PLCMC News Releases

Library’s mobile literacy vehicle celebrates first month in service

7/17/2008 12:00:00 AM

Charlotte, NC – July 17, 2008 – What happens when you combine a classic way to provide books to the community with IBM-sponsored technology and a psychedelic splash of color? You get the Public Library’s new mobile literacy program. “Our goal is to reach children and families who are not benefiting from the Library’s very successful Summer Reading program because they simply can’t get there or don’t find their way to libraries for a variety of reasons,” said Director of Community Engagement Karen Beach. The vehicle has been making test runs for about a month and visits children living in neighborhoods surrounding Allenbrook and Druid Hills elementary schools. At these two targeted school locations, 90-95 percent of the students are in the free or reduced lunch program. The library’s Mobile Literacy Outreach Vehicle entices kids with the look, feel and sound of an old-fashioned ice cream truck. As the children gather near the truck, library staff set up a mini-library around them complete with chairs and tables, the chance to use computers and the Internet, and a free book. IBM donated Eight Thinkpad laptop computers and special reading software as part of its commitment to community education. “Our hope is that the laptops and software will help children increase their reading skills and success in school,” said IBM Representative Anne McNeill. The public is invited to celebrate the success of this new venture on July 22, from 4 – 6 p.m. at Druid Hills Elementary School located at 2801 Lucena Street in Charlotte. The library’s executive staff, including Director Charles Brown will don ice cream caps and aprons to help distribute ice cream to kids of all ages. Free ice cream will be supplied by Blue Bell Creameries Founded in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC has become one of the premiere libraries in the country with 24 locations, 1.6 million volumes, and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs. The library sponsors a variety of community-based programs – from computer- and Internet-education workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a celebration that accentuates the fun of reading and learning. As a public library, we are dedicated to our mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching our community. - Find out more! news release

Feedback needed to shape future of the Library

6/30/2008 12:00:00 AM

Charlotte, NC – June 30, 2008 – The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) wants to hear from you as library leaders make plans for the future. If you have ideas about how the public library can better serve you in 2010 and beyond, please attend one of several public focus groups that will be held at library locations throughout the county. The valuable information gathered from the public focus groups will be used to guide the library’s planning process for the next three to five years. The discussions will be facilitated by Susan Harden, Crossroads Charlotte Coordinator for UNC Charlotte. David Singleton, Director of Library Experiences for PLCMC, is coordinating the planning process for the library system. Focus Group Dates July 16, 7-8:30 p.m., North County Regional Library July 19, 10-11:30 a.m., Freedom Regional Library July 22, 7-8:30 p.m., University City Regional Library July 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Independence Regional Library July 24, 7-8:30 p.m., South County Regional Library July 29, 7-8:30 p.m., ImaginOn™ July 31, 7-8:30 p.m., Morrison Regional Library - Find out more! news release

Public Library announces 2008 Novello Festival of Reading

6/17/2008 12:00:00 AM

Charlotte, NC – June 17, 2008 – The public library’s annual Novello Festival of Reading brings book lovers and authors together for a celebration of books and reading. This year’s star-studded line-up is full of award-winners and fan favorites sure to entice just about every interest. Tickets go on sale August 1. Check www.novellofestival.org for updates. Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. ($15) A Novello Evening with Scott Turow, ImaginOn Turow is an attorney and suspense author best known for “Presumed Innocent”. Saturday, Oct. 11, FREE event Book Brunch (9:30 a.m.) and WordPlay Saturday (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), ImaginOn WordPlay Saturday is the Library’s annual free festival for kids and teens. Book Brunch occurs on this same day and is an opportunity for the public to mix-and-mingle with their favorite authors and illustrators for youth. •Cynthia Kadohata (“Kira-Kira” and “Weedflower”) •Margaret Haddix (“Running Out of Time” and “Among the Hidden”) •Deborah Gregory (“The Cheetah Girls” and “Catwalk”) •Charles Smith, Jr. (“Hoop Kings”, “I am America”) •Lucia Gonzalez (“Señor Cat's Romance and other Favorite Stories from Latin America”) •Frank Remkiewicz (illustrator of the popular Froggy books) •A. M. Jenkins (“Repossessed”, “Night Road”) •Gabrielle Zevin (“Elsewhere”, “Margarettown”) •Josh Elder (“Mail Order Ninja”, “The Batman Strikes!”) Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. ($15) An Afternoon of Book Lust with Nancy Pearl, ImaginOn Known for the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, Pearl is the author of the best-seller “Book Lust”. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. ($35, $25, $15) A Novello Evening with Khaled Hosseini, Ovens Auditorium Best-selling author of “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. ($15) A Novello Evening with Armistead Maupin, ImaginOn Maupin is the author of nine novels, including the six-volume “Tales of the City” series, “Maybe the Moon”, “The Night Listener” and most recently, “Michael Tolliver Lives”. Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ($15) Titans of Graphic Novels with Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel, ImaginOn Pekar is best known for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series “American Splendor”, a first-person account of Pekar’s downtrodden life. Bechdel is the creator of the comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For” and author of the graphic memoir “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. (FREE) Carolina Writers’ Night featuring John Hart, ImaginOn John Hart, author of “Down River” and “The King of Lies”, will headline this year’s event celebrating local and regional authors. The evening will culminate with the announcement of this year’s NFP Literary Award Winner. Free event, but tickets are required. Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. (FREE) Grown Deep Like the Rivers: African-American Poetry in Charlotte, ImaginOn Enjoy a celebration of African-American poetry old and new featuring Slam Charlotte, and other local/regional poets. Free event, but tickets are required. Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. ($15) A Novello Evening with Colson Whitehead, ImaginOn Whitehead is the author of “Apex Hides the Hurt” and “John Henry Days”, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. ($15) A Novello Evening with Sara Paretsky, ImaginOn Paretsky is the award-winning creator of the V. I. Warshawski detective novels. Her 14th novel is “Bleeding Kansas”. Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) Windy City Clues, An Evening of Food, Fiction and Friends with Sara Paretsky, Main Library Sample Chicago-style food and drinks with author Sara Paretsky of the V. I. Warshawski detective novels. Event presented by the Friends of the Public Library. 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 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, 1.6 million volumes and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs, PLCMC is dedicated to its mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching the community. - Find out more! news release

