Buncombe County Public Libraries (BCPL) joins a growing number of library systems across the country reducing financial barriers to services. We are excited to announce that as of July 1, 2021 BCPL will permanently eliminate late fines for overdue library materials, and forgive all previous overdue fines so that everyone can start a new chapter at the library.

While libraries have traditionally viewed overdue fines as a means to ensure that materials are returned on time, research shows that fines may actually discourage people from using the library. Fines can be punitive to regular library users and disproportionately affect low-income households and children.

This change is a part of a movement from libraries nationwide, guided by recommendations from the American Library Association in an effort to increase free public access to library services. The decision to go fine free locally was made with staff input, endorsed by the Library Advisory Board, and approved by the Board of Commissioners.

“Eliminating library fines will greatly reduce barriers to access and ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to enjoy the wide variety of resources the library has to offer,” said Library Director Jim Blanton.

BCPL will continue to send reminders to patrons to return items when materials are due and a separate notice when they are past due. It’s important to note that anyone who fails to return, loses, or damages a library item, will still be responsible for paying replacement fees for those items. Any item overdue for 45 days will be considered lost, and patrons will incur a charge for that item.

“Since all previous overdue fines are forgiven, we hope this will give people a great opportunity to return library materials they’ve had for any length of time,” says Blanton.  “If you have a book sitting at home, just bring it back, no fines will be added to your card no matter when you checked it out.”

Please contact the library at [email protected] or 250-4700 with any questions about your account or library card.

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE

2021 THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

The Western North Carolina Historical Association is now accepting nominations for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Originated by the Louis Lipinsky family and now supported by Michael Sartisky, PhD, the Award is a partnership between WNCHA and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Committee. It has been presented by WNCHA since 1955. The award comes with a $2,500 cash prize.

The deadline for submission of nominated works is July 31, 2021. Anyone with knowledge of an author who meets the qualification criteria may nominate the author for the award. To be considered, an entry must be a published work of fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry and meet the following criteria:

1. It must be a first edition work; revised editions of published works will not be considered for the Award.
2. The publication date must be between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021.
3. The author must be a native of western North Carolina or a resident of western North Carolina for at least twelve months prior to the closing date for the Award.
4. An author may also qualify if the work submitted has a focus on or setting in western North Carolina.

Western North Carolina includes the Qualla Boundary and the following 25 counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.

The Award Panel this year consists of: Catherine Frank, Chair, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville; Dee James, retired Director of the First-Year Writing Program at UNC Asheville; Tom Muir, Historic Site Manager, Thomas Wolfe Memorial; Gordon McKinney, PhD, former president, Appalachian Studies Association; Terry Roberts, PhD, Director, National Paideia Center; Jim Stokely, President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy.

Nomination letters must specify the following eligibility criteria:

1. date of publication
2. birthplace or residence of author
3. setting of work

Nominators should submit a cover letter along with three copies of the work postmarked no later than July 31, 2021 to:

Wolfe Award Committee

℅ Anne Chesky Smith

WNC Historical Association

283 Victoria Road

Asheville, NC  28801

An awards ceremony and reception, in honor of the finalists and 2021 Award recipient, will be held in early December 2021.

The Association presented the first Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award to Wilma Dykeman in 1955 for The French Broad. The Award has continued to be funded, in part, by Mrs. E. Frank Edwin, a member of the Lipinsky family and for the last three years by WNCHA, and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Board, both with support from Michael Sartisky, PhD. Other recipients of this prestigious Award include Robert Morgan, Gail Godwin, John Ehle, Robert Brunk, Michael McFee, Lee Smith, Ron Rash, Wayne Caldwell, and Terry Roberts. Sandra Muse Isaacs was the recipient of the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award for her book: Eastern Cherokee Stories: A Living Oral Tradition and Its Cultural Continuance.

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready…
Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get emergency information sent directly to you in real time.

Buncombe County residents have a new, customizable solution for receiving notification and emergency alerts. Buncombe County Government is in the initial phase of migrating to the CodeRED community notification system to send important alerts and time-sensitive messages to staff members and residents. Along with emergency and critical messages, the CodeRED notification system will also enhance community engagement via the release of important but non-emergency information such as vaccine site notifications, inclement weather closures and schedule changes, and other county service information.

Sign up for BC Alerts by texting BCAlert (not case sensitive) to 99411 or visit buncombecounty.org/codered to sign up for the new system.

Notice: If residents have previously signed up for BC Alerts, they will need to re-register in order to continue receiving notifications after June. If you have Spectrum as your wireless provider please select Other from the provider list, and scroll down for more frequently asked questions. 

“Upon evaluating our previous notification system and other available options, we chose CodeRED for its innovative features, user-friendly platform, and wide-spread adoption rates across the country,” said Communications and Public Engagement Director Lillian Govus. “Their company-owned redundant data centers help ensure every resident’s data is safe and that messages are delivered quickly and reliably to thousands of individuals within minutes. We’re excited to expand our communication channels with residents to include text, phone, email, and social media platforms, providing the information they need to know to make better informed decisions during an emergency.”

CodeRED Key Benefits

CodeRED will deliver several benefits for residents and enable staff to more efficiently manage and distribute notifications before, during, and after emergency and non-emergency events:

• Registration for this notification service is customized, allowing residents to choose which alerts they’d like to receive, as well as their preferred channel.
• Residents can select several different methods including landline, cell phone, email, text message, TTY, or even a combination. These alerts can be specific to streets, neighborhoods or regions, so individuals within affected areas are sure to receive relevant information.
• Residents and visitors can keep track of alerts in Buncombe County with the CodeRED Mobile App, which notifies smartphone holders of real-time alerts in the area. Similar to the online registration, users choose which notifications they’d like to receive via the app.
• Staff members can also use the system to communicate emergency information with one another. This will help us ensure our emergency response and daily operations are even more efficient.

