From personal interest to educational research, BadgerLink is Wisconsin's Online Library, providing Wisconsin residents with licensed trustworthy resources from these current content providers. The resources are designed to provide a foundational collection serving all Wisconsin residents, augmenting those available through K-12 schools, public libraries, public and private universities and technical colleges, medical and health-care facilities and practitioners, and state agencies.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Services Team oversees BadgerLink and provides leadership, consultation, technical assistance, and training to the Wisconsin library community on best practices and effective use of the resources. Resources and staff are paid for with Universal Service Funds appropriated through Wisconsin's biennial budget, and federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Resource Procurement and Selection
Resources are selected through a Request for Bid (RFB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) governed by Department of Administration (DOA) guidelines. The current resources were selected through an RFB in 2018 and will extend through June 30, 2024, unless a compelling issue arises with the resources selected. The Department of Public Instruction is not able to change or add resources or content providers in the middle of a contract or without an awarded RFB or RFP. DPI is also unable to purchase a specific resource by name as procurement guidelines require all potential content providers be given equal opportunity to respond to an RFB or RFP. Please see the BadgerLink Collection Development Policy and the BadgerLink Procurement Collections for additional information.
Update March, 2022: The RFP for three newspaper collections was released, with contracts to begin July 1, 2023. This process began in May, 2021 with an original intended contract start date of July 1, 2022. Newspaper databases currently licensed in these collections will be available through June 30, 2023.
Feedback on BadgerLink resources is welcome at any time. Send an email, call 888-542-5543, toll-free in Wisconsin, and stay up to date by subscribing to the BadgerLink Bulletin.