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2 <br />Recommendation #5 - "That an Orange County Heritage Center be established to make <br />accessible the local history materials now located in the central library as well as appropriate <br />materials from other archival collections in the county such as from NC Room of the Orange <br />County Public Library, Burwell School, Carrboro Branch Library archives, Orange County <br />Historical Museum, and Hillsborough Historical Society. " <br />In December 2007 the Library Services Task Force presented the Standards for Library <br />Services in Orange County and related Capital and Operating budget requests as defined by <br />their charge. The charge requested the Task Force to present the Southwest Regional Library, <br />Main Library and the Heritage Center capital requests to assist the Board in preparing for future <br />facilities. <br />1. Southwest Regional Branch <br />Building - $2,560,000 <br />Furnishings and Equipment - $376,805 <br />Operating Budget - 6.4 FTEs and Materials - $410,000 <br />2. New Main Library <br />Furnishings and Equipment - $753,610 <br />Additional Operating Budget - 2.5 FTEs and Materials - $162,600 <br />3. Heritage Center <br />Furnishings and Equipment - $72,930 <br />Operating Budget - $180,000 <br />The Main Library on Tryon Street currently houses the `North Carolina Room' dedicated to local <br />and regional history referred to as the "local history collection." With the move of the Main <br />Library to W. Margaret Lane conversations and questions emerged regarding the future home of <br />the collection and future development of a proposed Heritage Center. <br />At the May 5th BOCC meeting, there was approval for staff to relocate a `core collection' of the <br />NC Room to the new library facility on W. Margaret Lane. The BOCC also heard comments and <br />concerns from members of the community regarding a Heritage Center. In order to review the <br />original recommendations and assess the current status of other possible partners, the BOCC <br />directed the County Manager and staff to convene a work group of partners to explore and <br />evaluate a potential Heritage Center. Such a facility, if developed, could become the focus for <br />increased tourism and economic development within Orange County and enhance the historical <br />importance and experience of Hillsborough. <br />The Orange County Public Library recognizes the following duties as core library services: <br />Technical Services, Circulation, Adult, Youth (children & teen), and Outreach. While <br />maintaining and providing access to a local history collection is part of the service role of Adult <br />collections, a separate Heritage Center is not recognized as a `core function'. This cultural <br />resource for the community would best be created as an independent entity with a goal of long- <br />term sustainability. County and Library management recognize a catalytic role for County <br />government in helping to convene diverse community interests committed to creating a local <br />heritage center. However County and Library management emphasize long term participation by <br />the County should mean being a peripheral partner to anon-governmental entity with its own <br />means of financial support and administrative capacity. <br />