The notable North Carolina senator, educator and philanthropic leader lauds the project for its commitment to access

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is thrilled to announce a generous gift from Dr. Joyce Davis Waddell to the CommonSpark campaign, a public-private partnership intended to infuse $165 million into improving lives and building a stronger community in Mecklenburg County including the construction of a new Main Library.

Devoted public servant, distinguished educator and former librarian, Dr. Waddell has been a stalwart advocate for lifelong learning for over three decades. Her commitment to educational progress and excellence includes 21 years with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and recent philanthropic support for her alma mater University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her work in education has shaped the lives of countless individuals, and this continued dedication serves as a testament to her lasting impact on the Charlotte community.

Dr. Waddell has served in the North Carolina Senate of the 40th district since 2015, the first African American woman from Mecklenburg County to do so. Waddell is a graduate of South Carolina State University and holds master’s degrees from UNC Charlotte, North Carolina A&T State University and Appalachian State University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

“I am honored to be a part of the growth of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and to help create educational opportunities for the people they serve,” Waddell said. “Mecklenburg County is my home, and my family, friends, neighbors and I all benefit from a strong public library system. I’ve been devoted to my community for decades. I know how important it is to build spaces and offer ways to engage and learn together. When we support each other and lift each other up, we all grow stronger together.”

In recognition of her investment, the event space in the new Main Library will be named in her honor, the Dr. Joyce Davis Waddell Event Space. The expansive fifth-floor space will serve as a venue for community engagement, educational programming, and cultural events, and will accommodate upward of 300 guests.

The Dr. Joyce Davis Waddell Event Space will be the region’s vibrant epicenter for national and international conferences and events with a focus on education, the arts, literature, humanities, current events, open discourse, and more. The Library anticipates that the space will be in high demand when it opens in 2026.

“We are deeply honored and grateful for Senator Joyce Waddell’s generous gift in support of new Main Library. Senator Waddell and her family have been a true blessing to our community, and their commitment to education and public service is inspiring,” said Charles Thomas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees chair. “This transformational gift, which supports the construction of new Main and the creation of the Dr. Joyce Davis Waddell Event Space, will leave a lasting legacy—enriching lives and strengthening Charlotte for generations to come.”

The new Main Library will be a destination for Mecklenburg County and beyond, a hub of dynamic programming for the Library system, and a beacon for learning in Uptown Charlotte.

The CommonSpark is a comprehensive, $165 million public-private campaign which serves to ignite change within the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system. The campaign includes funding for construction of a new Main Library; a new Library Administration Center; technology, innovation and programming throughout the Library system; an endowment for the future and annual operating support.

To learn more about the CommonSpark campaign and how to contribute, visit https://foundation.cmlibrary.org/commonspark/.