Agenda - 06-18-2013 - 7e - Laserfiche WebLink

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72 Attachment XIII Library Services at the Century Center Library service at the Century Center in downtown Carrboro would meet a number of needs not currently being addressed in southern Orange County. The citizens of Carrboro currently enjoy only limited library service, at McDougle School, where the hours of operation are restricted to afternoons and evenings due to the school schedule. While this library does an admirable job of meeting the needs of sonic patrons, accessibility is an issue for significant segments of our population: seniors who don't drive, youths, and those of modest means. By its very nature, McDougle library is limited in what it can do. Providing some limited library service at the Century Center in downtown Carrboro meets some of the needs unmet by other library service on southern Orange County. By utilizing space that already exists and piggybacking on town services provided in the Century Center, the county can maximize resources. This proposal would continue the trend in library service of creating public library space in an existing public facility. Like the successful McDougle library example, expenses and resources would be shared with another entity. This creative use of space benefits all. A library as proposed at the Century Center would provide public access to the Internet. In this respect it fulfills one of the findings cited earlier in this report. The Century Center is accessible to any citizen in southern Orange County and would be the only truly accessible library in southern Orange. Located in the heart of North Carolina's most densely populated community, the Century Center is within walking distance of 10 to 15,000 residents of southern Orange County and is at a transit hub with three bus lines running past. Seniors, school children without available parents to drive them to other libraries, and citizens of more modest means would have access to this facility. This proposal enjoys strong support from the town of Carrboro, which is committed to providing financial support as outlined below. This support relieves the county of the complete burden of providing library service to the citizens. There are many different options for providing service. in this space. There is plenty of room to negotiate a model that meets the needs of the community and is affordable to the county. In addition, the proposal can be phased in over a number of years, if necessary. There are no restrictions on the number of hours this facility could be open. Library service at this facility could provide morning and early afternoon hours not available at McDougle library. Seniors and parents with toddlers, for example, are frequent morning library users and are currently not able to use McDougle during those hours. The Century Center library could meet some of their needs.