It's National Library Week, making this the perfect time to celebrate all the rad resources you can utilize across Buncombe County's 13 library branches.

First things first — you’ll need a library card. Buncombe County residents can get one for free with just their photo ID, and the cards are good for three years. Pro tip: If your photo ID doesn’t include your current local address, bring documentation showing it (like a check or utility bill).

Not a Buncombe County resident? Not a problem. All it takes is $20 per year and an in-person visit to obtain an out-of-county card.

Besides the books

ZOOM Passes

Get free access to local attractions, including the North Carolina Arboretum, the WNC Nature Center, the Asheville Museum of Science, and Asheville Community Theatre with these nifty passes. You can make one reservation per attraction every 30 days.

Hotspots

Using your library card, you can check out this portable device that connects to a cell phone network and provides free Wi-Fi access to your devices.

Gardening necessities

Plan your spring garden by picking up seasonal vegetable, herb, and flower seed packets at the Black Mountain, Leicester, and Weaverville branches.

Binoculars and telescopes

Want to indulge in a little birding or stargazing? You’ll need tools for that.switched the italics here because I thought it made more sense Cardholders can check out binoculars from the North Asheville branch and find telescopes at Pack Memorial downtown.

Games

Prioritize play by checking out some entertaining games. Hit up the Black Mountain branch for discs for disc golf, for parallelism and grammatical consistencyPack Memorial and Fairview branches for “Take & Play” outdoor games, and the Leicester + Black Mountain branches for jigsaw puzzles. You can also get picnic baskets with a blanket and games at the Enka-Candler branch.

Virtual finds

Note: Some services require a library card to access.

Watch a movie

From classic films to award-winning foreign flicks, there are thousands of titles to stream for free on Kanopy.

Learn a language

Whether you're a beginner or you want to hone your skills, you can access Transparent Language Online software for lessons in 110 languages.

Improve your investment strategy

Inexperienced and seasoned stock investors alike can gain access to Morningstar's investment research and analysis.

Trace your family tree

Find a collection of genealogical resources available through Ancestry and Heritage Quest.

Learn a new skill

Find courses in web design, business, coding, and more through LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com).

There are plenty more valuable virtual resources where that came from. From accessing grant writing materials to test prep to local and national newspapers, check out all the platforms you can access for free with your library card.