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1Cl) <br />Orange County Library Long-Range Facility Planning <br />Executive Summary ____ _______ ___ _ <br />In January, 2004, the Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed a Library Services <br />Task Force to review the recommendations a previous task force had submitted to the County <br />in 2001 regarding library services and to "subsequently make recommendations to improve <br />library services and facilities specifically related to the expansion of the Central Library in <br />Hillsborough and the branch library in Carrboro." Specific areas of interest were the potential <br />for co-location of a new central facility with the Orange County campus of Durham <br />Technical Community College (DTCC) and combining the operations of Carrboro's <br />McDougle Branch Library and Cybrary into one branch library facility.. <br />The Task Force began its work in May and contracted with library consultant Dale Gaddis in <br />July to assist with needs assessment and development of recommendations. <br />It became very evident from the outset of the work of the Task Force that the <br />recommendations for the central library and the Carrboro facility needed to be part of a larger <br />vision for the county as a whole. As a result, the recommendations being presented are more <br />comprehensive in scope than originally requested. Details are submitted only for the areas of <br />priority identified in the charge from the Board of County Commissioners; however, if the <br />County is to be successful in addressing these areas, it is important for the County and library <br />administration to recognize and address the broader planning issues. <br />Sturumaty of Significant Findings <br />¦ The population of the county as a whole values education and is supportive of library <br />services, but it is confused by the current system of library governance and funding <br />responsibilities. <br />¦ The development of library services for Orange County residents has been <br />fragmented at best, resulting in great disparity in the level of library services provided <br />throughout the county. <br />¦ The facilities and resources of the Orange County Public Library system are <br />significantly below the standard required to provide effective public library services. <br />Library staff has been creative and resourceful in "making do" with very limited <br />resources.. <br />¦ The population is growing at a high rate, with significant growth in the number of <br />older residents and residents moving here from other countries. The central library <br />has not been enlarged in over 20 years, despite the growth in population during the <br />same period. <br />¦ The residents of the county depend heavily on the Chapel Hill Public Library to <br />supplement the resources of the Orange County Library for their library needs. The <br />presence of this library, operated by a separate jurisdiction, affects the planning of <br />countywide library services.