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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Services Task Force Executive Summary - 5-20-2008, Item 3e 3 Library Services Task Force Executive Summary To the Commissioners: Thank you for your financial support and guidance for the series of studies on libraries and services in Orange County beginning with the Task Force of 2002, the Task Force of 2004, the Carrboro Study Group, and the most recent Task Force of 2007. These local studies are combined with four recent national studies described below to form the knowledge base for comprehensive library service for the county. • A national survey of public attitudes toward libraries reported that the American people see libraries as political solutions to many pressing community problems, such as universal access to computers and a safe place for teens. Libraries have high credibility; they are given the highest grade of any community institution. They perform an essential service in a trustworthy.manner; local libraries use money well. The general public values libraries as a safe central community gathering location. The public believes libraries should provide traditional services, such as books for children, reference materials, knowledgeable and friendly librarians as well as 21St century services like computers and online services.1 • A national survey funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services concluded that libraries evoke consistent, extraordinary public trust among diverse adult users, that the public benefits from the presence of libraries on the Internet, that available information inspires the search for more information, and that Internet use is positively related to in-person visits to libraries.2 • A 2007 survey by the Pew Internet& American Life Project reports that libraries drew visits from more than half the American population last year for a variety of purposes. Young adults were found to be the heaviest users of libraries for problem-solving purposes and other reasons.3 • Two additional recent reports calculated taxpayer return on investment in Florida and Pennsylvania public libraries respectively. These studies used public library annual reports to the State Library, a statewide household telephone survey of adults, in-library surveys of adults, surveys of organizations and an input-output Long Overdue;A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21'Century(2006).. Prepared by Public Agenda with support from the Americans for Libraries Council and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Accessed 4/27/2008 from http://www.publicagenda.org/research/pdfs/long_overdue.pdf 2 Griffiths,Jose-Marie and Donald King(2008). InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of Libraries, Museums and the Internet. Funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Accessed 4/27/2008 from http://interconnectionsreport.org/reports/ConclusionsFullRptB.pdf. 3 Estabrook,Leigh,Evans Witt and Leigh Rainey(2007). Information Searches That Solve Problems;How People Use the Internet,Libraries, and Government Agencies when They need Help. (2007). Funded by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Accessed 4/27/2008 from http://interconnectionsreport.org/reports/ConclusionsFullRptB.pdf. 1 econometric model. The conclusion is that all taxpayers benefit from public libraries through their contribution to education,the economy,tourism, retirement, and quality of life. Overall Florida's public libraries return $6.54 for every$1.00 invested from all sources; the Pennsylvania ROI in public libraries is 5.5 to 1.45 We used this knowledge base to develop three principles as the basis of our recommendations for library service in Orange County: 1. a regional approach 2. collaborative county-wide planning 3. a 3-5 year plan to address immediate needs. Using the first principle,we recommend that the county adopt a regional approach to library service. This translates to main libraries in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill and geographically located branches elsewhere,plus a Heritage Center in Hillsborough..Your acceptance of the attached facility requirements and the capital investment in the new main library building are steps in the fulfillment of this recommendation. The next step would be consolidation of the two small Carrboro facilities in a Southwest Branch, followed by a North/West expansion of the Northern Branch in Cedar Grove and the establishment of a West County Branch in Efland. Please see attachment(1) for a chart comparing where we are now to the recommendations of the 4-year-old 2004 facilities plan. The second principle is continued growth in collaborative county-wide planning. The planning process underlying the several task forces has fostered a cooperative approach. The acceptance of a county library standard moves us forward on this goal. Attachment (2) shows what has been accomplished and what remains to be done in the achievement of this standard. Future initiatives, such as courier service among all the libraries and interoperability of online public access catalogs, for example, are possible next steps. We recommend that the county investigate the advantages and disadvantages of a jointly operated technical support system using a common online public access catalog (OPAC) by engaging an expert to conduct a study of costs and alternatives. . The third principle we recommend is the development of a 3-5 year plan to address immediate needs. We recommend ongoing reviews of progress and plans using the two attached standards for facilities and services with consideration for changes in technology and current best practices, and information reports to the county commissioners. 