ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County Public Libraries will expand operating hours beginning Jan. 2, 2026, adding 36 hours per week across the system as the county continues restoring services reduced after Tropical Storm Helene.
Library officials said hours were cut in the months following the storm because of financial strain and a countywide hiring freeze. With staffing levels now stabilized, administrators developed a revised schedule aimed at increasing access while maintaining long-term sustainability.
Under the new schedule, all library branches will open at 9 a.m. The system will also shift evening hours to close at 7 p.m., with late hours split between Tuesdays and Thursdays based on usage data showing lower demand after 7 p.m. Pack Memorial Library will move to a Monday-Friday schedule and offer three late-evening days each week…