Minutes - 20090416 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Laura Blackmon asked about looking at an aggregate for broadband. Todd Jones said that the County has a series of individual contracts and they are in the process of trying to renegotiate an agreement with the fiber provider to reallocate bandwidth. Commissioner Jacobs said that this is an area where the County should find partners and make this less expensive (i.e., towns or school systems). Commissioner Gordon said that the costs have gone up in Information Technology. She said that the Board never decided to do the video streaming. Library Services: Commissioner Jacobs said that the County should poll the users of the branches that might be closed to see if they would use another facility. He would like some feedback from users before this is done. He thinks that Carrboro may find more space in the Century Center for books if the McDougal branch is closed. Commissioner Gordon said that there should be a menu of options in the survey if it is done. Commissioner Jacobs stated his recommendation: "That staff would develop a survey of users of the library branches that determine what would be the priority responses to closing or altering the functions of those branches." Chair Foushee suggested that this be done and that the draft come to the Board. Library Services Director Lucinda Munger said that staff could also provide the Board with statistics of use. Commissioner Yuhasz asked that the number of staff be included in the statistics. Commissioner Pelissier said that she is not against the survey, but she thinks that this sort of thing should be done for all services and not just one service in order to be equitable. Discussion ensued about the merits of doing a survey for the library and other services, and whether there was time for surveys.. Commissioner Nelson said that the Cybrary was set up in a different way and the circulation numbers will be low, but people go there to use the library in other ways. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Chair Foushee to do a survey of users of branch libraries to ascertain what would be their priority preferences, as was done with the staff, for various service levels, including closure of those branches. VOTE: Ayes, 3 (Commissioner Nelson, Commissioner Jacobs, Chair Foushee); Nays, 4 (Commissioner Gordon, Commissioner Hemminger, Commissioner Pelissier, Commissioner Yuhasz) MOTION FAILED Commissioner Jacobs suggested that alternatives be brought forward to closing the branches, such as having them open only on certain days, along with the cost implications. He wants to know what the minimal level of access would cost as opposed to no access. Parks and Recreation: Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Jazz Festival and asked if any thought had been given for private sponsorship and Lori Taft said yes. She said that they would like to explore this further with the festivals.