The Library Corporation

The Library Corporation
Type Private
Industry Software
Headquarters Inwood, West Virginia, United States
Number of locations 3
Area served International
Key people Annette Harwood Murphy (Co-founder, President/CEO)
Calvin Whittington (Director of Finance and Administration)
Gar Sydnor (Senior Vice President)
Simon Marcus (Vice President and Chief Operating Officer)
Jabe Bloom (Chief Technology Officer)
Tim Heishman (Vice President, Inwood Operations)
Paul Leppert (Vice President and Managing Director, Denver Operations)
Brad Murphy (Vice President, Singapore Operations)
Products Integrated Library Systems, OPACs, Library Circulation Software, Library Cataloging Software, MARC Records, Library Acquisitions Software
Website TLCdelivers.com

The Library Corporation (TLC) creates and distributes automation and cataloging software to more than 700 public, school, academic, and special library systems.[1] Based in Inwood, W.Va., with additional offices in Denver and Singapore, the company is owned and operated by the same family that established it in 1974.[2]

In 1985, it became the first organization in the world to successfully use CD-ROM technology for data storage when it released its BiblioFile Cataloging software. The CD-ROM drive used to read those first commercially produced discs, as well as the original BiblioFile Cataloging CD-ROMs, are now in the Smithsonian Institution.[3]

TLC, a GSA-certified company, earned a 2009 Best in Tech Award from Scholastic Administrator magazine.[4] Also in 2009, its senior product developer, Matt Moran, was selected by Library Journal magazine as one of the library industry's top 51 "Movers and Shakers."[5]

Contents

Library Automation Systems

The company offers three integrated library systems: Library•Solution is designed for small to medium public, academic, and special libraries; Library•Solution for Schools is designed for public and private school libraries; and CARL•X, the next-generation version of the legacy CARL•Solution automation system, is designed for large public libraries.

Each system automates the standard operations of a library, including the check-in/check-out process, cataloging, inventory, authority control, and reports. Facilities that utilize a TLC ILS include Los Angeles Public Library in California, Dallas Independent School District in Texas, Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, Anchorage School District in Alaska, Chicago Public Schools in Illinois, and National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Library in Washington, D.C.

Online Public Access Catalog Products

TLC adds Web-based functionality to its ILS products with the LS2 suite of OPACs: LS2 PAC, LS2 Kids, LS2 Staff, LS2 Mobile, and Textbook Management and Asset Tracking.

  • LS2 PAC works with all three of TLC's automation systems to give patrons online access to library catalogs. It includes a customizable display of library titles, RSS news and information feeds that highlight current events and library books related to those events, maps that show where items are located within a library, Google Analytics™ integration, federated searching of in-house and online content, integrated searching of subscription databases, list creation and sharing capabilities, and patron ratings, reviews, and search tags.[6]
  • LS2 Kids is the children's version of LS2 PAC, designed to enable young readers to independently explore a library's online catalog. It includes quick links to popular book series, interactive title displays with enlarged book jackets and detailed information about selected titles, a search box that provides spelling suggestions and corrections, and a category wheel with icons representing a wide variety of subjects that interest children.[7]
  • LS2 Staff allows libraries to perform basic circulation functions from any computer with Internet access.
  • LS2 Mobile is a smart-phone interface that allows people to connect with the online catalogs of public and school libraries from any place with Wi-Fi or mobile Internet service. An LS2 Mobile user can search for titles; reserve books, CDs, DVDs, or audiobooks for pickup at a later time; check library account balances; and cancel holds on previously reserved titles.[8]
  • Textbook Management and Asset Tracking works exclusively with the Library•Solution for Schools ILS. It allows school districts to maintain an inventory of district-owned items and keep track of textbooks and other materials issued to students.

Library Automation Enhancements

The company also offers standalone cataloging and acquisitions products that work with any ILS.

  • BiblioFile is a cataloging program that accesses and processes MARC records from online databases.
  • ITS•MARC offers Z39.50 and Internet access to MARC records. The metadata is processed by cataloging programs like BiblioFile.
  • Online Selection & Acquisitions is an online shopping portal that links libraries to the Web sites of vendors that specialize in providing books, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks to library systems.

Related Articles

Libraries that have implemented TLC's automation products have been featured in media reports including:

  • Government Technology, "Smartphones Replacing Old-Fashioned Library Cards" (Aug. 3, 2011) [9]
  • The Wright County Monitor, "TLC system grows as more libraries join BEACON consortium" (Jan. 6, 2011) [10]
  • Daily Mountain Eagle, "Library gets smart-phone application" (Nov. 28, 2010) [11]
  • The Des Moines Register, "Council approves purchase of library data management system" (Nov. 1, 2010) [12]
  • Independent Tribune, "Concord library to get major renovation" (Oct. 1, 2010) [13]
  • Contra Costa Times, "Library streamlines online access" (March 17, 2010) [14]
  • Elbert County News, "Library announces software update" (Nov. 3, 2009) [15]
  • The Winsted Journal, "$35,000 grant helps modernize Beardsley and Memorial Library" (Aug. 21, 2009) [16]

References

  1. ^ Library Journal, [1], April 1, 2011
  2. ^ American Libraries, [2], Nov. 17, 2010
  3. ^ TLC History, [3], Jan. 29, 2011
  4. ^ Scholastic Administrator, [4], March/April 2009
  5. ^ Library Journal, [5], March 16, 2009
  6. ^ Library Journal, [6], March 1, 2009
  7. ^ School Library Journal, [7], Nov. 1, 2009
  8. ^ American Libraries, [8], Nov. 29, 2010

External links