State Department wants to update the oldest federal library

The State Department plans to bring the oldest federal library into the next generation for the department’s researchers and analysts.

The library needs a commercial, off-the-shelf “next generation” library system (NGLS). The department also wants help in migrating library data to the new system as well as continued system support.

The requirements include an integrated library system supporting all functions. The functions include a discovery tool that integrates customer searches throughout the library’s resources, an electronic resources management system, and the hosting and support of the tools by the NGLS contractor.

The department wants a unified management of resources, a hosted cloud or Software as a Service solution with web-based interface that is interoperable with one of the major discovery and delivery systems currently on the market. The department also wants to get the resources to replace the library’s existing systems while ensuring the library can decommission some of its current systems after the data migration.

The State Department issued the request for proposals Sept. 20. Responses are due by Oct. 21.