4 Griffiths,Jose-Marie;Donald W.King,Christinger Tomer,Thomas Lynch;Julie Harrington(2004). Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries:Summary Report. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Florida Dept.of State,State Library.and Archives of Florida. Accessed 4/28/2008 from http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/bid/roi/pdfs/ROISummaryReport.pdf. Griffiths,Jose-Marie;Donald W.King and Sarah Aemi(2006). Taxpayer Return-on-Investment(ROI)in Pennsylvania Public Libraries. Funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Accessed 4/28/2008 from http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/lib/libraries/paroireportfinal7.pdf. 2 To summary, the immediate next steps that we recommend are the following: 1. The establishment of the Heritage Center and the construction of a Southwest library branch. This should be followed as soon as possible by a North/West expansion of the Northern Branch in Cedar Grove and the establishment of a West County Branch in Efland. 2. A study of the advantages and disadvantages of a county-wide jointly operated technical support system. Other mechanisms for collaborative activities between the County library system and the Chapel Hill library should continue to be explored. 3. Ongoing reviews of progress toward meeting library facilities recommendations and service standards. Submitted by the Library Services Task Force 3 • Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 1 Attachment 1 • Orange County Library Facilities Chart Central South East Region South West Region North Region West Region Main Library Chapel Hill Carrboro Cedar Grove Bland/Cheeks Heritage Center- Under Task Force Under Task Force Task Force Task Force No current Task Force Task Force Current Construction Report 2004 . Current Construction Report 2004 Current** Report 2004'"' Current Report 2004 facititv Report 2004 Report 2004 2008* 2024 estimate 2009 2024 estimate 2024 estimate 2024 estimate 2024 estimate • Design Population(current/2024 estimate) : 75,000 75,000, 100,000 53,416 53,416 93,000 21,000 40,000 7,150 10,000 Book Collection 20,000 i .95,546 92,724 200,000 162,607 305,166 301,600 20,295 80,000 6,750 15,000 20,000 Periodicals titles . 50 i 232 200 400 253 300 342 61 150 ®ll 50 Audio Recordin.s 2,500 ; 1,990 3,000 20,000 13,043 59,590 54,900 1,191 5,000 164 1,000 1,250 Video Recordings 2,500 : 1,695 3,000 10,000 9 7,244 9,500 1,313 3,000 245 500 750 Catalo.Workstations 2 i 3 6 10 17 .20 32 MIMIIIII.a„"IIIIIIIIIII© 2 Other Public Workstations 4 i 3 9 20 3 16 12 9 10 1 8 4 Com.uter Lab 0 i 11 16 25 24 34 30 0 10 4 0 10 Self-Check Stations 0 0 3 4 0 8 4 IIIE_©! 0 0 1 Co. Machines IIIIII,,,IIIIUIIII,E- 1 Reader Seats 50 i 50 90 250 101 277 279 120 150 4 35 50 Meetin.Room 1 Seatin. 100 i 20 100 200 85 84 150 0 100 0 60 75 Meetin. Room 2 Seatin. 0 0 0 65 25 144 85 0 0 0 0 0 Conference Room 1 Seatin• 0 0 6 25 0 26 25 0 25 0 0 0 Conference Room 2 Seatin• 0 i 0 0 12 12 0 0 0 0 12 Stud Room 1 Seatin. 6seats(1room): 0 6(1) 6(1) 2 6(2) 6(1) 0 6(1) 0 0 0 Stud Room 2 Seatin. 0 i 0 2(2) 2(6) 11111111=10111111111113111 0 2(1) 0 2(1) 2(1) Children's Pro.ram Room 0 0 0 40 30 32 500 sq ft 0 30 seats 0 #Staff Workstations IIIIIIIIIIIEIMIIIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1111111111111111111111111111 Circulation-Public 1 3 2 4 4 3 5 2 3 11.11111111.110111111 2 Circulation-Office 0 1 3 6 7 9 10 IIIIIIIIIIIIIInIIIII 1 1 3 Reference-Public 111111111111111.11111111111111M 5 4 3 IIIIIIIIIIIII 0 0 Reference-Office 1 2 3 8 4 7 7 111111111111111111111.11111 0 0 • Children's-Public 0 0 2 2 IIIIIIIIIII IMIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIII NIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIII 1 Children's-Office 0 2 4 4 4 8 8 1 IIIIIIIIII 1 Administration IMIIMIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIII 3 3 6 1111111111111 1 1 Technical Services 0 i 3 4 7 6 12 9 1 0 0 0 Outreach 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII *Construction 2008 does not reflect what was proposed in 2004 Task Force Report,1/3 report design. **Cybrary and Carrboro McDougle figures are reflected in these totals. ***The Task Force Report of 2004 proposed one Southwest Regional Branch. Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 2 Service Standards Compliance as of March 2008 South East South West North Region West Region Central Region Region Region Service Standards as presented to the BOCC and Heritage Main- Efland accepted on 12/3/08 Center Construct-ion Chapel Hill Carrboro** Cedar Grove Cheeks Financial Impact/Comments 2008 I *Material cost Adult books- $27.47;Children's Books-$21.10; DVD-$20;Audiovisual-$55 as I per School Library Journal, Access to library collections and services shall be free to I Future "Keeping up with the Joneses: all residents of Orange County. Fines and other charges j ! J J Planned Average Book prices 2008" 1 4e shall be established with consideration for impact on J d Facility Kenney,Brian 3/1/08 access. I *One professional staff member annually=$52,000 including benefits as of 3/1/08-as per I Orange County grade 16 librarian beginning salary I Library facilities shall be located within a 15 minute drive This branch is for Library Facility cost min of of all Orange County residents and be located on or near I citizens of Northern $201.09/square foot&$830,000 well-traveled thoroughfares,and,if at all possible, * Orange;it is more than Future in equipment cost for 29,000 sq 2 convenient to public transportation. Adequate free parking I I J J 15 minutes from some Planned foot facility in Cary,North Carolina shall be available adjacent to all library facilities with space I citizens of Northern Facility as per Library Journal,12/15/07- "Library Buildings 2007:Going, for handicapped parking. I Orange. Going,Green"Fox,Bette Lee I Library facilities shall be designed and equipped to . 