Quirky places to find a library

From laundromats to the courthouse, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is constantly adding convenient ways for families to have access to books. Through its Read to Me, Charlotte! initiative, the library maintains community book shelves around Mecklenburg County for families who are visiting various agencies.

Community bookshelves give parents the opportunity to not only read to their child when they’re on the go, but also the chance to take a book home to continue the learning experience.

“We have bookshelves in laundromats, we have bookshelves in emergency rooms, we have one at the Department of Social Services,” said Cordelia Anderson, director of marketing, communications and advocacy at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. “These bookshelves are there for children to have access to books with their parents who are waiting for laundry to be finished or waiting for an appointment.”

Channel 9 has partnered with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library to help improve literacy and increase access to books across the Carolinas as part of 9 Books for Kids.

“One of our community bookshelves is at the Mecklenburg County courthouse and we were able to stock that fully last year because of the book drive,” said Anderson. “Many of those books were used by families and children while they were waiting to have appointments at the courthouse and so it's been a really valuable experience for them.”

From March 11 to April 12, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Channel 9 asks the community to donate new or gently used books for children and teens at all Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations. Additionally, three 9 Family Focus community business partners have chosen to collect books at their Mecklenburg county locations: Showmars, Ashley HomeStore and E.R. Plumbing Services.

All donated books will be distributed by the library to area children and teens through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Outreach Services without the need to check out and return the books.  More information is available by clicking here.

If your organization or business would like to get involved or help with any WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV community campaign, please email your inquiry to Kevin Campbell, community affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.​

Cox Media Group