Joseph Bathanti
November on the Plateau is a season of gratitude – time to gather around tables, count blessings, and enjoy the richness of community. The Hudson Library in Highlands and the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library capture that spirit with programs that blend creativity, discovery, and connection.
At the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, the month opens with the return of Book Nook Workshops on November 6 at 1:00 P.M. These intricate miniature scenes – tiny worlds tucked between books on your shelf – require patience, precision, and a willingness to get lost in detail that would make a watchmaker proud. Guided by Michael Novak, eight participants (reservations required) will meet each Friday through December 12, pausing only for Thanksgiving. Bring your own kit and prepare to build a diorama that’s as personal as it is enchanting.
Later in the month, artist Mia Loia continues her watercolor trilogy with a class on Tuesday, November 26 at 3:30 P.M. Word has spread quickly – seats are nearly gone, making this one of those rare “sign up now or miss out” library moments.
Alessandro Porco
And on Friday, November 21 at 2:00 P.M., two distinguished guests, Joseph Bathanti and Alessandro Porco, present the newly released Anthology of Black Mountain College Poetry. More than a reading, it’s an exploration of the legacy of an experimental college that reshaped education and art just over the mountains.
With the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center just a couple of mountains away, the program offers not only literary insight but also a direct connection to one of Western North Carolina’s most influential cultural landmarks.
The Hudson Library in Highlands provides its own steady rhythm of community touchpoints. Tech Time runs every Wednesday from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M., offering one-on-one help with devices. Thursdays bring Family Storytime at 10:40 A.M. for toddlers and preschoolers, followed by Kidzone at 3:30 P.M. for elementary-aged children ready for bigger projects. On Friday, November 21, at 11:00 A.M., neighbors can gather for Community Coffee with the Mayor, an easy way to share ideas over a warm cup.
Both libraries close November 27–28 for Thanksgiving, but the month’s lineup itself feels like a celebration: creative workshops, thoughtful conversations, and programs that invite every age to take part. In a season built on gratitude, the Plateau’s libraries remind us that community is one of the greatest gifts we share.
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