Agenda

Return

C. 50

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Melinda Cervantes, County Librarian
Date:	October 18, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Grant to the Library from the Pacific Library Partnership

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/18/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

925-927-3228

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 18, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $25,000 from Pacific Library Partnership to provide software enhancements to the Discover & Go, Museum Pass Reservation System, for the period October 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No Library Fund match.

BACKGROUND:

In 2011, Contra Costa County Library created, developed, and implemented an online reservation system called Discover & Go, the first of its kind downloadable museum pass management platform. Since this time, Discover & Go has met Contra Costa County Library’s goal of providing access to culture, in and outside of the library, by attracting 90 museum and cultural partners and making over 150,000 free visits possible for cardholders.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

As Discover & Go continues to expand, providing service currently to 44 California library systems, the platform software and patron interface is in need of enhancements. The Innovation and Technology Opportunity Grant from the Pacific Library Partnership will provide the funding necessary to allow Quipu Group, the software developer behind the platform, to make the necessary enhancements that will provide updates to the aging platform and improvements to the overall user experience.

Contra Costa County Library will partner with San Francisco Public Library to test Quipu’s enhancements that include adding a Spanish language option and other features that will improve the user experience and bring the platform up-to-date. These enhancements are expected to provide better customer service to patrons using the service, including mobile phone users, and will provide a more efficient operating system that will create a less time-intensive process for library staff who administer the service.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Discover & Go platform, used by libraries and patrons throughout the state, will not have improvements made to improve its functionality and user interface.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Children Ready for and Succeeding in School: Offering museum passes to County residents allows parents to take their children to museums and to participate in numerous early literacy resources and programs as well as encourage the love of reading by recommending and offering books and materials that coordinate with museum exhibits and programs.

Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood: Libraries provide a place for study, education and learning for children and teens and museum passes extend the library’s ability to meet this goal.

Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families: Like libraries, museums provide a safe place for children and teens after school, support the formal education provided by schools, and provide life-long learning opportunities for families and people of all ages.