Harold Escalante and John O’Connor share what to expect on the shelves of new Main Library
One of the most anticipated highlights of the new Main Library is a full-service café offering coffee in the mornings, beer and wine in the afternoons and evenings, and light bites throughout the day. It will be a draw for patrons and a welcome perk for Library staff.
It's easy to imagine Harold Escalante and John O'Connor slipping away from their respective worlds — Collections and Access, and the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room — to meet there over a cup.
"Black coffee… with a dash of cinnamon," said Harold.
"Same here, I like mine black," said John with a laugh. "Maybe that says something about our personalities."
If their coffee order says anything, it's this: these are two people who don't need extras to get the job done. Thoughtful, ambitious, and deeply public-spirited, Harold and John are leading the teams that are building what will become one of the most significant library collections in the region.
The general collection will number upward of 50,000 items, alongside the Carolina Room's 58,000 — not counting its extensive archives. Together, they represent an extraordinary wealth of resources coming to Uptown Charlotte.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
"For me and my team, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said Harold. "How often do we get to redo Main Library? Traditionally, Main was where we'd send the things we didn't want to weed — last copies. This is an opportunity for us to have a vibrant collection, one that's driven by what customers want."
For John, the new Main Library has long been the destination he had in mind when he took the job. With temperature-controlled storage, a digital map table, dedicated viewing rooms, and room to grow, the Carolina Room's new home is the realization of a long-held vision.
"A big part of the reason I even came to this position was the opportunity to work on the new Main Library," he said. "It has been exciting. It has been challenging. As Harold said, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really build your world."
John's guiding principle for the Carolina Room is one that balances two imperatives that can sometimes feel at odds: "We want to operate to international standards. We want to protect our collections in responsible ways while also providing the greatest amount of access we possibly can, because preservation without access is useless."
What Will Be on the Shelves?
Harold's team in Access and Collections approached the curation process with intention. Rather than defaulting to a standard selection, they drew on customer feedback, studied opening-day collections at other branches like South County and University City, considered what's unique to an Uptown audience, and leaned on strong vendor partnerships to help shape the collection.
Some of what patrons can look forward to:
- Art-focused books and exhibit catalogs tied to permanent and touring exhibits at the Mint Museum
- Career and professional development titles — going beyond résumés and job searching to include team building, networking, and post-employment growth
- A Welcome Center collection featuring world languages drawn from county demographic data, plus citizenship test preparation and immigration resources
- Carolina Authors Collection showcases books by independent authors living in and around Mecklenburg County. By preserving and sharing their work, we support the community's new and independent voices. Unlike most special collections, select titles here are available to circulate. This collection will live alongside resources for writers and writing workshops.
- A Lucky Day collection of popular high-demand titles available on the shelf without a hold
- Book club kits of popular titles and a collection of kits that paired with the Mint Museum’s Art of Reading tours
- An emerging adult section featuring YA fiction, graphic novels, and manga
- Large print titles, offered as a smaller curated selection as the format transitions increasingly to digital
"This is really an opportunity for us to get it right, because it's something we've hoped to recreate system-wide," said Harold. "Having a place where we can launch big collection initiatives is important and that's something we're all excited about."
Building a Hub for Charlotte
The new Main Library is also positioned to become a cultural and research partner for the institutions that surround it Uptown.
"Unlike their Randolph location, the Mint Museum Uptown does not have a library," Harold noted, "so we will serve as a research hub for those who want to explore its exhibits. Creating that kind of collaboration between two major institutions could become a model we replicate with other museums and cultural organizations across the city."
John sees the Library's role in even broader terms. "Charlotte is the largest economic center in North and South Carolina and functions as a regional powerhouse. My hope is that our collections reflect that, and that if someone is going to research Charlotte or anywhere in this region, this is where they come first."
Both Harold and John are clear about who this collection is for.
"We're building a collection that is relevant to everybody in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, not just an elite few or highly educated researchers," said John. "Everyone will feel comfortable and confident coming into Main Library and feeling like they own a piece of that collection."
With opening day on the horizon, the teams are deep in the work of bringing that vision to life, and the anticipation is palpable.
"I'm very much looking forward to opening day," said John. "I think it will be a moment of catharsis. So many people have put so much work into this building. Everyone is just really excited to see what it will become."
"I'm most excited about the connections we're making like the one with the Mint Museum," Harold added. "Hopefully it'll grow, and other organizations — Charlotte Ballet, the Blumenthal — will say, 'Hey, how can we partner with you?'"
Inspired to be a part of what Harold, John and the team at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library are building? A gift of $35 puts a book on the shelf. Help us fill new Main Library with books that reflect the rich and beautiful diversity of Mecklenburg County.