As August arrives in the North Carolina mountains, the libraries of Highlands and Cashiers are orchestrating a grand finale to their summer programming that promises to be anything but ordinary.
While other venues might be winding down, these community hubs are ramping up with an eclectic mix of experiences that blur the boundaries between education and pure wonder.
At Hudson Library in Highlands, August marks a bittersweet transition as beloved Branch Librarian Carlyn Morenus prepares for retirement. Her final month includes the continuation of Thursday Kids Zone programs at 3:30 P.M., featuring hands-on activities from rock painting to heat-fused bead creation.
The monthly adult movie screening maintains its third Wednesday slot at 2:00 P.M, while Community Coffee with Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor provides local conversation on August 22 at 11:00 A.M.
At the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, Branch Librarian Serenity Richards has orchestrated an August that defies expectations. The cosmos comes calling on Friday, August 1, when a full-scale planetarium transforms the Meeting Room into a portal to distant galaxies. From noon to 4:00 P.M., visitors can escape earthbound concerns and drift through star fields, making this an ideal respite from summer heat.
The following Friday brings a completely different kind of wildlife encounter – live snakes courtesy of the Nature Center at 10:30 A.M. It’s the sort of up-close education that no nature documentary can replicate.
Laura Plush
The art of communication gets a tactile revival on Saturday, August 16, at 2:00 P.M., when Laura Plush leads a letter writing workshop that celebrates the lost pleasure of putting pen to paper. With washi tape, specialty inks, and quality stationery provided, participants can rediscover the intimacy of handwritten correspondence in our digital age.
The month culminates on Wednesday, August 27, at 1:00 P.M. with Sarah’s specialized bee drawing workshop – a timely celebration of these crucial pollinators, complete with all artistic supplies.
Both libraries are carefully transitioning from their intensive “Color Your World” summer learning programs back to regular fall schedules, but not before delivering these final bursts of programming that remind visitors why libraries are still irreplaceable community anchors.
Whether you’re drawn to stellar navigation, serpentine education, or the meditative art of drawing bees, August offers final opportunities to experience the unexpected at these mountain libraries before autumn’s new rhythm begins.
Favorites Count: 0