Title
Recommendation to Award Contract in the Amount of $364,090 with an Additional Amount of $35,910 in Contingencies, to Innovative Interfaces, Inc. for the Integrated Library System, Polaris. (Library 5210)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manger
Re: Recommendation to Award contract in the Amount of $364,090, with an Additional Amount of $35,910 in Contingencies, to Innovative Interfaces, Inc. for the Integrated Library System, Polaris
BACKGROUND
The Alameda Free Library, like all 21st century public libraries, uses Integrated Library Systems (ILS) to run its entire operation. The ILS allows the library to link core functions like material acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, online catalog searching, statistical reporting and processing of records in a single database structure.
Alameda first purchased its ILS in 1992, a Dynix "Classic" system and replaced this legacy system in 2004 with a Dynix "Horizon" system, which uses more current technology, including a graphical user interface and client server features. Since 2004 technology has advanced significantly with systems now moving away from the standard client server environment to ones which make full use of Internet enabled web technology and provide seamless interfaces with e-books and other online resources. The library is in year 11 of the Horizon ILS system and it is time to move to the new technology available in the marketplace, which enables better public service and more efficient and effective library operations. In addition, the library's core server hardware has reached its end of life and it will be necessary to replace it or find another way to host essential library applications as soon as possible.
DISCUSSION
The library employed a competitive procurement process for the purchase of a new ILS. On December 16, 2015 the library issued a request for proposal inviting proposals from library software vendors. On ...
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