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P-13— Plan to provide `equitable' library services for Orange County residents <br /> (Goal 5). `Equitable' would consist of citizens having equal access to library <br /> services at any Orange County Library location. Using measurable goals, specific <br /> levels of information resources will be determined by BOCC priorities for <br /> individual communities. Emphasis will be placed on these areas: Collection; <br /> Outreach; Programming; Technology; Staffing and Facilities. <br /> Library Director Lucinda Munger said that she tried to flesh out what the Board of County <br /> Commissioners meant by equitable access, which is ensuring the residents of Orange County <br /> have access to library services. Equal access would be measured by goals and objectives, <br /> working with the Board to make sure that the County is meeting the equitable access that the <br /> Board has set forth, emphasizing the basic core services that a library provides the citizens. <br /> She would also like to develop a Strategic Plan for the library system, taking into account the <br /> information provided in the 2004 and 2007 task forces that were convened by the County and <br /> putting them in a measurable plan of goals and objectives that could be reached within 3-5 <br /> years. There would be library staff time associated with this, as well as related departments. <br /> The new facility is being built and the furnishings and equipment are estimated at <br /> $700,000 and the Operations are estimated at$350,000 a year. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said to make it clear that the furnishings are in the budget. He <br /> made reference to the equitable part and said that the task forces spent a lot of time on this. He <br /> said that there was a transportation element so that people have equal access to get to the <br /> libraries. Lucinda Munger said that this was part of what she asking for guidance about, <br /> regarding what equitable access is. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that a transportation element is very important. He would <br /> also like to start addressing the Heritage Center as well as interoperability between the Orange <br /> County and Chapel Hill library systems. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that she has given this task to Lucinda Munger and they are <br /> undertaking both of these issues. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board made a commitment to get Orange County <br /> above the average for State spending on libraries, and he does not want to lose that in this <br /> priority. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier verified that the $350,000 was over and beyond what it costs to <br /> operate a library now. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked for clarification on the $50,000 to do a strategic plan and <br /> Lucinda Munger said that this is the estimated cost for staff time that it would take to develop <br /> the plan. <br /> Commissioner Nelson agreed with what Commissioner Jacobs said about equitable <br /> access. He said that what he meant by equitable access included implementing the Library <br /> Services Task Force Report, which includes a Carrboro branch. He really wants to get up to the <br /> State average for spending. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz asked about the State average and Lucinda Munger said $24.88 <br /> per capita. Chapel Hill spends $33-35 per capita and currently Orange County spends $17 per <br /> capita. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz asked that the staff time that would be taken away for the <br /> strategic plan not have an impact on the library patrons. Lucinda Munger said that she would <br /> try and make the impact as minimal as possible. <br />