflamed by sexual jealousy over a white woman. ‘If the fabric of the society were different, I would scream to high heaven to play villains,’ he said at the time. ‘But…not when there is only one Negro actor working in films with any degree of consistency.’”  

In the early 1960s, after years of acting on the stage, in television and in movies, Poitier reached the pinnacle of entertainment honors with the Oscar award for “his performance in the low-budget Lilies of the Field, as an itinerant handyman helping a group of German nuns build a church in the Southwestern desert.”  During that time, Poitier also quietly helped in the Civil Rights Movement. The result was an on-screen persona buttressing his stance. “His roles tended to reflect the peaceful integrationist goals of the struggle,” wrote the New York Times.

In the decades to follow, Poitier worked as an actor, director and producer in films, and for a period, skipped onscreen work until the late 1980s. His last roles were on television and included portraying Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and the imprisoned Nelson Mandela in South Africia.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has a variety of Poitier’s acting work in major roles as in The Defiant Ones (said to be one of his favorite movies), To Sir with Love and his more recent in The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn. Better yet, read about his life and more in the booklist entitled Sidney Poitier: a selected retrospective.

Access the booklist

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This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, an adult services librarian at South County Regional Library.

Libraries reach beyond walls, and on April 6, 2022,  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will celebrate National Library Outreach Day for that very reason.

We are joining the American Library Association, or ALA,  as they recognize the amazing work of library staff who meet the needs of customers where they are. Outreach services are essential to the community. Services cover all topics and support all ages. This includes virtual and in person outdoor programs, traditional programs, community festivals and events; and now we can add our Mobile Library to the list of services.

National Library Outreach Day is an opportunity to recognize and thank library staff for bringing library services to the community.  Below, you'll find a fews ways we recommend celebrating the day:

• Organizations and individuals are encouraged to write a letter or send an email to their libraries voicing their support and sharing how the library makes a difference in their lives and the people they serve.
• Use the hashtags #cmlibrary and #LibraryOutreachDay to talk outreach. Tag @cmlibrary when you visit branches or our Mobile Library, MoLi.
• Voice your support of the Libary to community leaders.

Please join us in celebrating National Library Outreach Day and help us recognize the staff and work that goes beyond the library buildings.

This blog written  by Abrar Alkusaimi, Teen Librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Mountain Island Branch is in the Mountain Island Village at NC Highway 16 and Rozzelles Ferry Road at 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way. Located in the northwestern part of Mecklenburg County and Charlotte, the Mountain Island neighborhood is a home to many natural recreation areas and lakes. It is approximately 3 miles north of Mount Holly and on the border of Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.

Mountain Island neighborhood and branch are named after the local Mountain Island Lake. The name comes from the mountain which sits in the middle of the lake. Located on the southwestern end of the lake, the island is mainly used as an anchor point for recreation, picnicking, and camping. The lake is the smallest of the three man-made lakes that border Mecklenburg County.

The Mountain Island Branch Library was redesigned in early 2019. This redesign created defined spaces for Teens, Tweens, and Families.  Also, a reading space with comfortable seating and a view of the pond behind the branch.  The vision for this project was to create welcoming and preferred spaces for customers of all ages.  These spaces can also be used for programming and special events. The building features one Community Room, two Study Rooms, and a Computer Lab with 17 public PCs, and open space for reading, studying, and collaboration. In addition to its regular collections for all ages, the library hosts a foreign language collection mainly in Spanish for Children, Teens, and Adults.

A great place to eat is found not too far from the branch. La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant is a restaurant that is highly suggested by the Mountain Island Staff. It’s within walking distance from the branch and sits at the other side of the business complex.

The Mountain Island Area is surrounded by amazing outdoor and nature centered attractions such as the Carolina Raptor Center, Latta Nature Preserve Waterfront, the Rozzelles Ferry Nature Preserve, and the Mountain Island Park Trail.

