You are here

BadgerLink - Wisconsin's Online Library

Mission

From personal interest to educational research, BadgerLink is Wisconsin's Online Library, providing Wisconsin residents with licensed trustworthy resources from these current content providers. The resources are designed to provide a foundational collection serving all Wisconsin residents, augmenting those available through K-12 schools, public libraries, public and private universities and technical colleges, medical and health-care facilities, and state agencies.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Services Team oversees BadgerLink and provides leadership, consultation, technical assistance, and training to the Wisconsin library community on best practices and effective use of the resources. Resources are paid for with Universal Service Funds appropriated through Wisconsin's biennial budget, and staff and technology tools through federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Resource Procurement and Selection

As BadgerLink resources are purchased and licensed by a Wisconsin state agency, all Department of Administration (DOA) procurement procedures and requirements apply to the process. The current DOA Procurement Manual states that “the competitive bidding process (Request for Bid/RFB or Request for Proposal/RFP) is the preferred method for selecting suppliers and will be used in every case unless it is determined, and justified, that competitive bidding is not practical or in the state’s best interest.” Therefore, DPI is not able to change or add resources or content providers in the middle of a contract or without an awarded RFB, RFP, or sole source agreement. DPI is also unable to purchase a specific resource by name as procurement guidelines require all potential content providers be given equal opportunity to respond to an RFB or RFP. Companies interested in doing business with the State of Wisconsin can find more information on the DOA VendorNet & eSupplier page.

The BadgerLink Collection Development Policy guides selection criteria. The criteria is then translated into broad collection areas defined by subject area(s), user group(s), and content type(s) and forms the basis for procurement. Each collection is unique and awarded to a single content provider for one or more resources. A general definition of each collection and the awarded content providers and resources is below. The number of resources procured is impacted by the current level of BadgerLink funding in the Wisconsin biennial budget. 

The most recent procurements were completed in FY2024 and FY2025. All related communications can be found through the BadgerLink Bulletin.

Procurement Collections

Auto Repair

Service information, technical service bulletins and recalls, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedules, estimated labor times, and diagnostic trouble codes for at least 30,000 domestic and foreign vehicles manufactured from at least between 1975-present.

Content Provider: Gale

Resource: ChiltonLibrary (New)

Request for Bid (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Encyclopedias in English and Spanish

Full-text articles, including biographies; audio; video; maps; rights-cleared images; and other reference materials covering multiple subject and topical areas in English and Spanish, for all grade levels, including adult learners.

Content Provider: Britannica Education

Resources:

  • Britannica Library: Young Children (New), Children, Young Adults, Reference Center
  • Britannica School: Early Elementary (New), Elementary, Middle, High
  • Britannica Escolar 
  • Britannica Moderna
  • Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary

Request for Bid (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Genealogy and Local History

Full-text U.S. Federal Census records from 1790 to the current un-redacted records, at a minimum 40,000 family histories, local histories, city directories, and other genealogy or family history books; Revolutionary War records and the U.S. Serial Set.

Content Provider: ProQuest

Resource: HeritageQuest Online

Request for Bid (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

General Interest Magazines

Database or databases providing access to primarily full-text magazines and journals that meet the research needs and reading levels for the general adult population. Covers general interest popular magazine content, including consumer review content, broad subject areas, and access to both current and past issues.

Content Provider: EBSCO

Resources:

  • Hobbies & Crafts Source (New)
  • Home Improvement Source (New)
  • MasterFILE Complete

Request for Proposal (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Historic Wisconsin Newspapers

Newspapers from a minimum of 95 Wisconsin cities/communities of all sizes between at least 1850 and 1995.

Content Provider: ProQuest

Resource: Newspapers.com Library Edition World Collection

Request for Bid (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Magazines, Journals, and Reference Materials for the K-12 Community

Database package providing access to primarily full-text magazines, journals, and reference materials that meet the research needs and reading levels for the K-12 community. Covers a wide variety of general interest subject areas and topics, including current events and social issues. Content may also include biographies, essays, primary sources, speeches, images & video, news, eBooks, opinion pieces, expert interviews, and discussion questions.

Content Provider: EBSCO

Resources:

  • Alt HealthWatch
  • Children’s Core Collection
  • Consumer Health Complete (+eBook Collection)
  • Educational Administration Abstracts
  • ERIC
  • Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
  • Health Source: Consumer Edition
  • History Reference Source (+eBook Collection)
  • Literary Reference Plus (+eBook Collection)
  • MAS Complete (+eBook Collection)
  • Middle & Junior High Core Collection
  • Middle Search Plus (+eBook Collection)
  • Newspaper Source Plus
  • Poetry & Short Story Reference Source (+eBook Collection)
  • Points of View Reference Source (New)
  • Primary Search (+eBook Collection)
  • Professional Development Collection
  • Science Reference Source (+eBook Collection)
  • Senior High Core Collection

Request for Proposal (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Magazines, Journals, and Reference Materials for the Post-Secondary and Lifelong Learner Communities

Magazines, journals, and reference materials that meet the research needs and reading levels for the post-secondary and lifelong learner communities. Covers a wide variety of subject areas and topics.

Content Provider: EBSCO

Resources:

  • Academic Search Premier
  • Advanced Placement Source
  • Business Source Premier
  • Computers & Applied Sciences Complete
  • Education Source (New)
  • Health Source: Nursing-Academic Edition
  • Humanities International Complete
  • Library and Information Science Source (New)
  • MEDLINE
  • Military and Government Collection
  • Regional Business News
  • Small Engine Repair Source

Request for Bid (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Multimedia Resources on Children's and Young Adult Fiction & Nonfiction

Resources for children’s and young adult books and their authors and illustrators. Includes specialized original, instructional content such as video and author interviews, book readings, lesson plans, book guides, and more.

Content Provider: TeachingBooks

Resources:

  • TeachingBooks
  • TeachingBooks for Libraries

Sole Source Agreement (FY2025)
Contract period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Newspapers Published in Large U.S. and Wisconsin Cities

Newspapers published daily and weekly in eight (8) of the ten (10) largest U.S. cities, five (5) of the ten (10) of the largest Wisconsin cities as determined by the 2010 U.S. Census, and Wisconsin cities with populations of more than 10,000.

Content Provider: ProQuest

Resource: U.S. Newsstream

Request for Proposal (FY2024)
Contract period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025 (Options for renewal 2025-2027, 2027-2029)

Newspapers Published in Small Wisconsin Communities

Newspapers published daily and weekly since at least 2005, in Wisconsin communities with populations up to 10,000.

Content Provider: Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Resource: Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers

Request for Proposal (FY2024)
Contract period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025 (Options for renewal 2025-2027, 2027-2029)

Reader's Advisory for Children Through Adults

Databases providing access to reader’s advisory content for children through adult fiction.

Content Provider: EBSCO

Resources:

  • NoveList
  • NoveList K-8

Request for Proposal (FY2025)
Contract period August 2024 – June 30, 2026 (Options for renewal 2026-2028, 2028-2030)

Questions and Comments

Questions, comments, and other feedback is welcome at any time. Contact DPI staff by sending an email or calling 888-542-5543, toll-free in Wisconsin. Stay up to date by subscribing to the BadgerLink Bulletin.

  • Elizabeth Neuman, Digital Services Coordinator
  • Jennifer Champoux, BadgerLink Technical Support and Training Specialist