February 17, 2026
Library and Community Services
DATE: February 17, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Kate Eppler, Deputy Director of Community Services -
Library
Christopher Larsen, Library Services Manager
Subject:
Contracts with Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin
Book Company, and Midwest Tape LLC, for Library
Materials Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds are included within the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Library and Cultural Services budget and will be budgeted accordingly in subsequent fiscal year
budgets (Account String: 01242155-400262).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Library seeks to contract with four vendors to ensure the timely receipt of new library materials, reduce the material processing burden on staff, and realize
discounts on various library collection materials.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to APPROVE contracts, upon
approval by the City Attorney’s Office, with Children’s Plus DBA Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin Book
Company, and Midwest Tape LLC, for library materials
and preprocessing services, each in an amount not to
exceed $300,000 per year, for a term of three years from February 2026 through January 2029, with two optional
one-year extensions, and AUTHORIZE the City Manager
or their designee to execute the contracts – Community
AGENDA
REPORT
February 17, 2026
Services – Library (Christopher Larsen/Kate
Eppler/LaShonda White 510-620-6561).
DISCUSSION:
The Library previously purchased the majority of library materials from Baker & Taylor, Inc., which notified the Library that it would cease operations by January 2026. The Library issued a Request for Proposals on October 6, 2025, for new library materials vendors after being notified that Baker & Taylor would shut down. The Request for Proposals asked responding vendors to describe their ability to provide a wide range of library materials, provide cataloging and materials processing services, integrate bibliographic and order records with the Library’s Integrated Library System, and provide a cost proposal for materials and services.
In total, 136 vendors were notified, 28 accessed the proposal materials, and the Library ultimately received seven (7) responsive proposals (Attachment 1). Library staff reviewed, rated, and scored the proposals with the intent of awarding multiple contracts to prevent future disruptions to material flow when vendors change or go out of business. Children’s Plus DBA Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin Book Company, and Midwest Tape LLC were rated highest (Attachment 2).
City staff recommends the City Council adopt the resolution approving contracts, subject to City Attorney review, with Children’s Plus dba Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin Book Company, and Midwest Tape LLC for library materials and preprocessing services, each not to exceed $300,000 annually, for a three year term from February 2026, through January 2029, with two optional one year extensions, and authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute the contracts.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Bid Summary Report
Attachment 2 – Ratings matrix
Attachment 3 – Resolution