3 accommodate the planned program of services for the .,F ' This branch - Future This branch does not facility and shall comply with applicable provisions of the I Y/ J does not meet meet this standard Planned See#2 Americans with Disabilities Act this standard Facility I I Sufficient space shall be provided for collection display, I Future This branch Future 4 public seating,planned equipment and technology,staff * This branch does not *t work and training areas,storage, planned does not meet . Planned See#2 g rage,exhibit areas,meeting and J meet this standard program areas. I expansion this standard Facility • • Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 2 Service Standards Compliance as of March 2008 South East South West North Region West Region Central Region Region Region Service Standards as presented to the BOGC and Heritage Main- Efland accepted on 1213/08 Center Cons 08-lon Chapel Hi11 Carrboro Cedar Grove Cheeks Financial Impact/Comments Library services shall be offered on a regular One professional staff member nary gular and I This shared 5 consistent schedule including morning,afternoon,evening * I / facility limits Hours limited by Future annually=$52,000 including and weekend hours. Open hours shall be convenient to V J hours of staffing Planned benefits as of 3/1/08-as per library users. I operation Facility Orange County grade 16 librarian beginning salary All services of the library facility will be available when it This shared I Future 6 is open. The Main Library and Chapel Hill Public Library * / facility limits Planned See#5 shall be open a minimum of 60 hours per week and branch I �r hours of libraries shall be open a minimum of 40 hours per week. I operation Facility 1 The collections at the Main Library and at the Chapel Hill Material cost Adult books- Public Library shall be comprehensive and developed to $27.47;Children's Books-$21.10; support the needs of the public:In addition to print I Future DVD-$20;Audiovisual-$55 as 7 resources,high quality materials shall be provided in a 'r J ,1 N/A N/A Planned per School Library Joumal, variety of audiovisual and electronic formats. Materials in Facility "Keeping up with the Joneses: non-English languages appropriate to the community shall I Average Book prices 2008" be included.. ( Kenney,Brian 311/08 Branch libraries shall have basic reference collections and a written collection development plan appropriate for the I Future needs of the community. The collection plan shall be made * I J N/A N/A Planned See#5 8 publicly available,reviewed annually and be responsive to i Facility citizens'suggestions for service improvements and enhancements. I I Future Workstation-$2000;Copier Well maintained and functioning equipment shall be * I t J $4000;Printer$2500;Wireless 9 available for public and staff use at all facilities. t Facility. Modem-$100;Proxy Server-$g 12,000. Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 2 Service Standards Compliance as of March 2008 South East South West North Region West Region Central Region Region Region • Service Standards as presented to the BOCC and Heritage Main Efland accepted on 12!3/08 Center Construct-Ion Chapel Hill Carrboro*` Cedar Grove Cheeks Financial Impact/Comments 2008 Public access to the Internet shall be made available at all I facilities. In keeping with Orange County's belief in full Future 10 and free public use,no filters will be provided on * I J J J J Planned See#9 computers available to adult users. A written Internet Use I Facility Policy will be provided on the library's website. I Orange County residents shall have free and convenient I Future access to materials not owned by the local library facility * J 11 through intealibrary and interlibrary loan. Networked J J d J Planned See#9 • electronic information shall also be freely available. Facility 1 The library and its supportive organizations(Friends, I Future 12 ! J Planned 2 Foundation)shall be active participants in community and * I J J J inter-library planning efforts to enrich educational, Facility economic,cultural,and social opportunities. I tY I Meeting rooms shall be made available according to clearly 1 See#2 defined and written policies at the Main Library and This branch Future (Carrboro Cybrary,McDougle,and 13 Chapel Hill Public Library * I This branch does not P nary and at those branches where J J does not meet Planned Cedar Grove branches may have meeting rooms are available. The written meeting room I standard. meet standard. Facility proximate rooms available policy shall be provided on the library's website. I through other agencies) I Up-to-date technology(e.g.,computers,printers, copiers I This branch 14 and the hie)shall be available at all