June 9, 2026
Guests at the Transylvania County Library enjoy a concert by Asheville Junction on June 5 when the new canopy at the amphitheater was celebrated. Transylvania County Library
The Transylvania County Library is already celebrated as the first in visits and checkouts among the state’s 71 county libraries and the second in terms of most program visits per capita, but now it has another reason to be proud: the new $650,000 canopy over the stage at the adjacent Library Amphitheater.
Friday night library administration, patrons and guests officially celebrated the first use of the structure that should keep artists safe and dry if their spring and summer shows turn to rain.
“This project began during the pandemic, when we were all thinking differently about public spaces and outdoor gatherings. What started as a conversation became a vision for a more flexible, welcoming and weather-resilient community space,” explained Library Director Rashara Finsel in the pages of the organization’s most recent newsletter. “The original stage was a simple concrete slab. Today, it has been transformed with a covered main stage, improved drainage and an additional side canopy area. The curved rooflines echo the architecture of the library itself, making the new structures feel like a natural extension of the building.”
Finsel thanked The Library Foundation for funding the majority of the amenity on its own, as well as the architects, engineers, fabricators and construction crews who brought this structure from concept to reality, but also gave special recognition to a community member and library patron who did not get to see the canopy in its completed state.
“I also want to remember former Library Foundation Board Chair Morris Jenkins, who passed away this winter,” the head librarian said of the retired local physician who died in February. “Morris believed deeply in the library and was an enthusiastic supporter of this project from the beginning, often speaking of the importance of ‘doing it right.’ I know he would be very proud of this space.”
With the new addition to the library now in place and open for business, she added there will be more summer outdoor activities available at the library than ever before.
“We’re looking forward to concerts, yoga, performances, gatherings and so much more under these new canopies for many years to come,”Finsel wrote. “Most of all, we’re grateful to be part of a community that continues to believe in and invest in its library.”