TLCU 2024 Recap

This November, Tech Logic partnered with our parent company, The Library Corporation (TLC), to expand the annual TLCU conference. It was a fantastic opportunity for Tech Logic and TLC customers to network with fellow librarians, meet product experts, gain best practices, and share workflow ideas for the products they use daily.

Tech Logic hosted eight unique sessions during TLCU and loved the excellent feedback and insights we received from those in attendance. We sincerely appreciated the enthusiastic participation from all our Tech Logic customers.  

Below is a little recap of each of our sessions. We look forward to outlining many of these sessions in more detail in the new year. Be on the lookout for featured blog posts in 2025.  

RFID Conversion Best Practices

“I’m a real advocate and a cheerleader for using RFID and converting to RFID. I often work with Tech Logic customers as they are launching their projects. I bring in my pompoms, and we get the staff together and have a session about getting through conversion and the benefits of RFID.” — Gretchen Freeman

Our Principal Librarian and Strategist, Gretchen, kicked off our first Tech Logic session at TLCU. She shared practical insights on a topic very near and dear to her heart—RFID. Since 2005, she has worked with more than 200 libraries as they launched RFID conversion projects.  

After giving a brief overview of RFID, Gretchen explained her justification for converting. Benefits included circulation efficiencies, streamlined shelf management, and less expensive automated materials handling. She also provided creative ways to fund RFID. However, the majority of her session featured the golden tips and tricks she’s learned to maximize efficiency during the conversion process.  

Stay tuned in 2025 for an in-depth interview with Gretchen on this topic. In the meantime, feel free to check out some of our other blogs on RFID.

• What is RFID?

• RFID Tag Types, Programming, and Placement

• Five ways that RFID works for libraries

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On the Horizon for Tech Logic Products

“Tech Logic serves the library patron by serving the library staff. We feel we can expand upon that unique relationship and deliver an enhanced customer experience.” — Tim Granquist

In our next session, Tech Logic’s Chief Operations Officer, Tim Granquist, and Director of Product Management, Al David, spoke directly with Tech Logic customers about what's on the horizon for Tech Logic products in 2025. Examples included upgrades in hardware and software.  

Want to know more? Keep your eyes and ears peeled for product announcements in 2025.  

Monster of a Machine

“We have been with Tech Logic for many years— 18 to be exact…We appreciated their position in the industry as a company that places the quality of their products and services and the importance of their staff and customers above all else.”

—Courtney Fitzgerald (Senior Librarian at Bentonville Public Library)

Our Senior Solution Specialist, Tim Lawson, collaborated with Bentonville Public Library staff members to show folks why Tech Logic's totalAMH system has a significant impact on library efficiency and, in the case of Bentonville's "Bookie Monster," an excellent opportunity for community engagement.

Stay tuned in 2025 for a Success Story on this topic.

Weeding, Inventory, and RFID — for Schools!

“There’s no use taking your time doing something when the technology nowadays is there for us.” —Dr. Melissa Frost

Weeding can be daunting, but it’s essential to a librarian’s collection development strategy. In the first half of this session, Debbie Cooke, Library System Administrator at Chesterfield County Public Schools, shared how to break weeding into manageable chunks.  

After weeding, inventory is typically the next least-liked aspect of library management. School librarians spend days every year scanning books and go home with sore knees and trigger fingers from inventory. The Rochester City School Library System implemented a better option three years ago. In the second half of the session, Dr. Melissa Frost shared how they reduced their typical two-week inventory process to a few hours by switching to inventorying their collections with Tech Logic RFID shelf management wands.

Read more about the efficiencies Rochester City School District found here.  

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Restoring ILS Accuracy with RFID

“In 2017, we identified the staffCIRC TRAK system as an incredible magic wand for all of our inventory and shelf management needs.” —Madi Peterson

Every library knows the daily battle for ILS accuracy. Are librarians doomed to push the rock forever uphill with list printing, repetitive searching, and manual status updates? Or is there another way? In this session, Madi Sines and Maria Clark, Heads of Circulation at Loudoun County Library branches, and Gretchen Freeman looked at how RFID changes the paradigm with streamlined ILS accuracy.

Hold Pickup Lockers Extend Patron Services

“Make sure your lockers integrate fully with your ILS!” —Mike Heitzman

Hold pickup lockers are a beautiful extension of the library’s service hours and area — when done well. Tech Logic’s Senior Solution Specialist, Mike Heitzman, showed session attendees a better workflow than what they're used to when it comes to hold pickup lockers. This was one of Tech Logic's best-attended sessions, resulting in a flurry of excellent questions and answers.  

Want to know more? Reach out using our contact form.  

Exploring baseCAMP, Tech Logic’s Central Management Portal

“baseCAMP is the backbone for all Tech Logic products. If they’re not already connected, they are on the roadmap to get connected in some form.” —Joel Neppl

In this session, our Customer Care Manager, Joel Neppl, explained the ins and outs of baseCAMP, Tech Logic’s central management portal. baseCAMP empowers library staff to manage several key Tech Logic solutions — at the library system, branch, or terminal level — from any PC or tablet.  

Stay tuned in 2025 for a step-by-step tour of baseCAMP.  

Tech Logic Customer Roundtable

In our final session, Tech Logic customers had the opportunity to connect with Tech Logic staff to exchange insights and feedback regarding Tech Logic products, workflows, and services. This was the icing on the cake for us! We love hearing from our customers. Examples included troubleshooting tips and tricks, questions about enhancements to software, and product praise.

If you have something to share (kudos or suggestions for improvement), feel free to email us at info@tech-logic.com.  

Overall, TLCU was an incredible experience! There’s nothing better than engaging with the folks who use our products daily. We are already looking forward to next year!  

Are you interested in attending TLCU in 2025? Do you have a session idea that you think Tech Logic customers would love?
Please reach out to us through our contact form!  

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Tech Logic connects libraries with their communities through dynamic, innovative, and efficient workflow technologies—delivering unparalleled service and outstanding patron experience. Since 1997, we have worked exclusively with libraries to develop solutions that empower library patrons and staff.