Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Ms. Thompson said the next set of options would require them going to the state to get <br /> them to change the system service delivery. She said these would include going to a <br /> municipal library system where Chapel Hill and Carrboro would provide a joint system <br /> together; Orange County and Chapel Hill could merge in a County library system; and <br /> another possibility would be new funding from taxes for both Orange County and Chapel <br /> Hill Public Libraries. <br /> Ms. Munger said the guiding principles for this report were (1) a recognition of Chapel <br /> Hill's valuable service to all citizens of Orange County, (2) an interest in developing <br /> equitable, and enhanced library services for all of our residents, and (3)providing <br /> everyone (as much as possible) with accurate cost projections, and comparable data <br /> collections; hopefully, to guide and inform discussion. <br /> Mayor Foy said it was an excellent report. <br /> Vice Chair Nelson said they were in the process of selling four county-owned properties, <br /> and in last year's budget discussion, the County Commissioners voted to put that money <br /> in a reserve account. He said, once the buildings were sold, they will use 60 percent of <br /> those monies to build a Southwest Orange County Branch Library. He said they also <br /> increased their library funding this past year. He said, over the past few years, interest in <br /> funding libraries had increased markedly for the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners. Commissioner Nelson said he hoped when they left the meeting tonight, <br /> they directed their staffs to get together, and come up with a plan (2 to 3 year plan) to get <br /> Orange County's funding level up to what it should be for the CHPL. He said it was time <br /> to get to a better place. He said he was also hoping that a year from now, they would have <br /> money through this reserve fund, to build a branch in Southwest Orange; and if built in <br /> Carrboro it would alleviate some of the pressure that the CHPL was facing; let's do it, he <br /> said. <br /> Mayor Foy said he thought the Chapel Hill Council had a problem to confront in the next <br /> few months, which was operating expenses are what they are; but the Council needs to <br /> figure out whether to make the addition now, or later, or never, or modify the addition. <br /> He said there were really two issues; if the library is considered to be part of what the <br /> county relies on, and Chapel Hill should make the investment, they have the ability to do <br /> that. He said if now is the right time, given interest rates, financial security, construction <br /> costs; but on into the future, will the county help amortize all of that as part of the cost of <br /> the library. He said, secondly, the current operating cost of the library is $2 million <br /> annually; but if the Town does invest, and more than double the size of the existing <br /> facility, the operating cost will go up considerably. Mayor Foy said they all need to look <br /> at that; if the Chapel Hill Town Council makes a decision in the spring to go forward, he <br /> believed it would be wrong for the Council to rely on the county, if the county is saying, <br /> at this time, no, they really can't make this commitment. He went on to say, if they can <br /> make the commitment, what might it be, and when might it be. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the Cybrary branch, being in partnership with the Town of <br /> Carrboro, Carrboro was actually making a contribution in terms of square footage, and <br />