Case Studies: PLCMC
The Public Libraries of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) is the public library system, serving the Greater Charlotte Area. Today, there are 23 branches, and a main branch downtown. In each branch, users have access to a wide range of computers that run the applications that help them find books, magazines, do research and access the Internet.
The network that they had been using was choked, and patrons didn’t have access to the resources that they needed, at high speed. The library had contracts with many local vendors to assist them with the data network needs, and they had similar but unrelated contracts with vendors to assist with voice and dial tone needs. The resulting combination of suppliers had left the library system without a clear vision of how to converge both of these technologies in a cost effective way.
PLCMC had an opportunity to attempt a pilot project with a converged IP network when they agreed to use PNC and Cisco equipment at their new Imaginon location. This was a Greenfield deployment, with no obstacles impeding the idea of having voice and data on the same network. The users liked the new solution, and patrons found that access at the facility was fast, and they were pleased.
As a next step, PNC, Cisco and the library leadership agreed to converge the network at the main location, and re-engineer not only the main location but all the branches as well, to make the deployment of IP Telephony easy. Equipment and licensing needed to offer new phones and higher speeds at each branch were included in the design. In addition, current IT staff was overloaded with maintenance of the current system, and PNC provided overflow help to further prepare the network to support all the voice and data traffic, county wide.
Once fully completed, the library will internally manage all its assignments of phone numbers and voice mail, never needing to contact an outside vendor if it needs to add or remove users. It will be passing its calls over its own network, reducing tools and offering additional services like unified messaging and conferencing to all users, in all locations. It will be providing value to patrons, as high speed circuits will be connecting all branches back to the main branch for secure. New Firewalls and filters will allow users quicker access to the websites that they need to view.