If you haven’t yet heard about the Carolina Consortium, you’re likely missing out on one of the most valuable resources available to libraries in our region. This powerful collaboration has been saving member libraries across North and South Carolina millions of dollars, making it easier for library patrons to access needed electronic resources.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, community college librarians across the state had the opportunity to attend a live webinar with Jenn Brosek and Liz Siler, librarians from UNC-Charlotte who serve in leadership capacities with the Carolina Consortium. This meeting turned out to be extremely enlightening for both parties. Community college librarians were able to speak about the specialized types of e-resources needed at their campuses along with expressing growing concern over budgetary constraints and rising costs of e-resources. Consortium members were able to provide details about their work and how they are eager to learn more and develop closer relationships with community college libraries.

What is the Carolina Consortium?

The Carolina Consortium is a purchasing cooperative that leverages the collective buying power of libraries across the Carolinas to negotiate favorable pricing on electronic resources and services. By bundling together, member libraries can access deals that would be impossible to secure individually. In 2020 alone, members paid over $400 million less for consortia deals than they would have paid independently.

Who Can Join?

As of 2024, the consortium includes over 170 diverse members spanning public libraries, seminary schools, community colleges, public universities, and private institutions. Membership is free, and you can participate in as many or as few of the 120+ available deals as makes sense for your library’s needs and budget.

How it Works

When new deals are negotiated or information about existing deals becomes available, members are notified via the Consortium’s listserv. Deal details are made available via a secure shared Google folder. The annual Consortium meeting provides an opportunity to learn about newly available deals and those of special interest. Vendor and publisher partners attend portions of the meeting to discuss their products with interested members.

Getting Started

Most of the Consortium’s 120+ deals are still open to new participants, with new deals considered each May. Whether you’re from a small public library or a large research university, the Consortium offers a practical way to stretch your budget further while maintaining access to quality resources. For more information or to be added to the listserv, contact the Carolina Consortium leadership team at carolinaconsortium@charlotte.edu. 

Session Recording

The session was recorded and NCCCLA members received the video link via e-mail through MemberPlanet sent on Oct. 22, 2025. Contact Rich Garafolo, NCCCLA President, or Angela Davis, NCCCLA Communications, if you did not receive the link.