Core Catalog & Discovery Systems Interest Group

Hello! 

Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) is seeking a qualified firm to lead a major operational transition for our library cooperative. We are moving from a distributed model (where each member library manages its own collection and technical services) to a centralized system managed by WCCLS. This work will begin in January 2026 and must be completed by July 1, 2027, with potential support continuing through June 2028. 

WCCLS is a department of Washington County, Oregon, and partners with nine cities and three nonprofit organizations to deliver public library services across 16 locations. Our cooperative is guided by intergovernmental agreements and supported by both county funding and a voter-approved levy. As we evaluate long-term funding and governance, centralizing some operations is a key strategy to improve efficiency while maintaining high-quality service. 

We are looking for a contractor with experience working in multi-agency environments, leading collaborative processes, developing library workflows and technical specifications, and supporting implementation. The selected firm will work closely with WCCLS and our libraries to centralize collection management and technical services. 

Washington County residents value both the unique character of their local libraries and the convenience of a well-integrated countywide system. Member library staff are highly skilled professionals with deep community ties and strong local collections. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of library service in Washington County.  

If your firm is interested in helping us navigate this transition while preserving the strengths of our local libraries, we invite you to review the full RFP and submit a proposal. Proposals are due October 13, with contractor selection by October 31. A preproposal conference will be held at 11:00am PST on Monday, September 29. 

Please feel free to share and repost this announcement. 

All questions can be submitted through the RFP page on opengov.com. 

Thank you!