Buncombe County pauses Library Facilities Master Plan process

Staff to focus on public engagement 

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 5, 2021

A proposal that called for closing library branches in Swannanoa and Black Mountain in favor of a modern facility that would serve both communities will not go before the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners this month.

The county announced June 4 that it is pausing the Library Facilities Master Plan process, ahead of the Tuesday, June 15 regular meeting of the board. 

The decision was in response to community feedback regarding the plan, the county said in its announcement. 

The Black Mountain Town Council passed a resolution opposing the plan, citing the local branch’s role as a “community center,” on May 13. The Town urged commissioners to vote against the recommendation.

“We know that our libraries are true community hubs and our patrons are passionate about their local branches,” Buncombe County Library Director Jim Blanton said in the announcement to pause the library portion of the countywide Comprehensive Facilities Plan. “Our immediate goal is to take the consultant’s recommendations and ideas back out to the community to continue our public engagement process.”

The facilities plan, excluding recommendations regarding regional libraries, will be heard by commissioners, while Buncombe County Public Libraries, the Library Board and the communications and public engagement department develop an expanded plan for listening sessions that will be shared with the public in the coming days.