[Publib] Consultant sought

[O'NEILL Barbara]

Request for Quotation
Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Oregon
Reference Program Redesign Project

	Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) is
seeking a consultant to analyze reference/information services in the
county and to design a patron-focused, outcome-based model for
information services based on best practices.

Background
Washington County, Oregon has a three-part mission for WCCLS:  provide
county funding for public library operations; provide support services
to member libraries when it is more efficient and economical to do so;
and provide direct service to special populations (i.e. homebound,
children in child care, Spanish-speaking residents).

Currently there are twelve public library providers in fourteen physical
locations that offer direct library service to the residents of the
county (population approximately 500,000).  They represent nine cities,
two non-profit organizations and the County.  Members share a common
integrated library system (Polaris software), which provides
inter-library borrowing to all county residents, and a central courier
system which delivers materials from one library to another.  In
addition, there is one hospital library and a small college library.
The total system-wide circulation for 2006-07 was about 7.4 million,
with a total collection size of about 1.3 million items.  

The WCCLS Central Services Reference Program currently provides
second-level reference service to member libraries, coordinates and
supplies direct digital reference service, coordinates interlibrary loan
(OCLC) for member libraries, contracts with Beaverton City Library to
provide telephone reference for all county residents, and licenses
electronic databases and downloadable media for member libraries. The
electronic resources budget for 2007-08 is $177,700. Staff also
represents the Cooperative in state and regional meetings and
committees, such as the Oregon Digital Library Consortium (consortium of
libraries contracting for downloadable media), L-net (statewide digital
reference), and the Statewide Database Licensing Advisory Committee.  

The direct delivery of reference services to the public is conducted by
staff of member libraries.  The extent of reference collections and
depth of reference services provided vary from library to library,
depending upon size and staffing.

Scope of Work
WCCLS is seeking assistance from a consultant with a strong working
knowledge of reference operations and administration to provide an
independent review of:
	1.   What are our patrons' information services needs?
	2.	What information services should be provided in
Washington County? What outcomes shall we strive for to assure our
patrons' needs are met?
	3.	How can we change our way of providing information
services to attain the vision outlined in number 2?
	4.	What might the WCCLS Central Services Reference Program
do to provide more efficient support of libraries' efforts to deliver
information services?
WCCLS is seeking specific recommendations with pros and cons noted for
each suggested change.  The consultant will be required to visit or
interview by phone key reference staff in at least 7 library sites,
representing both large and small libraries, as well as the Central
Services Reference staff. 

Limits to Scope
Although the WCCLS Reference Program encompasses interlibrary loan
services, those services are outside the scope of this study.  All
recommendations should be framed within the existing cooperative
governance structure; review of governance and structure is outside the
scope of this study.  

Schedule and Quotation Submittal
	*	Proposals should be submitted by September 17, 2007.
	*	Contract work can begin upon execution of a Washington
County Personal Services Agreement.
	*	Submit report with findings and recommendations to
Barbara O'Neill (address below) within 2 months of execution of
Washington County Personal Services Agreement.
	*	After review, a presentation to the WCCLS Policy Group
(library directors and WCCLS Manager) will also be required (dates to be
determined).
	*	Funding for this project does not exceed $15,000.  
	*	Include the following information in your response:
			o	Experience in performing similar studies
for libraries;
			o	Outline of your plan for completing the
project;
			o	Cost quotation;
			o	Identification of any additional staff
that will be involved in the project including a description of their
experience;
			o	Contact information for at least three
library references for which similar work was performed. 
Responses will be reviewed by a committee; follow-up clarification may
be required.  Submit responses to:

Barbara O'Neill, Senior Librarian 
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
111 NE Lincoln St., MS-58B
Hillsboro OR 97124-3036

barbarao at multcolib.org
503-988-5577




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