There’s no need to travel any further than Swannanoa to get your favorite books, music, and audio books. The Swannanoa Library, located at 101 W. Charleston Ave. in the historic Grovemont area, offers all of this and much more. You can sit in a cozy chair by the fireplace and read a magazine or newspaper, bring your laptop to take advantage of free wireless internet access, use one of the library’s computers to do research or check your email, attend a free library program, or browse the library’s extensive collection of books and music. If you don’t find what you want, books can be ordered through the Buncombe County library system and delivered to the Swannanoa Library for pick up.
In addition to the many books available for loan, the Swannanoa Library boasts one of the largest year-round used book sales in the library system. Sponsored by the Friends of the Swannanoa Library, the book sale fills the library’s entire basement area, and includes thousands of fiction and non-fiction books for children, teens, and adults. The book sale is open during library hours — hardcovers are only a dollar and paperbacks are 50 cents.
A number of community groups make use of the library’s public meeting room, which is also home to many of the programs and events hosted by the library throughout the year. Special activities offered by the library include weekly children’s programs, a knitting club, a monthly book discussion group, and a summer children’s reading program.
And that’s not all! The library is surrounded by a beautiful park that offers recreational opportunities for folks of all ages. Kids will love the swings and brightly-colored playground equipment. There’s a large grassy area for playing games, an outdoor performance space (home to the Groovin’ on Grovemont summer concert series – see separate article in this newsletter), a quarter-mile walking path with fitness stations, and an outdoor classroom.
The library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm. For more information about this wonderful community facility, call 686-5516 or visit www.ilovethelibrary.org.