Dear friends,

I was ballot number 13 at my polling place on the first day of early voting. My family made it a fun group outing with all of us — including our 3-year-old daughter Sadie — wearing festive matching shirts.

Full of anticipation and hope, Sadie joined me in the booth and watched as I selected the candidates who I believe will provide a bright future for her. She was so excited! I like to believe she understood the importance of this civic duty. After all, voting is one of the greatest privileges and responsibilities of being a U. S. citizen. We all have a voice and a vote.

Another great invention of our democracy is the public library. Libraries are nonpartisan institutions whose primary goal is to provide free access to information for everyone – full stop. Our interests and objectives may be very different, but we all share a common humanity and wish for one another to live fully and without barriers to knowledge.

Libraries are a proud cornerstone for civic engagement. Every election cycle Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations serve as early voting sites. In fact, 11 of the 33 early sites are libraries, and University City Regional Library serves as a precinct for voting on Election Day. (By the way, the Library IS open on Election Day!)

Make your plan to vote. And, if you haven’t been lately, take yourself to the Library. I highly recommend both as inspiring civic activities. (Coordinated outfits are optional.)

With gratitude,

Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director

P.S. Verse & Vino is officially SOLD OUT! We do have a waiting list in case seats become available.

I’m taking Sadie to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Grace for President this weekend, and she will be addressing her constituents on her top issues from this fun display in ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center.