Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Assembly of Governments Page 5 of 6 <br /> Randy Kabrick, OWASA, said they needed to be partners with each other in the <br /> watershed, because nobody in engineering or environment agrees with the Jordan <br /> Lake rules that will cost a lot of money with no certain benefit. <br /> Commissioner Kost said Durham was scheduling a public hearing regarding the <br /> issue. She said they had committed to funding a survey of the lake. <br /> Commissioner Gordon spoke in support. <br /> 5. Public Library Services and Funding <br /> Mayor Foy said the Chapel Hill library is providing services to all of the <br /> community and will expand those services and operations. He introduced Kathy <br /> Thompson, Library Director, to provide information. <br /> Ms. Thompson said that for every $1 investment made to the library there was an <br /> $8 return. She said people were relying on the library in this economic time seeking <br /> employment, and reading books instead of buying them. She said the library was a <br /> valuable resource in the area, and there had been a 20 percent increase in its use. <br /> Ms. Thompson said 55 percent of the patrons were Chapel Hill residents, while the <br /> remaining 40 percent of patrons were Orange County residents. She said there has <br /> been a 6.5 percent increase in the use of materials, and the library is in a pinch <br /> because it has lost 34 hours of staff time. She said just when the public needs them <br /> the most they are having to cut back on services, while revenues remain the same. <br /> She said she had provided a breakdown of growth and cost issues in the meeting <br /> packets. <br /> Mayor Foy said Chapel Hill was in a lull with its library expansion plans, and <br /> everyone had budget issues, so he thought this would be a good time to step back <br /> and look at this objectively. He said Chapel Hill supports 40 percent of the users <br /> (from Orange County) with only 11 percent of funding from the County. He said an <br /> option they were looking at and would like to consider it in conjunction with <br /> Carrboro and Orange County is charging $150 for a library card. Mayor Foy said <br /> they did not want to do that but they need help. He said if we go in that direction <br /> we need to do it together, or if there are other solutions they need to be discussed. <br /> Mayor Chilton introduced Orange County Library Director Lucinda Munger, who <br /> handed out statistics for Orange County branches and a budget summary outlining <br /> budget scenarios and service provision for the 2009-2010 budget. Mayor Chilton <br /> said they were still in the discussion stages. <br /> Commissioner Broun said she had thought about this and it may be time to think <br /> about a unified library system. She said that would help them make decisions on <br /> where to place facilities. She said it was the wrong time to discuss a $150 library <br /> card. <br /> http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view id=3&clip_id=454 6/2/2009 <br />