Library Services is requesting City Council to authorize additional expenditures for the purchase of downloadable content (e-books, music, and e-audio library materials) with Kindle functionality from OverDrive, Inc. for Plano Public Library (PPL) under the remaining 15 months of the two (2) year contract with (1) two-year City optional renewal, in an estimated annual amount of $900,000; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
As a result of the increased demand for e-content during the pandemic, the Library received $300,000 in CARES funds. This demand for e-content continues to increase along with the consolidation of other providers to OverDrive, requiring staff to request an increase in annual expenditures.
In the past 12 months, OverDrive has merged with RB Digital and Kanopy. RB Digital was the provider of downloadable magazines for the library. Kanopy is the provider of streaming content such as The Great Courses and PBS documentaries. The addition of these two companies, which the library already offers, along with increased online services usage by patrons, creates a need to increase the amount available for purchase through Overdrive.
OverDrive is a major distributer of eBooks and eAudio, and now eMagaines and streaming videos. Plano citizens actively use all these services. The impact of not granting this request would be fewer eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines or streaming videos available to library patrons.
The City is exempt from the competitive bid process for this purchase as allowed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 Subchapter B Section 252.022(a)(7)(A). (City of Plano Internal Contract No. 2019-0684-X)