Libraries that are considering the purchase of the Virginia Tech Library Systems software will be interested in the following news from Ohio. The State Library Board of Ohio has entered into a purchase agreement with the Hewlett-Packard Company on behalf of Ohio libraries. The benefits of this agreement, the first of what is anticipated will be many such arrangements, will apply to any library in Ohio which orders Hewlett-Packard products. According to this agreement, Ohio libraries will receive a 12 percent discount on all Hewlett-Packard products except for those products classified as "accessories and add ons." Equipment purchases will be based on the terms and conditions of sale as defined in the Hewlett-Packard Federal Government General Services Administration Contract GS-0000-03010.
Any Ohio library wishing to participate in the program will be given a State Library of Ohio contract reference number to be cited on the library's standard purchase order form. Currently only Ohio libraries have this option. However, Hewlett-Packard is discussing similar agreements with other state library agencies.
