Expansion Plans are Underway!
Chapel Hill Public Library Moves to University Mall during Expansion
New entrance to University Mall, - where the Chapel Hill Puiblic Library will be situated during expansion construction
August 1, 2010 — Residents will be able to combine shopping with visiting the Chapel Hill Public Library when it moves to the University Mall later this year.
The library's temporary location within University Mall will allow residents to continue to borrow from approximately 70% of the library's collection (the remaining 30% will be placed in storage) and to attend programs while the renovations occur. The Chapel Hill Public Library today is the busiest public library per capita in North Carolina, serving an average of 1,085 visitors per day.
Read more about the Library's upcoming move to University Mall:- Daily Tar Heel, news article: "... Library begins move" !
- Town of Chapel Hill, Read the full story in the online news release
- Chapel Hill News, news article
- Carrboro Citizen, news article
Historic Decision for Chapel Hill Public Library, Expansion Approved
June 7, 2010 — At the June 7th meeting of the Chapel Hill Town Council, a historic decision was made that will empower our community for years to come. The Town Council voted to issue the bond of $14.2 million to begin construction of a much-needed expansion to the Chapel Hill Public Library.
After careful consideration, due diligence, research and discovery, and a desire to honor the will of the voters, the decision was made to move forward on construction of the library expansion, enlarging the space from its currently inadequate 27,000 square feet to 62,000 square feet.
Read newspaper articles about the expansion:- Chapel Hill News, guest article by George Cianciolo, President and Melissa Cain, Executive Director of the CHPL Foundation.
- Chapel Hill News, news article
- Also in the News and Observer, the Daily Tar Heel, and the Herald-Sun
Thanks a MILLION!
June 18, 2010 — Chapel Hill Public Library has highest circulation per capita of any library in North Carolina, and it is about to hit yet another record — one million items checked out in one year. Librarians expect to top a million sometime on June 18th or 19th.
Come to the Chapel Hill Public Library on Friday June 18th and Saturday June 19, join in the celebration and the "Thanks a Million" Drawing with fabulous raffle prizes! ( Read the full story )
Chapel Hill Public Library's 50th Anniversary Celebration
September 13, 2009 — The community is invited to join the writers and musicians gathering in this celebration. The event includes not only a BBQ supper and brilliant, hilarious, stand-up fiction from the new book LONG STORY SHORT, but also award-winning music! The NC-based African American string band, Carolina Chocolate Drops, holds many distinctions including that of being the first black band to play the Grand Ole Opry. Catherine Edgerton's band Midtown Dickens will close out the evening.
Beginning just after the last on-campus event for the NC Literary Festival at UNC, LONG STORY SHORT is a party and a fundraiser for the Chapel Hill Library. Founded in 1958 in an old house - with working fireplace - on East Franklin Street, the town's library is now the busiest in the state and used heavily by those living in nearby towns as well. "A library used so heavily requires a combination of private and public funds to grow and flourish," explains Melissa Cain, Executive Director of the Chapel Hill Library Foundation. ( Read the full story )
Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation Receives $150,000 Donation
Donation Completes 9300 Books Now! Campaign
Left to right: Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward; Foundation Executive Director Melissa Cain; Library Director Kathleen Thompson; Foundation President Gene Pease; Mayor Kevin Foy
March 24, 2009 — The Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation has received a gift of $150,000 from the Anonymous Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation to purchase additional books and non-print materials for the library's collection.
The donation completes the 9300 Books Now! Campaign started by the Foundation in 2006. The library foundation has met its goal of raising $250,000, the amount that officially fills the library to the brim. It is estimated that the library will be at capacity with 9300 books, hence the campaign goal for 9300 books. The new materials will be available to the public in the next several months and will be incorporated into the opening day collection in the expanded library.( Read the full story )
April 19, 2009 - The Chapel Hill Public Library's benefit, " Books and All That Jazz," was a sparkling event and will continue to shine in the hearts and minds of those who attended. April is National Poetry Month - inspiring the program which was a fusion of words, poems and music.
The program featured five noteworthy writers: novelist and fiction writer, Lee Smith; essayist and journalist, Hal Crowther; and poets Michael Chitwood; Jaki Shelton Green; and Alan Shapiro.