A very popular local attraction is the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Activities at the center include whitewater and flatwater paddling, climbing, running, cycling, hiking, fishing, and more. Other attractions easily accessible through highway 485 include North Lake mall, only 15 minutes away.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

RESOURCES:

• Mountain Island Branch Library | 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way Charlotte, NC 28214 | 704-416-5600
• Carolina Raptor Center |6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 | 704-875-6521
• La Fiesta Grande | 10916 Black Dog Lane, Charlotte, NC 28214 | 704-595-3632
• Latta Nature Preserve Waterfront | 6345 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 | 980-314-7878
• Mountain Island Park Trail | 304 Mountain Island Rd, Mt Holly, NC 28120 |
• Rozzelles Ferry Nature Preserve | 11840 Mountain Island Brook Lane, Charlotte, NC 28214
• U.S. National Whitewater Center | 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214 | 704-391-3900

This blog written by Hannah P. Simmons, library associate for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

If you find yourself cruising down Holly Crest Lane, you just might discover the North County Regional Library, one of the many facilities proud to be part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system. The North County Regional Library has been serving the populations of Huntersville, Davidson, and Cornelius since 1997, but it got a major makeover in 2019. Situated close to parks, dining, and entertainment, the North County Regional Library is a hub in the community to not only provide traditional library services, but also host community events. This tri-level building offers a little something for every age. On the main floor, you can pick up your Holds, as well as browse the DVDs, Magazines, and New Fiction. The main floor is also where you can return items in the “Book Drop”, and access both the patio and indoor cafe seating areas.

You can take the stairs or elevator up to the 3rd Floor to browse the Children and Teens collection. The North County multimedia collections gives youth access to Chapter Books, Picture Books, Easy Readers, Wonderbooks, Books on Disc, Playaways, and so much more! While you’re upstairs, you might take part in a Scavenger Hunt, an indoor Story Walk, check out the “I-Spy” Tank, or join in a storytime in the Program Room. Also upstairs, you will find the Makerspace! Our Makerspace houses some of the latest creative technology. Stop by during Open Hours to check out the 3D Printer, Carvey machine, and a Recording Studio, to name a few! You can take part in some self-guided STEAM activities with the In-House kits that let you play around with robotics and circuits.

Be sure to take your Teens up to the Loft where they can browse on the computer and check out the Fiction, Nonfiction, and Graphic Novels collections. They can also take a photo for the Selfie Board, and jump in on other interactive displays. Need some study supplies? The Loft has you covered! We’ve also got “Dry Erase” tables for collaborative study sessions.

A trip down to the 1st Floor will bring you to our Adult Fiction and Nonfiction shelves, Audio Books, Graphic Novels, as well as Audio Books. You can also access our Community Rooms for Adult Programming, and several cozy spaces to set up with a book or your laptop. We also have Computers and Study Rooms. Computers can be accessed with a Library Card or Guest Pass, and Study Rooms can be reserved for some private study or work time. Just head to the Circulation Desk, or call ahead that day to reserve your space!

A short distance from the library, you can access shopping, dining, parks, and Downtown Huntersville! Birkdale Village is a short drive up Sam Furr Road, and provides access to many excellent local businesses. At Birkdale, you can see a movie, shop for some clothing or home decor, and grab a bite to eat! In the mood for some amazing pub food? Check out Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar! They not only have a vast selection of signature burgers, but if you’re feeling creative, you can build your own. Feeling a little more adventurous? Head over to Kung Foo Noodle for some of the best Asian-fusion the Charlotte area has to offer. Sushi, pho, banh mi, bubble teas, and more, Kung Foo Noodle delivers amazing flavor along with a bold and colorful interior that makes for an epic dining experience. The NorthCross Shopping Center sits across Sam Furr Road from the Library, which offers several popular lunch and coffee spots, trendy stores to browse, and stores where you can purchase essentials.

Whether you want indoor or outdoor fun, we have the place for you. The North Meck Regional Recreation Center is your go-to place for amazing indoor activities. Swimming, basketball, and volleyball are just a few of the fun things to do inside. Also, North Mecklenburg Park is also only 2 miles away from the library. This park has multiple playgrounds, walking and biking trails, as well as outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, and soccer fields!

Last but not least, you can hop over to Downtown Huntersville for even more family fun! So are you ready to explore and have some fun in Huntersville? We will be waiting to see you at the North County Regional Library.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

RESOURCES:

• North County Regional Library - 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville NC 28078 | 704-416-6000
• Birkdale Village - Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville NC 28078
• Bad Daddy’s - 8625 Lindholm Dr A, Huntersville, NC 28078 | 704-237-4055
• Downtown Huntersville - 105 S Old Statesville Road, Huntersville NC 28078
• Kung Foo Noodle  - 8625C Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078 | 704-997-8132
• Northcross Shopping Center - 9751 Sam Furr Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
• Northern Regional Recreation Center - 18121 Old Statesville Rd, Cornelius NC 28031 | 980-314-6772
• North Mecklenburg Park - 16131 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville NC 28078

This blog was written by Darrell Anderson, marketing and communication specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Did you know there is a new Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch located in the heart of Pineville? Well, now you do!

