The Beatties Ford Road library and Learning Resource Center, located in the heart of Charlotte's Northwest Business and Residential Corridor, serves a multi-cultural population with special emphases on African-American Resources, Homework Assistance, Expanded Services to Senior Citizens and Young Adults; and, Special Community Programming. This beautiful new facility, which opened on April 20, 1997, replaced the historical North Branch that served this neighborhood since 1957.

This branch is more than three times larger than its predecessor; and, provides enlarged print, videos, and compact disc collections; enriched electronic resources; expanded services and programs; twelve full-time and five part-time staff; and a Microsoft Computer Learning Center with the latest in technology available on 21 PCs. Six additional PCs are available in the Children's Area; and, four others are available for Ready Reference in the Adult/Young Adult Area. A special area is set aside for exhibitions reflecting the history of this community. Click here for a layout of the building.

Children's programming is a big attraction for neighborhood children.

Storytimes for Toddlers (Pre-registration required) Tuesdays - 9:30am
Storytimes for Ages 3 -5 (Groups & Day Cares should call for reservations) Tuesdays - l0:30am
After School Programs for Ages 6 - 12 Tuesdays - 5pm

Special Activities for Children of all Ages
These are the regular on-going programs, but special holiday and theme programs are provided throughout the year and monthly calendars and fliers are available in the branches.

Beatties Ford Road offers many special features and collections including: an African-American multi-media collection, Battle of the Books collection for children, Special African-American Art exhibits, Time Capsules and a Foreign Language Collection which includes books in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and French (Juvenile only).

Former Director Robert Cannon envisioned a unique way to preserve the history of the North Branch and the surrounding neighborhood - Time Capsules. Four time capsules, which will be opened in two, five, ten, and twenty-five year intervals, include photographs, maps, documents directories, newsletters, audiocassettes, videotape of dedication ceremonies for Beatties Ford Road Branch, a scroll with names from neighborhood groups and attendees at the ground-breaking ceremony in May 1996; and, "Letters to the Future" from students and community residents projecting goals, listing aspirations, and making future predictions. The Branch provides the Elizabeth S. Randolph Community Room (seats 47); the Dorothy Ware Conference Room (seats 15); and two locked carrels (seats 2-3) for public use.

Beatties Ford Road Branch's motto is "Preserving the Past, Building the Future". Its mission is four-fold:

1. To provide excellent general library services, including expanded collection of popular materials and a premiere collection of African-American materials;
2. To present programs relevant to the community's need, and to work with other agencies in the area to fill those needs;
3. To make new technologies accessible to everyone, and to provide training and assistance to both new and experienced users; and,
4. To be a focus for the neighborhood, with particular emphasis on the history and tradition of the area.

Please come and visit us today!