Community Read

Contact: Pamela McCarter
Phone: 704-416-4662
Contact Outreach Services

Each year, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hosts a big, exciting, community-wide book club known as Community Read. Everyone in the community can participate: read a book, share perspectives, attend a program, engage on social media and build a stronger community together. Join the conversations,  #communityread. 
 

Connections that Count/Conexiones que Cuentan

Contact: Veronica Corral
Phone: 704-416-0557
Contact Outreach Services/Contacto Servicios de Alcance
 
Locations/Ubicacións: Independence Regional, Cornelius, Scaleybark, Sugar Creek and Steele Creek

To address school readiness of Spanish speaking children, the Library has implemented Connections that Count. Our mission is to prepare children ages 0-5 to enter school. We provide literacy training for families, encouraging the formation of “neighborhood teachers” for the children of their communities. The programs are conducted in Spanish, but all are welcome to attend. Connections that Count is free of charge. There is no prior registration required for participation.
 

Día

Contact: Veronica Corral
Phone: 704-416-0557
Contact Outreach Services/Contacto Servicios de Alcance
 
Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros is a very successful event that Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has celebrated since 1998. The Library has promoted Día state-wide with Pat Mora, author and founder of the national event. This celebration has experienced great growth and expansion. It began as a storytelling celebration, and today, it is an impactful community cultural celebration. This is a wonderful, low cost way for children and families to celebrate.
 

Latino Outreach Services

Contact: Irania Patterson
Phone: 704-416-0557
Contact Outreach Services/Contacto Servicios de Alcance
 
The Library offers specialized programs for Spanish speaking adults. These programs include activities at the Shamrock International Senior Center, Spanish Language classes, ESL, the annual celebration of "Con A de Arte" and book club meetings at a local jail.

Programa para los adultos en español CMLibrary ofrece programas especializados para adultos en español. Estos programs incluyen;actividades con los señores de la tecera edad en el Shamrock International senior Center, clases de espanol, ESL, la celebración anual del festival "Con A de Arte" y club de lectores en la cárcel local.
 

Community Bookshelf

Contact: Emily Little
Phone: 704-416-4623
Contact Outreach Services
 
The Community Bookshelf is a program designed to provide literacy enriched areas in community centers for children and youth. This initiative includes community awareness, book distribution and opportunities for families to strengthen their literacy skills together. We place free bookshelves in high traffic communities with little resources. Children are able to take home and keep a book that they find on the community bookshelf, to help start or build an at home library.

Our Community Bookshelves are located at the following locations below: 

• International House (1817 Central Ave. #215)
• Atrium Rehabilitation Pediatrics Speech Therapy (427 N. Wendover Rd.)
• Charlotte Family Housing Plaza Place ( 2410 The Plaza)
• Charlotte Family Housing-St. Johns Baptist Church (300 Hawthorne Lane)
• The Relatives On Ramp (2219 Freedom Dr.)
• Safe Alliance (2 Locations) (601 E. 5th Street Ste 400) 
   

Library on Call

To access Library on Call: 980-331-7700
Contact: Emily Little
Phone: 704-416-4623
Contact Outreach Services
 

Library on Call is an outreach service of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where customers can call a dedicated number to hear pre-recorded, frequently updated messages tailored for our senior audience. Selections include short stories, poems, chapters from classic books, jokes and more. At least one option will be offered in Spanish. Selections range in time from one to 30 minutes long. They can be heard any time, day or night, seven days a week. To hear a story for yourself or play one for someone else, just dial (980) 331-7700. You'll hear an automated menu. Make your selection, sit back, and enjoy.  This service is sunsetting on June 30, 2025.
  

Senior Outreach Services

Contact: Amrita Patel
Phone: 704-416-4621
Contact Outreach Services
 
Senior Outreach Services visits adult day cares, senior citizen nutrition programs, nursing homes, independent senior housing communities and jails to deliver literacy, workforce development and lifelong learning activities. Offerings include: memory kits that can be loaned to senior center activity directors and engaging workshops for center director and participants on Library services and resources.
 

Services to Correctional Facilities

Contact: Pamela McCarter
Phone: 704-416-4662
Contact Outreach Services
 
Outreach Services meets the Library needs of residents of correctional facilities in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, in collaboration with Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department.
 

Homebound Services/Library by Mail

The Library by Mail service is no longer accepting new homebound patrons. Current Library by Mail customers will still be able to use the program and there are options available for digital resources.

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's E-books & More
• BARD: Braille and Audio Reading Download
• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
• North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Questions?

Contact: Pamela McCarter, Interim Assistant Director-Outreach 
Phone: 704-416-4662
Contact Outreach Services