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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 20, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~. <br />SUBJECT: Update on Library Services in Orange County in Preparation for the <br />September 24, 2009 Assembly of Government's Meetin (AOG) <br />DEPARTMENT: Library <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Information Item from the 6/16/09 <br />BOCC Regular Meeting Agenda <br />Package <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Lucinda Munger, Director, 245-2528 <br />PURPOSE: To present an update to the Board on library services in Orange County in <br />preparation for the AOG meeting on September 24, 2009. <br />BACKGROUND: At the Board retreat in January of 2009, the BOCC identified county priorities <br />for FY 2009-10 within the established guiding principles. Priority 13 states "Plan to provide <br />`equitable' library services for Orange County residents as it relates to Goal 5." Goal 5 as <br />defined during the retreat reads "Make county government accessible, understandable and <br />transparent. Begin now to relay the message to citizens, partner agencies and organizations <br />that current levels of service may not be maintained. Make clear county priorities and what <br />might change." <br />During the last budget session the Board took great strides in the advancement of their goal of <br />"equitable library services" for the residents of Orange County: By working diligently with <br />County and library staff, the Board was able to: <br />1. Allocate funding for keeping all branches open at current hours, <br />2. Providing 6.5 additional staff that will allow for the new Main Library to be open 54 <br />hours per week and increase courier service to all branches from one day to at least <br />3 days per week. <br />3. At June 16th meeting the Board unanimously voted to increase funding in the FY11 <br />budget cycle that would raise library spending to the state average per capita of <br />$22.44. Orange County library spending has increased from FY09 level of $15.60 to <br />FY10 level of $19.80. <br />Library Administration has worked with Human Resources on the development and <br />advertisement of the new positions and will hope to have all new staff in place by the end of <br />October. We are also still in communication with the Capital Project Management Team on the <br />timeline for the completion and move into the new facility which is now slated for opening in <br />December 2009. <br />