| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library[1] | |
|---|---|
| Facade of the Main Library | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1903 |
| Location | Mecklenburg County, North Carolina |
| Branches | 21 |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Residence in Mecklenburg County |
| Other information | |
| Director | David Singleton (interim) |
| Staff | 550 |
| Website | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library |
| Phone number | 704.416.0101 |
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), (officially known as the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library[2]) is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg in North Carolina
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County comprises 20 locations throughout Mecklenburg County, including 19 locations in the city of Charlotte.
The library system contains over 1.5 million adult and children's classics, favorite paperbacks, modern bestsellers, downloadable media, CDs and DVDs.
Over 300 employees countywide strive to make information available to anyone who wants it both within library facilities and through vibrant outreach programs. As the county and region grows, the Library reaches out in traditional and new ways.
The roots of the Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County can be traced to 1891 when the Charlotte Literary and Library Association was organized. It was a subscription library, members paying dues of 50 cents each, and was open to white Charlotteans only.
In 1901, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate $25,000 for a library building for Charlotte if the city would furnish a site and taxes to support operations. The tax was approved by vote of citizens on May 6, 1901. The library was chartered by the state of North Carolina in 1903 as the Charlotte Carnegie Library; the modern library dates its establishment from the state charter. The Charlotte Carnegie Library building, with an imposing classical facade, was dedicated and opened to the public on July 2, 1903 in the 300 block of North Tryon Street.
The state charter also required the construction of a library for the disenfranchised African-American population of Charlotte.[3] This was completed in 1905 with the opening of the independent Brevard Street Library for Negroes, on the corner of Brevard Street and East Second Street in what was then the historically black area of Second Ward known an Brooklyn. The Brevard Street Library later became a branch of the Charlotte Public Library, and persisted on this site until 1961 when Brooklyn was redeveloped. Though the library was desegregated in 1956, the current Beatties Ford, West, and Belmont Center branches continue the Brevard Street Library's legacy of acting as a cultural hub for the African-American community, as does the African American Cultural Center.
In 1919, the Charlotte school libraries were made branches of the Charlotte Public Library; however, this only lasted until the late 1930s, as the growth of Charlotte's schools made cataloguing difficult. In 1931, the Charlotte Public Library established branches in Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews and Pineville. The coming of the Great Depression, however, stalled further efforts to expand the library system.
In 1938, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that libraries were not "necessary expenses" and so large-scale funding of libraries was illegal by state law. The following year, Mecklenburg County citizens voted on this matter in a bid for further appropriations for the system. The measure failed, and the system was closed for several months. In 1940, another vote was taken, and this time, the library supporters prevailed.
The Second World War brought expansion to the system. In 1944, a Film and Sound Division for films and records was instituted. In 1945, the library became known as the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, as more library locations were opened around the city of Charlotte, and in other townships of Mecklenburg County. In 1952, as part of a bond package, four new Charlotte library branches—North, South, East and West—were opened. Also, at this time a decision was made to construct a new Main Library building and to demolish the Carnegie Building, which had fallen into disrepair due to age.
In 1954, the collections in the Main Library were moved to temporary quarters on College Street. The old Carnegie Main Library building was demolished that year, and the present Main Library Building was opened on November 19, 1956. In 1956, the Charlotte Public Library system was completely desegregated.
In the 1960s, five new branches were established: Derita (1960), Sharon (1963), Northwest (1964) and Tryon Mall (1968). By this time, the system had expanded to 16 branches. In the 1970s, computers were introduced, with an electronic catalogue from 1986. In 1985, new branches—Scaleybark Branch, West Boulevard Branch and Carmel Branch—were opened. In 1986, the Hickory Grove Branch opened.
A three-story addition to the Main Library was constructed during 1987–1989, and opened to the public in June 1989. In the 1990s, more branches were opened—Morrison, University City and Independence Regional Libraries prior to the end of 1996, North and South County Regional Libraries in 1997 and 1998, respectively, West Boulevard Library and Learning Resource Center (1996), Beatties Ford Road (1997), Mint Hill (1998) and Cornelius (2000).
In the last years of the 20th century, the library system grew to 24 locations (including five regional libraries offering expanded services) serving people in neighborhoods and towns across the county.
As the library entered the new century, several new branches were opened in the first decade: Matthews (2001), Freedom Regional (2003), Sugar Creek (2003), Checkit Outlet (2003), Steele Creek (2004), ImaginOn (2005), Mountain Island (2005) and Hickory (2010). The PLCMC officially became known as the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in 2009.[4]
On 18 March 2010, due to demands by Mecklenburg County to slash $2 million from the library budget, the library board of directors voted to close 12 of the 24 locations and lay off 148 staff by April 3. The locations scheduled for closing were: Beatties Ford Road, Belmont Center, Carmel, Checkit Outlet, Cornelius, Hickory Grove, Independence Regional, Mint Hill, Morrison Regional, Myers Park, Scaleybark, and Sugar Creek.[5] The resulting public outcry led the board to rethink their strategy.[6] On 24 March, they voted to keep all of the locations open, but to instead lay off 82–84 full time equivalents, a total of 120 people[7], and reduce salaries by 5–15%. Between 18 and 24 March, a massive public effort raised $200,000 in donations to keep the locations open.[8]
On 20 May 2010, the library board of directors voted to permanently close four of the 24 branches in the system. The branches to be closed were: Checkit Outlet (opened 2003), Belmont Center (opened 1975), Freedom Regional (opened 2003), and Carmel (opened 1983).[9] A fourth library, Beatties Ford Road (originally opened 1997) was closed until June 2011 for renovations. Freedom Regional closed as a Charlotte Mecklenburg library in May 2011 but remains a library for Philip O. Berry High School.[10] Beatties Ford Library reopened as a regional library on 14 June 2011.[11] serving the west side of Charlotte.
