Agenda - 03-05-2009 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• econometric model. The conclusion is that all taxpayers benefit from public libraries through their contribution to education,the economy,tourism, • retirement,and quality of life. Overall Florida's public libraries return$6.54 for every$1.00 invested from all sources;.the Pennsylvania ROI in public libraries is 5.5 to 1.45 • We used this knowledge base to develop three principles as the basis of our recommendations for library service in Orange County: • 1. a regional approach • 2. collaborative county-wide planning 3. a 3-5 year plan to address immediate needs. Using the first principle,we recommend that the county adopt a regional approach to library service: This translates to main libraries in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill and geographically located branches elsewhere,plus a Heritage Center in Hillsborough. Your acceptance of the attached facility requirements and the capital investment in the new main library building are steps in the fulfillment of this recommendation. The next step would be consolidation of the two small Carrboro facilities in a Southwest Branch, followed by a North/West expansion of the Northern Branch in Cedar Grove and the establishment of a West County Branch in Efland. Please see attachment(1)for a chart comparing where we are now to the recornniendations of the 4-year-old 2004 facilities plan. The second principle is continued growth in collaborative county-wide planning. The planning process underlying the several task forces has fostered a cooperative approach. The acceptance of a county library standard moves us forward on this goal. Attachment (2)shows what has been accomplished and what remains to be done in the achievement of this standard. Future initiatives,such as courier service among all.the libraries and interoperability of online public access catalogs,for example,are possible next steps. We recommend that the county investigate the advantages and disadvantages of a jointly operated technical support system using a common online public access catalog(OPAC) by engaging an expert to conduct a study of costs and alternatives. . • The third principle we recommend is the development of a 3-S year plan to address immediate needs. We recommend ongoing reviews of progress and plans using the two attached standards for facilities and services with consideration for changes in technology and current best practices,and information reports to the county commissioners. • "Griffiths,Jose-Marie;Donald W.King,Christinger Tomer,Thomas Lynch;Julie Harrington(2004). Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries:Summal y Report. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Florida Dept.of State,State Library and Archives of Florida. Accessed 4/28/2008 from http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/bid/roi/pdfs/ROISummaryReport.pdf. 5 Griffiths,Jose-Marie;Donald W.King and Sarah Aemi(2006). Taxpayer Return-on-Investment(ROl)'in Pennsylvania Public Libraries. Funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Accessed 4/28/2008 from http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/lib/libraries/paroireportfinal7.pdf. • 2 •