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Hello, Chapel Hill community,
I’ve been hearing from many community members with questions about potential changes to County funding for Chapel Hill Public Library, and I wanted to share what we know right now.
Orange County currently provides approximately $621,000 each year to support library operations, which is about 14.5% of the library’s budget. Recently, Town staff were informed that the County is considering reducing that funding by half this year and eliminating the remaining support next year.
For context, current County library funding includes approximately $2.7 million for the Hillsborough Main Library, $946,000 for the Carrboro Southern Branch Library, and $621,000 for Chapel Hill Public Library.
The Chapel Hill Public Library is one of the busiest and most widely used public spaces in our community. It serves more than 64,000 Orange County residents who live in Chapel Hill, along with nearly 15,000 Orange County residents who live outside town limits.
People rely on the library every single day for far more than books. It provides internet access, educational programs, job support, technology, meeting space, and welcoming community spaces for residents of all ages.
Because the library is such an important resource for so many people, these proposed cuts would have real impacts across our community. As our Town Manager and Library Director shared during Council discussions this week, there are no simple solutions if these reductions move forward. All library users would feel the impact — especially residents and families who rely most heavily on free public resources and services.
Having served on the Joint Library Funding Task Force several years ago, I know the County’s contribution to Chapel Hill Public Library has long been a smart and efficient investment that benefits people throughout Orange County.
So, while I recognize that the Board of County Commissioners is facing difficult budget decisions, I remain hopeful we can continue working together toward a path forward that preserves funding that supports this important community resource.
If the library has made a difference in your life or your family’s life, I encourage you to share your thoughts with the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. They will be holding a budget public hearing on May 28th with a vote on the budget scheduled for June 16th.
I’ll continue sharing updates as we learn more. In the meantime, the Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library have additional information available on their website.
Thank you for supporting our public library and the many people it serves every day.
Warmly,
Mayor Jess
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