Situated near Black Mountain, the community of Laurelwood is laid back with premium manufactured homes. The residents who live here get to enjoy the nearby museums, restaurants and shopping districts, along with multiple libraries that carry a variety of books.
Henderson County Library
This is one of the most popular branches although parking can sometimes be a challenge. They have a solid selection of recent books as well as films. The child section, in particular, is impressive which makes this an excellent library for families with children. There are puzzles, educational games of all kinds, and the staff is both affable and helpful. The bathrooms are also spotless which is always great. This library is also great for those that want to use the internet.
Fletcher Public Library
This is one of the smaller libraries in the area but they are good at helping you find what you need. They carry a wide assortment of literature which ranges from magazines to history, geography, mathematics and science texts. This makes it good for university or high school students that are looking for specific information but it also has some great non-fiction works for those that just seek entertainment.
Asheville-Buncombe Library
The Asheville-Buncombe library is situated in an outstanding location. The staff is professional and courteous, but one thing which differentiates it from other libraries in the area is that you must log in to their computer via a centralized mainframe that will assign a location within the building and then provide you with the PIN. For those who have never visited before, it is a bit unusual, but you will eventually become accustomed to it. They also have DVDs which can be taken home if you want.
Weaverville Library
This is an older library that some locals feel needs an upgrade, but the staff makes up for it with their friendly and pleasant demeanor. It also carries a large number of books that cater both to non-fiction readers as well as those that need to do serious research for their high school or college classes. It is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, which is plenty of time to stop by after you get off work or leave school. They also have free wireless internet which is pretty fast.
Norris Public Library
This is a decent-sized library that has a large assortment of reading materials, as well as recently released movies. The librarians are professional and visitors report they were able to help them find what they were looking for in many cases, but if they couldn’t they would refer you to a location that would. The building is open and airy and there are places where visitors can sit down to do some reading or studying.
McDowell Public Library
The McDowell Public Library also has helpful staff, but some visitors have reported that it gets a bit loud at times. Fortunately, they have private areas which will allow you to read and concentrate, where you won’t have to worry about people talking on cell phones. They also provide fast and free WIFI for everyone.