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Comprehensive Plan. Access to Wi-Fi is the concern in the outlying areas and a <br />wireless proposal by Planning to provide cell towers may begin to address this i <br />issue. <br />Also discussed were possible growth areas for Orange County, which will be <br />concentrated in Chapel Hill, directly outside of Hillsborough, and along the 40/85 <br />corridor between Mebane and Hillsborough. The population along the corridor is <br />currently well- served by Main and asimilar-sized facility in Mebane for the <br />foreseeable future. The completion of a South/Southwest Regional in Carrboro <br />should serve the patrons in the southern part of the county. <br />Information Technologies <br />We met with Todd Jones in August to discuss how future technologies for <br />libraries would fall into the IT Strategic Plan for 3 - 5 years. Mobile Services will <br />need to have consistent wireless capability in order to provide efficient and <br />practical services. At this time Mobile Internet access is not supported other than <br />through an airbus card, which is unreliable and inconsistent as are cell phones <br />remotely in the county. <br />The Library continues to look at technology that will assist us in the coming future <br />such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and Self Check outs. The <br />technology has improved over the past three years, as well as pricing for these <br />products has become more reasonable as they have been more widely accepted <br />in libraries. The IT Department will be able to assist us in procuring grants • <br />through the state library to assist in capital cost to implement these technologies. <br />Social Services <br />We met with Nancy Coston, Social Services Director, in August to determine if <br />there were any SS Programs that the library could participate in an outreach <br />capacity to meet the underserved. During our conversation, we realized that <br />there are many areas that are in need of attention through the SS programs, <br />however, the library with limited resources chose to focus on two 1) The Young <br />Adolescent Family programs and 2) Work First Programs. In both of these <br />programs, SS meets with the attendees as a Group, which would allow the library <br />to assist in getting the word out regarding library services. In the Young <br />Adolescent Family program, the library hopes to provide a `literacy bag' to each <br />family to use during the month to read to their children. These bags are thematic <br />and are all geared to early readers. In the Work First Program we hope to work <br />with the Work First supervisors by having the library as part of the program, <br />including a tour and the services found at the library. <br />Economic Development <br />Earlier in September we had the opportunity to meet Brad Broadwell to discuss <br />service opportunities that the Library could provide to prospective entrepreneurs <br />and business owners in Orange County. <br />Mr. Broadwell encouraged the library should pursue a partnership with the • <br />Orange County School District to help support a specialized program for students <br />Pg 10 <br />