The Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library is a membership organization of approximately 500 committed to furthering the excellence of Chapel Hill Public Library by raising money for library needs, sponsoring programs for adults and children, fostering interest in the Chapel Hill Public Library as well as volunteering for the Library as needed.
FCHPL members pay annual dues to this 503c not-for profit licensed by the state of North Carolina. The group is governed by a board of 20 volunteers elected annually. All proceeds above the minimal operating expenses are used for the Library.
Our Constitution and Bylaws, May 12, 2011 revision (PDF).
How does the FCHPL raise funds?
Funds are raised by membership fees and proceeds from used book sales.
How much does the FCHPL contribute to the Library Annually?
Approximately $50,000.
How is the money used by the Library?
$30,000 goes to the operating fund of the Library Dedicated funds over and above that amount are used to pay for children’s programming, the Friends bookshelf (extra copies of the most popular titles to free the Library’s collection money up to buy additional titles rather than multiple copies of one title), special adult programming in Beyond the Books series like the PlayMakers Prologue series which includes a shuttle to and from PlayMakers, a monthly Meet the Author Tea, as well as special unbudgeted Library needs as they arise.
Who are the Bookworms and what do they do?
They are trio of volunteers who work at least one day a week all year to examine, sort, price, shelve, pack and stack tens of thousands of books which are donated every year. Four times a year they work with a crew of volunteers to unstack, unpack and display these books on every available surface in the lower level of the CHPL in preparation for the quarterly three-day sales, which now generate approximately $10,000 each.
Every week they also load five three-shelf carts, which are rolled to the Library Lobby for weekly mini-sales run by the Friends. These sales generate another $100-$150 a week.
Two of the Bookworms (Virginia Powell and Jeanne Seaman) started became Bookworms more than 40 years ago as part of a group of six. They now work as a trio (with Joyce Watkins) as Chapel Hill, the Library, the Friends and the book donations and sales continue to grow.
It is through the combined and continuing efforts of the Bookworms and other volunteers that the Friends of the Chapel Hill Library have been able to present the Library with an annual gift which has grown from $500 in 1970 to $5000 in 1980 to $50,000 in 2007-2011.