The Power of Libraries + Partnerships

When Charles Thomas looks back on his earliest memories of being at a library, he can still picture the narrow aisles of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library’s Independence Branch, tucked beside the DMV in a strip mall in East Charlotte. As a teenager at East Mecklenburg High School, he spent countless afternoons there after class, escaping into worlds far beyond Charlotte.

“It was my safe place,” he recalled. “Books took me everywhere I couldn’t go.”

He often left with an armful of fantasy novels, devouring the works of authors like Piers Anthony. When he discovered that the library also loaned out cassette tapes, access to resources expanded once again, this time through music where he checked out artists ranging from Sade to Pet Shop Boys.

“We couldn’t afford cassette tapes at the time,” he said. “So, when I realized you could check them out from the library, I was in heaven.”

Those experiences shaped how Charles viewed access and opportunity. Growing up in neighborhoods where libraries weren’t always nearby, he came to see the Independence Branch not just as a building, but as a place where curiosity, creativity and community were free to anyone who walked through the doors – the very essence of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library’s mission to provide equitable access to information, strengthen literacy, and empower residents to learn, connect, and thrive.

Soon, Uptown Charlotte will open its doors to a new Main Library. Designed with community input at its core, the new Main Library will invite people not just to visit, but to participate through gathering spaces, creative resources, and programs that reflect the voices and needs of Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents. Its creation is the result of deep partnership, bringing together public investment, philanthropic leadership, and cross-sector collaboration to reimagine what a library can be.

The Main Library helped Charles reimagine his future years ago. After graduating from college and leaving a corporate job, the library welcomed Charles back in a new way. This time, it was the Main Library in Uptown Charlotte that became his launchpad for his photography business. The branch’s technology, software, and open space became his lifeline.

“I was there all the time,” he said with a laugh. “Checking emails, writing stories, designing, even looking for travel deals through E-savers. It was all done from the library.”

As his family grew, so did his connection to the library. He and his wife brought their children to ImaginOn, one of only a few dedicated children’s libraries in the country, to play, read, and explore.

“It became their place, too,” he said.

Then came an unexpected invitation to serve on the library’s advisory board. That opportunity eventually led to a seat on the Board of Trustees, where Charles later served as Board Chair. His tenure coincided with a pivotal moment: the reimagining of the new Main Library on the corner of North Tryon and 6th Street, a site that has anchored a public library since 1903.

“I felt so honored,” he said. “It felt like a way to give back to the place that gave me so much.”

The new Main Library, set to open in spring 2027, will be a modern, adult-focused space designed to meet the evolving needs and aspirations of Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents while also serving as a flagship for democracy, social mobility and lifelong learning. The Leon Levine Foundation Destination Reading Room, which sits atop of the five-story library overlooking Tryon Street, will serve as a sanctuary for quiet reading, reflection and inspiration.

“It’s important to create spaces where adults feel like the library is designed for them,” Charles said. “The different floors and programs will make it a true destination, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a newcomer to Charlotte, or just someone seeking connection.”

Charles sees the library as not only a destination and anchor in Uptown Charlotte, but both a reflection and a civic promise: to welcome everyone, foster learning and connection and provide a trusted space where residents can discover, imagine and grow.

Written by Krista Faye Terrell. Photos are courtesy of Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr.