DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH OVERDRIVE, INC. FOR EBOOKS,
EMAGAZINES, DIGITAL AUDIOBOOKS, AND STREAMING VIDEOS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $69,000
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
It is recommended that the City Council approve a Purchase Order for electronic books, electronic magazines, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos from OverDrive, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $69,000. Sufficient funds are available in the City’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operating Budget for this purchase.
BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the Arcadia Public Library has utilized the services of OverDrive, Inc. to provide patrons with access to electronic books, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos. OverDrive, Inc. is the leading distributor of these materials to libraries. Titles purchased through Overdrive are available to the Library’s patrons on computers, tablets, eReaders, or smartphones.
DISCUSSION
The Library has access to OverDrive through membership in the company’s group of local customer libraries, the Southern California Digital Library Consortium, which combines the digital collections of 25 member libraries to provide added selection for our patrons.
The Library also adds to its collection in the Consortium by purchasing individual electronic books, digital audiobooks, and digital videos from OverDrive. These titles include current best-sellers, older classic titles, and titles for adults, teens, and children.
Spending for these items has been growing with the increasing popularity of the digital format and usage by Library patrons is up 53% since the start of the pandemic. Total spending for OverDrive is projected to reach $69,000 during the next year, with funding for the projected costs budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Purchase Order with OverDrive, Inc. for Digital Materials June 20, 2023
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds have been approved in the City’s FY 2023-24 Operating Budget for this expense.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project, and therefore, is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve a Purchase Order with OverDrive, Inc. for eBooks, eMagazines, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos in an amount not to exceed $69,000.