Orange County NC Website
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The Oran ;e County Heritage Center ~~"q~hm2n`~ <br />A Central Location for archival ~Zaterial <br />l~ <br />Orange County has many valuable, even irreplaceable, historical records. Cur<ently these <br />records are scattered and poorly maintained. To preserve and consolidate these records and <br />make them available for citizen use, an Orange County Heritage Center is proposed. <br />Currently, collections exist in the I~ol~th Carolina Room (a part of the Orange County Public <br />Librar~~), the Burwell School (records of the Historic Hillsborough Historical Society, and the <br />Orange County Historical '1~luseum. h~lost of the records held by the last three organizations <br />are not cataloged nor are they readily accessible to researchers. Standard conser,~ation <br />practices are not in place. A task force established by the County Conunissioners in 2000 <br />recommetlded that these resources be consolidated with the records of the county's Social <br />Services Department and the Health Departi~~ent. <br />The ?north Carolina. Room holds census records and family histories inbound volumes, on <br />microfilm, in filing cabinets, in periodical and maps. These materials are cataloged and <br />available for use on site, A volunteer who is awell-trained ~enealo~ist donates one day a <br />week to assist patrons. The material with a computer, a copier, and two microfilm readers is <br />stored in a cramped 360 sq. ft. room. Additional space is needed far shelving and for public <br />and staff workspace. <br />r'~ Ile~~' or expanded facility could accommodate, all these important records. The facility <br />should include secure records storage under proper envirolurlental conditions, workroom <br />space, a public research area; and space .for necessary equipment -- computers, microform <br />reader(printers, and copiers. <br />approximately ~ 100,000 is available from. a private trust fund dedicated to supporting the <br />~TOrth Carolina Room collection and could be used for a new or expanded facility. <br />Estimated needs for staffing include $70,000 for 1.5 FTE staff and capital costs as follows: <br />Renovatiorvl~~e«= construction at 5125 sq. ft. <br />for 2,500 sq. ft. for the OC Heritage Center <br />Shelving <br />Furniture/Equipment casts <br />Total Estimated Cost <br />5 350,000 <br />47,500 <br />40,000 <br />S 437,500 <br />Q <br />~~zb~zoc~~ to <br />