Happy summer! How’s your summer reading going? ICYMI, this year, both children and adults can participate in challenges to win prizes. (For adults, there’s one square you can check off with a visit to Special Collections… Learn more here!)
Read on for some brief news & updates from the past few months, plus mark your calendar to check out new exhibitions and events (including the return of one of our faves, Retro Tech Day!)
Upcoming schedule changes: Please note that all Buncombe County libraries are closed on July 3-4 for Independence Day.
News & Updates
May/June recap: In addition to the launch of the Leicester History Project, May was full of discussion of Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Happy Land as part of One Book, One Buncombe, across all BCPL branch libraries, including several programs here in Special Collections. We also welcomed authors Ren and Helen Davis to share their research about photographers George Masa and Jim Thompson. Finally, we closed out June with some special events in honor of the semiquincentennial of the United States, better known as America 250.
New collections + recognition: In May and June we accepted not only some exciting new collection donations (including materials from the Buncombe County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension and early 20th century record books from Asheville City Schools), but also a few honors in recognition of our collecting efforts after Helene. Many thanks to the Historic Resources Commission and the Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County for honoring our team of staff and volunteers with a Historic Resources Champion Award and Griffin Award, respectively.
Two new exhibitions on view! These next few weeks are your last chance to see the exhibition Forging a Nation: The American Revolution and the Path to Independence. It’s only on view through July 10, so be sure not to miss it!
Downstairs, in the Special Collections reading room and hallway leading up to it, a new exhibition dives into Asheville’s legacy of street art and murals, with original art from 17 local artists on display and a “free wall” for you to leave your own mark.
New murals! When you stop by Pack Memorial Library, be sure not to miss the new murals installed in the entryway and stairwell, inspired by vintage postcards in Special Collections (some of which are on display upstairs, too). The week after July 4, muralist Max Dowdle will return to Asheville to finalize details and finish murals on the building exterior. Learn more about the murals and Asheville’s postcard history in this blog post.
The Leicester History Project is now in full swing and heating up for the summer! This summer BCSC is partnering with the Leicester Library to host three events with the goal of celebrating the history of Leicester’s people and building connections with neighbors. Learn more about the Leicester History Project here.
Summer volunteers: We have a full cohort of volunteers generously donating their time to work on special collections projects this summer.
Throughout 2026, volunteers Caitrin and Coley have contributed to multiple projects, ranging from improving photo catalog records to digitization of books and newspapers. Alex, Alie, and Maya have also joined us for the summer, improving access to materials on local activist organizations, farming, and more.
Thank you, volunteers! We couldn’t do it without you!
July-August Exhibitions
Forging a Nation: The American Revolution and the Path to Independence
Monday, June 22-Friday, July 10 during Pack Memorial Library open hours
Main floor, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Explore how North Carolina helped forge a new nation during one of the most transformative periods in history. Through maps, historical documents, and everyday objects, this exhibit reveals the state’s role in the struggle for independence, from early protests against British rule and the battles fought on Carolina soil to the drafting of the Constitution. Forging a Nation invites visitors to witness how ordinary people, conflict, and conviction shaped North Carolina’s history during the American Revolution.
This program is part of the Buncombe County Public Libraries’ America 250 Celebration.
Asheville Street Art & Murals
July 1–August 28, 2026 during BCSC open hours
Special Collections reading room, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Mention street art, graffiti, or murals, and cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, LA, and NYC usually come to mind. But Asheville has boasted its own urban art movement since the 1980s, which helped earn its current reputation as one of the country’s premier small-city mural destinations. This summer, visit Special Collections to dive into Asheville’s street art legacy, view original art from 17 local artists, and leave your own mark on an interactive graffiti “free wall.”
The exhibition wraps up on Friday, August 28—a beloved, unofficial Asheville holiday—with a closing reception from 3-5pm.
July-August Events
Take note of locations! Several events in the coming months will take place at the Leicester Library as part of the Leicester History Project.
Had I A Dove: An Evening to Commemorate Hurricane Helene with Readings by Appalachian Poets
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 5:30pm–6:45pm
Activity Room, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Had I A Dove: Appalachian Poets on the Helene Flood is a moving anthology edited by North Carolina poet Hilda Downer. This collection gathers the voices of poets—many directly impacted by the Helene Flood—whose work bears witness to devastation, resilience, and the urgent realities of climate change in Appalachia.
This event will feature readings and musical performances by some of the poets that contributed to this anthology.
Contributors to Had I A Dove include celebrated poets such as Marc Harshman, Ron Rash, Robert Morgan, and many others whose words testify to both the loss and enduring spirit of the region. Copies will be available to buy with all proceeds going to the Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief fund for Helene.
