BiblioCommons Sole Source Letter

5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100 
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada  L4W 5N5 
(647) 436-6381 
 
 
 
February 27, 2025 
  
Chandler Public Library 
22 South Delaware St. 
Chandler, AZ 85225 
 
To whom it may concern; 
  
BiblioCommons owns the proprietary rights to the BiblioCommons software, a suite of services for public 
libraries that includes: BiblioCore catalog, BiblioWeb library website and content management system, 
BiblioEmail email marketing system, BiblioEvents events platform, and BiblioApps iOS and Android apps.  
These services are available exclusively via software as a service (SaaS) through agreements directly with 
BiblioCommons Corp. and are not available through any reseller. Many of the features available through 
these services are provided by no other supplier and enable public libraries to achieve critical strategic goals. 
  
Unique features, available through the full suite of BiblioCommons software and offered by no other 
supplier include: 
• 
Seamless integration and promotion of catalog content on the library’s website and of website 
content in the catalog, through: 
o An intelligent relevancy platform that aggregates metadata to automatically promote 
relevant website content in the catalog;  
o Built-in functionality to add catalog titles to blog posts; and 
o Built-in functionality to add reader’s advisory lists from the catalog to blog posts. 
• 
Deep integration across the staff interface through: 
o One-click curation for featuring content from disparate sources (website, events 
management module, catalog) on multiple website pages using the original content’s 
URL; and 
o Built-in modules for embedding FAQ content on pages and in blog posts, with updates to 
the FAQ content cascaded to all embedded instances.  
• 
Unified user experience through: 
o Single, persistent login for patrons across the library website, catalog, and events calendar; 
o Universal navigation and branding through the use of a universal header and footer across 
the library website, catalog and events module; and  
o Cross-product critical message display, allowing the library to provide the same high-
priority announcement on all modules. 
• 
Interoperability across Integrated Library Systems (ILSs), enabling the library to migrate to a new 
ILS without forcing a change to the library’s catalog. 
• 
Catalog search and browse tools to facilitate online discovery, such as: 
Docusign Envelope ID: 762429B4-C1C0-4B61-A122-FAE3512981E3

5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100 ⚬ Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA L4W 5N5 ⚬ Tel: (647) 436-6381  
o Natural language search capabilities for frequently used search terms based on format, 
audience and language; 
o Extensive built-in Awards and Bestsellers database, with full historical data for awards; and 
o “While You Wait” suggestion feature that displays available read-alike titles for items with 
a holds queue. 
• 
Embedded reader’s advisory toolkit, with: 
o Click-and-point list creation (no multi-step workflows); 
o Automatic integration of: full availability information and transaction options, 
appropriately sized jacket images (can be toggled on and off for printing), annotation 
fields, granular privacy settings, and permanent URLs; and 
o Dynamic integration of lists onto listed items’ bibliographic record pages. 
• 
Email marketing functionality that integrates with the library’s BiblioWeb site, enabling the library 
to populate email newsletters with automatically displayed and rendered website content, 
providing patrons with a consistent brand experience while saving staff time. 
 
Additionally, BiblioCommons provides a legal framework for community contributions that includes: 
● Patron-facing Terms of Use that secure a license from the patron to display the contributions they 
mark as public, 
● A First Amendment-compliant system for flagging and removing unprotected, inappropriate 
speech, and 
● Patron validation that is aligned with the federal requirements of COPPA (the Child Online 
Privacy Protection Act). 
● The features allow libraries to comply: 
○ With ALA principles addressing patron privacy; 
○ With First-Amendment requirements regarding free expression; and 
○ With FTC best-practices for dealing with users under the age of 13. 
  
BiblioCommons software fees are determined on a fixed pricing model based on the legal service population 
of the library, and pricing is not negotiated, regardless of the procurement mechanism. 
  
We would be pleased to continue to partner with Chandler Public Library  to work together to ensure that 
the library’s online platform offers a best-in-class digital experience. 
  
 
Sincerely, 
                                                                                          
  
 
 
 
Marty Tarle 
General Manager, BiblioCommons Corp. 
Docusign Envelope ID: 762429B4-C1C0-4B61-A122-FAE3512981E3