NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the City of Hayward invites proposals for 24-024 Library Strategic Plan.  Each proposal shall be in accordance with the general provisions for purchase of work and services on file in the office of the Library Services, 777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541-5114. All proposals must be submitted to the City's eProcurement Portal by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 and clearly identified with RFP title, number, company name and due date.  It is the sole responsibility of the proposing firm to ensure that proposals are received prior to the closing time, as late bids will not be accepted and deemed nonresponsive.

About the City
With a population currently estimated at 162,000, Hayward is the third largest city in Alameda County. The city area includes sixty-one square miles lying between the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay and the southern Oakland-Berkeley hills.  Hayward is one of the most linguistically and ethnically diverse communities in the nation.  It is also among the lowest-income communities in the Bay Area.

Hayward provides a full range of services to its residents including a robust library system. Park and recreation services are provided through partnership with the regional Hayward Area Recreational District (HARD), headquartered in the City. The City is host to two institutions of higher learning: California State University, East Bay, and Chabot College, the local community college. The Library partners closely with both institutions as well as Hayward Unified School district in serving the community. Mayor Mark Salinas, who was elected in November 2022, has expressed a priority goal of seeing Hayward designated an “Education City”. 

About the Library

HPL is a municipal library operated by the Library Services Department of the City. Through its programs and services, HPL has become a well-respected institution. In 2014, Hayward residents overwhelmingly voted for a sales tax measure to support the construction of the new, LEED-Platinum, 60,000 sf, 21st Century Library and Community Learning Center (“Downtown Library”), which includes a beautiful children’s room and story time area, community meeting rooms, study rooms, a makerspace, digital media lab, after-school homework support center, technology classroom, and beautiful art displays. In addition to this state-of-the-art Library, which was opened in 2019, HPL has an approximately 8,000 sf branch located in South Hayward, Weekes Branch.

The Library Services Department consists of various divisions: Operations, Adult and Children’s Services and Programs, Education Services, and Administration. 
The Operations Division is responsible for Library patron records, cataloging and facilitating public access to books, media, technology and online resources.  
The Library Programs and Services Division is responsible for services for all ages that respond to community needs and interests; information and referral services; recreational and cultural materials and programs; pre-literacy programs for children; engaging teen services, and lifelong learning and self-improvement opportunities for every Hayward resident. 
The Education Services Division is responsible for adult literacy and ESL programs, mobile outreach services, library and school-based after-school tutoring programs in partnership with Hayward Unified School District (HUSD), tech lending library services, and early childhood education and parenting programs in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. HPL anticipates the launch of a Techmobile in FY25.
Administration provides leadership, oversees staffing and payroll, and management of department personnel, supplies, resources and the operating budget, the development of external resources including grants and volunteers to advance City goals and serve Hayward residents; and coordination of activities with other City departments and external agency partners; and also oversees community meeting and gathering spaces.