Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Says “WelcomeCLT”

It’s no secret that the Charlotte region is growing. According to the US Census, the population of Mecklenburg County increased 15% from April 2010 to July 2016. Amenities such as housing, employment and climate make it a desirable place for people to relocate.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has identified this as an opportunity – and has launched a new program aimed at welcoming newcomers to Charlotte. The program launches tomorrow, January 20, with a community resource fair at Hickory Grove Library.

The purpose of WelcomeCLT is to provide new residents – with emphasis on international newcomers – with information and resources they need to navigate their new city and the community resources available.

“Moving to a new city can be overwhelming,” says Director of Libraries David Singleton. “The Library is the logical first stop for a newcomer who wants to make connections and become a part of the community.”

The fair will feature Library resources, as well as information from partners such as Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte Works, Child Care Resources Inc., International House, Mecklenburg Housing and Neighborhood Services, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Senior Nutrition Centers, Smart Start, Smith Family Center and YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

In addition to the fair, the initiative called WelcomeCLT will also include information kiosks at all library locations, dedicated monthly programming geared towards newcomers and an online portal with access to valuable resources.

The Library hopes to extend WelcomeCLT system wide in 2018. For more information visit www.cmlibrary.org