Join us for a lively language enrichment story time designed for children ages 4 to 18 months.

Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.

ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

Come down the Pack Memorial Library and play with LEGOs!
Show off your building skills and make new friends with other LEGO maniacs.

Please leave your personal LEGOs at home, because we’ve got plenty.

Upcoming Presentation: Preserving Digital Content

A presentation on Nov.7 in the Special Collections reading room will extend this training into digital archives, which have their own risks and needs in order to remain accessible to future generations. Attendees will learn how active, ongoing intervention can help protect digital photographs, documents, websites, social media accounts, and other digital content from loss. Registration is currently open and participants can email in advance with specific questions.

In the lower level of Pack Memorial Library, rare books, photographs, maps, letters, diaries, and more sit safely tucked away on shelves. These are the treasures that the librarians of Buncombe County Special Collections collect, preserve, and provide access to—carrying acid-free folders out to the reading room, sending digital scans, and more.

But their work extends beyond the materials owned by the library, too. Through outreach and public programs, BCSC librarians have been helping to ensure that individuals, families, and community organizations have the tools and knowledge to care for their own treasures.

Preserving Neighborhood Memories

This October, the team attended two neighborhood reunion events, the Southside United Neighborhood Association Reunion at Walton Street Park, and the Black Montford & Stumptown Reunion at the Tempie Avery Montford Center.

At both events, scanners were on hand to allow community members to contribute photos or documents for digitization and donation to the neighborhood associations. Reunion attendees also helped librarians identify people pictured in photographs from decades ago.

At Walton Street Park, a youth oral history team, trained by BCSC staff and equipped with digital voice recorders, interviewed their neighbors about their memories and hopes for the future in the midst of changes to the neighborhood.

Preserving Documents and Photographs

Buncombe County Special Collections also presents library programs to empower people to properly care for their personal or family archives. On October 26, Heather South, Lead Archivist for the Western Regional Archives, was a guest speaker at the East Asheville Library, where she shared basic care, handling, and storage instructions for taking care of family documents and photographs.

Using examples, props, and a good dose of humor, South described how and why materials break down over time, and prepared today’s inheritors of historic materials to ensure that their treasures will be properly preserved for future generations. (And, importantly, when it’s okay to throw things away.)

Celebrate the women in your life with women-centric networking. Athena of Henderson County presents this unique and informal networking opportunity designed to inspire and connect women. No entrance fee – just bring your business cards and enjoy expanding your network!

Join us this month at The Main Event, the new downtown venue, owned and operated by Brittany Bettini.

2023 Empower Hours are Presented by Beverly-Hanks & Associates – Ali Thomas.

National Novel Writing Month is here and North Asheville Library has you covered!
We’ve set aside a quiet space for all our aspiring novelists to come work towards their word count goals. So come spend an hour or two with us and get into the creative flow. Refreshments provided

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Literacy Together has a determined group of students waiting for volunteer tutors so they can move forward on their goals for a better future. We’re offering in-person and remote volunteer opportunities. We have programs teaching English to immigrants, adult literacy for folks working on a GED, and youth literacy for kids struggling to learn to read. In addition, we welcome everyone -even if they are not ready to volunteer- to attend to learn about the literacy challenges we face in Buncombe County. Thank you!

Learn how to prevent drug facilitated sexual assault and intervene as a bystander in our online community training session!

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) + Bystander Intervention Techniques Community Training

Join us for an online community training on Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) and Bystander Intervention Techniques. Learn how to identify and prevent DFSA incidents, and gain the skills to intervene as a bystander. This training aims to create a safer community by equipping individuals with knowledge and strategies to combat sexual assault. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference!

Join us as we discuss Boy, Snow, Bird: A Novel by Helen Oyeyemi. We will meet in person at the Weaverville Library. Copies of this title are available at the Weaverville Library while supplies last.  Newcomers are always welcome.

Mary Magdalene’s story is shrouded in mystery and mysticism. In the sacred circle, we invoke her truth, wisdom, deep love and reverence for visceral teaching, clearing and activation.
Each month we will gather to connect and commune with the essence of this visionary aspect of divine feminine. We will explore the alchemy of Mary Magdalene in relationship to her Divine attributes of mysticism, love, sacred sexuality, Divine adoration, surrender, faith, and unity consciousness to awaken deeper levels of the Divine feminine to RISE with YOU! Recurring every 1st Tuesday of the month, 7:00-7:30pm EST

Adora Winquist is a distinguished Modern Alchemist, author, visionary Founder of The Soul Institute, and co-author of “Detox Nourish Activate: Plant & Vibrational Medicine for Energy, Mood, and Love”. Having over two decades of experience as a facilitator, educator, formulator, and entrepreneur, she holds certifications in vibrational medicine and aromatherapy from the renowned Barbara Brennan School for Healing and Rutgers University. She is a true authority in plant and vibrational medicine. Her expertise in essential oil formulation, combined with her deep understanding of esoteric philosophy and energy medicine, has made her a sought-after authority in the field. With a passion for education and transformation, Adora continues to empower individuals on their journey to holistic well-being and self-discovery.

Your train is about to depart the station and a cirque spectacular awaits. Through theatre, dance, music, and death-defying acrobats, a breathtaking series of vignettes tells the unique stories of reunions and goodbyes from the strangers that surround you onboard. From contemporary physical theater troupe The 7 Fingers comes this jaw-dropping ride you must see to believe.

“This train is bound for glory.” – Boston Globe