Michael Lambert, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, and SMCL

I (PC Sweeney) Interviewed my new deputy director who just happens to come from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  Before going to Charlotte, he worked in San Mateo County Library as the manager of the library branch that I am now the manager of.  He spent about 5 years in Charlotte so he knows all about that amazing library system and he gave me the inside scope about what makes that library system so great.  It turns out… There’s a whole lot of great innovations going on at CML.  I’m especially excited about the whole ImaginOn project that he talked about.  After our talk, I did some research and now I’m even more stoked about seeing it in person.  Since Charlotte is our first stop on this trip, we’ll have a video about this library for you on Sunday night.

Not to be outdone though, I also asked him to talk about some of the great things that our own library system is doing.  We have a lot of great innovations going on here.  We have amazing teen programs at Belmont Library, we have new libraries in Portola Valley and building projects coming up in Atherton, Half Moon Bay, and Pacifica as well as remodels in San Carlos, and (hopefully) the East Palo Alto Library.  Each of these projects are bringing something new to the table in our library system.  We also have Seed libraries, Guitar Libraries, an innovative eBranch and web presence, an amazing bookmobile, a staff that constantly innovates, and so much more.  But, I guess this isn’t about my own library system, I’m here to learn everything I can from all of you.

But… You don’t have to take my word for it.