Between 2 and 8 June 2010, Charlotte city officials and Mecklenburg county commissioners approved special, one-time funding for the libraries with grants of $1.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.[12] On 15 June 2010, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners approved $21.17 million in library funding for the 2011 fiscal year.[13] In the 17 June 2010 issue of TIME magazine, the dire financial state of the libraries was mentioned.[14] The branches slated for closing in fiscal year 2010 closed on 19 June 2010.[15] On 17 June, the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Huntersville and Mint Hill reaffirmed their support for the library branches in their towns, and reported that final budgetary decisions would be made by the night of 21 June.[16]
On 21 June 2010, the five towns voted to contribute approximately $730,000 worth of deferred leases, donations and contributions to the CML system, thus granting the system a tentative budget of $23.3 million for the 2011 fiscal year.[17]The budget was officially adopted on 24 June, and included the layoffs of 66 employees, consolidation of security and maintenance functions with Mecklenburg County, elimination of the 401(k) match for employees, and other reductions, including a 56% cut in library operating hours from 6 July.[18] At the same meeting, the library directors also voted to create a Citizen Task Force for the Future of the Library. The task force was established in order to plan the system's long-term future. On 26 July, 2010 the Library received a $75,000 grant from Foundation of the Carolinas to establish the task force, and appointed the former Chancellor of UNCC and interim Chancellor of NCSU, Dr. James Woodward, as its head.[19]
On 19 January 2011, Charles Brown, the Director of Libraries, announced that he would be stepping down in June 2011 at the end of the fiscal year[20]
On 1 March 2011, the library task force released a preliminary statement. With their plan in effect, six library branches—Hickory Grove, Plaza Midwood, Myers Park, Davidson, Cornelius and Matthews—could close, and the majority of the money saved would be used to support the regional libraries in the system and restore full services at those locations.[21]
The Library Task Force released its final report on 21 March 2011. Among the recommendations it made were: that a separate task force be formed to further analyse the future of the Main Library; that ImaginOn should continue to be a primary focus of the library system, that the regional libraries should have expanded hours and that the county manager serve as an ex-officio member of the library board.[22] The full report can be found here: [12]
On 7 June 2011, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners voted a $24 million budget for the Library for the 2012 fiscal year. As a result, effective 6 September 2011, the larger regional locations had their hours of operation expanded from 37 per week to 54 per week; the locations being Beatties Ford Road, Independence, Morrison, North County, South County and University City. However, this is still 17 hours less than at pre-recession levels. All other locations would maintain their previous number of hours.[23]
(Library system closed from July 1939–July 1940; Directorship vacant July–November 1940)
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County offers a variety of programs to serve the growing population of Charlotte. The Think College and Career Center, located at Freedom Regional Library, provides students free assistance with applying for college and searching for financial aid. The World Language Center has a variety of self-instructional language programs, as well as materials written in foreign languages. PLCMC has a thriving gaming program, where patrons can play board, laptop, and console games against each other. Many branches offer computer classes free of charge. The library participates in the Bizhub network, which provides assistance to small businesses in the Charlotte region.
IMLS Received 2006 Award for Extraordinary Public Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
There are twenty locations in the system. All branches have free Wifi access and internet computers.
As of Thursday March 18, 2010, 12 of the 24 locations were scheduled for closing due to budget cuts. These locations included: Beatties Ford Road, Belmont Center, Carmel, Checkit Outlet, Cornelius, Hickory Grove, Independence Regional, Mint Hill, Morrison Regional, Myers Park, Scaleybark, and Sugar Creek. According to PLCMC, these libraries would have closed their doors on Saturday, April 3. This also would have led to the lay-off of 148 Public Library employees. Many Charlotte citizens were against the motion including Friends of the Library Chair Harriet Smith, who challenged the Charlotte community to raise at least 2 million dollars to avoid closings for this fiscal year. This fund raising effort can be found at: http://www.cmlibrary.org/donatenow/. On Wednesday, March 24, the board unanimously voted to keep all 24 locations open, and save money instead through salary cuts and layoffs of 82–84 Full Time Equivalents. As many of these were part time staff, it actually equaled 120 people.[26]. The fundraising effort raised over $200,000.[27]
The Main Library [13] is located in uptown Charlotte at 310 North Tryon Street. The original classical building was razed in 1954 and a modern one was constructed. This building was extensively remodeled in the 1980s and currently serves as the hub of library activities throughout Mecklenburg County.
Located centrally uptown in the heart of Charlotte's Arts & Education district, the Main Library offers a multitude of services, materials and programs, and it supports the activities of the library system's twenty-four locations and outreach services.