FALL 2023 SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER
JUST ANNOUNCED! THE 10TH ANNUAL LITERARY EVENT
GENRE
Literary Essays Bad Feminist author shares “A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business”
WITH NYT BESTSELLERS PRESENTING SPONSOR
GENRE
GENRE
Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction
THE BUZZ… Benjamin serves up sun-soaked drama with a side of rock and roll.
THE BUZZ… Reece Witherspoon knows good book club reads, and Johnson is her latest pick.
GENRE
GENRE
Literary Fiction
Mystery/ Thriller
NOVEMBER 2 | CHARLOTTE CONVENTION CENTER Join honorary chairs Gene & Jean Cochrane and Charles Thomas & Micaila Milburn as we celebrate 10 years of literature, libations and libraries. All our New York Times best-selling authors will be available before and after the program to meet and personalize your book. AUTHOR SPONSOR
TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR
FIRST EDITION SPONSORS
WINE SPONSOR
BEST SELLER SPONSORS
THE BUZZ… Rum taps
FOR COMPLETE LIST OF SPONSORS & TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT FOUNDATION.CMLIBRARY.ORG/VERSE-VINO
into her own experiences with this eagerly awaited sophomore release.
THE BUZZ… The seasoned special ops veteran thrills again with his 16th explosive novel.
The Next Great
American Library
Construction Begins on North Tryon Site
Breaking Ground for a Groundbreaking Library
A crowd of local leaders and Library supporters gathered on a hot August morning to mark the next chapter in Charlotte’s history as the bulldozers began to carefully bring down old Main Library.
Hundreds of hours have been spent planning what this space will become and how it will serve and support our community. With the physical momentum of the new Library beginning, all are called to be a part of this historic transformation in our community.
Stops, Hops and Malaprops? The CommonSpark campaign isn’t just about creating the next great American library. Great libraries only thrive in a supportive and engaged community. Our goal is to acquire 15,000 total supporters during the campaign. We’re building a swell of support from all corners of Mecklenburg County by creating opportunities for everyone in our Library community to be counted.
This is how we get there:
Every big world tour needs its “unplugged” versions. Ours are called Whistle Stops. You throw the party, we bring the show. Introduce your circle of friends to the exciting and expanding world of the Library. Contact Jenni Gaisbauer at jgaisbauer@cmlibrary.org for more information or to plan your Whistle Stop event.
Growing up in Charlotte in the 1980s, Charles Thomas was your classic Gen-X latchkey kid. His home branch was Independence Library, then just across the street from East Mecklenburg High School in a strip mall next to the DMV. For Charles, the Library was the “cool” place to go, to be surrounded by books and music. It’s where he found Piers Anthony and his book series set in the fictional realm of Xanth. “It’s a story of a magical place,” recalls Charles. “Everybody born there has a magical power… one special gift. The first novel is a coming-of-age story about a young man who can’t figure out what his power is.” Early in his career, Charles and his partner both worked at the Charlotte Post, he as a photographer and his partner as a writer. The Library served as their ersatz office, sitting side by side, using the computer lab to write and edit stories and images together. In between all the work he would take breaks and peruse the aisles.
As Charles enters his sixth decade, he continues to be a passionate advocate and patron of the Library. The incoming chair of the Library’s Board of Trustees decided to turn his 50th birthday into a fundraiser for the CommonSpark campaign.
Who needs another candle or pair of socks when what you really want for your birthday is a brand-new Library! Help us reach our goal by fundraising on your birthday (or other special occasion). We will set up a personal web page for you. Contact Teleia White at twhite@cmlibrary.org for more information or to set up your giving page.
A new philanthropic leader has entered the Charlotte scene — and they’re big fans of the Library. Principal Foundation has pledged $500,000 to the CommonSpark campaign and have challenged our community to follow their generous example. The challenge ends November 1.
One Special Gift
“It was around this time that I found my all-time favorite books, Paulo Coelho’s The Illustrated Alchemist. I would just walk the aisles of Independence and Main Library and whatever book spoke to me, I would pull it off the shelf. I found so many great books that way.”
Join us on our tour of all 21 Library locations at the Around the World in 21 Branches festival, sponsored by Lowe’s. Rediscover what makes our Library system one of the best in the country. For the latest schedule visit our website.
Take a break, have a cold one, and support your Library. Hop on down to Town Brewing Company for their latest creation, Brewey Decimal. They brewed a special strawberry blonde ale just for the Library — with proceeds going directly to the CommonSpark campaign.
The builders expect to have the old building demolished by the end of 2023 and are planning on completing new Main Library by 2026. (From left to right: Joe Helwig, Lawana Slack-Mayfield, Joan Martin, Marcellus Turner, Holly Stubbing, Rob Harrington, Alma Adams, Mark Jerrell, Dena Diorio, Pat Cotham, and Pat Rogers.)
Charles Thomas is Charlotte’s Program Director for the Knight Foundation. He lives in Charlotte with his wife Micaila Milburn and their three sons.
