Westerville Public Library is set to join the Central Library Consortium (CLC) in 2024. The consortium will now include 18 independent library systems in seven counties serving more than 1.8 million residents. Westerville’s community will gain easy access to more than 3.9 million items, all available in the same online catalog interface as local items.

“Expanding access is a priority for the Westerville Public Library. When we surveyed our community in 2022, one of the top requests was to be able to borrow from and return items to neighboring libraries. With this change, patrons will gain access to a collection 21 times larger than our current collection. This will also mean shorter wait times for new and popular items, and convenient access to a family of libraries within driving distance of Westerville.” says Erin Francoeur, Executive Director for the Westerville Public Library.

“This new partnership will enhance collaboration, help members maximize resources, and continue our commitment to being excellent stewards of public funds,” said Ryan McDonnell, Director of Grandview Heights Public Library, which is the Administering Library for the CLC.

“The CLC is looking forward to building on our existing collaboration with Westerville to deliver proven solutions that will meet the needs of their staff and patrons,” said Wes Osborn, Executive Director of the CLC.

The integration into the CLC will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. The consortium will then begin facilitating material delivery to Westerville five days a week. This ensures that patrons can receive available items from other CLC libraries within 2-3 days of making a request. Westerville and existing CLC libraries will continue to participate in both SearchOhio and OhioLINK.

The CLC, with its 35-year history, represents a strategic partnership among library systems that share resources, technology, and expertise while maintaining their independence.