ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center

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ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center ImaginOn is a collaborative venture of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Children's Theatre of Charlotte. www.imaginon.org
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ImaginOn brings stories to life through extraordinary experiences that challenge, inspire and excite young minds.

Join us @ ImaginOn next Thursday, October 29th, for our annual Fall Festival! Our festivities will begin with a seasonal...
10/22/2026

Join us @ ImaginOn next Thursday, October 29th, for our annual Fall Festival! Our festivities will begin with a seasonal Family Storytime from 10:30 to 11, followed by craft, game, and candy stations around ImaginOn from 11 until noon. We will also have a sensory-friendly celebration space, complete with activities and treats, set up in The Round. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged. This event is recommended for ages 5 and under.
No registration is required.

Join us on October 31st for Scream & Screen, a community film screening and recruitment event in partnership with .  Whe...
10/21/2026

Join us on October 31st for Scream & Screen, a community film screening and recruitment event in partnership with . Whether you're a teen interested in applying, actively working on your application, a parent who wants to learn more about the program, or just a lover of filmmaking, this event is for all! The award-winning national filmmaking nonprofit expands access to cinema and media for aspiring Black young women filmmakers and has produced over 60 films across 6 years with teens from around the country.

The event:
12 pm - Introduction to BGFC, Screening of films, meet the Directors
1 pm - Q&A with Alumni & Camp Staff & On-site Application Help

To empower interested teens and new applicants for the 2027 cohort, the event will feature local CLT teen directors and their films, a Q&A talkback with alumni and camp staff, and on-site applications! We're excited to continue partnering with BGFC, and everyone is welcome to come, watch alumni films, and learn how they can become involved in Black Girls Film Camp!

Black Girls Film Camp has just opened applications for its 2027 Cohort, open to High School girls ages 14-18 years old! For more information on how to apply, visit or head to www.blackgirlsfilmcamp.org/apply

Applications close Oct 31st at 11:59 pm!

More about BGFC:
"Black Girls Film Camp (USA) provides a FREE, national, and hybrid 16-week experience (held once a year) where high school girls across the country pitch a story idea, and a final ten are selected to have their short film project produced by the program. Finalists are selected each year as the new cohort to direct and develop their own short films. The camp is an incubator for the ten girls and each of their films.

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟This week, we're excited to introduce Rene Kimray, one of the dedicated team members who helps bring ...
10/19/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟
This week, we're excited to introduce Rene Kimray, one of the dedicated team members who helps bring stories to lifeβ€”both on our shelves and on our stage!
🎭 Role: Children's Library Associate in Spangler Library
πŸ“š Favorite Books: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, 52 Ways to Walk by Annabel Streets
🎬 If I could bring any book to life on the stage what would it be: Chalk by Bill Thomson
πŸ’™ Favorite Part of the Job: I get to read, sing, dance, play, and learn something new every day in a space filled with creative, resourceful, and passionate people. As Pete the Cat would say, it's all good!
✨ Fun Fact: I can do a decent impression of a Barred Owl call. Not good enough to hold a conversation, but I'm working on it.
Whether they're helping patrons discover their next favorite book, supporting performances, or creating memorable experiences for our community, Rene plays an important role in making our building a place where creativity, learning, and connection thrive.
If you see them during your next visit, be sure to say hello! πŸ‘‹

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟This week, we're excited to introduce Elizabeth Swanson, one of our amazing Children's Theatre Produc...
10/15/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟
This week, we're excited to introduce Elizabeth Swanson, one of our amazing Children's Theatre Production team.
🎭 Role: Costume Crafts and Wigs Specialist. I'm responsible for the costume pieces that don't fit on a clothes hanger. I also work as a Costume Designer here at CTC, which means I'm in charge of figuring out how to tell a story through clothes. You can see my designs in A Year with Frog and Toad!
πŸ“š Favorite Book: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
🎬 If I could bring any book to life on the stage what would it be: I'd love to get to work on a production of Coraline
πŸ’™ Favorite Part of the Job: Getting to make art everyday with so many marvelous people!