Public Library Receives Big Read Grant: Charlotte area to read and celebrate 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

6/16/2008 12:00:00 AM

June 16, 2008—Charlotte, NC— The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) today announced that it has received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in the Charlotte area. PLCMC is one of 208 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, higher education, and science organizations to receive a grant to host The Big Read from September 2008-June 2009. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature. The Big Read in the Charlotte area will focus on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. PLCMC will be partnering with a number of organizations to enhance the reach and impact of this significant reading event, including Crossroads Charlotte, Levine Museum of the New South and the Charlotte Observer. Activities will be announced at a kick-off event tentatively planned for mid-January, 2009. PLCMC Library Director Charles Brown said, “We’re very excited to be participating in The Big Read. The point is not only to get people reading, but it’s also to create a community dialogue. We selected Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird not only because it can be read by young and old, but also because it has the potential to inspire meaningful conversations about trust and tolerance. That’s important.” The latest Big Read grantees represent 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To date, the NEA has given more than 500 grants to support local Big Read projects. “Everything the NEA does we do in partnership. I am delighted to announce our 208 new partners in The Big Read. Some are new to the program, some are returning, but all of them have answered the call to action to get our country reading again,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. The selected organizations will receive Big Read grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including Reader’s, Teacher’s, and Audio Guides. “With this latest round of grants, I am proud to say that The Big Read has supported more than 500 public library partnerships,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the NEA’s lead federal partner for The Big Read. “Through this program, public libraries continue to demonstrate their value in communities as centers of engagement, literacy, and lifelong learning. I am particularly delighted by the innovative public programming born out of library and museum collaborations.” The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford. For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.- Find out more! news release

Nonprofit research funding opportunities expand to second library location

6/5/2008 12:00:00 AM

Charlotte, NC – May 15, 2008 – The public library’s premier database for nonprofit grant research, The Foundation Directory Online, is now available at an additional library, South County Regional at 5801 Rea Rd, Charlotte, 28277. For the past two years, Main Library has offered The Foundation Directory Online for patrons needing the ability to conveniently locate grants and grantmakers. The service connects nonprofit grantseekers with more than 90,000 potential foundation funders. User friendly, the database allows patrons to search by grantmakers, companies, grants or 990s. Foundation profiles include critical information important to nonprofit grantseekers including limitations, program areas, geographic giving focus, application guidelines, and more. Retrieved results can be conveniently saved and emailed. Resources are available during regular library operating hours. Please visit PLCMC's Foundation Center Cooperating Collection website at http://www.plcmc.org/Locations/nonprofitresource.asp for more information, including program schedules, nonprofit ebook titles, staff contact information, and more. Founded in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC provides community service and outreach to the citizens of the Charlotte area. It is one of the premiere libraries in the country – named winner of the 2006 National Award for Library Service – with 24 locations, 1.6 million volumes, and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs. The library sponsors a variety of community-based programs – from computer- and Internet-education workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a celebration that accentuates the fun of reading and learning. The library is dedicated to its mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching our community. - Find out more! news release