SC LENDS Adds Allendale Area Libraries, Expands Shared Catalog Access
Four South Carolina library systems, including the Allendale, Hampton and Jasper Regional Library System, have joined the SC LENDS statewide consortium, giving local patrons access to a combined catalog of roughly 2.5 million items. The move broadens resource sharing and integrated services for county residents, a change that could improve access to information, learning materials and community supports.
The South Carolina Library consortium SC LENDS announced that four library systems are now live on its statewide shared system, bringing the Allendale, Hampton and Jasper Regional Library System into a catalog of approximately 2.5 million items. The migration was completed with technical support from Equinox Software, the announcement said, and the State Library of South Carolina directs readers to the shared catalog and further information at statelibrary.sc.gov.
For Allendale County residents the change means library patrons will be able to search and request materials from a much larger pool of resources without needing to travel to other branches. Libraries within the consortium now operate with integrated services that support more efficient resource sharing, which can reduce wait times for books, increase availability of research materials and expand access to digital resources for students, job seekers and families.
Local librarians and library staff led the operational steps to join the consortium while Equinox provided technical migration support, according to the announcement. SC LENDS published statements from system managers and from Equinox leadership about the benefits and the migration work. The State Library page links directly to the combined catalog so residents can begin using the expanded holdings immediately.
Beyond convenience, expanded library networks influence community wellbeing. Public libraries serve as access points for health information, digital literacy and social services referrals. In rural counties like Allendale County, where transportation and broadband access can limit opportunities, a larger shared catalog and integrated services can function as an equalizer, helping residents find educational materials, health resources and workforce information that they might otherwise lack locally.
Policy makers and local health and social service agencies may also find the enhanced network useful for outreach. Libraries that are part of shared systems are better positioned to coordinate deliveries of print materials for health education, host distributed pick up of resources tied to public programs and support remote learning initiatives. Those capacities carry implications for health equity and social inclusion across the county.
Patrons and partners can explore the combined catalog and learn more about SC LENDS and hosting arrangements through the State Library website. As regional collaboration grows, local library leaders say the shared system is intended to make information more accessible to Allendale County residents, reinforcing libraries as community anchors for learning, health information and social support.