If you see Elizabeth wandering around ImaginOn make sure to say hello!

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟This week, we're excited to introduce Leslie Batten, one of the dedicated team members who helps brin...
10/12/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟

This week, we're excited to introduce Leslie Batten, one of the dedicated team members who helps bring stories to lifeβ€”both on our shelves and on our stage!
🎭 Role: Library Assistant
πŸ“š Favorite Book: Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (IF I'm only allowed to pick just one, which is a tough ask!)
🎬 If I could bring any book to life on the stage what would it be: Wish by Barbara O'Connor. Charlie is one of my favorite characters - a girl with anger issues who feels like she doesn't belong. A found dog and a found family help heal her heart, and really what could be truer than that?! I also love stage productions with real dogs as actors.
πŸ’™ Favorite Part of the Job: I just started in June in the Spangler Library, and I haven't stopped smiling since my first day. I love every part of this job and am grateful to have made the transition here from being a school librarian. The icing on the cake is bubbles at the end of story time, because little kids + bubbles = JOY.
✨ Fun Fact: My "bestest boy" Jackson (in photo) is my companion on the trails and on the sofa. He enjoys making new dog and human friends everywhere he goes.
Make sure to say hello next time you see Leslie in Spangler!

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟This week, we're excited to introduce Steven Levine, one of our amazing Children's Theatre Production...
10/08/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟
This week, we're excited to introduce Steven Levine, one of our amazing Children's Theatre Production team.
🎭 Role: Director of Production
πŸ“š Favorite Book: Corduroy, we were born the same year.
🎬 If I could bring any book to life on the stage what would it be: The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder by Peter Brown. Though Chowder is a slobbery bulldog, he enters the First Annual Fabu Pooch Pageant anyway and wows the crowd with his prowess on the trampoline.
πŸ’™ Favorite Part of the Job: I get to make theatre with and for amazing individuals, and come to work every day in what is truly the happiest place on earth.
✨ Fun Fact: I walked stilts in the Soviet Union during Glasnost.

If you see Steven wandering around ImaginOn make sure to say hello!

All Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations will be closed on Monday, October 12, for a staff development day.
10/06/2026

All Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations will be closed on Monday, October 12, for a staff development day.

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟This week, we're excited to introduce Frank Mendoza, one of the dedicated team members who helps brin...
10/05/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟

This week, we're excited to introduce Frank Mendoza, one of the dedicated team members who helps bring stories to lifeβ€”both on our shelves and on our stage!

🎭 Role: Access Services Manager
πŸ“š Favorite Book: The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver as I always had an interest in pursuing a career as a forensic specialist.
🎬 If I could bring any book to life on the stage what would it be: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems because this was the first book given to my son Samuel by a library colleague.
πŸ’™ Favorite Part of the Job: Greeting and meeting all the wonderful families, children, and teens who visit our magical library. I truly enjoy explaining the story of ImaginOn to visitors.
✨ Fun Fact: I have three registered birth years…long story.

Whether they're helping customers discover their next favorite book, supporting performances, or creating memorable experiences for our community, Frank Mendoza plays an important role in making our building a place where creativity, learning, and connection thrive.

Check out our October calendar for ages 0-12 @ ImaginOn! πŸ‚
10/02/2026

Check out our October calendar for ages 0-12 @ ImaginOn! πŸ‚

Ukulele Song Circle 🎢🌺🎸Join us Today at 2pm as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through music as we learn to play an...
10/01/2026

Ukulele Song Circle 🎢🌺🎸
Join us Today at 2pm as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through music as we learn to play and sing De Colores! Ukulele's will be provided while supplies last. For more information go to -->https://bit.ly/4e2tMzR

Address

300 E 7th Street
Charlotte, NC
28202

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17044164600

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