Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Libraries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harnett County Library seeks continued NC Cardinal membership, state aid and two LSTA grants
Summary
Harnett County Public Library staff asked commissioners to continue membership in the statewide NC Cardinal consortium, apply for annual state library aid, and accept two Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) project grants: one for RFID expansion ($100,000) and one for a mobile outreach/bookmobile ($100,000) with local matches.
Harnett County Public Library staff asked the Board of Commissioners for approval to continue membership in the North Carolina Cardinal Consortium, to apply for annual state library aid, and to accept two awarded Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) project grants.
Library director Kimberly Van Back told commissioners that NC Cardinal is an Evergreen‑based, statewide integrated library system used by more than 66 counties and 234 libraries in North Carolina. Van Back said continuing membership provides a cost‑effective alternative to commercial ILS vendors and expands resource sharing across the consortium. "This participation enables the library to reallocate those saved funds ... towards patron focused services and programs," she said.
Nut graf: The library asked the board to authorize applications and acceptances of state and federal library funding that staff say will expand technology and outreach across Harnett County branches.
Separately, the library requested permission to apply for annual state aid allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly through the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources; staff said there is no local match requirement for that program. The library also presented two LSTA awards:
- A $100,000 LSTA project to expand RFID technology and self‑checkout kiosks to six branch locations (Anjar, Benhaven, Boone Trail, Coats, Dunn and Erwin). Total project cost is $133,800; the library said $33,800 would come from county capital reserves.
- A $100,000 LSTA project to fund a mobile outreach vehicle (bookmobile). The total vehicle and outfitting cost is $174,965; the library said the remaining $74,965 would be funded from reserves as the required local match.
Library staff said RFID at branches would speed checkout, reduce misplaced items, and free staff time for programming; the bookmobile would reach residents outside a 10‑mile radius of branch locations and host early literacy, STEAM and digital literacy programming as well as provide wireless hotspots.
Commissioners had no objections and staff were instructed to add the items to the consent agenda for formal action at a subsequent meeting.
Ending: Library staff said funds for required matches are available in the library capital reserve and will be included on the consent agenda for commissioners to approve at the next meeting.
