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Approve two contracts with BiblioCommons, Corp., one for $164,178 for BiblioCore and one for $222,477 for BiblioWeb for a three-year term of October 5, 2026, through October 5, 2029, with the option to extend for up to an additional two years; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate amount of $74,999
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Director of Library Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve two contracts with BiblioCommons, Corp., one for $164,178 for BiblioCore and one for $222,477 for BiblioWeb for a three-year term of October 5, 2026, through October 5, 2029, with the option to extend for up to an additional two years; and
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate amount of $74,999.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Library Services is seeking to redesign its website and online catalog using BiblioCommons, Corp. BiblioWeb is a website platform designed specifically for public libraries, while BiblioCore provides an online interface through which users search the Library’s catalog and manage their accounts. The two products are designed to work together to provide library users with a unified online experience.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The BiblioCore contract has a one-time implementation fee of $20,520 and a Year One subscription fee of $28,208 after applying a $26,208 credit for the Library’s existing catalog software costs, for a total Year One cost of $48,728. Year Two and Year Three assume annual increases of four percent, for costs of $56,593 and $58,857 respectively, resulting in a three-year contract total of $164,178.
The BiblioWeb contract has a one-time implementation fee of $23,728 and a Year One annual subscription fee of $63,669 for a total of $87,397. Year Two and Year Three assume annual increases of four percent for a total of $66,216 and $68,864 respectively, for a three-year contract total of $222,477.
Funding for Year One and the implementation fees for both products ($136,125) is included in the Library’s FY2026/27 Working Budget. Funding for Years Two and Three will be included in the Library’s future Requested Budgets. The project is funded with tax revenue and charges to special districts and will not impact the County’s General Fund.
The costs associated with preparing this item are nominal and are absorbed by the Department’s FY2026/27 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In 2020, the Library’s website relied on obsolete infrastructure and was at risk of permanent failure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the public depended heavily on the website for services such as scheduling appointments for curbside pickup, the loss of the website would have significantly disrupted service delivery. As a result, the Library quickly developed its current WordPress-based website in 2020 as a temporary solution. The website was intended as a stopgap measure, rather than a permanent platform.
BiblioCommons provides digital platforms specifically designed for public libraries. The Library proposes implementing the company’s website product, BiblioWeb, together with its catalog interface, BiblioCore. The two products are designed to integrate with one another, providing users with a consistent experience when navigating between the Library’s website and online catalog.
BiblioWeb will provide access to information about Library services and resources, including eBooks and streaming services, events and programs, hours of operation, and branch locations. BiblioCore will allow users to search the Library’s catalog, check the availability and location of materials, place holds, browse collections, conduct research, and manage their Library accounts. The platform can also provide reading recommendations, highlight popular materials and topics, and translate webpages into multiple languages.
On June 9, 2026, the Board received a presentation from the Library on BiblioWeb and BiblioCore as part of the Library’s proposed website and catalog modernization.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to approve these contracts; however, this is not recommended because the current library website and catalog provides a disjointed online experience and the transition to BiblioCommons products will provide an improved, user-friendly platform for online library service users.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION