INWOOD, WV, April 16, 2004 - The Library Corporation (TLC) has introduced the most extensive release of CARL.Solution®, its integrated automation system, in company history.

CARL.Solution Version 5.0 has new circulation, serials, security, Companion Searcher, CARLWeb, acquisitions and reports features. It also introduces a full graphical interface for system administrators to manage parameters, operations, and security for all modules.

In addition, Version 5.0 pushes CARL.Solution beyond the boundaries of its text-based origins, by offering new file structures and flexible parameters to support e-mail, e-commerce, e-data exchange, and other e-based services.

New capabilities in CARL.Solution 5.0 include:

• The advent of real-time online ordering for processing electronic communications with book vendors
• A new EDI Acknowledgement Interface that displays vendors' electronic responses upon receipt and provides one-click reorder or cancel options
• E-mail patron notification with multilingual options featuring Hold Available, Courtesy Reminders, Overdue, and Lost Book notices in the patron's preferred language. The system automatically resends bounced back notices by phone or in paper, according to library preference.
• A staff searching tool that offers powerful search options, such as date, format, branch modifiers, and full diacritics (including CJK). Included is the ability to save personal search preferences as defaults or change them on the fly during each session.
• The ability to validate by birth date and borrower types for any SIP2-compliant product
• The ability to set a patron's default language in the borrower record

TLC CEO Annette Harwood Murphy commented: "This broad-based release of CARL.Solution demonstrates our commitment to the CARL product line used on new and existing platforms. The release's new features are driven by the unique needs of CARL users, answering their requirement for key functions that assist them in the daily operations of the busiest libraries in the world."

About The Library Corporation

TLC is owned and operated by the same family that founded the company 30 years ago. CARL.Solution is an integrated automation system that provides robust features and performance. It is installed in some of the world largest libraries, including Los Angeles Public Library, Phoenix Public Library, and the National Library of Singapore.