Protect Chapel Hill Public Library Funding

Take action by May 12

Orange County is considering a proposal to phase out total funding of $621,323 for Chapel Hill Public Library.  Half would be cut during fiscal year 2027 and the remaining half at the beginning of fiscal year 2028.

Orange County funding currently supports 72% of the library’s operating budget. A loss of this funding would have a significant impact on hours, programs, staffing, and access. 

County funding support for municipal library services is common practice in NC and elsewhere for two reasons:

• • The municipality provides library services to a significant portion of the county, alleviating the county funding burden. In the case of Orange County, it does not have to provide these library services to approximately 40% of its residents who reside in Chapel Hill.

  • County residents are able to have an account at the municipal library without paying an out-of-area fee. Currently, that amounts to 14,813 county residents who, if funding were lost, would have to either pay for an account at Chapel Hill Public Library or lose access.