YOUR GUIDE TO BUNCOMBE COUNTY LIBRARIES
Buncombe County Public Libraries consists of 12 branch libraries conveniently located throughout the County, with a central branch, Pack Memorial Library, in downtown Asheville. From story times, book clubs, LEGO clubs, exercise classes, Dungeons & Dragons groups, cooking classes, (and so much more!), in addition to books to borrow, you’ll find it at the library! There is a library within 5 miles of almost every Buncombe County resident! Check them all out below!
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PACK MEMORIAL LIBRARY @ 67 Haywood Street, Asheville … Pack Memorial Library is located in downtown Asheville and is the main branch in the Buncombe County Public Library System. The first Pack Library was built and named for George Willis Pack in 1911. The new, 56,000-square foot facility was built in 1978 and renovated in 2012. It has over 150,000 items available for perusal and free check out including books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, board games and puzzles available for loan, lawn games vailable for loan, telescopes available for loan, ukeleles available for loan, eco-explorer backpacks for loan with kid binoculars, a a magnifying glass, a bird book, and a nature journal, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, and research materials. It also features internet access, free Wi-Fi, word processing, and photocopy services. Pack Memorial is also home to the Bookends Used Book Store, the North Carolina Room, Lord Auditorium, and the Thomas Wolfe Collection. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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BLACK MOUNTAIN LIBRARY @ 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain … A cozy neighborhood library, easy walking distance to local restaurants and antique shops. In addition to the standard amenities, Black Mountain Library also loans out fishing rods, makes piano reservations on their in-house instrument, and has a seed library. The Black Mountain Library—located in downtown Black Mountain–boasts over 40,000 items in its collection including books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, a seed library, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, eco-explorer backpacks for loan with kid binoculars, a a magnifying glass, a bird book, and a nature journal, and more. The library has a comfortable magazine and newspaper reading area for enjoyment, an ongoing used book sale, ample parking, and a 120-seat community meeting room for public use. Originally built in 1968, the library was renovated back in 2009, expanding its children’s area, adding new restrooms, and reorganizing the floor plan for a more efficient use of space. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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EAST ASHEVILLE LIBRARY @ 3 Avon Rd, Asheville … The East Asheville Library is a great neighborhood library adjacent to Asheville Fire Station #8 in the Haw Creek community, right off Tunnel Road. Newly built in 2021, the library is the second largest in Buncombe County and includes study rooms for small group projects, a first in Buncombe County. The East Asheville Library is also the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building built by Buncombe County Government. The East Asheville Library not only has a large collection of books for you to peruse, it also has DVDs, audiobooks, CDs, craft kits available for loan, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, and other materials as well. It is known for its well-curated music, graphic novel, and Spanish materials collections. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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ENKA-CANDLER BRANCH LIBRARY @ 1404 Sand Hill Rd, Candler … The Enka-Candler Library is a great family destination adjacent to a lovely community green, and a shopping center. It has a spacious indoor area to relax with a book, free internet and Wi-Fi access, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, picnic baskets available for loan, and a 50-seat meeting room. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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FAIRVIEW LIBRARY @ 1 Taylor Road, Fairview … Located in the heart of downtown Fairview. The Fairview Library is a beautiful, 75,000-square foot library with a spacious reading lounge, exhibition space, outdoor patio seating, and professional landscaping. It’s a great library for kids with its expansive children’s reading section that features puppeteering during story times, and board games and puzzles, available for loan, and portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access. Built in 1999, the library is minutes away from Fairview Elementary School, local restaurants, and markets. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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LEICESTER LIBRARY @ 1561 Alexander Rd, Leicester … Your neighborhood library, nestled in the mountains. The Leicester Branch Library is a spacious library with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The library is 5,500 square feet with a large, comfortable reading lounge, internet access, an exhibition space, and professional landscaping. The library also has a large collection of books for all ages and interests, an expansive DVD collection, audiobooks, music you can check out, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, and eco-explorer backpacks for loan with kid binoculars, a a magnifying glass, a bird book, and a nature journal. It’s a great family destination because of the youth section with its big, comfy chairs for parents to read to their children. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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NORTH ASHEVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY @ 1030 Merrimon Avenue … The North Asheville Library is the newest building in the county library system. Originally opened in 1958, this new branch opened its doors in 2005 and is located right next to beautiful Beaver Lake. The library features not only a large collection of books, DVDs, audiobooks, and music to check out, but also everything from internet access, Wi-Fi, a reading lounge, and an outside reading porch’s and eco-explorer backpacks for loan with kid binoculars, a a magnifying glass, a bird book, and a nature journal, and portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access. They also feature a great children’s section featuring a computer with education software for preteens. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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OAKLEY/SOUTH ASHEVILLE LIBRARY @ 749 Fairview Rd, Asheville … The Oakley/South Asheville Library is a cozy library located in-between Murphy-Oakley Park and Oakley Elementary School on Fairview Road in Asheville. Built in 1972, the library not only has a large collection of books, DVDs, CDs, and books on CD to check out, it also features internet access, Wi-Fi, a vast large-print collection, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, and an on-going book sale. Storytimes are held each week for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers (please check schedule). Lego Club for school age children is the first Saturday of each month. