Smart Connections is a collaborative project between the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), The Mint Museums (Mint Museum of Art & Mint Museum of Craft + Design), and our new partner, The Charlotte Symphony.

The goals of the Smart Connections project are:

• Provide the residents of Mecklenburg County with a valuable educational resource for exploring cultural resources within the community.
• Offer unique family oriented programs, which allow participants to benefit from the combined strengths of the Library and the Mint Museums.
• Provide residents with a Smart Connections Library card offering discounts to Museum and cultural events and Library borrowing privileges.
• Develop comprehensive and sustainable cultural partnerships between the Library and the Mint Museums through staff development opportunities and resource sharing.
• Develop additional, similar partnerships with other cultural organizations in the community.
• Be a workable model that can be adapted by other communities.

The project, funded through a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), combines the vast wealth of resources of PLCMC and the extensive art collection of the Mint Museums to create a unique series of cultural experiences (workshops, exhibits, and special events). These experiences are highlighted with supporting cultural recommendations on the Smart Connections web site (smartconnections.org).

The behind the scenes component of this project emphasizes the building of partnerships and collaborative community offerings that promote lifelong learning and act as educational and cultural gateways to all citizens. By combining all these goals and talents, Smart Connections aspires to be a model of sustainable, long-term cultural partnerships for communities across America.