The Chapel Hill Public Library was established in 1958. It was located on West Franklin Street until 1967, when it moved to its current home off of East Franklin Street, at 100 Library Drive.
The library offers a large selection of books as well as a digital media lab. The library was last renovated in 2011. It moved to a temporary home at University Mall until the renovations were completed in 2013.
The Historical Society moved to the public library from 523 E. Franklin St. in 2015, when the Chapel Hill Town Council sold the building, according to the Chapel Hill Public Library director Susan Brown. The Historical Society was previously housed in the basement of the building and was the only remaining tenant, she said.
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The prescribed burn will occur on a weekday by March 23 with the goal of making room for more native plants to grow on the Pritchard Park property.
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Former Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library President Martha Brunstein, 86, died on Dec. 26. The library and other Friends members honored her legacy with a book sale this past weekend.
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The game is free of charge to enter, and no purchase is required to win prizes. Those who complete their bingo card before Jan. 31 receive a free reusable tote bag.
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The Orange County Board of Commissioners announced the library would be going fine-free in their business meeting on Nov. 16, and the practice went into effect the next day.
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Led by community historian Danita Mason-Hogans, “I Was Still Singing” offers a look into the perspectives of the Black women who shaped Chapel Hill's civil rights movements.
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Each national medal finalist will have a social media spotlight day, and the CHPL will be featured for its spotlight day on April 30. On that day, the library will be asking the community to take part by sharing short testimonials on social media of how the library has impacted their lives.
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Every Saturday during February, there will be a table set up at the front entrance to the library where current members of the Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library can pick up a free book, and new members can join.
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A local nonprofit, the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library, has transitioned to a fully online bookstore to support the Chapel Hill Public Library.
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Federal grants of almost $150,000 will allow the Chapel Hill Public Library to pursue a program increasing internet and technology access to marginalized communities.
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Chapel Hill Public Library is implementing new programs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
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Chapel Hill Public Library will no longer charge users overdue fines for late items. Under the new policy, users will receive a series of reminders to return the materials before receiving a bill for replacement costs and losing their ability to check out other items. Their ability will be restored once the items are returned or paid for. Town leaders said late fines had a disproportionate impact on “low-income and traditionally marginalized populations.”
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For the past five years, the Town of Chapel Hill has worked with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to distribute food to families in the Town's public housing facilities. However, as the pandemic has caused food demand to increase significantly, the traditional walk-up distribution didn't seem safe anymore, said Public Housing Director Faith Brodie. To continue to serve the local community through the pandemic, the Town and the Food Bank have collaborated with PORCH, a hunger relief organization in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area that is familiar with large-scale distribution and volunteer recruitment.
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According to the Orange County Public Library's website, late fees for books currently out will not be collected, and books should not be returned until June 15. The Chapel Hill Public Library has also posted on its website that no materials are due, and will be operating online until further notice.
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"Within three weeks of going fine-free, Chicago Public Library saw a 240 percent increase in returned materials and an increased number or new users," said Meeghan Rosen, the assistant director of Chapel Hill Public Library.
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