Agenda - 09-16-2003-5d - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 16, 2003 Action Agen J~d,a Item No. SUBJECT• Resolution Establishing a Carrboro Library Workgroup DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Orange County Library ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, Resolution ext 2307 Brenda Stephens, Director, Orange County Library, ext 2528 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider adopting a resolution to establish a workgroup to examine issues and opportunities relative to the current Carrboro Branch Library (at McDougle) as well as the creation of a "Cybrary" at the Carrboro Century Center. BACKGROUND: The County Manager's recommended budget for Fiscal Year 03-04 contained a proposal from the Library staff, drawn from the Library Services Task Force 2001 Report, to partner with the Town of Carrboro in the development of a "Cybrary" at the downtown Century Center. A "Cybrary" is amini-library that makes maximum use of a small space, technology innovation, and high-speed internet connectivity to provide opportunities for patrons to do research, receive computer training, and access popular reading and reference materials in a community setting. Under the proposal, the County would establish a permanent, part-time librarian position to serve as the branch manager in an effort to expand library services to the southern end of the County by focusing on library science technology, internet access, and computer training for life long learning. The projected cost to the County was estimated at $39,406 (net position and start up costs). The "Cybrary" was envisioned as a complement to, not a replacement for, the shared County-School library at McDougle. Meetings between County staff and Town staff resulted in the Town staff presenting a related budget decision package for the Town Board to consider. In that package, Carrboro would support implementation of the "Cybrary" by providing five PC compatible workstations, appropriate desks and chairs, and a high quality laser printer. The cost estimate developed by Town staff and presented to the Town Board during their budget discussions equaled $25,295.