MCLINC

What MCLINC does

MCLINC (Montgomery County Library and Information Network Consortium) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) consortium founded in 1995 that connects 16 independent public libraries across Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its core function is to provide shared automation services and a combined online catalog linking the collections, resources, and technology infrastructure of all member libraries, enabling patrons to search and access materials across the entire consortium. The administrative offices are co-located at the Upper Dublin Public Library in Fort Washington, PA.

The organization's technology stack centers on an integrated online library system (ILS) that serves as a unified catalog and automation backbone for its 16 member libraries. Beyond the catalog, MCLINC provides centralized technical assistance, expertise, and cooperative telecommunications infrastructure, leveraging group purchasing power to achieve cost efficiencies that individual libraries could not obtain independently. The patron-facing interface supports basic search by author, concept, series, and title, along with account login for checkouts.

MCLINC's business model is that of a member-supported non-profit. It is funded through member library fees, foundation grants, corporate grants, and individual donations. Library services are provided free of charge to Montgomery County residents. The consortium is governed by a board composed of representatives from each member library, with non-voting representation from the MCLINC organization itself and the Montgomery County Library District. The organization's 2023-2027 Strategic Plan reflects core values centered on customer experience, equitable access, and collaborative innovation.

Name

MCLINC

Legal name

Montgomery County Library and Information Network Consortium

Website

https://mclinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MCLINC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) consortium connecting 16 independent public libraries in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania through a shared online catalog and cooperative automation services. It is funded by member fees, grants, and donations, serving county residents free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Conshohocken

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

MCLINC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) consortium that enables 16 independently governed and funded public libraries in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to cooperatively purchase and operate an integrated online library system and shared automation services. Its core offering is the MCLINC Combined Online Catalog, a unified catalog that connects all member libraries so residents can search and access materials across the entire county-wide consortium. The organization also provides centralized technical assistance and uses group purchasing power to deliver cost-effective telecommunications and technology services to its member libraries.

Product overview

MCLINC (Montgomery County Library & Information Network Consortium) is a non-profit consortium providing integrated library services to 16 independent member libraries in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The organization operates a combined online catalog as its core product offering, enabling shared access to resources across all member libraries. MCLINC also provides centralized library automation, technical assistance, and group purchasing benefits for its member institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MCLINC Combined Online Catalog A shared online catalog connecting 16 independent libraries in Montgomery County, PA, allowing residents to search and access materials across the entire consortium. Login to account feature supports individual patron records and checkouts.
• Cooperative Library Automation Services Shared library automation services that allow 16 independently governed libraries to operate a single integrated back-end system for cataloging, circulation, and patron management without each library having to deploy and maintain its own automation platform.
• Group Purchasing of Telecommunications and Technology Cooperative group-purchasing program that leverages the collective scale of 16 member libraries to obtain cost-effective telecommunications and technology services that no single library could procure alone.
• Centralized Technical Assistance to Member Libraries Centralized technical expertise and assistance provided to all 16 member libraries by MCLINC's administrative team, covering library system operations and shared technology resources.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Abington Township Public LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium, one of the 16 independent libraries connected through the shared online catalog and automation services.
• Cheltenham Township Library SystemcoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium with multiple branches including East Cheltenham Free Library, Elkins Park Free Library, Glenside Free Library, and La Mott Free Library.
• Free Library of Springfield TownshipcoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Springfield Township residents.
• Horsham Township LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Horsham Township residents.
• Huntingdon Valley LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Huntingdon Valley residents.
• Jenkintown LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Jenkintown residents.
• Lower Merion Library SystemcoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library system of the MCLINC consortium with multiple branches including Ardmore Free Library, Bala Cynwyd Library, Belmont Hills Public Library, Gladwyne Free Library, Ludington Public Library, and Penn Wynne Library.
• Lower Providence Community LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Lower Providence community residents.
• Montgomery County-Norristown Public LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium with multiple branches including Bookmobiles, Conshohocken Free Library, Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville, Royersford Free Public Library, and Upper Perkiomen Valley Public Library.
• Narberth Community LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Narberth community residents.
• Pottstown Regional LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Pottstown regional residents.
• Upper Dublin Public LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium and location of MCLINC administrative offices at 520 Virginia Ave, Fort Washington, PA 19034.
• Upper Merion Township LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Upper Merion Township residents.
• Upper Moreland Free Public LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving Upper Moreland Free Public Library residents.
• William Jeanes Memorial LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium serving the community with its memorial library services.
• Wissahickon Valley Public LibrarycoreOthers · 1 January 1995Member library of the MCLINC consortium with branches in Blue Bell and Ambler.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• OhioLINK: Ohio academic and public library consortium that operates a shared catalog, electronic reserves, and shared automation services across member libraries. Closely comparable as a nonprofit, membership-driven library consortium providing shared technology infrastructure.
• Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS): New York cooperative library system providing shared automation, catalog, and interlibrary loan services to member public libraries. Directly comparable as a regional library cooperative offering centralized technology and resource sharing.
• Bibliomation: Connecticut-based library consortium providing shared automation, a union catalog, and technology services to public and school libraries. Comparable nonprofit consortium model with shared online catalog and group-purchased services.
• North Carolina Library and Information Network (NC LIVE): North Carolina library consortium delivering shared electronic resources, a union catalog, and cooperative purchasing to member libraries. Comparable in mission and member-driven governance to MCLINC.
• Califa Library Group: California-based nonprofit library consortium offering group purchasing, electronic content, and shared services to member libraries. Comparable consortium model providing group-purchased technology and content services to public libraries.

Broad incumbents

• Lyrasis: Large nonprofit technology and content-services organization serving libraries, archives, and cultural heritage institutions across multiple states. A broader incumbent providing shared catalog, hosting, and digital preservation services comparable to MCLINC's automation offering.

Others

• ChiliFresh (Library Online): Independent software vendor providing online catalog and discovery layers to public library systems. Included as an ecosystem peer; sells shared catalog technology to consortia like MCLINC rather than competing as a consortium itself.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 MCLINC