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

Marianna Black
Library
33 Fryemont Street
Bryson City, NC 28713

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

Librarian: Jeff Delfield

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Library staff (front l-r) Librarian Jeff Delfield, Faye Bumgarner, Yvonne Robinson, Ellen Agee, Stephen Findlay, Margaret Tyndall.

The Marianna Black Library primarily serves the 13,000 residents of Swain County. This number swells in the summertime with the arrival of seasonal workers and part-time residents to the Bryson City area.

The Marianna Black Library collection offers materials for all ages, from birth to adult. And free internet access is available on nine public access computers.

In 2007, 6,834 card holders checked out 40,562 books. The library has 34,365 items in all.

In the Youth Services area, there are books, tapes and CDs for all interests and reading levels as well as four computers with educational games and a good selection of materials for parents and teachers. 

There's also a Thomas the Tank Table donated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Children play with the trains, cars and tracks for hours at a time, so parents love it too. "Anything that gets my child loving the library is a good thing," said one area parent.

In the adult selection, there is a large collection of fiction and non-fiction books in the traditional print format, books on tape and CD, videos and DVDs as well as large print books, a wide selection of magazines and a genealogy area.

There are several areas inside with comfortable seating as well as a large study room with adult reference materials and homework resources. There is a front porch with benches and an inviting gazebo with a trickling fountain tucked away in the garden. 

A meeting room is available for public use during library hours and after hours use by special arrangement with staff.

The library display area in the front hallway showcases the talent and interests of local resident artists. In early 2008, we added lighting to the display and it's made quite a difference to our artisan presentations. Stop by to see inspiring creations (pictured Bee Global).

A beautiful community flower garden graces the front of the library, maintained solely by staff and volunteers. You are encouraged to come and help keep the garden looking its best. Contact a staff member if you are interested in giving your time to help beautify our library.

Through a program called Project Involved, funded through a Learn and Serve America grant, the Swain High School student cadets in the Air Force Junior ROTC cadets planted flowers, landscaped the front lawn and painted the library sign and outdoor benches.

Library Programs

Chidren's Programs for all ages are presented throughout the year. There is no Story Time in May or August.

Storytime at the Library.

Children's Programs During School Year
Wednesdays at 10:30 – Preschool story time, ages 3-5. Storytime focuses on early learning skills such as rhyming, matching, counting and more. After a book or two is read, the children participate in games, songs, fingerplays, puppet play and more. The children will also enjoy a make and take craft activity each week. Any and all special programs are scheduled for Tuesdays at 10:30 am. Please call 488-3030, ext. 30 for further details. Parents and childcare providers are asked to please sign-up when arriving.
Tuesdays at 11 am - Community Early Learning Group, presented by Emma Miller of the Smart Start Region A Partnership

Dial-A-Story is Back!
Call 828-488-9412 anytime and hear a new story every week - so keep calling!

Programs for adults are offered throughout the year, including the “Together We Read” series each fall which highlights a book of local interest.
   

Marianna Black Library Board of Trustees

Chester Bartlett*, Chair

Janis Wright, Secretary

Fran Brooks, Treasurer

Gwen Bushyhead

Nancy Gibson*

Margaret Varner

Shirley Veenstra*

*Member, Fontana Regional Library Board

Preschool Story Time — Ages 3-5. Wednesdays at 10:30 am. (See below left for details.)

Dial-A Story anytime. Hear children's stories at 828-488-9412.

Reserve Meeting Space Online
If you want to reserve meeting space at the library, try using our convenient online reservation request system. A staff member will review your request, and you'll get an email response.

Wireless Usage Guide (pdf)

History

Library service came to Bryson City in 1929 when Mrs. Marianna Black, a local community leader, began circulating books to townspeople out of two old suitcases. The following year, the library moved into the jury room of the old Swain County Courthouse. By asking friends and well wishers for monetary donations, Marianna Black was able to increase the size of the collection to 2,000 volumes. By 1935, the collection was well used as circulation increased to about 8,000 to 10,000 books annually.

In 1938, the Works Progress Administration built a stone community building on the Bryson City square, and space in it was allotted for the library, which officially became known as the Marianna Black Library. In 1944, the library became a member of the Fontana Regional Library system.

In the 1960’s, with the library under the direction of Anna Lou Casada, a fundraising drive was started to build a new library.  Groundbreaking ceremonies were held November 20, 1969 and a little less than a year later the new library was completed. Dr. Ellen Black Winston, daughter of Marianna and Stanley Black, continued to support  the library,  leaving an endowment to provide needed funding into the future for library improvements and operation.

To read a biographical essay on the life of Marianna Black wriitten by her grandson, Stanley W. Black III, click here (pdf)

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