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Orange County Library Long-Range Facility Planning <br />Orange County Library currently operates an outreach service to preschools and retirement <br />facilities in the county. Large areas, particularly in the northern county, are not served by <br />accessible facilities or outreach services. This study did not identify any particular areas that <br />required services, but the Planning Department has identified in its land use plan "rural <br />community activity nodes" whiclr could provide a logical location for future cybaaries. These <br />nodes are defined as "land focused on designated road intersections which serves as a nodal <br />crossroads for the sun-ounding rural community and is an appropriate location for any of the <br />following uses: church, fire station, small post office, school, or other similar institutional <br />uses and one or more commercial uses." <br />o TJrat t/re C/rnpel Hill Public Library be recognized as a stgnifrcant partner ire t/ie <br />provision of library services to the Corurty. <br />^ That allocation of Connty,~rnds to t/te Cbnpel Hill Library reflect ike role of that <br />Library ire providing county services. <br />• Tkat a study be rwdertakerr to determine the feasibility ojjoirrt computer operations <br />ajthe Orange County Library System with tJre Chapel Hill Public Library. <br />The Chapel Hill Public Library has for many years been a mainstay of libray services in <br />Orange County and has offered services free of charge to Orange County citizens who reside <br />beyond the town limits. Irr return, Orange County has provided an annual appropriation to the <br />Town for the operation of the library. This appropriation currently is $250,000. In light of the <br />Town's plan to expand the library and its recognition in the planning that the library will <br />continue to serve a substantial number of residents beyond the town limits, it is important <br />that the County maintain and consider expanding its operational support, <br />The computer networking of all of the libraries in the County would improve access to all <br />resources and bring a greater sense among county residents that one's local librazy is part of a <br />lazger whole. Ideally, the Chapel Hill Public Library would be included in this network. The <br />complexities and costs associated with combining the systems may not be feasible, however, <br />and require detailed study by an expert in the field. <br />19 <br />