About Us

More Than a Mission: Active Cooperation

TCLC began in 1967 with eleven small and medium-sized libraries and a vision of mutual benefit and service through a cooperative to provide professional development and facilitate resource sharing.

Since then our membership has grown to provide collectively over five million volumes and a history of affordable and insightful educational programming. A firm commitment to its guiding principle of cooperation, has led to the development of:

• A full range of cooperative library services including interlibrary loan, direct borrowing, assessment, and skills sharing.
• A continuing education fund established to award grants to contributing members of the Continuing Education Council. Grants are awarded to all facets of library staff to improve occupational skills.
• Committees and interest groups, which allow members to learn collaboratively, provide exposure to the latest library trends, and foster skills development.
• Learning and leadership opportunities to degreed librarians and support staff.
• A Vendor Discount Project, which allows members special pricing for library material purchases with participating vendors.
• Continued communication and connection with and throughout the membership using special notices, a web presence, and social media.