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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 03-15-22; 12-2 - Information Item - Memorandum Regarding Library Services Task Force Update 1 RANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager Travis Myren, Orange County Deputy Manager FROM: Erin Sapienza, Interim Library Director Orange County Susan Brown, Library Director Chapel Hill DATE: February 28, 2022 SUBJECT: Library Services Task Force Update BACKGROUND: At its October 19, 2021 meeting, the BOCC received a request to establish a Library Services Task Force to study issues relating to County funding for municipal library services and interoperability between the Orange County Public Library and Chapel Hill Public Library. The request arose from two different petitions. On April 20, 2021, Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford petitioned the BOCC to "connect with Chapel Hill to determine the existing situation, the costs of creating/expanding interoperability, etc." On May 19, 2021, the Chapel Hill Public Library Advisory Board petitioned Town Council to "create a task force to study, develop, and recommend an equitable and sustainable approach to County funding for library services." On August 31, 2021, Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger sent a letter to BOCC Chair Renee Price to request formation of a task force to work on both of these issues. On September 28, 2012, the Town of Chapel Hill and the County entered into an inter- local agreement regarding the funding of the Chapel Hill Municipal Library and improved interoperability of library services. The inter-local agreement between Orange County and Chapel Hill expired in 2017. In early 2015, a work group met to discuss the terms of the inter-local agreement and pro-actively renew the agreement. The work group was unsuccessful at revising or renewing the agreement. Town of Chapel Hill Mayor requested the following task force members: • Chapel Hill Library Director • Town of Chapel Hill Library Advisory Board Chair • Friends of Chapel Hill Library Board Chair • Town Council Liaison 2 Orange County would appoint: • Orange County Library Director • Friends of the Orange County Library Board Chair • Friends of the Carrboro Library Board Chair • BOCC Liaison At the October 19, 2021 meeting, the BOCC approved the request to establish the task force, appoint County representatives, and provide an interim report to the Board of Commissioners by April 1, 2022. The County Manager would coordinate with the Town Manager to schedule the first meeting of the Task Force. This memo provides update on the status of the Library Services Task Force. DETAILS OF INITIAL TASK FORCE MEETING The first meeting of the Library Services Task Force was held January 27, 2022 via Zoom. Attendees: Orange County • Commissioner Amy Fowler • Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager • Erin Sapienza, Interim Library Director • Nerys Levy, Friends of the Southern Branch • Diane Kelly, Friends of the Main Branch Chapel Hill • Jess Anderson, Chapel Hill Town Council • Maurice Jones, Town Manager • Susan Brown, Library Director • Tiffany Allen, Library Board Chair • Karen Curtin, Friends of the Library President Discussion began with some historical background of previous task force work, the status of the lapsed inter-local agreement, and the need to differentiate between interoperability of library services and the inter-local agreement regarding funding. After a quick discussion of how to organize the task force, attendees shared concern over the ability to complete this work without the help of a facilitator. These are complex issues and attendees shared a strong desire to avoid previous task force challenges. 3 In order to avoid another unsuccessful attempt to find common ground, the group recommended hiring a facilitator to effectively organize and navigate the work of the task force. Maurice Jones suggested Maggie Chotas at the Dispute Settlement Center (DSC). Travis Myren and Maurice Jones continued discussion about potential facilitators after the meeting concluded and agreed to reach out to Maggie at the DSC. ONGOING WORK Orange County will contract with Maggie Chotas of the Dispute Settlement Center (DSC). DSC will provide facilitation services to the Orange County and Town of Chapel Hill Task Force (Task Force) on library interoperability and funding. The purpose of this task force is to define and explore interoperability and collaboration between the Orange County Library System and the Chapel Hill Public Library and to discuss renewal of a memorandum of understanding under which the County provides funding to the Town for library services. Cost for services will be shared by Orange County and Town of Chapel Hill. Meetings of the Task Force, facilitated by DSC, will begin April 2022.