The Library Network celebrates a successful year using TLC’s CARL•Solution
One year ago, The Library Network (TLN) in Southeast Michigan successfully migrated to TLC’sCARL•Solution ILS after 15 years with SirsiDynix Symphony. TLN says that their May 2018 launch of CARL•Solution in 50 libraries had no major problems or issues, and they checked out over 22,000 items on the first day.
Celia Morse, TLN’s Automation Services Consultant, met with members of TLC’s CARL team in Washington, D.C. while attending the American Library Association Conference. Morse expressed the benefits of switching to CARL•Solution and how the platform made workflows more efficient for member libraries.
In the first ten months of using CARL•Solution, libraries within TLN sent 635,791 items to fill requests at other shared libraries—a 14% increase over the same time period in 2017. Morse believes that CARL•Connect Discovery contributed to the increase, saying that patrons can more easily find and place holds than with their previous ILS.
TLN used The Library Corporation’s “train the trainer” methodology when transitioning to the CARL•Solution platform. Four experts from TLC staff in Denver conducted 20 classes throughout Southeast Michigan, training over 220 members of library staff within TLN.
“It was so helpful to have experts there to support us during go live,” Morse said when meeting with TLC’s CARL team in D.C.
Don West, Director of Operations at TLC’s Denver office for the CARL platform said, “At TLC, we pride ourselves on a reputation for treating customers as partners, which is demonstrated by our success collaborating with large library systems like TLN.”
According to West, TLN library staff provided crucial input regarding the functionality of fill lists in CARL•Connect Staff.
“TLN has collaborated with us to develop an even better product, making it even easier for them to fulfill patron requests, and we look forward to journeying with them as they include all member libraries in using CARL•Connect Staff for circulation,” West said.
Annette Murphy, CEO of The Library Corporation, commended TLN on their successful first year using CARL•Solution.
“I was pleased when The Library Network chose TLC and joined our family of libraries,” she said. “Their success over the past year is a testament to how libraries and TLC can come together and serve communities across the country.”
About The Library Corporation:
TLC has operated continuously under the same ownership since 1974 and employs over 200 people dedicated to delivering enterprise software and hardware solutions to public, school, academic, and special libraries worldwide. TLC’s cumulative products are deployed in more than 1,100 organizations, representing over 5,500 locations in North America. TLC is certified by the U.S. General Services Administration, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and the Women Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program. TLC’s Headquarters is based in Inwood, W.Va., and has additional offices in Denver, Minnesota, and Singapore. To learn more, visit TLCdelivers.com.
