Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is ready to launch its 2025 Community Read initiative with the theme, “Art Is…” This year, CML will put forth a monthlong effort to engage the community in reading and/or listening to a wide array of exciting books that explore the idea of art.
“The Community Read Program is an opportunity for all community members, young and old, to come together to discuss a single book,” said Meryle Leonard, assistant director of outreach at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. “The theme further invites readers to not only learn about and appreciate various forms of art but also explore how it can influence and bring us together as a community.”
The 2025 signature title is Portrait of A Thief by Grace D. Li for which the Library is partnering with The Mint Museum to host a special event on March 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The free event is for an adult audience and will feature live performances including aerialists, an interactive art project, scavenger hunts, food and more. The Mint Museum Randolph is located at 2730 Randolph Road.
Additionally, The Mint Museum has curated a guided tour correlating with the signature title. The tour will explore works of art that connect to the book’s themes of personal and national identity, culture, heritage, immigrant assimilation, and reclamation of stolen artifacts. The tour will be offered on Sunday, March 2 from 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5 and Wednesday, June 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission to The Mint Museum is free on Wednesday evenings.
The fun for teens and children can be discovered through the companion titles From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon, Art Club by Rashad Doucet, and The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. A variety of Library programs will be available throughout the month of March and can be found here.
To learn more about Community Read, visit cmlibrary.org/community-read.
About Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving a community of more than one million citizens in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through 21 locations, targeted outreach and online resources, the Library delivers exceptional services and programs, with a mission to improve lives and build a stronger community. For more, visit cmlibrary.org.
