Friends of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Presented by Friends of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Benefitting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system!

September 18th, 2010

We will have bands at every mile of the race and plan to transform the finish line into an exciting festival.  After finishing the race, you will continue to enjoy live music with a wide array of entertainment, food, drinks, beer and wine.

For more detailed information and registration options click here.

Update: July 27th, 2010 

Get Ready to Rock and Read! 

Rock and Read 5K Run/Walk -- September 18th, 2010

Over 29,000 people use the resources of the Charlotte Mecklenburg library branches everyday and library visits are up almost 40% in the past six years.  However recent budget cuts have led to staff lay-offs, branch closings, and reduced hours for our libraries.  By participating in this first annual Rock & Read event, you’ll be joining with others in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to raise awareness and funds for our public library system.

So what are you waiting for?  With bands at every mile, a great cause to support, and activities for every age group it’s time to Rock & Read! For more detailed information and registration options click here.

Update: May 14th, 2010

As the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library continues to work toward its Sustainability Plan, the Library is getting tremendous support from the six towns in Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte. Representatives from the towns and the Library have met three times, shown a commitment to work together to preserve library service in the community. The Library is also heartened by recent support from Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and City Council. Library staff and board members also continue to meet with County staff and commissioners in an ongoing dialogue about the Library’s funding situation. (Click here for a recent press release with more information.)

However, the Library is not out of jeopardy. While we remain optimistic about the Sustainability Plan, the Library is still making plans for the “worst case” scenario; a 50% cut in funding from Mecklenburg County. This would close 16 of our 24 branches, leaving many communities without Library service. To find out how you can help, see the right-hand column of this page for ways that you can join, contact and follow the Friends of the Library. You can also visit the Library’s Advocacy Page. Thanks for your support!

April 15th, 2010

Three Scenarios Were Presented At the April 15th Board of Trustees Meeting Outlining Location and Service Cuts If a 50% Budget Cut is Implemented By the County

Charles Brown, Director of Libraries, cautioned that all of the scenarios would result in a dramatically different reality for library service in Mecklenburg County. "None of the scenarios are ideal," Brown said, "but we realize that economic conditions may require that drastic measures may need to be taken. However, we remain committed to offering the very best library service possible with the resources that we are given."

Because the library’s biggest investment and expense is in personnel, all scenarios would result in the lay-off of 170 to 230 additional library employees. The following scenarios describe three different ways the library could address the cuts given such a large reduction in staff.

Scenario One allows for most libraries to remain open, but most locations would only be open one to three days per week and for limited hours, with some locations closed. This scenario leaves just 27 percent of the Library’s workforce intact (based on 614 positions in July 2008) and is not recommended because many citizens would not be able to use the library during the extremely limited hours, and because the employee to customer ratio at larger locations would be insufficient to ensure a safe environment for either employees or the public.

Scenario Two would close as many as 16 of the current 24 libraries based on both subjective and objective criteria, similar to what had been used in the scenario presented in March that recommended the closing of 12 branches. The criteria would include cost, usage, proximity and size in addition to community need. This scenario would result in large unserved areas and would leave a slightly larger percentage of the workforce intact, approximately 35 percent.

Scenario Three would involve keeping all of the regional libraries open, including ImaginOn and Main Library, but would close the community locations. This scenario also allows 35 percent of staff to remain and would provide minimal coverage for the largest segment of the community. Brown said that the Library understands the significance of the branch libraries to the community, but keeping the Regionals open allows the Library system to offer full service (including more computers, books, meeting rooms and copiers), and to be able to accommodate more parking.. In addition, this option provides a stronger starting place from which to rebuild the system should the economy recover.

Brown also indicated that a reverse scenario was considered that closed the regional libraries and kept the community libraries open, but the “cons” around this model included fewer book and computer resources available to a potentially larger number of users as well as issues of more limited physical space and parking availability.

Library officials want the community to understand that there are no perfect solutions to a $17 million targeted budget cut. No matter which scenario is selected, library customers will be negatively impacted because all of the scenarios include severe cuts to staff, library locations, service and materials.

Thursday's presentation was meant as a starting point for further discussions about the future of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and did not include any discussion yet about other funding diversification strategies.

Information sessions to facilitate a dialogue between the community and Library staff will take place from Mid-April to May 4. Information shared at these sessions will help inform any future scenarios and will help the community to understand the library’s decision-making process.

Get involved at the link below! 

Quote of the day!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

                                      Margret Mead

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

HUGE BENEFIT

USED BOOK SALES

We, the Friends of the Library, want to thank the thousands of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library supporters who have alread made donations, raised funds, or made their voices heard as advocates for the Library. Your efforts have gone a long way toward making the Library the best it can be during these challenging times. Each and every gift is critically important and all contributions will continue to help provide the best possible library services to the more than 17,000 adults and children that the Library serves each day.