Chapel Hill town officials are considering permanently moving the public library to University Mall. They voted to put on hold an expansion project at the library’s current site on North Estes Drive. This after the owner of the mall offered to sell the space currently housing Dillard’s department store. Officials estimate the move would save taxpayers close to 4 million dollars. They say the new location would be more accessible.
Assistant director Mark Bayles has been with the library for 27 years. He speaks fondly of the current location:
"It’s a beautiful location, and the park around it has been very enjoyable. But what I like to see is a vibrant, well-used library."
The library was already going to be moving to University Mall temporarily during the renovation period before the latest offer was made.