What South Central Library System does

South Central Library System (SCLS) is a Wisconsin government cooperative library system headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 1975 with provisional certification from the Wisconsin Division for Library Services and serving 53 public library members plus over 300 academic, school, and special libraries across seven counties: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk, and Wood. The organization functions as a shared services backbone for member libraries, providing free professional consulting (covering building services, collection development, continuing education, data services, graphic services, interlibrary loan, marketing, outreach, reference, technology, and youth services), operating the SCLS Delivery Service as the regional hub of the Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Network, and managing committee governance structures (ILS, Delivery, Technology, with 13 cluster representations).

The technology core is LINKcat, a shared Integrated Library System (ILS) providing union catalog access to more than 2.3 million items across participating libraries. LINKcat is currently built on Bibliovation, a Koha-based open source ILS hosted by LibLime, and includes a discovery layer, circulation modules, cataloging, and serials management; the system is undergoing a major migration to SirsiDynix scheduled for 2025-26. Supporting technology stack includes Tableau-based analytics dashboards, OCLC/WorldCat for catalog enrichment, Bibliotheca for self-check/RFID hardware, BadgerLink statewide licensed databases, and OverDrive for digital content through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) collective purchasing arrangement.

SCLS's revenue model is non-commercial: the entity is funded primarily through recurring state aid from the Wisconsin Division for Library Services combined with member library fees calculated via a cost formula for shared technology services (ILS hosting, network connectivity, support) approved by the Administrative Council and Board of Trustees. Approximately 30 staff execute these functions across consulting, technology administration, delivery operations, and member services. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees with cluster-based member representation rather than operating as a market-facing enterprise; growth is measured in service breadth and member value rather than revenue capture.

Name

South Central Library System

Legal name

South Central Library System

Website

https://scls.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Central Library System is a Wisconsin government cooperative serving 53 public and 300+ multitype libraries across seven counties, operating the shared LINKcat integrated library system (2.3M items), statewide delivery network, and free consulting, ILS, and technology services funded by state aid and member fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Aid and Public Funding: SCLS receives state aid from Wisconsin Division for Library Services. Initial state aid was $336,642 in 1975. Funding supports core operations, technology services, delivery, and member library support.
2. Member Library Fees: SCLS member libraries pay fees based on a cost formula for shared technology services. Fees are determined through committee recommendations and approved by the Administrative Council and Board of Trustees.
3. Technology Services Fees: Fees for technology services including ILS hosting, network connectivity, and support. Startup costs and ongoing fees are detailed in technology services agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Central Library System is a government library cooperative that delivers shared technology, interlibrary loan, material delivery, consulting, continuing education, and database services to 53+ public library members and more than 300 academic, school, and special libraries across seven south-central Wisconsin counties. Its core is LINKcat, a shared integrated library system exposing 2.3+ million items, supplemented by Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Network routing, free professional consulting across 14 specializations, the Help Desk Web Portal, and shared access to statewide digital and database resources.

Product overview

South Central Library System is a seven-county library cooperative headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, providing shared services to 53+ public and 300+ libraries of other types across Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk, and Wood counties. The organization's portfolio centers on LINKcat, a shared integrated library system (ILS) providing access to over 2.3 million items, currently undergoing migration from Bibliovation/Koha to SirsiDynix. Core services include SCLS Delivery Service for intra-system and statewide material transport, ILS Support with committee governance, Data Services Dashboards for analytics visualization, and Consultant Services offering free professional support across 14 specializations (building, collection development, continuing education, youth services, outreach, and more). Supporting offerings include Kits & Equipment Lending (maker kits, computer labs, VR kits), Reference & Databases access (BadgerLink, OverDrive, WorldCat), Workforce Development Resources, Youth Services programming, Interlibrary Loan, Marketing & Advocacy support, Graphic Services, Local History Digitization, and Multitype Library Services for non-public libraries. The system also provides Technology Services infrastructure and a Help Desk Web Portal. SCLS is governed by an Administrative Council, ILS Committee, Delivery Committee, and Technology Committee with representation from library clusters across its service area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LINKcat: An online catalog providing access to more than 2.3 million items held by participating SCLS libraries.
• SCLS Delivery
• South Central Library System Foundation

Products and services

• LINKcat A shared online union catalog providing access to more than 2.3 million items held by participating SCLS public and multitype libraries, with discovery layer for patron searching, holds placement, and account management. Built on Bibliovation/Koha and migrating to SirsiDynix.
• SCLS Delivery Service Intra-system and statewide physical material delivery service operating from the Madison headquarters, handling daily van delivery, interlibrary loan materials, and lost item tracking for member libraries across Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk, and Wood counties.
• Data Services Dashboards Tableau-based analytics dashboards providing visualizations of circulation statistics, borrower demographics, collection analysis, Wisconsin public library service comparisons, and strategic planning metrics for member libraries.
• Consultant Services Free professional consulting services for member libraries covering building services, collection development, continuing education, data services, graphic services, interlibrary loan, library management, local history digitization, marketing, multitype services, outreach, reference, web services, and youth services.
• Continuing Education Continuing education calendar events, on-demand training (Librarians Guide to Homelessness, Trustee Training Week, Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, Tech Days Wisconsin), professional collection, CE grants, and certification support for member library staff.
• Kits & Equipment Lending Lending program for member library staff providing game packages, computer labs, maker kits, and specialized equipment including button makers, VR kits, sewing machines, 3D scanners, and youth programming materials on 14-day loan periods.
• Wisconsin's Digital Library (OverDrive) Digital audiobook, ebook, and video collection accessible through the WPLC OverDrive platform with OverDrive Advantage program contributions from SCLS and its member libraries.
• Technology Services Technology infrastructure and support for member libraries including network connectivity, hardware/software policies, website design and hosting, Drupal content management, OverDrive support, mobile printing, E-rate assistance, and technology committee governance.
• Workforce Development Resources Job seeker support services providing job searching tools, resume creation, interview preparation, unemployment insurance guidance, state workforce resources, barrier-to-employment support, computer skills training, and education programs for SCLS service area residents.
• Youth Services Youth programming support including Summer Library Program materials and graphics, early literacy resources, youth services meetings, teen services, book awards information, and grant funding for literacy programming for member libraries.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Materials sharing service enabling patron requests through local libraries, with tools including ILL request forms, OuterLibrary Loan, WorldCat, genealogy resources, and Wisconsin ILL guidelines compliance for member libraries.
• Local History Digitization Digitization consultation and project support for local history collections, connecting member libraries to Recollection Wisconsin and the Digital Public Library of America with collection usage dashboard analytics.
• Multitype Library Services Services enabling academic, school, and special libraries to participate in SCLS planning and resource sharing activities with no membership fee, including access to the multitype email list for announcements and discussion.
• SirsiDynix ILS Migration Migration of the shared LINKcat integrated library system from the Bibliovation/Koha open source platform to the SirsiDynix ILS platform, with the 2025-26 rollout enhancing functionality and system capabilities for SCLS member library staff and patrons.

Quantifiable outcome

• Statewide delivery network connecting all Wisconsin library systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration29 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024WPLC pools resources of Wisconsin public library systems to cooperatively undertake projects including Wisconsin's Digital Library (OverDrive), WPLC Data Dashboard, and collective purchasing. SCLS participates in WPLC Data Buying Pool for OverDrive Advantage program.
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (BadgerLink)coreTechnology or IntegrationBadgerLink provides Wisconsin residents with licensed trustworthy content including EBSCOhost, Britannica, NoveList, HeritageQuest, TeachingBooks.net, newspapers, and more. Funded through state and LSTA grants.
• SirsiDynixcoreTechnology or IntegrationVendor providing the ILS platform for LINKcat migration (2025-26). SirsiDynix will replace Bibliovation/Koha as the shared integrated library system for SCLS member libraries.
• LibLime (PTFS)coreTechnology or IntegrationVendor contracted to run the Koha ILS system (Bibliovation) for LINKcat. Current vendor being replaced by SirsiDynix migration.
• BibliovationcoreTechnology or IntegrationOpen source Integrated Library System (ILS) software (Koha-based) that powers LINKcat. Currently in migration to SirsiDynix.
• OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationVendor providing Wisconsin's Digital Library collection of digital audiobooks, ebooks, and video. Supported and funded by WPLC with SCLS participation in collective purchasing.
• UW-Madison iSchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison iSchool provides continuing education services and courses relevant to Public Librarian Certification, including Wisconsin Public Library Director Certification.
• Wisconsin Library Association (WLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCLS supports WLA membership for member library directors, contributing up to $100 toward personal membership. WLA provides professional development, advocacy, and networking for Wisconsin libraries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee County Federated Library System: A Wisconsin library cooperative serving public libraries in Milwaukee County. Directly comparable to SCLS as one of the 17 Wisconsin library systems, providing shared ILS, delivery, and consulting services to member public libraries under the same state oversight framework.
• Waukesha County Library System: A Wisconsin county library system serving public libraries in Waukesha County with shared services including delivery and continuing education. Operates under the same Wisconsin library system governance structure as SCLS, making it a direct functional peer.
• IFLS Library System: Indianhead Federated Library System serving public libraries in northwestern Wisconsin counties. A direct peer operating under identical Wisconsin library system statutes, providing shared technology, delivery, consulting, and continuing education to member libraries.
• Bridges Library System: A southeastern Wisconsin library cooperative serving multiple counties. Direct peer to SCLS as a Wisconsin library system with shared ILS, interlibrary loan, delivery, and member consulting services funded via a similar cost-formula model.
• Wisconsin Valley Library Service: A Wisconsin library system serving north-central Wisconsin counties. Direct peer to SCLS in terms of structure, member-funded shared services model, and statewide delivery hub role within Wisconsin's library system network.
• Winnefox Library System: A Wisconsin library system serving counties in east-central Wisconsin. Direct peer to SCLS operating under the same state regulations and providing comparable shared services to member public libraries.
• Arrowhead Library System: A Wisconsin library system serving northern Wisconsin counties. Direct peer operating with shared ILS, delivery, consulting, and continuing education for member public libraries under Wisconsin library system governance.
• Nicolet Federated Library System: A Wisconsin library system serving counties in northeastern Wisconsin. Direct peer comparable in scale and service mix (shared ILS, delivery, consulting, continuing education) and operating under the same Wisconsin statutory framework as SCLS.
• Lakeshores Library System: A Wisconsin library system serving counties in southeastern Wisconsin. Direct peer to SCLS with shared technology infrastructure, member fee model, and consulting services to public library members under Wisconsin library system regulations.

Broad incumbents

• MINITEX Library Information Network: A multistate library cooperative based at the University of Minnesota serving libraries in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Comparable to SCLS in delivery, resource sharing, and interlibrary loan coordination, but operating at a larger multistate scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SCLSUTube
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCLSwi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-central-library-system

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Central Library System