Thursday, May 13, 2021
BadgerLink currently licenses more than 60 resources within 11 broad collection areas. Each collection is a separate contract which began in 2018 and was renewed last summer, providing access through June 2022. One additional renewal is available for July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024. However, based on feedback and consideration of the importance of newspapers, as well as the desire to break up the procurement cycle, the Request For Proposal (RFP) process has begun for the three newspaper collections.
- Newspapers published daily and weekly since at least 2005, in Wisconsin communities with populations up to 10,000. (currently Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers)
- Newspapers published in the ten largest U.S. cities, the ten largest Wisconsin cities, and Wisconsin cities with populations of more than 10,000. Coverage should include at a minimum, the last five years. (currently U.S. Newsstream)
- Historic newspapers from communities of all sizes, including a minimum of 150 Wisconsin cities, and other areas nationwide, published between 1850 and 1995. (currently Newspapers.com Library Edition World Collection)
In the coming months, BadgerLink will request general input and feedback from the community on desired features and functions, develop the RFP specifications, and work with the library community to evaluate responses. It is our hope to have awards announced by March 2022 with contracts beginning July 1, 2022.
Stay tuned for for more updates via Badger Bulletin and Wisconsin Libraries for Everyone.