OCPL is the beating heart of our community
Nancy Lovas
Dear Board of Commissioners,
As an Orange County resident and library professional, I was incredibly disheartened to learn of the proposed amendment OP-B08 to cut an additional $200,000 from the Orange County Public Library system budget. The total proposed cut of $333,759 represents nearly 10% of the current budget and would have far-reaching negative consequences on the library’s ability to effectively provide services to the county. I am sure you have received many comments describing these consequences as well as the immense value that Orange County residents receive through the library system.
I understand the difficult reasoning to reduce funding to Chapel Hill Public Library over two years. But I do not understand why there are further cuts proposed to the OCPL system when the robust services from this very system are a rationale for the CHPL reduction (per the Chapel Hill Public Library Funding Transition fact sheet). If OCPL is meant to serve residents of southern Orange County in lieu of CHPL access, then why are there more cuts to OCPL? The $200,000 cutC would make these services much less good: reduced staffing, reduced open hours to only 5 days per week, reduced collections, reduced programming, and more negative, unforeseen consequences. OCPL would be much less able to fill the library services gap for county residents who were accustomed to accessing CHPL. Keep the reductions to CHPL if necessary, but I implore you to reject amendment OP-B08.
Public libraries are the beating hearts of our communities in North Carolina. The Orange County Main Library and Southern Branch are essential spaces in Hillsborough and Carrboro. I am regularly in the Southern Branch to find books or work remotely, and I see the kindness and compassion with which the staff interact with every patron. In the current climate where libraries across the country and our own state are under-resourced and viewed with increasing hostility, it is frankly short-sighted for us to threaten our own library and library workers. Preserve OCPL funding. Reject Amendment OP-B08.
Thank you,
Nancy Lovas
Carrboro
Wil Glenn
Hello Nancy,
Thank you for sharing your perspectives regarding the county budget and the Orange County Public Library.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) will receive and consider your feedback as part of the ongoing budget process. Public input is an important part of these discussions, and your engagement is appreciated.
The scheduled public hearings and information sessions have concluded, however there is a Budget Work Session on June 4 where commissioners will discuss and vote on amendments to the County Manager’s Recommended Budget.
Thank you again for taking the time to participate in the process.
Wil Glenn
Community Relations Director
Orange County Government
Office Phone: 919.245.2302
Mobile Phone: 919.430.4900
Email: wgl...@orangecountync.gov
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From: Nancy Lovas <nan.l...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 9:09 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: OCPL is the beating heart of our community
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