‘Tween running and reading, girls find worlds of self-esteem

The Fit Girls practice for the run. Photo courtesy the Charlotte Observer.

There’s a great article in today’s Observer about the ‘tween girls who will be running in tomorrow’s uptown race. It’s part of a national running and reading program called “Fit Girls” which has a chapter at the Steele Creek Library Branch. The coordinator of the Steele Creek chapter, Jennifer France, and Steele Creek Library manager Susan McDonald are thrilled with the program’s outcomes. Susan comments, “It truly has been a successful program – and I say this as a proud manager and a proud mom since my daughter has been one of the participants!” If you’re in the uptown area on Saturday, be sure to cheer on the girls! Read the article.

Learn how to download from your library

Millions of people are already downloading audiobooks, eBooks, and more from their public libraries, and you can too. Find out more when the Main Library hosts the Digital Bookmobile for a special event on Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. With instructional videos and interactive computer stations, readers of all ages will experience new ways to enjoy digital books and more from their public library. Learn more at DigitalBookmobile.com or start downloading right away at http://downloads.plcmc.org.

Reading beyond reality

Area teens will be reading some exciting stuff as celebrate Teen Read Week, October 18 – 24, 2009, with the theme, “Read Beyond Reality.” Part of this celebration includes a lineup of exciting sci-fi and fantasy themed events including author visits, book clubs, the Amazing Race Library Edition (how fun is that!), movies, scavenger hunts, and more. It is the Library’s hope that teens will join in the fun, and rediscover just how enjoyable reading can be. See the Teen Read Week Event Schedule.

What’s the future of reading?

Library Director Charles Brown chats with WFAE’s Mike Collins about the role of libraries in a digital age. Other guests include Stanley Wilder, University Librarian for UNC Charlotte and Sarah C. Michalak, Assoc. Provost for Libraries and University Librarian at UNC Chapel Hill.

Listen online: http://bit.ly/4j6MCQ

Novello kicks off with a very funny start.

The first Novello event, an Evening with Christopher Buckley, was a hoot! But don’t take our word for it — read the article by Pam Kelley of the Charlotte Observer, “Satirist Christopher Buckley keeps audiences giggling at Novello kickoff.”

If you missed last night’s event, it’s not too late to get tickets to another Novello event that’s sure to be a hit — A Novello Evening with Clyde Edgerton on Friday, October 23. One of North Carolina’s favorite authors, Clyde Edgerton and his band, the Rank Strangers, promises to provide a Novello evening unlike any other. Readings, story songs, food and fun are all rolled into one wonderful evening. Tickets are $35, and you can purchase online.

See the entire Novello lineup, including free events for both adults and children, at www.plcmc.org/novello.

Largest single gift of books in Library’s 104-year history

Sophie Greenfield and her sons.

“I just hope I have enough time to read them all.”

That’s what Sophie Bruckner Greenfield told her sons Russell and Michael, referring to her personal collection of more than 20,000 books.

Sophie Greenfield died August 29, 2008. Knowing that’s what their mother would have wanted Russell and Michael recently gave the Public Library her entire collection. It is the largest single gift of books in the Library’s 104 year history.

Major gift helps Library close the ‘digital divide’

An announcement of a significant gift from the Knight Foundation to the Public Library. Pictured left to right: Mecklenburg County Commissioner Chair Jennifer Roberts, Library Director Charles Brown, Library Trustee Chair Darrel Williams, and Charlotte program director for Knight Foundation Susan Patterson.

Charlotte and Mecklenburg County residents will benefit from expanded Internet access and help searching for jobs, thanks to a $804,100 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. This gift was announced at 9 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2009, at a press conference at ImaginOn.

Read the full news release on the Library’s web site. Videos of the event, which included heartfelt testimonials from library users about the personal impact library technology has made in their lives, are available on YouTube. Click here for the grant announcement, and here for a library user speaking about what the library means to her.

Hitchcock on the big screen

Hitchcock "The Master of Suspense"

If you missed the Library’s wildly popular Hitchcock film series this summer (or if you couldn’t get enough), never fear — the master of suspense is back! By popular demand, ImaginOn will once again host a new batch of Hitchcock films on Mondays in October and November at 7 p.m.  The first film, “Notorious”, shows this Monday and features Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Nazis and Rio de Janeiro. See the full lineup in this great article by Lawrence Toppman in the Charlotte Observer. If you’ve never seen classic films on the big screen, you are in for a treat.

One step closer to closing the ‘digital divide’

On Friday, Oct. 2, the Library will be one step closer to closing the ‘digital divide‘ thanks to a substantial gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. We invite you to join us at a press conference at 9 a.m. that morning at ImaginOn (get the details) or stay tuned for more information posted here later that day.  Very exciting news, indeed!

Volunteers are needed this Saturday to help prepare for Book Sale in October.

If you’re available anytime this Saturday, Sept. 26, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., you can make a difference by helping the Public Library prepare for its biggest ever book sale, the “Old Books to New Books” sale.

Volunteers are needed to help:
· Sift through books
· Sort into categories
· Decide price points
· Set up tables
· Clean up after each volunteer session
· Assist in promotion

Where: Arysley Town Center store, 2015 Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Suites G, H, and J, Charlotte, NC 28273. (See map.)

Contact Arden McLaughlin, amclaughlin@plcmc.org, 704-416-0705 or 704-491-7568 if you can attend and for all questions.

Proceeds from this book sale will support the purchase of needed new books and materials. If you can’t volunteer, please tell your friends about the “Old Books for New Books” sale, happening October 15 -17 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.