Provision of Digital Lending library services for Public Libraries to the KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for a period of 36 months.

Returnable Documents:

The deliverables of the project are the number of eBooks and audiobooks that are subscribed to per annum, as well as the number of active members checking our items. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture requires provision of a subscription service to a digital lending library, offering e-books, digitally accessed audiobooks and other media to all registered patrons of public libraries in KwaZulu- Natal. Services required include: 1) Application services, 2) digital collection, 3) maintenance, hosting as well as staff training and support. Application service requirements • The digital lending library must be accessible through a virtual library, set up at the KZN Provincial Library Services Head Office. • The digital lending library must be available to registered library users, who have a compatible device and connectivity, with online password access through their registered library membership number. • The collection of e-books and e-audiobooks must be able to be downloaded onto connected compatible desktop computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers and smart phones, as well as through remote access from a web-based browser for online/offline reading. • The e-books in the digital lending library must be in easily accessible formats and offer “responsive design” that allows for optimized viewing on any sized screen and able to be adjusted for reader preferences (font size, type face, justification on the page and contrast as well as search facilities for a word or phrase and bookmarks.) • The service must provide collection development and maintenance tasks such as weeding titles, recommending titles and placing holds on titles on loan. • The website should be branded with the Departmental logo’s and colors. Collection requirements • The catalogue offered by the service provider for customized selection by the Department must be comprehensive and suitable to the educational, informative and recreational needs of public library users, both adults, young adults and children. • The catalogue must provide materials from a wide range of publishers both South African and international publishers. • The service must provide regular updates of new publications. • The service must be able to provide access to e-books and e-audiobooks. • The catalogue should provide a minimum of 400 000 titles for the Department to choose from. Technology • Support all major mobile devices (e-Readers, smartphones, tablets and other smart devices). • Digital rights management (copyright protection). • Bandwidths required for all downloads. • Relevant applications for e-books and audiobooks. • Applications should be able to support use by visually impaired users. Support services requirements • Provide training to Library Service staff. • Provide Secondary level user support. • Provide maintenance and hosting services. • Provide customizable marketing resources to promote the service. Management • Administrator function. • Reporting module which includes comprehensive statistics. Costing: • Please include annual subscription rates for a three-year period with detailed costing information in your submission. The subscription costing must allow for an annual credit for purchase of titles of R5 000 000 [Five million Rand].