Oral History, Live! with Marie Whitener
Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:30pm–7:00pm
Meeting Room, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester, NC
In this interactive program, Special Collections Manager Katherine Cutshall and a guest narrator, Marie Whitener, will walk through the full oral history collection process—from preparing questions and building rapport to conducting and recording the interview itself.
Attendees will experience the process of oral history in real time while learning practical techniques for collecting, preserving, and sharing community memories.
Great for beginners, volunteers, and anyone curious about capturing lived experiences. We especially encourage those participating in the Leicester History Project to attend!
Howdy, Neighbor! Coffee and Community Conversations
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10:00am–11:30am
Meeting Room, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester, NC
Quick chats. New connections. A stronger community.
Come meet the folks who live right around the corner in a fun, easygoing setting designed to spark real community connections. During this interactive event, participants will rotate through a series of brief conversations with other attendees—giving everyone a chance to meet many neighbors in a relaxed, friendly way.
Whether you’re new to the Leicester area or have lived here for years, Howdy Neighbor! is a welcoming space to discover shared interests, make new friends, and build a stronger, more connected community.
Light refreshments and conversation prompts provided. Just bring yourself and your curiosity!
Retro Tech Discovery Day
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 4:00–6:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Explore the gadgets, games, and technology that paved the way for today’s digital world! Enjoy hands-on activities exploring oscilloscopes, Atari, typewriters, synthesizers, vacuum tubes and more. Snacks through the decades will be served, and be sure to pose for a souvenir Polaroid photo, too!
This year, we’re excited to host old and new friends at this event, including the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Mountaineer Motor Tours, Moogseum, WNC Repair Cafe, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), and Vintage Fix AVL.
Leicester Poet Jim Wayne Miller with Dr. Erica Abrams-Locklear
Friday, August 14, 2026, 5:30–7:30 pm
Meeting Room, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester, NC
Join us at the Leicester Library for a fun and lively discussion about the life and work of Leicester author Jim Wayne Miller. Miller was an important poet and novelist whose work was central to developing the field of Appalachian Studies. Revered as one of the most important mountain voices of the late twentieth century, his work explores the importance of place, belonging, and home.
UNC Asheville English professor and Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor of Humanities Dr. Erica Abrams Locklear will lead our discussion. We will learn about several of his published works, focusing primarily on The Brier Poems.
A limited number of copies of The Brier Poems will be available for FREE at the Leicester Branch Library. Swing by a grab one so you can read Miller’s work before the program!
Howdy, Neighbor! Coffee and Community Conversations (Sandy Mush Edition)
Saturday, August 22, 2026, 10:00am–11:30am
Sandy Mush Community Center, 19 School Rd, Leicester
Quick chats. New connections. A stronger community.
Come meet the folks who live right around the corner in a fun, easygoing setting designed to spark real community connections. During this interactive event, participants will rotate through a series of brief conversations with other attendees—giving everyone a chance to meet many neighbors in a relaxed, friendly way.
Whether you’re new to the Sandy Mush area or have lived here for years, Howdy Neighbor! is a welcoming space to discover shared interests, make new friends, and build a stronger, more connected community.
Light refreshments and conversation prompts provided. Just bring yourself and your curiosity!
Artist Event with Zen Sutherland: DIY ROMPs!
Friday, August 28, 2026, 2:00–3:00 pm
Special Collections Reading Room, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
For over a decade artist Zen Sutherland has been creating AVL ROMPs (Random Object Magnetic Project) that you’ve likely seen on cars or inside local businesses. For the first time ever, he is showcasing his talents while allowing others to learn from him and create their own ROMPs. Come learn the basics of aerosol/spray paint art, and stay after for the Asheville Street Art and Murals exhibition closing reception from 3-5pm.
Registration is required for this event and space is limited! Registration opens on August 1st and closes on August 27th.
Closing Reception: Asheville Street Art & Murals
Friday, August 28, 2026, 3:00–5:00 pm
Special Collections Reading Room, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
BCSC’s Carolina Record Shop is featuring the work of 29 distinct artists examining the last 50 years of urban art in Asheville. The exhibit also features a graffiti “Free Wall” where you can learn lettering techniques and leave your own mark on history. Check it out at the library from July through August, with a closing reception from 3-5pm on August 28 (Asheville’s own unofficial holiday) with artists present and light refreshments served.
Got feedback on past BCSC events or ideas for future ones? Let us know in this short, anonymous survey or email us!
To stay up-to-date on upcoming BCSC events, consider signing up for our blog via email, following us on Instagram or Facebook, or visiting the Buncombe County Public Libraries calendar. (Hint: Use the “Program Type” filter to view only events with a local history focus!)