A groundbreaking nine years in the making, it all started with engagement sessions where the community shared what they wanted and needed in a new Main Library. After listening, gathering, and analyzing the results, architect Snøhetta created the first renderings of new Main Library.
Our 15,000 Goal
Library Board of Trustees Chair Charles Thomas
There are so many ways to be a part of the vibrant Library community, big and small. We hope we’ve inspired you to join us and help us be preposterous!*
“I invite people to give because I feel that new Main Library is going to be such an amazing place, not only to check out books, but to get all kinds of information,” shared Charles. “It’s going to be an anchor institution for our community… a place of gathering, of information, of safety, of creativity and ideas.” As a city that “punches above its weight,” the native Charlottean stressed that it’s imperative that we build a library that is worthy of its residents. “Great cities have great libraries.”
Charles also referenced the impressive ways other library systems around the world have seamlessly integrated technology into their buildings, a veritable “playground for adults.” He is constantly exploring ways the Library can meet the needs of the community – personally, professionally and more. “Whether it’s a cup of coffee, a meeting space, a device, a conversation or lecture,” Charles sees a future where “new Main Library is a building that is architecturally amazing and has a wow factor to programming that leaves people going ‘Wow, was I just at the Library?!’” Leading the Library trustees for the next two years, Charles will ensure that the Library continues to be a regional and national leader that operates in innovative ways. He is looking forward to helping raise the $18 million to complete new Main Library. He also wants to tell the Library story, so others understand its remarkable power and its role as a community leader. “If I could choose a superpower, it would be to read minds. I really want to be further connected to people who love libraries,” Charles continued, “or if they’re not able to see the power and beauty of libraries, I want to try to understand what’s missing there.” “Oh, and to raise money, of course,” Charles laughs. Superpowers aside, Charles’ special gift is his ability to inspire, lead and achieve. “This public-private campaign to raise money for the Library is unique, it’s an example of how Charlotte gets things done. And get things done in a bigger way.”
Help Charles “get things done” by making a gift to his birthday fundraiser.
foundation.cmlibrary.org/news/charles-thomas-50th-birthday-fundraiser/ *Malaprop intended.
Leave a Legacy to the Library
Join the Dewey Circle, our Legacy Giving Group
Prologue Join us in welcoming our newest board members, italicized below. Thank you for joining us as we strengthen and support one of our community’s best assets, the Library. FOUNDATION BOARD FY24
When you think of institutions that have stood the test of time, the Library tops the list.
Gene Cochrane Chair Selena Giovannelli Second Vice Chair
Helen Hope Kimbrough Vice Chair Jennifer Green Past Chair
We established the Dewey Circle to recognize in perpetuity the outstanding generosity of friends who have included the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation in their estate plans. Their legacy gifts will provide crucial support for the Library, helping guarantee a place that educates, welcomes, and inspires for generations to come.
Stephanie Alger Jennifer Appleby Joclyn Balanda Jennifer Bennett Le Roy Davis Sarah Dodd Barb Ellis Rob Harrington Patricia Johnson Peter Keane Elizabeth Kiser
Gina Lawrence Kellie Lofton Alessandro Morante Caton Morris Sally Robinson Debra Sharp Elizabeth Hope Star Caroleen Towery Charles Thomas* Marcellus Turner* Cristina Wilson
HONORARY ADVISORY COUNCIL Sally Robinson, Honorary Chair Alan Blumenthal Robin Branstrom Bill Gorelick Molly Griffin Linda Lockman-Brooks
Patty Norman Bob Sink Darrel Williams Jim Woodward Ed Williams
FOUNDATION STAFF Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE Executive Director Karen Beach, CFRE Deputy Director Teleia White Director of Individual Giving Maggie Bean Director of Communications
*ex officio
Follow us online!
foundation.cmlibrary.org 704.416.0803 300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
This funding is in addition to the generous support PNC has contributed over that last decade, including being the presenting sponsor of Verse & Vino, the Library Foundation’s annual fundraising gala. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is delighted to announce the generous grant of $500,000 from PNC Foundation in support of childhood literacy in Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for the CommonSpark campaign. The Pittsburgh-based financial institution seeks to boost literacy and school readiness for children living in Mecklenburg County. A longtime supporter of the Library, PNC’s Grow Up Great grant will be used to support a multi-pronged approach for improving early literacy and school readiness of children living in Mecklenburg County.
PNC Foundation Invests $500K in Early Literacy Support for the CommonSpark
Anyone can leave a legacy gift of any size, and there are simple ways to do it. We’d welcome the opportunity to work with you to create a structure that meets your passions and works within your overall estate plans. Contact Karen Beach at kbeach@cmlibrary.org for more information.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation exists to help Charlotte Mecklenburg Library improve lives and build a stronger community. The Foundation supports Library services, expands the Library’s collection of print and digital materials, enhances programming for all ages, invests in innovative initiatives and strives to grow its endowment for future generations.