Library E-Resource Competitive Bidding | Compendium
Glenn R. Miller

Glenn Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Office of Commonwealth Libraries

Glenn Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
Wednesday, May 23, 2018

 

Earlier this month, I sent you an email explaining that state law requires the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) to conduct periodic competitive bids for POWER Library e-resources (subscription databases).

Currently, contracts for sixteen e-resource subscriptions expire on July 31, 2018.  (Seven POWER Library e-resources are not expiring at this time.)   This means that a major bid for e-resources is now underway.  For those subscriptions that are expiring in July, OCL may be replacing these databases with other resources.  Please note that HSLC, our technical support vendor for POWER Library, is not responsible for this bid process.

The bid process is expected to conclude this summer, with all e-resource contracts being finalized by August 2018.  We understand that there is great interest in POWER Library’s offerings going forward.  Please know that the minute this process is concluded and we get the green light for public release, we will share the news quickly and broadly.

Once again, as a point of reference, listed below are the subscriptions that are expiring, and those that are not.  If we make any changes to the “Expiring POWER Library E-Resources That May Change” list, they most likely will be effective by August 2018.

POWER Library E-Resources That May Change
The e-resources that are listed below may change by August 2018:

  1. EBSCO Academic Search Main Edition
  2. EBSCO Business Source Main Edition
  3. EBSCO Explora Elementary*
  4. EBSCO Explora Middle School*
  5. EBSCO Explora High School*
  6. EBSCO Explora Public Library*
  7. EBSCO GreenFile
  8. EBSCO LISTA
  9. EBSCO MasterFile Main Edition
  10. EBSCO Middle Search Main Edition
  11. EBSCO Newspaper Source Plus
  12. EBSCO Newswires
  13. EBSCO Primary Search Main Edition
  14. EBSCO Teacher Reference Center
  15. EBSCO Web News
  16. ProQuest SIRS Discoverer

*Explora resources are interfaces that offer searching of select EBSCO e-resources and are not separate e-resources.

POWER Library E-Resources That Do Not Expire
The e-resources that are listed below will not be expiring this summer:

  1. AP Images
  2. EBSCO Consumer Health
  3. EBSCO eBooks
  4. EBSCO Science Reference Center
  5. Gale Contemporary Authors
  6. Rosen Cyber Smarts
  7. Scholastic BookFlix
  8. Scholastic TrueFlix

What Should You Do?
It’s important for you, your public service staff, and technology staff to stay abreast of any possible changes.  You can do this by subscribing to:

Questions?
For questions about e-resources or other POWER Library services, please contact support@hslc.org.   

This project is made possible in part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and through Library Access Funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Department of Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor.

 Glenn R. Miller  |  Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
Pennsylvania Department of Education  |  Office of Commonwealth Libraries
Room 200 Forum Building
607 South Drive  |  Harrisburg, PA  17120-0600
Phone:  717-783-2646  |  www.education.pa.gov  |  @PaDeptofEd
www.facebook.com/PADepartmentofEducation  |  pinterest.com/PADeptOfEd

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The mission of the Department of Education is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. Further, the Department seeks to establish a culture that is committed to improving opportunities throughout the commonwealth by ensuring that technical support, resources, and optimal learning environments are available for all students, whether children or adults.

This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Cindy Heasley (cyheasley@pa.gov; 717-787-2646)