Agenda - 05-18-2010 - 8a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 If the discussions between the Orange County Historical Museum, Town and County leadership prove fruitful, it would be the best possible solution to ultimately bring the physical files to one place under the direction of the Orange County Historical Museum. The Heritage Center then would become a reality and the museum would be able to continue its important role in educating all to the heritage of North Carolina that is deeply seated in Orange County. Understanding the current fiscal situation for governments and non-profit organizations, the HCWG believes scanning, photographing, and cataloging the collections of records and artifacts in the County is the first step in creating an Orange County Heritage Center. A digital Heritage Center would be a link to the history of the County and widely available to residents of the County and others through the Internet. The Work Group believes the digital collection can be the cornerstone of a larger collection that could be available for researchers in a future facility, possibly one overseen by the Foundation. It is understood that a heritage center function located with the Orange County Historical Museum in the future would be dependent upon the ability of the Board of Directors of the Foundation in negotiation with the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County, as may be required, to be able to relocate its Museum into sufficient space for program expansion and enhancement. Based on this study, the expertise of the Heritage Center Work Group members, and the collaborative work of the Heritage Center Work Group, it is recommended the Board of County Commissioners: 1. Encourage the historic agencies in Orange County to continue to work together to pursue opportunities for digitizing and sharing collections of documents and artifacts that represent the history of Orange County. The opportunities would include services available in and outside of the County and funding through grants identified by the consultant and other professionals working in the field; 2. Explore the development of a digital heritage resource, as indicated above, as an initial step toward providing access to County-wide historical documents, artifacts, and archives; 3. Authorize the Orange County Public Library to work with the NC Digital Heritage Center Project (see attached letter) to investigate and create a mutually beneficial partnership for the initial digital collaboration project for Orange County's historical agencies. The Library will assume no additional costs in staff or operations for the establishment of the partnership. Funding for creation of the digital records and links to it through the NC Digital Heritage Center Project will be sought through grants using the Rebecca B. Wall bequest funds for "seed money" or matching, not to exceed $25,000 over 4 years. 4. Support the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County's willingness to take on the Heritage Center function within the mission of the Foundation; 5. Encourage the historic agencies in Hillsborough and Orange County to continue to work together to identify and include materials from County-wide resources as the non-profit agencies that hold archives are able to participate in the digitization project; and 6. Authorize County management to partner with the Town of Hillsborough, the landlord for the Orange County Historical Museum, as requested, to explore the possibilities of expanded space for the Museum, acting in the interest of a heritage center function as opportunities become available.