The benefit, raised funds for print and non-print collections at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Reservations were $50 per person and Event Hosts donated $250 per person. The " Books and All That Jazz" event committee, Keebe Fitch, Katharine Walton and Melissa Cain, thank The Siena Hotel for their generosity and excellence. ( Read the full story )
Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation Offers 'Coaches' Poster
A unique opportunity to order this poster online
September 9, 2008 — The Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation is proud to offer posters of Carolina's three renowned coaches!
From left to right in the poster, these coaches are: Bill Guthridge, former head basketball coach from 1997-2000 at the University of North Carolina (UNC); Dean Smith, legendary head basketball coach at UNC from 1961-1997, and Roy Williams, current head basketball coach at UNC, since 2003.
For a 10% discount on framing and/or dry mounting of this poster, present your receipt and the poster to any of the following participating merchants:
» Frame Makers – Timberlyne Shopping Center
» The Framer’s Corner, Carrboro
» The Print Shop, University Mall
Posters are available at the Chapel Hill Public Library, McIntyre’s Fine Books, Carolina Inn, and retailers Chapel Hill Sportswear and Carolina Pride. ( Read the full story )
The poster will be available for order online through PayPal for $15. ( Get the poster! )
Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation Presents $36,000 to the Library
Funds will be used to add to print and non-print collections
Left to right: Foundation President Gene Pease, Library Director Kathy Thompson, and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward
June 25, 2008 — The Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation donated $36,000 to the Town of Chapel Hill at the June 25 meeting of the Town Council. Foundation President, Gene Pease, reported on the progress of the Foundation’s fundraising work. The Foundation hired Melissa Cain to serve as the Executive Director and has a new office located at the VilCom Campus. The office space is donated by Jim Heavner of Chapel Hill. ( more )
Foundation Donations Provide Wide Array of E-Resources to Library
Thanks to funds raised by the Foundation, children, teens and adults now have access to a wide array of new electronic resources at the Chapel Hill Public Library!
Most new resources can be accessed from home and require only that you enter the barcode on the back of your library card + your PIN number. ( Read the full story )
Clyde Edgerton Lends Voice to Library Campaign's Goal: Raise $2.5 Million for Collection
When North Carolina author Clyde Edgerton was a boy, he lived in the small rural town of Bethesda, North Carolina. He came from families of cotton and tobacco farmers and at an early age he gained an appreciation for small-town Southern dialogue and humor. Today, Edgerton is the author of several novels and the recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature. He is also a fan of public libraries and lauds the important role they play in combating censorship and protecting the individual's right to read. "Libraries and librarians are essential in a democracy," said Edgerton. He added, "Librarians have been especially important to me and in my career as a writer." Edgerton entertained a group of Chapel Hill Public Library supporters gathered at the Chapel Hill Museum on November 7th. He read from his forthcoming novel, The Bible Salesman, to be published in July, 2008. ( Read the full story )
John Grisham Supports “Ensuring Excellence” Campaign
Left to right: Gene Pease, Bob Eaves, Jim Heavner, Beverly Perdue, Leesie Guthridge, and John Grisham ( photos )
Best-selling author John Grisham, a master writer of literary suspense, made one of his rare personal appearances to help launch the Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation’s Ensuring Excellence Capital Campaign. The gala benefit event, held at the home of UNC System President Erskine Bowles, raised over $60,000 toward the Campaign’s five-year fundraising goal of $2.5 million. Many of the area's finest restaurants donated food and beverage for the occasion.
( Read the full story )
Thanks to our 2006 House Party hosts and co-sponsors!
Foundation Presents Town Council with $50,000 for Library
The Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation donated $50,000 to the Town of Chapel Hill at the December 4 meeting of the Town Council. Foundation President, Gene Pease, reported on the progress of the Foundation's fundraising work in recent months. Then he presented Mayor Kevin Foy with the check which will be used to buy about 2,000 new books for the Library.
The Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation is leading a five-year $2.5 million fundraising capital campaign, Ensuring Excellence.
( Read the full story )
