Library funding update

The Orange County Commissioners approved a plan in June to phase out total funding of $621,323 for the Chapel Hill Public Library with a funding reduction of $209,071 this year. The county's contribution represented a significant 14.5% of the library's total budget of $4.2 million. Orange County has a library services budget of $3.7 million that will continue to fund its main branch in Hillsborough and the recently opened branch in Carrboro's Drakeford building. 

To help offset the loss in county funding, the Chapel Hill Town Council voted on September 23 to approve a $65 library fee for Orange County residents who live outside of Chapel Hill Town limits. This fee would  be required to check out materials from the Chapel Hill Public Library effective July 1, 2027, and at that time reduced funding from the county would be discontinued.  Town employees and Chapel Hill-Carrboro students and staff will continue to get free library cards. 

We continue to believe that county funding for library services should include the Chapel Hill Public Library since 64,000 or 40% of Orange County taxpayers reside in Chapel Hill and another 15,000 county residents are active library users. Not only is the Chapel Hill Public Library by far the largest and most used library in the county,  it's common practice for counties to support municipal libraries to provide free access for non-municipal residents. 

We will continue to advocate for the reinstatement of county funding that would eliminate the need for the library to charge fees for Orange County residents who live outside of Chapel Hill Town limits.