Case Study

Grant Allows Library to Upgrade Its Automation Software

TLC The Library Corporation

The New Hanover County Public Library in Wilmington, N.C., found itself in need of an automation system upgrade just as the nation’s economy started tumbling into a recession. Library Director Harry Tuchmayer said New Hanover County had been using another integrated library system (ILS) since 1992, but it would have cost $80,000 to implement the 21st century features that he wanted at his five library sites.

Tuchmayer realized that $80,000 would be better spent on an entirely new ILS. He researched his options and found exactly what he was looking for with The Library Corporation. “In a nutshell, I was excited about its innovative approach to a number of applications,” Tuchmayer said.

The New Hanover County Public Library selected TLC’s Library•Solution® automation system and several companion programs, including the LS2 PAC that makes it possible for library borrowers to access and view digital content. “I loved the integration of new technology,” he said, noting program features that allow library patrons to add their own unique search tags to items, as well as RSS news feeds that highlight library books related to current events. “We saw this as a catalog that our patrons would enjoy using.”

In order to acquire TLC’s automation software, the New Hanover County Public Library was awarded a federal Library Services and Technology Act grant administered by the State Library of North Carolina. The grant required a 20 percent funding match by the county commissioners, and Tuchmayer said the local contribution was actually well below the $80,000 initially budgeted for an upgrade.

The New Hanover County Public Library – which has an annual circulation of nearly 1.2 million and is home to 265,000 titles and more than 407,000 other items – implemented TLC’s library automation solutions in mid-September.

The Library Corporation is a family-owned company based in Inwood, WV, that was founded in 1974 to create technology for libraries and school districts of all sizes, including some of the busiest libraries in the world. TLC has staff members worldwide serving over 5,000 libraries with library automation, authority control, cataloging, and online selection and acquisition products including Library•Solution®, Library•Solution® for Schools, CARL•X™, BiblioFile®, ITS•MARC®, LS2 PAC, and LS2 Kids. All of TLC’s products and services are backed by an unparalleled level of customer support and assistance.

For more information, contact Brian Brehm at bbrehm@TLCdelivers.com or 1.304.229.0100, or visit www.TLCdelivers.com.