The county funds the essentials: the buildings, staff, and collection. The Friends help extend what the library can offer, funding summer reading and its prizes, author events, staff training, a story trail in a county park, and furniture for children who need a quieter corner.
Since 2010, we have put $252,360 into the library, raised here and spent here.
Projects
What we have funded, year by year
Explore 65 documented projects totaling $252,360 since 2010.
See what we funded →The money
Where the money goes
Book sales, memberships, and donations come in. Funding for programs, staff training, equipment, and other library needs goes out. With no paid staff or office, nearly every dollar supports the library.
Trace the money →Funding
Public funding only goes so far
Orange County invests more in its libraries than many North Carolina counties, but funding still trails the national average. See the numbers, and what Friends support adds.
See the gap →Summer reading
Summer reading keeps children learning
Reading over the summer helps children maintain their skills and return to school ready to learn. The Friends fund the program, prizes, and books children take home.
See the impact →Stories
What people say about the library
Neighbors share what the library has meant to them: a child's first library card, help completing a job application, or simply a quiet place to sit. Add your story, too.
Read the stories →Why we back it
The two branches do more than the word “library” might suggest. The Main Library in Hillsborough and the Southern Branch in Carrboro are where storytime happens; where anyone can use a computer, take a class, join a book club, or borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot when reliable internet at home is out of reach. During dangerous weather, they can also serve as cooling or warming centers. Orange County residents borrow more per person than the state average, and most library services are free to use.
The county funds the buildings, staff, and collection, and invests more per resident than many counties in North Carolina. But North Carolina’s public libraries receive less funding than those in most other states, and Orange County still trails the national per-capita average. The Friends help fill the gaps that public funding does not always reach: summer reading and its prizes, visiting performers, staff training, furniture, and equipment. Since 2010, that has meant 65 documented grants totaling $252,360, raised locally through book sales, memberships, and donations.
Money is only part of the story. When a proposed 2026 budget amendment called for an additional $200,000 reduction, the Friends asked residents to share what the library meant to them. More than 500 people responded in under a week, and the Board of County Commissioners kept both branches open seven days a week. Membership gives the Friends the resources and the community backing to act when the library needs support.
