DATE:
October 22, 2024
10
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
REQUEST FOR SINGLE-SOURCE CONTRACT FOR DIGITAL MEDIA COLLECTIONS AND INSTANT DIGITAL LIBRARY CARDS FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
San Diego County Library's (SDCL) digital collection is the second most-used digital public library in California and the eighth most-used in the country. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24, SDCL's customers downloaded 5.5 million eBooks. The SDCL digital collection extends the power and promise of reading to customers by providing access to resources on their mobile devices anywhere, anytime, in a format where the font size and type are adjustable for accessible reading. SDCL contracts for these services with OverDrive, Inc., a company that provides eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines with digital rights management and a software platform for circulation to library customers. With OverDrive's Instant Digital Card service, these benefits are amplified because customers do not need to travel to a library branch to obtain a library card. This provides significant value to library customers and contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing vehicle miles traveled and related greenhouse gas emissions. This service also promotes equitable access to our collection as not everyone has access to transportation needed to visit a library branch. Additionally, SDCL has extended our digital collection to 39 schools and school districts across the County using OverDrive's Sora mobile reading application, developed for schools.
Due to the popularity of digital formats among library customers, SDCL's digital media investments have steadily increased. SDCL established an initial contract with OverDrive, Inc. (also known as Libby, the name of their mobile reading application) in 2008, providing customers with access to eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, and streaming video. During FY 2023-24, SDCL's expenditures for digital resources totaled $4....
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