Following months of dispute and a costly lawsuit, Hall County has reached a compromise in the North Hall library dispute.

The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to built a technology center in the space planned for the library in the combined community center building under construction on Nopone Road.

The 12,500-square-foot space would include the technology center and room for meetings and banquets.

The cost for the changes would stay within the contractor's established maximum price of $9.73 million for the community center and park but would cause a three- to four-month delay for redesign work, price changes and construction.

Hall County Library System Director Adrian Mixson called the technology center a "library of the future."

"It'll be fun and certainly cutting edge," Mixson said. "It's just a different approach to offering library services."

The technology center would feature computers and workspace, but not the book collection of a traditional library.

Mixson said computers are one of the most popular features in county libraries.

"In all our libraries we have lots of computers, and if you look around, they're always in use," Mixson said.

Mixson said the technology lab most likely would offer users access to the library's online database, electronic books and other computer programs.

But there are several possibilities, including video and photo editing software, computers for young children and technology programming.

He said there could still be children's books as well as newspapers and magazines available at the facility.

"A little heavier on the media and electronic texts but maybe still a little bit of that traditional fare," Mixson said. "It may be the only place like it in Georgia."

Mixson said he estimates such a facility likely will cost about as much to run as a traditional library.

He said even with good care, computers need to be replaced every six to seven years. He expects it will require six to seven staff members to run the center.

"Staffing is going to be small but it will require hiring someone with a more technical background," Mixson said. "I think we should budget about $330,000 to operate that building."

Jim Syfan, a member of the Friends of the North Hall Park, said the advocacy group is thrilled with the commission's decision to build a technology center at the site.

"We're tickled to death. We're really happy and willing to do anything as a community that we can to help them along," Syfan said. "We're very appreciative to our current county commissioners for letting it go this way. It's a good way to spend taxpayers' money."

Scott Gibbs, the commissioner representing North Hall, said he thinks the commission decision was a good compromise.

"I just think it's a positive sign that we're working together," Gibbs said. "I'm glad we're moving the park along and anticipate a late 2011 or early 2012 opening."

At the commission's Thursday board meeting, Chairman Tom Oliver, who proposed building a library at Nopone Road and has been a staunch opponent of changing that plan, voted in favor of the technology center.

"I'm hoping that this is the right choice and I will support this," Oliver said.

Following the commission's vote last February to put the North Hall library on Nopone Road, Clermont residents were outraged, claiming the county had promised it would be in their town. Clermont sued the county in April.

A Hall County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the county, saying no laws were broken by the decision to change the location of the facility.

On Jan. 6, the commission - with two new members - voted 3-2 to reverse the earlier decision and build the library in Clermont, leaving the space planned for the library at Nopone Road in limbo.