The city of Hollister and county of San Benito are considering a partnership that could result in the development of a "technology education (and) library center," or TeL Center. The Hollister City Council on Nov. 16 approved a resolution that authorizes city staff to work with the county to seek bids for a needs assessment that will determine the next steps in the project. The county Board of Supervisors has the item on its Nov. 17 agenda.
The idea came from a Nov. 5 Inter-Governmental Committee meeting in which it was recommended that the two local government entities work together to solicit outside firms that would evaluate the possibility of "a facility that encompasses the community's needs beyond that of just a library," according to a report presented to the council by City Manager William Avera. "The committee desired to get other public agencies involved, including the school districts, and the office of education."
Councilman Karson Klauer told BenitoLink that the needs assessment will help the city and county determine what library and technology services the community wants and needs. "We just don't quite know what a community of 55,000 needs, though we know it's more than we have now," he said, pointing out that the county library was built more than half a century ago for a population a quarter of what it is today.
He said the likelihood is that a new facility would be built to help add to the services provided by the existing library on Fifth Street in Hollister, though no funding has been committed for such a project. The needs assessment could help position the city to be eligible for funding for such a project, Klauer noted.
Once the request is released, the city's report says, the Inter-Governmental Committee will act as the selection panel to interview and recommend the most qualified firm to the Board of Supervisors. At that time, the city of Hollister "will determine its financial contributions to the project," the report said.