Fontana Regional Library serving Jackson, Macon and Swain counties with six public libraries in Western North Carolina

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Marianna Black
Library

33 Fryemont Street
Bryson City, NC 28713

828-488-3030
Fax: 828-488-9857

Librarian: Jeff Delfield

Smoky Mountains Bryson City NC Library
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Open six days a week, Bryson City's Marianna Black Library serves the area's full-time and seasonal residents with...

• Latest best-sellers

• Movies, music, CDs & tapes

• Free internet access

• Comfortable reading area

• Great children's space

• Information center, wireless internet

• Magazines & newspapers

More about the library

Library Closures

 

The library will be closed for staff training on Monday, August 19; and Monday, November 4. Please see the calendar on the home page for holiday closings.

 

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Proposed Budget Cuts
Threaten Your Local Library

 

It is budget time in Raleigh and the Governor's proposed budget calls for a cut in public library funding (by nearly 5%)!!

 

We're asking library patrons to email a petition to the Governor and legislators in support of library funding. You'll find more information and pre-addressed email forms here. We need your support.

 

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Free Movies At The Library

 

Movies are free and projected onto an 8 x 10 ft. screen in the auditorium.

 

Due to Production Studio guidelines the library may not include movie titles or studio names in its advertising. Please read below how to download a list of upcoming movies (pdf), or call the library.

 

FAMILY MOVIES
Tuesdays
– 3:30 pm. Disney, Hallmark and other family-oriented movies. Popcorn is served beginning at 3:20 pm. The library also gives away one free movie checkout voucher to each patron who attends the movie. Spring schedule (pdf).

 

CLASSIC MOVIES
2nd and 4th Saturdays - 4:00 pm.
Enjoy Hollywood's Golden Age! Popcorn and refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library. Spring schedule (pdf).
 

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Join The Anime Club

Time-traveling half-dog demons? Panda-shaped giant robots? Bounty hunters from Mars? It must be anime!

 

The Anime Club meets at the library twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, from 11 am - 3 pm.

 

As any fan knows, anime (pronounced "ah-ni-may") is animation from Japan. But these are nothing like kiddie cartoons. These shows, full of action, adventure and outrageous humor, have gained a huge following in the United States. They are popular among middle and high school students, and especially on college campuses.

 

Now Bryson City has an anime club of its own, and for fans, this is a chance to watch anime on a big screen, with a theater-style sound system. Admission is free and so are the snacks. For more information, call the library at 828-488-3030.

 

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Free Music Programs At The Library on Thursdays

 

In addition to our twice-monthly community jams, come join us for a variety of free music programs, most of which are held on the front lawn of the Library - weather permitting; otherwise they are held in the library auditorium. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library. Video montages of most of our concerts are on YouTube. December jamming always includes holiday favorites.

 

FIRST & THIRD THURSDAYS, EVERY MONTH
Community Music Jam 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Jam with other amateur musicians playing old-time mountain music. Come to sing, or just come to enjoy music at the library.

Weather permitting, the jams are on the front lawn of the library. In December we always include holiday favorites in the mix. Anyone with a banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle (anything unplugged) is invited.

Larry Barnett of Grandpa's Music (Depot Street) keeps the music flowing and the fun going. Normally, Barnett calls out a tune and its signature, and the group plays it together; but there's also a chance for anyone to share with the group a song they would like to perform. The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn the old-time mountain songs.

This program receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art.

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Art on Leather

Created by Kevin Riggs


A nearly forgotten art form, painted leather, was made popular by the crewman of the Army Air Force in WWII. Painted canvas was issued and embroidery could be had; but "the boys" preferred leather; strong, durable and flexible. Today, computer generated patches can be quickly made, are easy to find, and inexpensive. Yet, what was known then is still true today. Embroidered patches can snag, unravel, fade, curl and be stiff.


"I started out to reproduce a flight jacket like my Dad would have worn in the service. The production patches that I found to purchase were a disappointment. I was determined to do as well or better. It takes several coats of paint to get the depth and clarity of color and ensure flexibility, durability and long life. Patience and practice paid off."                                                            Kevin Riggs


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"Service Priorities and Facilities Plan" Delivered to Swain County Commissioners; Team Assembled to Identify New Library Location

 

After many months of talking to people in our community and collecting data, Library Consultant Ron Dubberly has finally delivered a report of recommendations for a new library in Swain County(pdf).

 

Just as a recap, these are the steps that led to his report:

 

· Community Input Sessions - On October 11-13, 2010, ten different public input sessions were held at multiple locations in Swain County. Nearly one hundred participants discussed their personal visions for an "ideal" library and answered Dubberly's questions regarding their priorities for library services.


· Public Surveys - offered to patrons at the library and the readers of the Smoky Mountain Times. This survey gave those who missed the public input sessions a chance to voice their library service priorities.


· Key Stakeholders meetings - several meetings in January of 2011. These meeting were with local "key stakeholders," including members of the Town Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, School Board, and a County Administration representative.


Based on this community input, service priorities were identified. These service priorities and other statistical data provided the information Dubberly needed to come to some conclusive recommendations. Firstly, Swain County needs a new "Main Library" (as opposed to several smaller libraries spread out across the county) and that this new library should be built as close to Downtown Bryson City as feasibly possible. Citing that the current library is less than half the size of a State recommended minimum, he also recommended that the library be at least 24,000 square feet to serve a projected population through 2030. Finally, to provide enough land for a new building and adequate parking, Dubberly recommended a parcel of 2.4 acres.

 

The report also included recommendations for a new facility for the Fontana Regional Library Headquarters, currently located in the same building as the Marianna Black Library. If these two entities were to continue to be housed in the same building, Dubberly recommended a 33,000 square foot facility and a land parcel of 3.2 acres.

 

Click here for the full report (pdf: "A Service Priorities and Facilities Plan for the Swain County Public Library."

 

Recently a team was put together to identify and evaluate possible locations for a new library in Swain County. The members are Chester Bartlett, Gail Findlay, Nancy Gibson and Janice Wright; they are a mix of Marianna Black Library Board members and Friends of the Marianna Black Library. Though they have a clear set of criteria to work with from the Services Priorities and Facilities Plan (see article below), their task will be challenging, because 3 acres of good centrally located land is scarce in the county.


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Child readingJust for kids — Marianna Black has a kids library that’s separate from the adult section, with lots of good books and four computers for children through middle-school age. During the week, there are special programs for preschoolers and home-schoolers. And
the Reading Rover brings the library to preschoolers and day care providers throughout the area.

 

Free Internet acessFree Internet access is available on nine public access computers to all library visitors with a current photo ID. Access time is limited on busy days and is on a first come, first served basis. Printing from the computer is also available at 25¢ a page.

 

Using the catalog
  LIBRARY HOURS
  Mon 10 am - 5:30 pm
  Tue 10 am - 7 pm
  Wed 10 am - 5:30 pm
  Thu 10 am - 7 pm
  Fri 10 am - 4 pm
  Sat 10 am - 4 pm
  Sun Closed

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