If you ever watched the PBS cartoon Arthur, then you’ll remember the quote, “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!” That couldn’t be any truer in Asheville. We have 13 libraries in the county, all with different perks like classes + events, plus ways to get involved in the community. And plain + simple opportunities to just read a really rad book (or audio + e-book) for free.

But first: to get access to these perks, you will need to get a Buncombe County Library card. All you need is a photo ID with a current Buncombe County address – if your ID address isn’t listed in Buncombe County then bring a piece of mail with your current address. Children under 14 just need a parent with a photo ID to register their library card, and students 14-17 can bring their school ID. Just remember, anything you check out you are responsible for + a replacement card is $3.

DYK: Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville offers about 30 free programs + activities every month such as Dungeons & Dragons for teens, LEGO building, Pilates, drone racing, ballet classes, basic computer skills, beginner’s Spanish class, jazz sessions, movies + more? Other county libraries have super unique programs like a seed library (Black Mountain) or historic archives (West Asheville). And, you can visit the N.C. Arboretum, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville Museum of Science, the WNC Nature Center + more for free through the library’s ZOOM Pass program.

Check out a full list of programs + events for all 13 county libraries here. ⬇ And next time you want to curl up on the couch and read, tell your friends “my weekend is so busy, it’s completely booked.” 😉

Why don’t library carts follow the rules? It's not how they roll.🤣

Branches

Pack Memorial Library

📍67 Haywood St., Asheville | Events | Art Exhibit Space, Book Club, Park/Playground Nearby, Tax Help, Voting Location + more

North Asheville Library

📍1030 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | Events | Book Club, Park/Playground Nearby, Tax Help, Voting Location + more

East Asheville Library

📍902 Tunnel Rd., Asheville | Events | Book Club, Research Help, Story Time + more

West Asheville Library

📍942 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Events | Art Exhibit Space, Book Club, Story Time, Tax Help, Voting Location + more

Oakley/South Asheville Library

📍749 Fairview Rd., Asheville | Events | On-Going Used Book Sale, Park/Playground Nearby, Story Time + more

Weaverville Library

📍41 N. Main St., Weaverville | Events | Book Club, Park/Playground Nearby, Research Help + more

Swannanoa Library

📍101 W. Charleston Ave., Swannanoa | Events | Book Club, Park/Playground Nearby, Research Help + more

Skyland/South Buncombe Library

📍260 Overlook Rd., Asheville | Events | Book Club, Story Time, Voting Location + more

Leicester Library

📍1561 Alexander Rd., Leicester | Events | Art Exhibit Space, Story Times, Research Help + more

Fairview Library

📍1 Taylor Rd., Fairview | Events | Art Exhibit Space, Outdoor Seating, Book Club + more

Enka-Candler Library

📍1404 Sand Hill Rd., Candler | Events | Book Club, Community Green Nearby, Voting Location + more

Black Mountain Library

📍105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Events

Buncombe County Law Library

📍60 Court Plaza, Asheville (10th floor)

Check out all the events happening at our county libraries here.

Programs

Free Language Lessons

Library Card holders have access to lessons for more than 70 languages through Mango Languages. As long as you have internet available, visit the Virtual Library link and sign in using your library card. From there you will experience interactive, online lessons teaching you languages such as Biblical Hebrew or German.

Comic Book + Graphic Novel special section

The East Asheville Library offers a wide-ranging selection of comic books + graphic novels. Featuring around 1,000 volumes to choose from, this collection is perfect for all ages.

Seed Library

The Black Mountain Seed Library offers a large selection of free seeds along with growing resources. This is perfect for those wanting to learn how to grow their own garden or wanting to expand + share their own planting knowledge. Bonus: They also offer free gardening courses.

Free admission to museums + attractions

A ZOOM Pass gives library card holders access to free passes for local attractions such as the WNC Nature Center, the N.C. Arboretum, the Asheville Museum of Science + more places soon to come. All you have to do is plan a trip to one of these attractions about a month in advance, use the online reservation system to reserve your pass, then pick up your pass at the library.

History archives

History buff? Or have a history project to complete? The North Carolina Room at Pack Library features extensive local history and family history collections. They provide many online and in-text resources to choose from.

Digital Library

DYK: As long as you have a current Buncombe County library card and internet connection, you can access all the resources the Virtual Library has to offer 24/7 while anywhere in the world? The digital library features over 40,000 eBooks, 10,000 audiobooks, new and old movies, constant new additions in all media formats + more. It’s like Netflix with book options.📚

A library that offers Pilates?! How cool. Personally, I’ve always loved libraries. As a child my brother and I would spend most of our summer afternoons in the library near our house.

What is your favorite amenity that our county libraries offer? Comment on the article below or reply to this email. Have you ever thought of a library expansion? Check out the Richland Libraries in Columbia, S.C., and who knows, maybe we could add that to our “what we want to see in Asheville” list.

Happy Tuesday,

–Audra