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County library proposes BiblioCommons website and catalog upgrade; board hears demonstration
Summary
Library staff demonstrated a planned move to BiblioCommons/BiblioWeb to combine the website and catalog, add accessibility and translation features, and improve discovery. Year‑one costs (implementation + subscription) total about $161,333 and staff said funding is included in the requested budget.
Solano County library staff on June 9 presented a vendor demonstration for a new integrated website and online catalog built on BiblioWeb and BiblioCommons.
Assistant Library Director Megan Wong and library staff showed how the platform combines website content (hours, events, program registration) and a Google‑like catalog search that aggregates formats (ebook, audiobook, physical), lets users place holds, and supports community reviews and staff‑curated lists. Staff emphasized accessibility features, including language translation (Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese) and adjustable text sizes, and said early adopters report measurable increases in patrons finding and requesting materials.
The three‑year contract proposal includes a year‑one website subscription and implementation cost of $87,397 and a year‑one catalog subscription and implementation cost of $73,936, for a combined year‑one total of $161,333. Library staff said the funds are already included in the requested budget and no board action was required at the meeting.
Board members praised the improved user experience and asked about library‑card requirements for holds and e‑resources; staff said browsing and search functions are public, but checking out physical and digital items requires a library account. Representatives urged the library to highlight events and community programs prominently on the homepage.
Next step: staff will proceed with implementation as budgeted and return with any contract documentation as required by county procurement policy.
