Poster Board Number: 11
Title: Building a Discovery Tool Request for Proposal (RFP): A Compilation of Unique Components and Duplicative Integrated Library System RFP Data
Objective: The university library analyzed traditional integrated library system (ILS) request for proposal (RFP) components and the unique characteristics of discovery tools to synthesize the data needed to successfully construct a viable discovery tool RFP.
Methods: The university library began analyzing the discovery tool and ILS products available on the market in February 2010 to determine if a system migration should be considered. The project consisted of researching the library literature to determine items most commonly incorporated into ILS RFPs, researching RFP best practices literature contributed from the business community, and reviewing vendor demonstrations of discovery tool products.
Results: A discovery tool RFP was devised that included relevant components suggested in the ILS RFP literature, coupled with concepts that are unique to discovery tool products. The resulting RFP also integrated data from the broader systems procurement literature.
Conclusions: A well constructed discovery tool RFP may provide a framework for vendors when submitting bids to solicit university business and can serve as a guidepost for library staff when analyzing the current specifications of their existing systems. Building the RFP aids system migration committee participants in carefully analyzing existing systems and determining unique components of a discovery tool, while helping committee members become more educated about the library’s needs and relevant discovery tool features offered by vendors.
Authors: Lisa Smith, Deputy Director, Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX; Lisa Clark, Student, Texas Womans University, Denton, TX
