Why does the Chapel Hill Public Library need support beyond what the citizens pay in taxes and approved bond issues?
The Library is supported mostly from municipal funds with some limited funds coming from Orange County and the State of North Carolina. The bond issues that were passed in 1986 and in 2003 largely support building initiatives, with most of the funds spent on bricks and mortar. Although the Town of Chapel Hill spends approximately 4% of its General Fund each year on overall support for the Library, the Library’s book budget is barely within the top third of public libraries in North Carolina. Private support is critical if our Library is to own a collection of appropriate size for our community of readers.
