TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Eddie Covarrubias, Community Services Director
DATE: September 9, 2026
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
FROM INGRAM CONTENT GROUP FOR THE CROWELL
PUBLIC LIBRARY
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Engaged and Connected Residents
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
BACKGROUND
The Crowell Public Library is a member of the Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC), a consortium of 40 city, county, and special district libraries in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. As a member, the Library is offered discounts through the cooperative purchasing agreement between SCLC and Ingram Content Group (Ingram), who the Library uses as its main book supplier.
DISCUSSION
The purchasing agreement with Ingram is renewed on an annual basis. Below are the discounts offered for FY 2026-27.
Discounts on Trade Hardcover, Quality, and Mass Market
Paperbacks*:
Copies per Title Electronic
Orders:
1 to 4 40.0%
Tony Chou, Mayor
Calvin Lo, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Council Member
5 to 9 41.0%
10 to 99 42.0%
100+ 43.0%
Additional Discounts:
• Library Bindings: 15.0%
• University Press: 10.0%
• ** Short Discounted Titles: 10.0%
• *** Spoken Word Audio: 0-45.0%
• Games: 0.0 - 5.0%
• DVD/Blu-ray: 0.0 - 15.0%
• Net Titles: 0.0%
* Trade Hardcover, Quality Paperbacks and Mass Market Paperback titles ordered with a cover price of $14.99 or less will receive a 25% discount.
** Short Discount/Non-Trade: Lower demand, small print-run books in various bindings, and includes graphic novels, legal, technical, reference, scientific, and medical titles as defined by Ingram subject categories. Titles are generally published by small or university presses.
Also included are print and audiobook titles purchased at lower than full trade discount; titles with limited sales volume; and/or titles from publishers not in compliance with Ingram’s purchasing requirements.
Ingram is pleased to make this broad base of titles available to our customers with no service charges.
*** Eighty to eighty-five percent of all Spoken Word Audio is at 45% discount; however, some Spoken Word Audio is short discounted by the publisher.
Today, staff requests approval to procure library materials from Ingram Content Group for fiscal year 2026-27 through the cooperative purchasing agreement between SCLC and Ingram.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The payments to this vendor are budgeted for and will be paid out of various General Ledger account numbers:101-91-4370-0335, 281-91-4370-0000, 281-91-4370-2575, 281-91-4376-2575, 101-92-4370-0000, 281-92-4370- 0000, 281-92-4370-2575, 281-92-4376-0000. Staff expects that no more than eighty-two thousand five hundred fifty-seven dollars ($82,557) will be spent on books from Ingram for the entire fiscal year.
The purchase is in compliance with the City’s procurement policy, as the Department will be using a cooperative purchasing agreement in accordance with SMCC 02.06.05.B.6.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council approve of the procurement of library materials from Ingram Content Group in an amount not to exceed eighty-two thousand five hundred fifty-seven dollars ($82,557) for FY 2026-27. If the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to approve of the procurement of library materials from Ingram Content Group in an amount not to exceed eighty-two thousand five hundred fifty-seven dollars ($82,557) for FY 2026-27.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Letter from Ingram Content Group to Southern California Library Cooperative dated July 2, 2026