# Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (previously the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County) is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, United States.

## About

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America's many urban public libraries, serving a community of approximately one million citizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill, Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville – all located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

## Early history

Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 to establish a public library in Charlotte in 1901. In early 1904, the city aldermen bought a lot at the corner of Brevard and East 2nd streets for a separate library for African Americans, the first of its kind in North Carolina. Although only six blocks from the Carnegie Library, it was in the heart of the Brooklyn neighborhood, the black city within the city of Charlotte where many black churches and most black-owned businesses and professional offices were located. It operated independently at first, and after 1929 as a branch of the public library system, before closing in 1961.

## Growth of the library system

The library system and the region grew tremendously in this period. The new, architecturally modern Main Library expanded its services to include a Carolina Room for local history and genealogy. In 1956, the library stopped segregating its customers by race and opened its services to all on an equal basis.
Under the leadership of, among others, Robert E. Cannon (1986–2003), the library added more branches, inaugurated a literary festival, remodeled the 1956 Main Library building, and brought its catalog online. It continued to grow into the 21st century, constructing the ImaginOn branch as a joint venture with the Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

## The modern library

The economic recession of 2009–2011 brought significant budget reductions, resulting in employee layoffs, the closure of four library branches, reduced hours and services at all remaining locations, and the consolidation of several support functions with Mecklenburg County. It was from this challenging time that the Library, County and community leaders found new ways to collaborate to meet the mutual goal of providing Mecklenburg County residents with the resources they needed. Today the library's 20 locations include a Main Library, an innovative library for children and teens called ImaginOn, and a network of branch libraries throughout Mecklenburg County. Throughout the system, the library provides free and open access to its physical and electronic collections and information, as well as to its services for people of all ages.

## List of Branches

| Branch Name | Municipality | Address |
| Allegra Westbrooks Regional | Charlotte | 2412 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216 |
| Cornelius | Cornelius | 21105 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031 |
| Davidson | Davidson | 119 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036 |
| Founders Hall | Charlotte | 100 N Tryon Street, Suite 290Charlotte, NC 28202 |
| Hickory Grove | Charlotte | 5935 Hickory Grove Rd, Charlotte, NC 28215 |
| ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center | Charlotte | 300 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202 |
| Independence Regional | Charlotte | 6000 Conference Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212 |
| Main | Charlotte | 310 North Tryon StreetCharlotte, NC 28202 |
| Matthews | Matthews | 230 Matthews Station St, Matthews, NC 28105 |
| Mint Hill | Mint Hill | 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227 |
| Mountain Island | Charlotte | 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte, NC 28214 |
| Myers Park | Charlotte | 1361 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207 |
| North County Regional | Huntersville | 16500 Holly Crest Ln, Huntersville, NC 28078 |
| Pineville | Pineville | 505 Main St #100, Pineville, NC 28134 |
| Plaza Midwood | Charlotte | 1623 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 |
| South Boulevard | Charlotte | 4429 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28209 |
| South County Regional | Charlotte | 5801 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277 |
| SouthPark Regional | Charlotte | 7015 Carnegie Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28211 |
| Steele Creek | Charlotte | 13620 Steele Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273 |
| Sugar Creek | Charlotte | 4045 North Tryon Street Suite ACharlotte, NC 28206 |
| University City Regional | Charlotte | 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262 |
| West Boulevard | Charlotte | 2157 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208 |