The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) presents the Ninth Annual Belmont Center Branch Library May Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 16. Once again this year’s festival includes loads of activities for kids, books for sale at budget-loving prices, good “old school” music provided by JoJo’s Productions, and free lunch from Mert’s Heart and Soul. Also the theme, Embracing the Community, features resources provided from near and far. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store: “Games Galore” sponsored by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, bags donated by Harris Teeter, RenziMagic featuring magician Renzie Norris, Best Friends, a girl’s jazz choir and help from the community’s Teen Volunteers.

The festival also showcases local authors with its “Authors Corner”. This year’s line up features three women from three different genres. All authors will be available for book sales and book signing:

• Diana Mitchell, author of “Hair Braider’s Secret”
• Helen Kimborough, author of the children’s book, “Ocean Waves and other Tales”
• Josie Bradley, author of the short story, “Fast Girls”, which can be found in the book titled , “Hood to Hood”

The Belmont Center Branch Library is located on 700 Parkwood Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood Center in Charlotte. For more information contact Alecia Mitchell at (704) 416-3200.

Since its founding in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC has provided community service and outreach to the citizens of the Charlotte area. One of the premier libraries in the country, PLCMC has been recognized as a “Five Star” library in a national index of public library service from Library Journal and was named winner of the 2006 National Award for Library Service. The library sponsors a variety of community-based programs, from computer and Internet workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a celebration of the joys of reading and learning. With 24 locations, 1.4 million volumes, 79,000 DVDs, CDs and audiobooks, and a vast selection of titles available to download from the library’s web site, PLCMC is dedicated to its mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching the community.