The Office of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library (SOS/ISL) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide statewide delivery services for Illinois libraries for state fiscal year 2014 (July 1, 2013–June 30, 2014).

The RFP has now been published at the Illinois Procurement Bulletin website operated by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Registration is required to view RFPs; however, anyone can register. Click on the Registration link at the top of the page and then on IllinoisBID to see an overview of the RFP. The RFP is No. 22027787 and titled “Library Transport Service.” Bids are due by August 30, 2012.

The Illinois State Library has emphasized that no plans exist to close library system delivery services and that their office is solidly committed to ensuring that resource sharing, including the delivery of library materials, remains a top priority.

The recent Illinois Library Association (ILA) report, The Future of Illinois Library Cooperation: Exploring Effective, Efficient Service Models, strongly recommends the exploration of outsourcing. Responses to an RFP will provide data about costs and designs for outsourced delivery services. The SOS/ISL will carefully evaluate all responses received.

The RFP does not obligate the SOS/ISL to the execution of a contract. The RFP will not include the delivery services among the Chicago Public Library and its branches, or the Illinois Library Delivery Service, which is supported by a separate agreement.

The efforts of the SOS/ISL remain focused on supporting resource sharing and facilitating libraries’ engagement in their communities. Coupled with the ongoing work of the ISL’s Future of Resource Sharing Committee, they will continue to advocate the Secretary’s goal of ensuring resource sharing support for all Illinois libraries.

Please contact Anne Craig at 217-782-2994 if you have questions.