DATE: June 17, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Library and Museum Services Director
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
Since 2011, the Arcadia Public Library has partnered with OverDrive, Inc. to offer patrons access to eBooks, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos. These curated titles can be accessed on computers, tablets, eReaders, or smartphones. The Library participates in the Southern California Digital Library Consortium, a group of 25 libraries that share digital collections to expand offerings for patrons.
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 2025-26 Operating Budget for this purchase.
BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the Arcadia Public Library has utilized the services of OverDrive, Inc. (“OverDrive”) to provide patrons with access to electronic books, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos. OverDrive, Inc. is the leading distributor of these materials to libraries in which titles are curated and selected by staff. Titles purchased through OverDrive are available to the Library’s patrons on computers, tablets, eReaders, or smartphones.
DISCUSSION
The Arcadia Public Library has access to OverDrive through its 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.
Purchase Order with OverDrive, Inc.
June 17, 2025
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 bestsellers, 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, with usage by Library patrons increasing each year. Total spending for OverDrive is projected to reach $69,000 during the next fiscal year and sufficient funding has been allocated in the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for this purchase.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds have been approved in the City’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget for this expense of up to $69,000.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project 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.