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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SKYLAND/SOUTH BUNCOMBE LIBRARY @ 260 Overlook Rd, Asheville … The Skyland/South Buncombe Library is a friendly neighborhood library located off Long Shoals Road near TC Roberson High School. Originally built in 1962, it was rebuilt and renovated in 2002. The library not only features a large variety of books, DVDs, music, and audiobooks, but also has internet access, Wi-Fi, copiers, eco-explorer backpacks for loan with kid binoculars, a a magnifying glass, a bird book, and a nature journal, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, the longest running monthly book club in the County library system, and a beautiful butterfly garden in the backyard. Their indoor areas boasts a large, comfortable magazine/newspaper reading area and a large separate children’s area. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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SWANNANOA LIBRARY @ 101 W Charleston Avenue, Swannanoa … The Swannanoa Library isn’t just a quiet, cozy library for the whole family, it’s also a great community social hub with its large outdoor playground and proximity to Grovemont Square. The library houses a large selection of books for all ages and interests, internet access, Wi-Fi, a 35-seat public meeting room, a large comic book collection, monthly book discussion groups, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, and even a professional mural in their entrance with dozens of storybook characters. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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WEAVERVILLE LIBRARY @ 41 North Main Street, Weaverville … The Weaverville library houses a large variety of books for every age and interest, including an especially strong young adult reading selection, board games and puzzles available for loan, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access. It also features free Wi-Fi and monthly book clubs. There is also a great downstairs meeting room that can hold anything from story times to community meetings. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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WEST ASHEVILLE LIBRARY @ 942 Haywood Rd, Asheville … The West Asheville Library originally opened 1953, but moved to its current site in 1997. Not only does the library features a large selection of adult, teen, and children’s literature, it also features a Hispanic outreach center, historic archives, strong video collection, internet, Wi-Fi, portable hotspot devices that provide free wifi internet access, branch newsletter, computer study areas, and many programs for adults and children. The library also houses a large children’s section and a 75-seat meeting room. WEBPAGE AND EVENTS CALENDAR HERE
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OTHER BENEFITS OF BEING A BUNCOMBE COUNTY CARDHOLDER
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KANOPY STREAMING … Library card holders have access to Kanopy, the popular on-demand streaming service. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device, or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku. To access Kanopy, visit THIS LINK HERE, or download the app to your phone, TV, or digital device. If you have any questions, contact your local library!
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LIBBY THE LIBRARY READING APP … With Libby you can access books, audiobooks, and magazines instantly & 24/7 – for free – using your Buncombe County Library Card and the Libby App. Download the Libby app wherever you get your apps, Find your library, Enter your library card and pin, and Enjoy! You can also use Libby in your web browser by going to THIS LINK HERE. If you need help, there is a recorded webinar on the Buncombe County Library’s YouTube channel, AT THIS LINK.
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ZOOM PASS PROGRAM … Buncombe County residents have FREE access to several local attractions including the Arboretum, the WNC Nature Center, a paddle boat rental at Lake Julian, the Asheville Museum of Science, Well Played Board Game Cafe, Hands On! Museum in Hendersonville, theater passes on occasion, pool passes in the summer, and MORE! Simply log in with your library PIN number at the ready, browse what passes are available on the day you choose, choose the library you’d like to pick your pass up at, and reserve a pass for yourself! Then pick up your pass in person at the library you picked. It’s that simple! The number of people your pass admits is detailed online when you reserve, with the majority of them being good for multiple people at a time. One reservation per card holder allowed at a time, and reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance. You may visit each attraction once every 30 days. BONUS! People living in nearby counties can opt to purchase a one year “out of county library card” for a yearly fee of just $20 – in which case they would have full access to all of the library benefits … INCLUDING ZOOM (you must apply in person at the library to purchase)! Have your library PIN handy, and LEARN MORE HERE.
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DON’T HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? IT’S FREE! HERE’S HOW YOU GET ONE!.
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- HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT … To get a library card, just visit any library branch with a photo ID. That’s it! Download and print THIS APPLICATION to bring with you! If your photo ID does not have your current local address, please bring another piece of information with your current local address such as a utility bill, rental agreement or check.
- CARD FOR KIDS AND TEENS … Children ages birth through 17 can get a library card with a parent or guardian who has a photo ID and proof of local residence. Teens ages 14 through 17 do not need a parent or guardian to get a library card — they can be issued a library card by providing a photo ID and proof of local residence at any library front desk. A school ID with a photo may be used as photo ID.
- STUDENT ACCESS … Students who are enrolled in Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, Christ School, Francine Delany New School for Children and IC Imagine K-12 Public Charter School use their Student ID numbers to borrow public library books and access digital resources. For more information about Student Access, please check with your school administration, or email them at library@buncombecounty.org.
- CARDS BY EMAIL … If you can’t visit the library to get a card, they can issue library cards by email. You will need to email a copy of your local ID to the library to them at library@buncombecounty.org. Contact the library at 828-250-4700 if you have any questions.