Meeting convened at 12:30 p.m.
A. Syma began the conversation
by reviewing the results of the TexShare member survey
and the database rankings resulting from the survey.
Members of working group reviewed overall rank of
database categories (by all members) as well as rank
of database categories by constituency type (university,
community college, public library, medical library).
It was decided that the top database categories in
the overall ranking as well as the top database category
for each constituency would be included in the RFO.
B. Budget was reviewed including
funding sources used for purchasing databases such
as HeritageQuest.
C. After considerable discussion,
the group decided to not place WorldCat in the RFO
process, as it is a sole source, proprietary purchase.
D. Also, after considerable discussion,
the group decided to include a genealogy database
in the RFO process, in spite of its medium-level ranking,
due to the importance of this resource to advocates
and supporters of public libraries.
E. Director of Administrative Services
for TSLAC Donna Osborne provided guidance on how to
structure the RFO.
It was determined that this will be one RFO for all
of the databases we are trying to purchase.
F. The following categories will
be placed in the RFO for vendors to bid on:
G. Vendors may choose to bid on
only which category they are
interested in.
They can submit bids on only one category or all categories.
Vendors may offer additional databases as part of
a “database package” for free (or minimal
cost) if they wish.
Statewide trials and demonstrations will be part of
the selection process.
Meeting was adjoined at 1:55 p.m.
