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Orange County Library Long-Range Facility Planning <br />18 <br />NB: These figures include overlap, in recognition that residents will likely use more than <br />one facility because of complementary services and ease of access to their particular <br />residence.. <br />a That the Orange Corrrrty Public Library develop a comprehensive 3-5 year strategic <br />action plan, rvlrich places priority ou achieving a vision of cornrtywide library service <br />and continues to address the irregnities in service and resources available in tke <br />county. <br />This particular study and its recommendations focus on facilities, not on resources and <br />services. A major finding in this study (and in the 2001 study) is that facilities and the size of <br />staff and collections are inadequate to serve the population outside of Chapel Hill. A strategic <br />planning process to develop an action plan to address inadequacies in resources and to <br />establish service priorities over the next tluee to five years as new facilities are developed is <br />an essential step that should begin very soon. <br />o That a new Orange Corurty Central Library be constructed adjacent to or within the <br />Town of Hillsbororrgk. The proposed library would continue to serve as leadquarters <br />for the Hyconeedtee Regional and Ormrge Corraty Library systems and serve as a <br />reference services center, for the county, as well as provide general public Library <br />services, programs, mul collections serving all ages. It is estimated t/rat given the <br />current 20 year populatiat projections and a design population of 100,000, a 65,000 <br />sr/uare foot facility would be needed. <br />^ Tlrat the Corutty parsue locating the proposed facility in the Waterstone <br />development <br />Tl:at the proposed library provide library services for students of Durham <br />Teclurical Conuuuuity College, depending at further negotiations between the <br />County and DTCC <br />^ That an Orange County Heritage Center be established iu Hillsborough's /iistoric <br />district to make accessible the local history materials now located in the central <br />library as well as appropriate materials from other archival collectiars iu the <br />county. <br />^ T/tat, if the proposed central library is located outside of rlowntowu Hillsborough, <br />t/~e Heritage Center inchrde neighborhood Grauch library services for the residents <br />of downtown Hillsborough: Internet access, a small popular collection and <br />children's materials for check-out, arrd children's programs. <br />There is an immediate need for a new headquarters library facility for Orange County that <br />also serves as the central library providing in-depth reference resources as well as general <br />public library services, As mentioned, the existing facility was too small when it opened 2.3 <br />years ago. Deficiencies cited during the plarming process included, among others, lack of <br />shelving space (for atoo-small collection), shelving too high for children, cramped space that <br />interferes with work efficiency and public comfort, inadequate restroom facilities, and <br />structural weakness limiting usability of space. Parking is limited, inconvenient, and unsafe. <br />The facility is on aland-locked site with no room for expansion. <br />13 <br />