Located at 505 Main Street in the heart of Pineville, this 18,000 square foot community branch is home to a vast collection of print and digital materials. The building is unique in that it shares space with Pineville's Town Hall which is located on the upper level with the Library utilizing the lower half of the building, making it a true community space. Inside you'll find the same friendly staff and great programming and resource options the Library is known for.

Join us for our grand opening celebration on Saturday, December 10 from 11a.m.-3 p.m. with a day of fun for the entire family. Enjoy programs, games, entertainment and more as we invite the entire community to visit the new Pineville Branch. We hope to see you there!

Check out our schedule of events below:

• Family Storytime 11-11:45 a.m. | Program Room 
• Paw To Read 12-1 p.m. | Program Room
• Face Painting/Henna 12-2 p.m. | Face Painting in Children's area (public floor) | Henna in Teen area (public floor)
• Photo Booth 12-3 p.m. | Vending area
• B-Rad Magician  1-1:45 p.m. | Community Room
• Self-Guided Tour all-day | Goody bag handout after tour is complete at front desk
• Activities (craft) for kids 11-3 p.m. | Program Room & Foyer

Consider helping us stock the shelves at Pineville through a donation to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. A gift of $25 puts a new book on the shelf and will include a bookplate personalized with your name and, if you like, a tribute to a friend or family member.

donate here

This blog post was written by Elyse Berrier, library program coordinator for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  

National Family Literacy month is recognized each November, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library plans to celebrate with a systemwide, in-person, “Out of this World” Family Literacy Night on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. Families are invited to visit any Library location (no registration necessary) to participate in self-directed family literacy activities that the whole family will enjoy and be invited to take home. Play literacy games, check out books, read and write together, and learn more about why family literacy is extremely important! Every Library location will also be hosting a giveaway drawing and other fun surprises that you are not going to want to miss!  

While we are celebrating with this “stellar” event on November 30th, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library always strives to provide opportunities and education around families learning together every day all throughout the year. Here are five ways we encourage families to improve literacy together: 

1. READ OFTEN AND ALOUD AS A FAMILY:  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who are read to have better language skills, have more interest in reading, and have better nurturing relationships with their parental figures (AAP, 2014).  Make it a habit to read as often as you can as a family. Visit our physical Library locations to check out books, or read books electronically together! Browse one of our digital book resources, and spend time reading together as a family.  

1. WRITE FREQUENTLY: The practice of writing aids in fine motor skills, self-expression, and language development. There are many ways to practice writing as a family at home. Start a family journal, where family members write back and forth to one another, or simply send notes and letters to each other! Seek inspiration from our storytellers at the Library to write your own story together as a family. Drawing counts too!  Feel free to write a book review as well together as a family and add it to our catalog for others to enjoy! 

1. TALK TOGETHER: Talking about books and what is going on in your child’s life will help to improve your child’s language and vocabulary skills. Cognitive scientists from MIT found that conversation between an adult and a child can actually change and enhance a child’s brain physiology (Association of American Universities, 2018)! Active Reading, or the practice of reading aloud a children’s picture book by asking questions, building vocabulary, and making connections to the child’s world and experiences, is a wonderful way to talk together as a family. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library provides Active Reading Family Workshops and Active Reading Training programs to help you and your family have meaningful conversations about books together.  

1. LEARN AS A FAMILY: There are many ways to learn together as a family at the Library. Programs are available daily that you can attend together as a family including storytimes, story explorer programs, puppet shows, and more! Check out books and discuss what you learn together as a family and share it with others. Books with step-by-step instructions can teach your family a new recipe, craft, or activity to enjoy, while improving literacy skills.  

1. SPREAD THE JOY OF LITERACY: According to the Handbook of Family Literacy, family literacy refers to the spoken and written communication within a family, as well as the family’s efforts to improve and support a child’s literacy and language development (Van Horn, 2012). When parents, caregivers, and adults in a child’s life share their enthusiasm for literacy, a child’s attitude and perception about literacy improves as well. Allow the children around you to see adults reading, writing, talking, and learning, and they will follow suit!  

We look forward to your family making great use of all that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has to offer! Read often and aloud as a family, write frequently, talk together, learn as a family, and spread the joy of literacy.