Empire Library Delivery

May Update on Empire Library Delivery Process

Jason Kucsma — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:41:19 +0000

On May 3rd, 2012 the Empire Library Delivery Task Force met for a final discussion around the vendors that had surfaced as viable options for taking over the existing LAND service. The Task Force (which includes representatives from SUNY Office of Library and Information Services, CUNY Central Offices, NY3Rs Association, Inc., ConnectNY, and IDS) ultimately based its decision the most important factor: providing a reliable service at costs comparable to what our members have been paying for their current service.

The abbreviated timeline and the geographic scope of this project were two key challenges impacting the group’s decision. Additionally, feedback from our library community diverged on issues of cost and level of service. While some libraries justifiably expressed concern about the service provided by the current vendor, others were equally concerned about their institutions’ inability to absorb higher fees to support a more custom-tailored service that would support our needs to preserve a truly statewide delivery service in support of resource sharing.

The New York 3Rs Association, Inc. has entered into contract negotiations with Velocity Express for a one-year pilot project to provide a seamless continuation of the statewide delivery service formerly known as LAND. The new service, Empire Library Delivery (ELD) will build on the existing services provided by Velocity to include web-based order/stop entry, label production, tracking, and 24/7/365 customer service. This service will be evaluated regularly by members of an ELD Participant Task Force (to be developed) to ensure that our members are receiving the exemplary service promised to us by the vendor.

Our Task Force is truly appreciative of the feedback from our member libraries — including their willingness to entertain creative solutions to address the service — and we are confident that we have reached a solution that will satisfy the majority of participating LAND libraries. Additional developments will be posted here on the Empire Library Delivery website.

Thank you, again, for your feedback during this process. We look forward to working with you.

Debby Emerson, Jason Kucsma, Jean Sheviak
NY 3Rs Association representatives to the Empire Library Delivery Task Force

Update on Schedule Response Forms

Jason Kucsma — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:44:40 +0000

Please note that the following LAND participant information was inadvertently left off of the Schedule Response Forms 1 and 2. We apologize for the oversight:

St. Lawrence University Library
23 Romoda Drive
Canton, NY 13617
SUNY Downstate Medical Center Library
450 Clarkson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11203
SUNY College of Optometry
33 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
CUNY City College Center for Worker Education
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

Deadline Extended, Final Round of Questions Answered

Jason Kucsma — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:17:15 +0000

After the conference call with potential bidders on Friday, February 24, we have posted the answers to the final round of questions from bidders. The questions and answers can be viewed on the FAQ page.

We are also extending the deadline for proposal submissions. All proposals should be received by noon on March 12, 2012.

Final Follow-Up Call for Bidders Scheduled for 02.24.02 at 4:00pm

Jason Kucsma — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:50:31 +0000

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Don’t Forget the FAQs

Jason Kucsma — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:06:26 +0000

We are regularly updating the FAQs with answers to questions we receive from bidders. While you receive updates from the site when we publish a new post, the same updates are not generated when we add Q&As to the FAQ. All questions and answers are listed in chronological order from oldest to newest.

Head to the FAQs now to see what’s been added.

REVISED: Final RFP Available Now for Empire Library Delivery

Jason Kucsma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:19 +0000

Please find the links below to the final RFP for the Empire Library Delivery Service and required Schedule Response Forms. A follow-up conference call for bidders will be announced within the next few days on this site. To download files, right-click (control+click on mac) and “save link as” to desired location.

Please note: The schedule response forms were updated on February 9 at 9:15am. Please re-download if you have already downloaded the incorrect Schedule Response Forms.

DOWNLOAD: Empire Library Delivery RFP

DOWNLOAD: Schedule Response Form 1 (LAND and Regional Components, integrated)
for Models 1 and 2

DOWNLOAD: Schedule Response Form 2 (LAND and Regional Components, separated)
for Model 3

Model 4 is more flexible, and we encourage vendors to use and modify whichever response form is most appropriate for their use.

Recording Available from January 17 Conference Call with Potential Bidders

Jason Kucsma — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:52:06 +0000

Thanks to those of you who were able to join us for this call. For those of you that would like to revisit this conversation or share it with potential collaborators, we are including the recording below for your convenience.

Results from LAND Survey Now Available

Jason Kucsma — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:18:13 +0000

ATTENTION: As of January 27. 2012, all available current data for existing services is available on the Summary of Existing Services page.

In preparation for forthcoming RFP, the Empire Library Delivery task force conducted a survey to solicit as much information as possible about the existing LAND delivery service. The attached spreadsheet, while not comprehensive, includes responses from approximately 163 LAND users and 46 regional library delivery service users (not currently using LAND). Additionally, a map of LAND users is also available here: http://bit.ly/yJNrgi. Please use the Contact and Questions form if you have any questions.

Download the spreadsheet here: LAND Survey Results

Bidders and Stakeholders Invited to Register for Conference Call

Jason Kucsma — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:20:03 +0000

The Empire Library Delivery task force will hold two conference calls in January, one for potential bidders (January 17, 1:30-3:30) and another for representatives from stakeholder institutions (January 18, 1:30-3:30). Please the the appropriate form below to register. Due to the large number of stakeholders, we request that stakeholder institutions designate one representative to attend the that call. Registered attendees will receive the call-in information approximately one week prior to the calls. Please use the Contact and Questions page if you have any questions.

Draft RFP Now Available for Review

Jason Kucsma — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:50:21 +0000

Below is a link to the draft version of the RFP for Empire Library Delivery. This draft version is being issued to generate discussion and answer questions from stakeholders and firms who are considering responding to the final RFP. The Empire Library Delivery planning committee would like to hear how this RFP might be improved to insure that the most efficient and innovative solutions are available to libraries in New York State. The draft will be revised and reissued at the end of January, 2012, based on your comments and feedback.

Your comments, questions, and suggestions may be submitted via our web form, and we welcome your participation in either the stakeholder or the vendor conference calls. Registration is required, and we will post a link to register for either call at http://empirelibrarydelivery.org on or before January 3, 2012.

2011-12-1 RFP_Draft_121411