What’s Happening with Statewide Database Licensing?

Text by Arlene Weible, State Library of Oregon and Lynda Irons, Pacific University


Logo for the State Library of OregonThe State Library of Oregon licenses electronic resources and databases for use by academic, school, public, and tribal libraries in Oregon. These resources are available at no cost to Oregon libraries through the Statewide Database Licensing Program (SDLP). This program is supported in whole by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Currently, SDLP resources include a suite of Gale/Cengage Learning databases and LearningExpress Library. The State Library’s contract with Gale/Cengage Learning expires in July 2018, so work is currently underway on a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new contract.

Learning Express Logo

The Statewide Database Licensing Advisory Committee (SDLAC) works closely with State Library staff to develop the RFP and evaluate proposals. The committee has representatives from all types of libraries, including these academic librarians

  • Karen Kunz, Oregon Institute of Technology, representing public academic institutions
  • Lynda Irons, Pacific University, representing private academic institutions
  • Amy Hofer, Statewide Open Education Library Services, representing community colleges

SDLAC members have developed category descriptions and evaluation rubrics, ranging from what is not acceptable to what is desirable for each category, including

  • Academic Journal Database
  • General Online Encyclopedia
  • General Periodical Resources
  • Reference Resources
  • Contemporary Issues Resources
  • Lifelong Learning and Skills Courses

Academic librarians have provided leadership for the SDLAC as it moves through the RFP development and evaluation process. Previous chair Emily Miller-Francisco (Southern Oregon University) and current chair Lynda Irons as well as the other academic library representatives have particularly worked on developing evaluation criteria for the academic journal database category of the RFP.

Here is the timeline for remaining RFP activities:

September 21, 2017 SDLAC Meeting – Finalize RFP content
November 2017 RFP posted
January-March 2018 Proposals evaluated by SDLAC
Spring 2018 SDLAC Meeting – Finalize recommendation
May 2018 LSTA Council Meeting – Approval of recommendation and LSTA FFY 2018 budget approved
June 2018 OSL Board Meeting – Approval of recommendation and LSTA FFY 2018 budget finalized
June-July, 2018 New Contract finalized
July 31, 2018 Gale contract ends

If you would like to provide feedback to the academic library representatives, their contact information as well as other information about the program is available on the Statewide Database Licensing Program web site.

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