Integrated Library System

Vendor will provide a fully integrated, cloud-hosted solution consisting of an Integrated Library System (ILS), discovery platform, and mobile application. The proposed solution will replace the Houston Public Library’s existing enterprise library management platform and provide a modern, accessible, and user-friendly experience for both library staff and patrons. The scope of this procurement includes software licensing, cloud hosting, implementation, configuration, systems integration, data migration, staff training, technical support, maintenance, security updates, and ongoing software enhancements and upgrades.
- Enhanced cloud-based capabilities, including:
a. Disaster recovery and business continuity.
b. Scalable bandwidth and computing resources.
c. Streamlined client architecture.
d. Reduced reliance on local servers and infrastructure.
- Open and extensible application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable HPL to:
a. Develop integrations with other libraries and library systems.
b. Support a broad range of third-party applications and services.
c. Exchange data securely with external platforms.
- Seamless discovery and access to:
a. Print resources. (Physical library materials, including books, periodicals, and other tangible items held in the library collection).
b. Free and subscription-based electronic resources.
c. In-house digital collections and assets.
d. Other library services and content.
- Social Engagement Capabilities that allow patrons to:
a. Share library catalog information and related content through social media.
b. Post, rate, review, tag, and otherwise interact with library content.
c. Promote library resources through external social platforms
- Cloud Hosting, Architecture, and Service Delivery must specify:
a. Hosting environment(s) and cloud infrastructure.
b. All contractors and/or subcontractors involved in service delivery.
c. Architecture supporting system resiliency and redundancy (e.g., multi-zone, multiregion).
d. A minimum production-system availability commitment of 99.9% per calendar month, excluding only approved scheduled maintenance. The Proposer must identify all covered services, measurement methods, and exclusions.
e. Scheduled-maintenance requirements, including frequency, expected duration, maintenance windows, and advance notice. Scheduled maintenance should occur outside HPL’s normal operating hours whenever practicable and must be communicated at least five business days in advance, except for emergency security maintenance.
f. Availability monitoring and reporting capabilities, including monitoring frequency, notification procedures, and monthly reports documenting uptime, outages, affected services, causes, and corrective actions.
g. Redundancy, failover, disaster-recovery, and incident-response capabilities, including procedures for restoring service following a partial or complete outage.
h. Service credits, corrective-action procedures, or other remedies offered when the minimum availability requirement is not met, including procedures for repeated or extended service failures.