All residents are encouraged to visit buncombecounty.org/codered or text BCAlert to 99411 to enroll in the CodeRED system. For more information on the CodeRED notification system or registration, please contact [email protected]. or call CodeRED support at 1-866-939-0911.

About CodeRED from OnSolve

OnSolve is a leading global provider of SaaS-based critical communication solutions for enterprise, SMB, and government customers. The company’s CodeRED™ solution provides high-speed notification services capable of reaching millions of people in minutes and has applied its mission-critical capabilities to government, commercial, healthcare and other end markets. More information can be found on the company’s website at www.onsolve.com.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.

The Summer in the City Raffle benefiting Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders (CRC for ED) is your chance to fit in one last summer fling and get into the Asheville groove! Whether you’re Asheville born and bred or new to the 828, you’re sure to enjoy this fun-filled, uniquely Asheville, August weekend!

The raffle winner will receive a quintessential Asheville summer getaway package, valued at $1,550, including:

• 2 nights in Banjoe Vacations’ Downtown Asheville Condo – This beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo is located right in downtown Asheville, walking distance to all downtown activities, and just a 10-minute drive to the River Arts District or Biltmore Village. (Downtown condo dates are August 27 and August 28, 2021. Alternate dates may be selected based on condo availability and must be arranged directly thru Banjoe Vacations. Alternate condo dates must be booked no later than August 15, 2021. See Terms and Conditions for full details.)

• 2 tickets for the Eating Asheville “High Roller Tour” – Sit down at some of the most elegant, trendy, and acclaimed tables in our beloved foodie city, and sample an array of flavors, cuisines, and local produce. This tour features 6 restaurants, at least 3 drink pairings, and 2.5 hours of deliciousness.

• 2 tickets to Zen Tubing (including cooler carrier) – Cool off with one of Asheville’s favorite summer activities – a day of lazy tubing down the river from one of two great locations.

• 2 tickets for the LaZoom “Hey Asheville! City Comedy Tour” – Learn Asheville’s  history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure on this 90-minute guided comedy tour of historical Asheville.

• $25 Gift Card to Taco Billy – There’s no better way to round out a day of tubing on the river than with tacos featuring local ingredients from one of Asheville’s favorite taco restaurants.

• $25 Gift Card to Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar – Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, this combination used book store and wine bar is a beloved and uniquely Asheville experience.

• $25 Gift Card to French Broad Chocolate Lounge or French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe – From delicious desserts to creative confections, you can add some extra sweetness to this sweet weekend trip at Asheville’s favorite chocolatier.

A limited number of raffle tickets will be available for purchase from July 2, 2021 through July 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EDT on our specially created event website at https://rafflecreator.com/pages/40142/crc-for-eds-summer-in-the-city-raffle. The winner will be selected at random, announced on all CRC for ED social media platforms on July 30th at approximately 7:00 p.m. EDT, and will be notified directly by telephone, mail, and/or email. Please see full Terms & Conditions here: https://crcfored.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CRCforED-Summer-in-the-City-Raffle-Terms-Conditions.pdf.

Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders is the only nonprofit in NC providing education, resources, and support to individuals, families, and professionals concerned with disordered eating and recovery from eating disorders.

Your participation in the Summer in the City Raffle allows us to continue offering accessible eating disorder support services and education at a time when the need is greater than ever, while also  giving you the chance to win a last minute getaway!

Summer is coming and that means fans! We will begin distributing fans to those who are in need very soon. Each fan is purchased at a cost of around $20. If you would like to help cover the cost of a fan to keep someone cool this summer, please visit our website to make a donation or mail a donation to Eblen Charities, 50 Westgate Parkway, Asheville NC 28806

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

Buncombe County is set to receive $51M in federal Covid relief funding. While there are some restrictions on how funding can be spent, it must address Covid relief and the subsequent economic fallout.

The County is now accepting proposals from the community on projects or programs. Examples of eligible categories include: small business support, household assistance, mental health programs, addressing public health disparities and more. Proposals are due Thursday, July 15. Read the full RFP and FAQs here.

Buncombe County Public Libraries (BCPL) joins a growing number of library systems across the country reducing financial barriers to services. We are excited to announce that as of July 1, 2021 BCPL will permanently eliminate late fines for overdue library materials, and forgive all previous overdue fines so that everyone can start a new chapter at the library.

While libraries have traditionally viewed overdue fines as a means to ensure that materials are returned on time, research shows that fines may actually discourage people from using the library. Fines can be punitive to regular library users and disproportionately affect low-income households and children.

This change is a part of a movement from libraries nationwide, guided by recommendations from the American Library Association in an effort to increase free public access to library services. The decision to go fine free locally was made with staff input, endorsed by the Library Advisory Board, and approved by the Board of Commissioners.

“Eliminating library fines will greatly reduce barriers to access and ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to enjoy the wide variety of resources the library has to offer,” said Library Director Jim Blanton.

BCPL will continue to send reminders to patrons to return items when materials are due and a separate notice when they are past due. It’s important to note that anyone who fails to return, loses, or damages a library item, will still be responsible for paying replacement fees for those items. Any item overdue for 45 days will be considered lost, and patrons will incur a charge for that item.

“Since all previous overdue fines are forgiven, we hope this will give people a great opportunity to return library materials they’ve had for any length of time,” says Blanton.  “If you have a book sitting at home, just bring it back, no fines will be added to your card no matter when you checked it out.”

Please contact the library at [email protected] or 250-4700 with any questions about your account or library card.