Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Celebrates Welcoming Week
Charlotte, North Carolina, proudly holds the Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America, a recognition awarded to cities and counties that demonstrate a strong commitment to immigrant inclusion. As of 2024, Charlotte is one of only 24 cities and counties in the United States to receive this honor, and it is the only city in the Southeastern United States with this distinction.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library recognizes the crucial role new residents play in enriching the city’s neighborhoods and actively encourages them to get involved and stay connected with the community. One of the library’s key initiatives is WelcomeCLT, which assists new residents—particularly international newcomers—with valuable information and resources to help them navigate their new community. The WelcomeCLT website offers a range of resources, including useful links, videos, and guides. For additional support, the WelcomeCLT LibGuide provides even more in-depth information. Additionally, each of the 21 library branches features a WelcomeCLT kiosk, stocked with flyers and brochures about local resources. Library branches also offer materials in 16 different languages, making resources accessible to a diverse population.
Welcoming Week was held on September 13 – 22, 2024 and is an annual celebration that fosters community connections and celebrates inclusivity. This year, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hosted various special events, including a Naturalization Ceremony at the Allegra Westbrooks Regional branch, Immigration 101 at the Independence Regional branch, Tacos to Tamales with author Sandra Gutierrez at the Pineville branch, and an Arabic Alphabet Learning Circle at the University City Regional branch. In addition to in-house programs, the library participated in outreach events such as the City of Charlotte Welcome Week Launch and Queens University’s Sweets from Around the World. In total, the Library system hosted 62 programs across the community, engaging 1,152 participants in celebrating Welcoming Week.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library also offers a WelcomeCLT Challenge on the Beanstack platform. Participants can choose from three tracks: New to Charlotte, New to America, or Welcomer. To complete the challenge, participants must complete three activities from their chosen track. Examples of activities include reading a book about a character from another culture, visiting a Charlotte park for the first time, or attending a WelcomeCLT program.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library remains committed to building a welcoming and inclusive community for all residents. Through initiatives like WelcomeCLT and events such as Welcoming Week, the Library strives to ensure that every newcomer feels supported, connected, and empowered. If you are interested in planning a similar initiative at your library, please check Celebrating Welcoming Week: A Guide for Libraries created by Serving Refugees, Immigrants, and Displaced Persons Sub-Committee of the Office of Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services with the American Library Association.
Tags: librarynaturalizationprograms, newamericans, servingimmigrants, servingnewamericansatthelibrary
