Message from our Swannanoa librarian, Carla Holler:

The Swannanoa Library is not yet open, but you can place holds on books, movies and other library materials at www.buncombecounty.org/library. Your library card and pin # (the last four digits of your phone number) are all you need to access your online account to place holds, or you can call us (828-250-6486) with your card number and we can place the hold for you. If you have a young reader, you can ask for a stack of 10 random easy books, which are selected by the librarians.

Pick up is at Black Mountain library (the closest branch to us) or, if it’s more convenient, you can set holds to go to North Branch, South Buncombe/Skyland or West Asheville. Curbside pickup days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m.

Are you missing the Swannanoa Library Story Time? Check out the Buncombe County YouTube channel for Storytime with Buncombe County Librarians. A brand new storytime will be posted every day, Monday-Friday. and your friendly neighborhood Swannanoa librarian is in the mix. There are storytimes for preschoolers, toddlers and even some in Spanish.

We miss you and are working hard to get back to normal when we can. In the meantime, stay safe and keep reading!

Buncombe County Recreation Services has awarded a grant of $6,000 for improvements to Grovemont Park and Playground. The park is located adjacent to the Swannanoa Library at 101 West Charleston Avenue, and is owned and managed by the Swannanoa Community Council (SCC), a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

The grant money will help cover the costs of four coated-steel park benches, two wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, installation of a basketball goal on the existing concrete pad located near the children’s playground, and creation of additional gravel parking spaces to accommodate increased use of the park and its facilities. Additional funding for this project is being provided by SCC and the Friends of the Swannanoa Library.

The project will be completed with mostly volunteer labor. Volunteer opportunities will be announced once a timetable for the project can be established.

Swannanoa Branch Librarian Carla Holler asked us to share this message for library patrons:

Buncombe County Libraries are closed at least until the end of April. No items are due. There will be no fines, and we’re asking everyone to hold on to what they have checked out until we reopen. Although we have no in-house programming at this time, there are many new story times going up on YouTube, created by our lovely youth services folks. We’re also in the planning stages for virtual book club meetings. Please check our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as buncombecounty.org/library, for further details. If you need WiFi, you can still make use of our library WiFi in the parking lot. Please practice safe distancing and, even better, stay in your cars. Remember the username is Library Guest and the password is readmore. And if you need to update your long out-of-date library card, or get a new one to take advantage of online e-books and other resources, contact library@buncombecounty.org to get signed up or updated. We miss you!