Pack Memorial Library
🏢 Buncombe County Public Library · Asheville, North Carolina
Pack Memorial Library
Pack Memorial Library has been the heart of Asheville reading since 1919, when it opened as a free public library named for George Willis Pack — the merchant and philanthropist who donated the original building in 1899. Today the 56,000-square-foot flagship at 67 Haywood Street, designed by architect Anthony Lord and renovated in 2012, houses Buncombe County's Special Collections with its Thomas Wolfe materials, a separate children's floor, the Lord Auditorium, the Bookends Used Book Store, and over 150,000 items in the heart of downtown Asheville.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 67 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 250-4700
Website: buncombenc.gov
Plus Code: 867VHCWW+M3 (Asheville, NC)
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📖 About Pack Memorial Library
The roots of Pack Memorial Library reach to 1876, when members of the Asheville Reading Club began collecting books, and to January 25, 1879, when the Asheville Library Association formally incorporated as a subscription library. In 1899, merchant and civic leader George Willis Pack donated a building on Pack Square, and the library adopted his name. On January 2, 1919, it opened its doors as a free public library. The system desegregated on September 29, 1961. A bookmobile operated for 66 years beginning in 1939. The current 56,000-square-foot building at 67 Haywood Street opened November 18, 1978, designed by architect Bertram King, and was renovated in 2012. The original 1926 Tilton-designed building — which the library occupied until 1978 — now serves as the Asheville Art Museum. Today Pack Memorial is the flagship of the eight-branch Buncombe County Public Library system, housing the Special Collections (Thomas Wolfe Collection, Sondley bequest of 33,000+ items, North Carolina census records), a full children's floor, the Lord Auditorium, the Bookends Used Book Store and murals by artist Max Dowdle. Cardholders access the full NC Cardinal shared catalog and statewide NC LIVE digital resources.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1876 as Asheville Reading Club; became a free public library January 2, 1919, named for benefactor George Willis Pack
- 56,000-square-foot flagship at 67 Haywood Street, designed by architect Bertram King (1978) and renovated 2012
- Buncombe County Special Collections: Thomas Wolfe Collection, Sondley bequest of 33,000+ items, complete NC census records and local history archives
- Murals by artist Max Dowdle adorn the exterior and interior; the Lord Auditorium hosts community events
- Bookends Used Book Store on site; Homeward Bound Library Outreach case manager serves community members in need
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Buncombe County cardholders can research, stream and read for free through NC LIVE and the county's virtual library:
📚 Services
- Buncombe County Special Collections — Thomas Wolfe Collection, Sondley bequest, local history and genealogy archives
- Separate children's floor with dedicated youth services
- Lord Auditorium for community events and programs
- Bookends Used Book Store operated by Friends of Pack Library
- Homeward Bound Library Outreach case manager on site
- Internet access, free Wi-Fi, word processing, printing, copying and scanning
- Interlibrary loan connecting to 30+ NC libraries via NC Cardinal
- Meeting and exhibit space
🎸 Programs
- Adult programs and author events
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Community events in the Lord Auditorium
- Genealogy and Special Collections research assistance
- Friends of Pack Library book sales and programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western North Carolina
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Asheville · Browse all North Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was George Willis Pack, and why is the library named after him?
George Willis Pack was a merchant, real estate developer and civic leader who became one of Asheville's most prominent benefactors in the late 19th century. In 1899 he donated a building on Pack Square to house the Asheville Library Association, which had operated as a subscription library since 1879. The library adopted his name in honor of this gift. When the library became free to the public on January 2, 1919, it retained the Pack Memorial name.
What is the Thomas Wolfe Collection at Pack Memorial Library?
Pack Memorial's Buncombe County Special Collections holds a dedicated Thomas Wolfe Collection comprising books by and about the Asheville-born novelist, best known for 'Look Homeward, Angel' (1929). The collection is part of the broader Special Collections department on the lower level of 67 Haywood Street, which also includes the Sondley bequest of more than 33,000 historical items, complete North Carolina census records, and extensive local history and genealogy materials.
Where did Pack Memorial Library operate before moving to 67 Haywood Street?
Before the current building opened on November 18, 1978, the library occupied a 1926 structure designed by architect Edward Tilton. That building, which replaced George Pack's 1899 donation, served as the library until 1978 and now functions as the Asheville Art Museum on Pack Square.
Is Pack Memorial Library open on weekends?
No. The main Pack Memorial Library at 67 Haywood Street is open Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The Buncombe County Special Collections department (lower level) has slightly different hours — call (828) 250-4700 or visit buncombenc.gov for current Special Collections availability.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.