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From YouTube: East Asheville Library's Virtual Groundbreaking Ceremony
Description
While it wasn't the groundbreaking ceremony we thought we would be having - we still wanted to honor the significance of the groundbreaking and construction of the new East Asheville Library. Speaking for this important event are Jim Blanton, Library Director, Alexandra Duncan, Manager of the East Asheville Library, District 2 Commissioner Amanda Edwards, and District 1 Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara. Learn more about the great progress of this library and about our entire library system by visiting buncombecounty.org/library.
A
Hello,
everyone-
this
is
Jim
Blinn,
director
of
the
Buncombe
County
Public
Library
here
today,
to
celebrate
this
virtual
groundbreaking
for
the
new
East
Asheville
library,
we'd
love
to
be
on-site
today,
but
we
couldn't
let
this
opportunity
go
by
without
acknowledging
the
tremendous
effort
and
support
that
went
into
making
this
dream
a
reality.
For
over
50
years,
the
East
Asheville
library
has
provided
information,
resources,
books
and
programming
to
the
east
Asheville
community.
It's
our
smallest
branch.
It's
also
one
of
our
busiest
branches.
A
It's
been
well
loved
and
well
used
by
residents
so
well
loved
and
well
used,
in
fact
that
the
space
can
no
longer
support
the
growing
needs
of
the
East
Asheville
community,
a
circumstance
that
has
not
gone
unrecognized.
To
a
large
extent.
The
design
of
this
branch
has
been
driven
by
community
input
over
the
course
of
a
variety
of
public
forums.
Residents
had
the
opportunity
to
express
their
thoughts,
desires
and
dreams
for
this
new
facility.
A
One
of
the
greatest
joys
I've
experienced
as
director
has
been
getting
to
know
the
residents
of
the
East
Asheville
community
and
the
Friends
of
the
East
Asheville
library,
their
dedication,
an
investment
and
championing
this
project
have
been
truly
inspiring.
I
would
like
to
thank
them
for
all
their
hard
work
and
unwavering
support.
I
would
also
like
to
thank
our
leaders
in
County
administration
for
supporting
this
effort,
our
County
Commissioners
for
embracing
and
funding
the
project
and
our
branch
staff,
whose
dedication
and
creativity
have
made
the
East
Asheville
library
such
a
beloved
community
resource
I,
began.
B
My
career
at
this
library
twelve
years
ago
as
the
children's
librarian
and
I
immediately
fell
in
love
with
our
little
library,
building
and
the
community.
Here,
however,
over
the
years,
it
became
clear
that
our
building
was
becoming
too
small
to
me
than
growing
East
Asheville
communities
needs.
We
were
bursting
at
the
seams
with
books,
people
and
ideas
that
we
couldn't
accomplish
in
our
current
space.
B
C
Buncombe
County
I'm,
Commissioner,
Amanda,
Edwards
I,
am
excited
to
be
a
part
of
this
virtual
groundbreaking
for
our
new
library.
The
library
is
a
great
place
to
start
a
love
of
learning
and
a
love
of
reading
from
an
early
age,
we're
so
fortunate
to
have
a
library
that
has
programs
for
our
young
children.
What
I'm
most
excited
about
with
our
new
library
is
I
envision
it
being
a
vibrant
community
center,
where
people
from
all
over
Buncombe
County
can
come
to
learn,
not
just
their
books
but
through
art
and
even
great
conversation.
D
Hi,
this
is
jasmine,
beech
Ferrara
from
Buncombe
County
Commission
I'm
here
with
my
son
Calvin,
and
we
just
wanted
to
send
a
message
saying
how
excited
we
are
about
the
East,
Asheville
library
groundbreaking,
that's
happening
and
we
are
sending
our
cheers
and
we
can't
wait
for
the
new
library
to
open
up
and
to
check
out
books
and
play
on
the
playground
and
to
see
lots
of
folks
over
there.
Thanks
when.
A
A
We'll
have
everything
you've
come
to
expect
all
of
the
latest
books,
music
movies
technology
and,
of
course,
a
friendly
and
dedicated
and
helpful
staff
will
also
have
community
meeting
rooms,
library,
programming,
spaces,
group
conference
rooms
and
study
rooms,
comfortable
seating
and
reading
areas,
a
dedicated
children's
area
and
a
dedicated
teen
area
and
we'll
also
have
a
park
area
for
outdoor
activities
and
recreation.
This
is
truly
going
to
be
a
community
destination.
I
will.
B
Never
forget
the
feeling
of
sitting
in
a
County
Commissioners
meeting
and
seeing
so
many
people
holding
up
books
to
show
their
support
at
this
project.
I'm
also
grateful
for
the
East
Asheville
community
members,
who
came
out
to
all
of
the
meetings,
workshops
and
charettes
to
give
their
input
on
the
design
and
function
of
the
building.
I
would
like
to
thank
all
of
the
Friends
of
the
East
Asheville
library
for
their
tireless
support
and
community
organizing,
but
helped
this
project
move
from
dream
to
reality,
in
particular
dan
bell,
Emily
and
Wylie
Cooper
and
Amy
Colson.