HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2d: Award Contract to Gale Cengage Learning for Electronic DatabasesApril 6, 2010
TO: Mayor and City Council
STAFF REPORT
Library and Museum Services Department
FROM: Carolyn Garner - Reagan, Director of Library and Museum Services C.
Prepared by Darlene Bradley, Library Services Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the City Manager to award a purchase order contract to Gale Cengage
Learning for the purchase of subscriptions to seven electronic databases in the
amount of $37,025.85.
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
Staff is recommending the City Council waive the foiunal bidding process and award a sole source
purchase order contract with Gale Cengage Learning, the publisher of online databases, for the purchase
of seven online databases in the amount of $37,025.85. Sufficient funds are available in the Public
Library Funds Trust Account.
DISCUSSION
The Library proposes to renew subscriptions to seven online databases produced by Gale Cengage
Learning:
• Business and Company ProFile ASAP
• General Reference Center
• Health and Wellness Center
• Opposing ViewPoints and
• Literature Resource Center.
• Twayne Author Series
• Scribner Writers Series
These databases provide a wealth of up -to -date infoimation from a variety of sources in an easy to use
format. Most of the articles that are indexed and included in these databases contain the full text of
articles, providing an extension of materials available to Library patrons beyond what the Library could
purchase and house. In addition, the public can access these databases from home computers twenty -
four hours a day, seven days a week, extending the services the Library can provide beyond the
Library's weekly total of sixty hours of in- person service. Use statistics show that there is substantial
use by the Library's patrons at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.
Library staff continues to carefully evaluate other similar online databases available from other vendors
and has concluded that these databases provide the best mix of resources and materials for the citizens of
the City of Arcadia. Gale Cengage Learning is one of the largest publishers of library reference
materials and has an excellent track record of providing service for and availability of online databases.
The Library does subscribe to other online databases from other vendors in the cases where Gale
Cengage Learning does not provide a particular product.
Staff previously negotiated a mutually acceptable contract with Gale Cengage Learning using as the
basis a standard license agreement for online content providers developed specifically for the Library by
the City Attorney and Best, Best and Krieger. This contract will stay in force for this renewal.
FISCAL IMPACT
A total of $37,025.85 has been budgeted from the Public Library Funds Trust Account for the purchase
of these databases and the Library Board of Trustees has approved this expenditure.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to waive the formal bidding process and award a purchase order contract to
Gale Cengage Learning for the purchase of seven online databases in the amount of $37,025.85.
Approved by: ,a)c,Y) PQiww -d-' -)
Don Penman, City Manager