New Main Library
THE COMMONSPARK
The Library Era
There’s no doubt — Charlotte is growing. With a population nearing four million in the next decade, our city needs a modern library with resources and assets that will meet the educational, cultural, and social needs of our 21st century community and beyond.
Look inside as this blueprint becomes a reality — a destination and knowledge hub like no other — leveraging the strength of public and private funding and the vision of community and Library leaders, gifted architects, and trusted builders.
NEW MAIN LIBRARY
The Builders
A striking landmark in the heart of the city, we’re building a vibrant learning hub that will connect and strengthen the community in new and meaningful ways.
Library and Foundation
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation are the project leaders directing the vision for new Main Library, partnering with stakeholders, and securing private funding
Mecklenburg County
Primary funding partner with a $87.3 million investment plus dedicated asset and facility management expertise
Snøhetta
Lead design and architecture firm based in Oslo, Norway, internationally known for creating spaces dedicated to cultivating knowledge
Clark Nexsen
North Carolina-based architecture and engineering firm collaborating with the team with local expertise
Rodgers | Leeper
Two Charlotte-based construction companies deeply involved in the cultural community, consistently demonstrating a commitment to Mecklenburg County
NEW MAIN LIBRARY
The Stories
The Library will be an incubator for social and cultural exchange where stories live on the shelves and are made in the spaces.
Level One: Community
Pass through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Hall to the newly renovated McGlohon and Black Box theaters, where stories will leap from the page to the stage. The collection at new Main will feature the latest bestsellers and a wide range of world literature. Soft seating will be scattered throughout, inviting readers to curl up with a good book or two.
The café, serving everything from morning lattes to evening wine, will become the perfect Uptown spot for both quiet contemplation and lively book clubs or your next remote workspace.
Level Two: Opportunity and Innovation
Bank of America Opportunity Center on the second floor will be a vital hub for students, job seekers, and newcomers. Its programs and resources will support college and career development, while the Newcomer Center will offer guidance to help recent arrivals navigate their new home and feel a sense of belonging.
Gambrell Innovation Lab will showcase the latest Makerspace advancements designed to ignite creativity and empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Honeywell Data Visualization Lab offers a 270° digital experience to synthesize complex ideas, experience art exhibits or take gaming to the next level — the first and only one available in a public library.
Level Three: Research and Reference
Fifteen meeting rooms of various sizes including the Van Every Foundation classroom will bring much needed public meeting spaces to Uptown.
Level Four: History and Genealogy
Our vast historic collection preserving the region’s past in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room will offer a literal treasure trove of genealogy resources and archival documents as well as access to the Kardous Map Room.
Level Five: Destination
Special events, including panel discussions, workshops and galas, will come to life in the Dr. Joyce Davis Waddell Event Space, showcasing this Library as the knowledge center of Charlotte.
From a civic conversation series featuring global thought leaders to major award-winning author engagements to innovative hands-on adult programming, there will always be something new to experience at Main Library.
NEW MAIN LIBRARY
And at its core, technology will weave everything together.
With high-speed WiFi, computer and tablet checkouts, and seamless digital integration along with Lowe’s Technology Hub for education and exploration, this will be the place where the best of traditional library services meets the tools and resources of the 21st century.
If you’re inspired by the future we’re building at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, then connect with us. Be a part of a legacy of learning and join an engaged community working to ensure access to a world of information and a healthy democracy in our shared spaces.
Contact Jenni Gaisbauer to join The CommonSpark, a public-private partnership to infuse $165 million into improving lives and building a stronger community in Mecklenburg County including the construction of new Main Library. A few naming opportunities are still available.