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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-16-2003-5d REVISED 9/16/03 ORANGE COUNTY .BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 16, 2003 Action AgeSa Item No. d _SUBJECT: Resolution Establishin a Carrboro Library Work roup 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 theproposal, 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 startup 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. l REVISED 9/16/03 r 2 ' During the County budget process, speakers from the Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library brought forward questions. and concerns about the County. investment in the "Cybrary" as opposed to enhancements at McDougle. Meanwhile, some Carrboro residents had participated in community planning meetings in which the development of a library was mentioned as one of several possibilities for amixed-use development on land across from the Weaver Street Market, creating perhaps another option for public investment. With these public discussions in the background, and given the County's own need and desire to re-evaluate its co-location at McDougle and the accompanying questions about facility maintenance and capital improvements, the Board of County Commissioners asked that County staff return in the fall with a suitable charge and suggested composition for a work group to examine all issues pertinent to a library presence in Carrboro and detail recommendations on how to proceed. To that extent, both the County and the Town have reserved the projected cost estimates in the current operating budget in anticipation of a joint decision making process. County staff has developed the following proposal for a committee charge and composition for the Board to consider: Carrboro Library Workgroup Charcte Review issues and options relative to an Orange County Library presence in Carrboro and provide recommendations to the. Board of County Commissioners in a timeframe that allows consideration and inclusion in the annual budget process. Composition One Representative -Board of Commissioners One Representative -Carrboro Board of Aldermen One Representative -Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District One Representative -Friends. of the Carrboro library One Representative -Library Services Task Force One Representative -McDougle Partnership Orange County Library Director Brenda Stephens After consulting with the McDougle staff as well as with representatives of the Friends of the Can'boro Branch Library during the month of August, the points listed below have emerged as major issues of concern. These can provide the basis for the start of discussions as may be shaped and determined by the BOCC. Friends of the Carrboro Library 1. Would like to see Carrboro Branch .Library hours increase to include uniform evening and Saturday service. 2. Would chose to build and strengthen the current McDougle/Carrboro Branch Library until such time Carrboro can have afree-standing library facility rather than divide public library service in multiple Carrboro locations. 3. Would like to acquire and keep a current McDougle/Carrboro Branch Library contract to protect both the school system, the County, and their respective employees, as well as fulfill the expectations for library service for residents and students of the County. ,.. ~ REVISED 9/16/03 4. Would like the County to pursue the development of afree-standing library in Carrboro. McDougle Staff 1. Issues of facility management, upkeep, and capital improvements need to be addressed; i.e. public access computers, carpet, furniture, painting, etc.. 2. General custodial care and cleaning needs to take into account the increased hours of facility usage by the public. Cleaning needs to be performed during non-library or school hours. 3. A valid current contract needs to be in place that is evaluated yearly by both the County and the school system. 4. As public, elementary, and middle school libraries grow, space issues need to be addressed. . BOCC Itemized below are the questions staff understands to be of interest to the BOCC originating from discussions at the budget work session held on June 12"'. A proposal was made by Commissioner Jacobs that the County "hold the money until we can make a decision" that would involve "getting the actors together and clarifying what happens next". Commissioner Carey also spoke in-favor of pursuing improved collaboration, especially with the school, before additional dollars were invested. 1. Is a public library viable or not at McDougle? 2. Should Carrboro have a single Jibrary, rather than two partial libraries? 3. What would be the best site should the County wish to consolidate? 4. Should the County keep investing in McDougle if a decision is to consolidate soon? 5. What is Carrboro's vision? FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact in naming a work group to study library issues relative to Carrboro. Funds have been reserved in both the County and. Town budgets to implement first year operations of the proposed "Cybrary" as one alternative. These same funds could possibly be used to support a differing option. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider the following: 1. Adopt the proposed resolution creating a Carrboro,Library Workgroup to consider issues and opportunities surrounding-the Carrboro Branch Library at McDougle and the proposed "Cybrary" at the Century Center; 2. Modify or further clarify the charge to the Carrboro Library Workgroup, as may be desired; 3. Appoint the members of the Carrboro Library Workgroup as the Board decides. l . .~ e 4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION To Establish a Carrboro Library Workgroup WHEREAS, the Orange County Library has partnered with McDougle Schools in Carrboro since 1996 for the shared use of public library space known as the Carrboro Branch Library; and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners was presented with a proposal as envisioned in the Library Services Task Force Report (2001) for the implementation of a "Cybrary" at the Century Center in Carrboro as part of the FY 2003-04 Annual Budget; and WHEREAS, upon hearing and receiving input from community stakeholders regarding the "Cybrary" proposal and its possible impact on the Carrboro Branch during budget deliberations, the Board decided to reserve the funding (estimated at $39,406) associated with the start up of a "Cybrar}~', and given the degree of public interest, to consider appointment of a representative work group that could explore issues and opportunities connected with a library presence in Carrboro; and WHEREAS, the Board believes that the concerns raised by the Friends of the Carrboro Library and the McDougle staff, and those expressed by the Board itself, combine to create a starting point for workgroup discussions which can render a set of recommendations back to the Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the. Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes a Carrboro Library Workgroup and authorizes the Workgroup to return with recommendations in a timeframe that allows consideration within the annual budget process. 'This the 16~' day of September, 2003. Margaret Brown, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 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. 2 During the County budget process, speakers from the Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library brought forward questions and concerns about the County investment in the "Cybrary" as opposed to enhancements at McDougle. Meanwhile, some Carrboro residents had participated in community planning meetings in which the development of a library was mentioned as one of several possibilities for amixed-use development on land across from the Weaver Street Market, creating perhaps another option for public investment. With these public discussions in the background, and given the County's own need and desire to re-evaluate its co-location at McDougle and the accompanying questions about facility maintenance and capital improvements, the Board of County Commissioners asked that County staff return in the fall with a suitable charge and suggested composition for a work group to examine all issues pertinent to a library presence in Carrboro and detail recommendations on how to proceed. To that extent, both the County and the Town have reserved the projected cost estimates in the current operating budget in anticipation of a joint decision making process. County staff has developed the following proposal for a committee charge and composition for the Board to consider: Carrboro Library Workgroup Charge Review issues and options relative to an Orange County Library presence in Carrboro and provide recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in a timeframe that allows consideration and inclusion in the annual budget process. Composition One Representative -Board of Commissioners One Representative -Carrboro Board of Aldermen One Representative -Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District One Representative -Friends of the Carrboro Library One Representative -Library Services Task Force One Representative -McDougle Partnership Orange County Library Director Brenda Stephens After consulting with the McDougle staff as well as with representatives of the Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library during the month of August, the points listed below have emerged as major issues of concern. These can provide the basis for the start of discussions as may be shaped and determined by the BOCC. Friends of the Carrboro Library 1. Would like to see Carrboro Branch Library hours increase to include uniform evening and Saturday service. 2. Would chose to build and strengthen the current McDougle/Carrboro Branch Library until such time Carrboro can have afree-standing library facility rather than divide public library service in multiple Carrboro locations. 3. Would like to acquire and keep a current McDougle/Carrboro Branch Library contract to protect both the school system, the County, and their respective employees, as well as fulfill the expectations for library service for residents and students of the County. 4. Would like the County to pursue the development of afree-standing library in Carrboro. McDougle Staff 1. Issues of facility management, upkeep, and capital improvements need to be addressed; i.e. public access computers, carpet, furniture, painting, etc. 2. General custodial care and cleaning needs to take into account the increased hours of facility usage by the public. Cleaning needs to be performed during non-library or school hours. 3. A valid current contract needs to be in place that is evaluated yearly by both the County and the school system. 4. As public, elementary, and middle school libraries grow, space issues need to be addressed. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact in naming a work group to study library issues relative to Carrboro. Funds have been reserved in both the County and Town budgets to implement first year operations of the proposed "Cybrary" as one alternative. These same funds could possibly be used to support a differing option. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider the following: 1. Adopt the proposed resolution creating a Carrboro Library Workgroup to consider issues and opportunities surrounding the Carrboro Branch Library at McDougle and the proposed "Cybrary" at the Century Center; 2. Modify or further clarify the charge to the Carrboro Library Workgroup, as may be desired; 3. Appoint the members of the Carrboro Library Workgroup as the Board decides. 4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION To Establish a Carrboro Library Workgroup WHEREAS, the Orange County Library has partnered with McDougle Schools in Carrboro since 1996 for the shared use of public library space known as the Carrboro Branch Library; and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners was presented with a proposal as envisioned in the Library Services Task Force Report (2001) for the implementation of a "Cybrary" at the Century Center in Carrboro as part of the FY 2003-04 Annual Budget; and WHEREAS, upon hearing and receiving input from community stakeholders regarding the "Cybrary" proposal and its possible impact on the Carrboro Branch during budget deliberations, the Board decided to reserve the funding (estimated at $39,406) associated with the start up of a "Cybrary", and given the degree of public interest, to consider appointment of a representative work group that could explore issues and opportunities connected with a library presence in Carrboro; and WHEREAS, the Board believes that the concerns raised by the Friends of the Carrboro Library and the McDougle staff, and those expressed by the Board itself, combine to create a starting point for workgroup discussions which can render a set of recommendations back to the Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes a Carrboro Library Workgroup and authorizes the Workgroup to return with recommendations in a timeframe that allows consideration within the annual budget process. This the 16th day of September, 2003. Margaret Brown, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners