Our 2026 reading resolutions are underway, but before we turn the page, we want to take one last look back at 2025.
No single number can capture a year at the library. But taken together, we think the millions of checkouts, hundreds of thousands of visits, thousands of questions answered, story times held, Bookie Monsters fed, summer reading logs completed, and countless connections made, get us pretty close. đ
Youâll find a snapshot of those numbers in our 2025 Year in Review graphic below. Read on for a little more context behind what they tell us.
You read a lot of books this yearâŚ
The biggest number on this yearâs graphic is our total circulation, which includes checkouts of both physical and digital items, plus renewals. 1,110,820 items. Wow!
That total breaks down into:
- 601,200 individual checkouts of physical items (Books, movies, kits, etc.)
- 235,011 individual checkouts of digital items (eBooks and eAudiobooks)
Of those digital checkouts:
- 117,725 were eBooks
- 117,286 were eAudiobooks
Thatâs almost an even split! More than 12,000 unique users borrowed digital materials in 2025, showing just how many people rely on the library to read and listen on phones, tablets, and e-readers.
Thanks for visiting!
The library was bustling all year long. In 2025, we welcomed 404,589 visitors through our doors.
You checked out more than half a million items at our self-check machines alone, an average of 229 items per machine, per day. We also added 8,593 new library accounts this year. Welcome to all our new patrons, weâre so glad youâre here!
The library continued to be a hub for community connection in 2025.
- 1,685 meetings and events were held in Meeting Rooms A, B, C, and D by patrons, Town staff, and library staff.
- 17,032 people attended library programs throughout the year
Hereâs how those programs broke down:
- We held 369 programs for kids, 43 just for teens, 133 programs for adults, and hosted 10 all ages events.
- We hosted 134 Tech Tutoring sessions (you can book your own at this link if your New Yearâs resolution is to get to know your new devices).
- For our summer reading program this year we visited âCamp CHPLâ with 1,300 adults, 353 teens, 2,054 kids â thatâs 3,707 summer readers in total!
- You wrote 222 postcards in support of the freedom to read as part of our Right to Read program this year.
These books were some of our favorites
Looking for ideas for your 2026 reading list? Weâve got you covered.
- Some suggestions from you: Our âChapel Hillâs Favoritesâ list has the top 20 most frequently requested titles from 2025.
- Some suggestions from us: Our annual âBest Books of the Yearâ lists showcase library staff picks for the best books of 2025 across all ages.