library facilities. Each * / meets standard This branch does not Future See#9;The Goal is available library facility shall have at least one computer workstation d J due to shared meet standard. Planned current technology and may for every 2,500 people in its designated service area I facility. Facility change as needed. I Cybrary yes; Y rY Y Wireless connections to the Internet shall be provided at all * I Carrboro Future 1 5 facilities. I J J McDougle does J Planned See#9 ,.I) not meet due to Facility shared facility • Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 2 • . Service Standards Compliance as of March 2008 South East South West North Region West Region Central Region Region Region Main- Service Standards as presented to the BOCC and Heritage &land Construct-ion Chapel Hill Carrboro Cedar Grove Financial Impact/Comments accepted on 12/3/08 Center 2008 Cheeks The Heritage i Center is an important part of! Information j Services to � Reference assistance and community information shall be Orange made available at all library facilities during all opening County.The I Future 16 hours. Genealogic information plus state,local and family Center was a i J J J J Planned See#5 history shall also be made available at a specialized facility recommendat-4 Facility designated as the Orange County Heritage Center. ion in 2004 I Report and a j final decision on location and services has notl been identified. I Programs shall be planned to meet the needs and interests IFunds CHPL does This branch Future One Large Program=$500 s - 17 of adults,young adults; children and program offerin * requested not provide This branch does not g ,to meet this adult does not meet meet standard. Planned 1000;Small program for 35= shall reflect library services and objectives. standard. Facility $200 (standard. programs Programs specific to the needs of children and their I This branch Future 1 8 caregivers shall be provided at all facilities on a regularly * J J does not meet This branch does not Planned See#17 scheduled basis. , standard. meet standard. Facility I I One professional staff member annually=$52,000 including Outreach services shall be provided for individuals and * Some offsite This branch This branch does not Future benefits as of 3/1/08-as per 19 groups unable to use services offered in library I J programming does not meet Planned Orange County grade 16 librarian �Y faciliaes is offered. standard. meet standard. I Facility beginning salary+$30,000 for one time purchase of van+$1500 in annual operating costs 0 Library Services Task Force 2007-ATTACHMENT 2 Service Standards Compliance as of March 2008 South East South West North Region West Region Central Region Region Region Service Standards as presented to the BOCC and Heritage Main' Efland accepted on 1213108 Center Construct-ion Chapel Hill Carrboro** Cedar Grove Cheeks Financial Impact/Comments 2008 Professionally trained librarians shall be available at all ■ library facilities. At the Main Library and Chapel Hill IA request 'has been Future See#5 2n Public Library professionally trained librarians shall be * Cybrary meets This branch does not (Professionally trained librarians made for f Planned available at all hours the library is open. At branch this standard. meet standard. holds a Masters degree and is libraries,professionally trained librarians shall be available additional Facility P y staffing. state certification) for the majority of open hours. I Staff trained in advising adults and youth in their choice of 1 Future 21 reading,in responding to basic information and reference * I d d) ! J J Planned See#5 questions,and in use of library resources shall be available at all facilities at all hours the libraries are open. I Facility I The Main Library and Chapel Hill Public Library shall I have at least three distinct staffed service areas: I circulation,reference and children's services. * J/ V1�q A N Future 22 Professionally trained librarians shall be available to 1 J I N/A Planned See#5 provide children's and reference services at these locations I Facility all hours the library is open I A website with searchable online catalog shall be made See#5;This includes access to available at all facilities. The online catalog shall reflect all * I / J Future NC LIVE,ebooks&databases. 2 3 holdings of the facility. The website shall provide links to J J Planned Available resources for public may other area library webpages and collections. Facility be restricted,due to connection I availability. Library book collections shall provide a minimum of 2.5 (Branch will items per capita. The Main Library shall calculate , collection size on the basis of the county population. 1 not meet See#7;Library is exploring other 24 tY P P This branch Future Chapel Hill Public Library shall calculate collection size on * 'standard This branch does not alternatives for meeting the P razY f does not meet Planned the basis of the municipal population of Chapel Hill. Each because of standard. meet standard. Facility standard,such as rental branch will calculate its collection size based on the per lspace collections,ebooks,etc. limitations. capita of the designated population area served. I — The Heritage Center is an important part of Information Services to Orange County. .. The Center was a recommendation in 2004 Report and a final decision on location and services has not been identified. "Analysis includes Cybrary and Carrboro McDougle services.