Having fun isn’t hard with a Chapel Hill library card

Having fun isn’t hard when you’re one of more than 36,000 people with a Chapel Hill Public Library card.

With 1,800 people coming through the doors each day, it’s a busy place, and it’s not just the books people come for. In the last year, there were almost 44,000 sessions logged on the library’s computers and 18,000 wireless internet sessions by people using the library’s Wi-Fi on their own devices.

About a third of Chapel Hill residents, or almost 20,000 people, don’t have internet access at home or work, according to the online database Internet Access Local.

“This is a town that loves reading,” Director Susan Brown said, noting that Chapel Hill’s library is one of the highest circulating libraries in the state.

“Anyone who says Google and e-books are going to put libraries out of business hasn’t seen our library.”

“We don’t know what (our users) do or don’t have at home, but they do use us pretty heavily,” Brown said.

One of these users is Ben Pratt, a former chemist and abstract oil painter, who said he comes in to use the library’s computers at least three times a week.

“I’m using them so they can help me to find (a job),” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The library also provides cardholders with access to Lynda.com, a website with video tutorials for career-related skills.

Since the library started offering Lynda.com memberships in April, 888 people have registered as users, and they’ve accessed more than 4,400 courses and videos.

People looking for career help can also use their library card to access resume-writing help and professional training at Tutor.com.

The library was able to offer this service thanks to a grant from its foundation, said Youth and Family Experiences Manager Karin Michel.

“It pairs library card holders with tutors who are subject match experts through its online interface,” she said.

Michel said while most of the 1,200 live, online tutoring sessions logged during the last year were high school upperclassmen getting help with math, there’s also a fair amount of use from adults and college students.

Besides its services, the library offers a peaceful place for Chapel Hill residents to sit down and relax between home and work.

“Some folks may never check out a book from us or use our website, but they use us as that third place,” Brown said.

It’s a fourth place for UNC Housekeeping Services and Pizza Hut employee Tyrone Woodard, who stopped between his two jobs Monday evening to read retired professional boxer Mike Tyson’s memoir.

“It’s a place to build your intellectual capacity, but also it’s a place for you to relax,” Woodard said. “It can help you unwind in a positive way.”

@rachel_herzog

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