Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> B. 2004 Task Force <br /> The 2004 task force was charged with reviewing the 2001 LSTF report and making <br /> recommendations to improve library services/facilities in Orange County specifically related to <br /> the expansion of the central (main) library in Hillsborough and the branch library in Carrboro. <br /> The task force made a number of recommendations, including one to establish a Southwest <br /> Orange County regional branch library located in Carrboro that would combine the services of <br /> the McDougle Middle Branch Library and the Cybrary. Also included was a Heritage Center <br /> and it was stated that, if the site for the new Central Library was in downtown Hillsborough, it <br /> was "recommended that the Heritage Center be housed in that library." A further <br /> recommendation was the recognition of the Chapel Hill Public Library "as a significant partner <br /> in the provision of library services to the County." <br /> C. 2007 Task Force <br /> The 2007 task force was charged with reviewing previous reports, including the 19 page <br /> 2004 LSTF report, as part of their overall charge. <br /> 1. At the December 3, 2007 meeting of the commissioners, the task force presented two <br /> components related to the charge given to them. Included were library service standards for <br /> Orange County, and capital and operational budget requests. <br /> 2. The task force made another presentation to the commissioners at a meeting in May 2008. <br /> Among other things the presentation included the Executive Summary outlining the LSTF <br /> recommendations. Also stated were three principles that were the basis of their <br /> recommendations for library service in Orange County: (a) a regional approach, (b) <br /> collaborative county-wide planning, (c) a 3-5 year plan to address immediate needs. <br /> According to the minutes of the May 20, 2008 commissioners meeting, the Manager was <br /> asked during the discussion "about the next steps since the Board is accepting this report and <br /> not adopting it. Laura Blackmon said that for a report like this, it is important for the Board of <br /> County Commissioners to discuss it at a work session along with the financial implications. <br /> This issue will come back to the Board in the fall." <br /> The minutes show that the commissioners unanimously adopted a motion "to accept the <br /> Library Services Standards and Facilities Needs Matrix developed by the 2007 Library <br /> Services Task Force; and direct County and Library management to begin discussions for <br /> greater collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill." <br /> D. Next Steps <br /> 1. Facilities <br /> In the County CIP there is about $3 million budgeted over ten years for library services in <br /> Orange County. The commissioners will need to decide for what purpose that money will be <br /> used, and the priority order in which the facilities recommended by the task force might be <br /> established. The 2007 LSTF report recommends both the construction of the Southwest <br /> Orange Library and the establishment of the Heritage Center as next steps. A related decision <br /> is whether the County should sell the county-owned building at 129 East King Street in <br />