To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: Purchase Order with Califa Group for ProQuest's Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online subscriptions through June 30, 2026
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent to execute, on behalf of the County Librarian, a purchase order with Califa Group, subject to the terms of their Agreement and Product/Service Terms, in an amount not to exceed $64,595 for the renewal of ProQuest's Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online subscriptions, for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Library Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Library offers patrons ProQuest's Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online subscriptions services. These products are the most comprehensive genealogical collections available. The Ancestry product is as online source of information containing the following types of records: census, birth, marriage, death, immigration, vital, church, military, court, land, and probate. Library users have access to information on names in over 4,000 databases, including the U.S. Federal Census from 1790 to 1940, Social Security Index, Civil War records, U.S. Public Records Index, American Genealogical-Biographical Index, and Federal Slaves Narratives. HeritageQuest makes it convenient for users to explore billions of American and international genealogical records dating back to the 1700s - including primary sources, family and local histories, research guides, interactive census maps and more which allows patrons to discover ancestors and learn about local people and places from the past. ProQuest offers libraries a discount through a purchase made by Califa, the California Library Consortium, of which the Library is a member.
The Agreement with ProQuest includes a limitation of liability provision capping ProQuest's liability at the amount of fees ...
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