STAFF REPORT
LIBRARY AND MUSEUM SERVICES DEPARTMENT
DATE: June 16, 2026
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 $80,000
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 $80,000. Sufficient funds are available in the City’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget for this purchase.
DISCUSSION
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, where titles are curated and selected by staff. Titles purchased through Overdrive are available to the Library’s patrons on computers, tablets, eReaders, or smartphones.
The Arcadia Public 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 patrons.
PO for Electronic Library Materials
June 16, 2026
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 and usage by Library patrons continues to increase yearly. Total spending for OverDrive during the next fiscal year is projected between $75,000 and $80,000. Sufficient funding has been allocated in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget for this purchase.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under Section 15061(b)(3) of 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 FY 2026-27 Operating Budget for this expense.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute 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 $80,000.