Unstable Vendor to Personable Partner

Challenge

Consistently ranked in the Top 10 libraries nationally for systems serving populations between 100,000 and 250,000, Greene County Public Library (GCPL) sets a high bar—not just for patrons, but for internal operations too. And when their software vendor stopped keeping up, GCPL knew standing still wasn’t an option.

GCPL’s previous software vendor wasn’t evolving, and it showed. Promised functionality didn’t materialize. Enhancements lagged. Support felt disengaged. And over time, confidence eroded.

As Mel Brindley, Fiscal Officer, put it: “The company we were with—they were not adapting. The software wasn’t doing what they promised it would do. Support lacked a little gusto. I felt like they were kind of a sinking ship.”

That concern was echoed beyond Greene County. At a regional demonstration, Mel noticed something telling: more than a dozen libraries—many using the same legacy system—were all exploring alternatives at the same time.

GCPL needed:

• A stable vendor with a clear future

• Reliable payroll, accounting, and budgeting tools

• A system that staff could learn without frustration

• Support that felt invested, not indifferent

Because for a top-ranked library system, average simply wasn’t acceptable.

Solution

Greene County Public Library selected Software Solutions and implemented the following modules: VIP Accounting, VIP Budgeting & Analytics, VIP Payroll, VIP Employee Portal, and VIP Cloud. 

One of the biggest differentiators was SSI’s implementation approach. Rather than rushing GCPL into production, the team provided a sandbox environment, allowing staff to explore, test, and build confidence well before go-live.

“They set up the sandbox, and we went in and played in the sandbox for days and days and days before we decided to go live,” Mel shared.

That preparation paid off—especially in payroll. GCPL transitioned from paper timesheets to a fully electronic process, significantly simplifying payroll and reducing manual effort.

“From paper timesheets—now it’s all electronic. It was just easier to do payroll. Much easier.”

Support continued to stand out long after implementation.

“They’re pretty responsive. I generally get a call within an hour or two—even on the things I forget how to do. They’re patient and quick to respond.”

Over time, those interactions turned into relationships.

“You get to know the support people. It’s amazing.”

Today, Greene County Public Library runs critical financial and payroll operations on a modern, cloud-based platform—backed by a team they trust. For a nationally recognized library system, that stability is priceless.