Top Reasons Why Cutting Library Funding to Mecklenburg and Wake Counties Not a Good Idea (PDF)
1. Permanent, Recurring, and Would Increase Each Year. As a proposed cap on state library aid of $400,000.00, a formula in which county population is a prominent variable, Mecklenburg and Wake Counties, both of which are growing at a rate that is more than double the state average , would be impacted more each year if their populations continue to grow rapidly as expected.
2. Would Impact Library Services to 24% of all black or African Americans and 26% of Latino or Hispanics in North Carolina. Mecklenburg and Wake counties collectively represent 24% of the state’s black or African American community (n=523,628) and 26% of the state’s Latino or Hispanic (n=221,301).
3. Would Impact Library Services to 25% of North Carolina’s Children. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively serve 526,525 children which is 25% of all North Carolina’s children.
4. Would Impact Library Services to 45% of North Carolina’s Young Adults. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively serve 59,277 young adults which is 45% of all North Carolina’s young adult population3.
5. Would Mean a Loss of 20,000 books a year. Both Mecklenburg and Wake Counties rely on state aid to purchase approximately 10,000 new books a year .
6. Would Impact 23% of all North Carolina Registered Library Users. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively represent 23% of all of North Carolina library registered library users or 1,259,588 adults and youth last year (2012-2013) .
7. Could Potentially Impact 34% of all North Carolina Reference Transactions. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively represent 34% of all of North Carolina library reference transactions or 3,138,137 last year (2012-2013)5.
8. Could Potentially Impact 28% of all North Carolina Books Loaned or Borrowed. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively represent 28% of all of North Carolina library items loaned (to other libraries) or borrowed (by patrons) or 37,536 transactions last year (2012-2013)5.
9. Would Impact 20% of North Carolina’s Population. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively represent 20% or 1,907,736 of North Carolina’s 9,765,229 residents1.
10. Would Impact 12% of all North Carolina Library Branches. Mecklenburg and Wake Counties collectively represent 12% or 39 of North Carolina’s 315 libraries.
North Carolina Library Advocacy 