Commissioner’s Analysis Flags Library Spending Growth as Usage Falls; Raises Questions About Partnerships

Commissioner Priola presented a data‑focused follow‑up on the Alamance County Public Library’s 2025 annual report, arguing the system’s reported increases in expenditures have not tracked with usage and asking library leadership to explain apparent mismatches.

Priola said, based on his review comparing 2025 to pre‑COVID (2019) levels, that visitors are down 36 percent, items circulated down 28 percent, computers and Wi‑Fi usage down 44 percent and active library cards down 21 percent while annual library expenditures increased roughly 30 percent. ‘‘In short... expenditures do not align with performance for the library system,’’ he told the board.

The commissioner also questioned outside partnerships listed in the library’s annual report, specifically citing Democracy NC and asserting that the organization’s stated equity focus warranted scrutiny after prior assurances that ‘‘DEI practices have been eliminated’’ from the library system. He asked two questions for future response: how the library will bring expenditures in line with reported services and how the system will assure taxpayers it supports equality rather than ‘‘equity’’ programs that treat people differently by immutable characteristics.

Board members and speakers in the public‑comment period repeatedly urged protection of libraries as essential access points for internet, job search help and safe community space; multiple commenters described the library as a ‘‘lifeline’’ for families who lack home internet or printing access.

What’s next: Commissioners asked for follow‑up data and for the library system to respond to the expenditure/performance questions and the partnership explanation; no formal policy changes were made at the Nov. 17 meeting.