Every minute of staff time matters. And so does every circulating title.
That’s why physical media processing—especially from Midwest Tape, the industry leader for more than 35 years—is so valuable. With fully customizable, shelf-ready materials, Midwest Tape’s processing services help libraries increase circulation, reduce theft, and ensure that materials arrive branded, protected, and ready to hit the shelves by street date.
Shelf-ready materials that boost circulation
When new titles arrive shelf ready, things move more efficiently.
Staff spend less time managing materials and more time supporting patrons. Items move into circulation faster, holds clear sooner, and your collection stays active and visible.
Midwest Tape builds its processing services around your unique workflow. From call numbers and spine labels to genre indicators, hub labels, disclaimer stickers, and color-coding, every element is tailored to your local standards. Labels are applied digitally using high-quality image files for clear, precise placement that never obscures artwork and always maintains a consistent, professional look.
Because processing is handled in-house, Midwest Tape ensures your items are shipped out quickly, accurately, and always ready for immediate circulation. No delays. No added receiving time. Just open the box and shelve.
Protecting your collection—and your investment
Theft prevention and long-term durability are essential for keeping physical media collections strong. Midwest Tape offers multiple layers of protection, including RFID tags, security labels, translucent title bands, and customizable warning labels. Each element keeps materials safe without compromising design or usability.
For even stronger protection, Midwest Tape provides locking case options for DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, and Playaways. And for audiobooks, the company’s patented SoundSafe® case stands in a class of its own. Built for heavy public use, SoundSafe cases are dropbox-friendly, space-efficient, and engineered to securely hold up to 44 discs, extending shelf life and reducing costly replacements.
Customized processing for every media type
Whether you buy DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Playaways, or audiobooks, Midwest Tape tailors processing to the format and to your library’s preferences. Need combo packs split into individual titles? Have multi-disc sets that should be separated or labeled as part of a series—or individually? Want disc count labels or reminders prompting patrons to return all discs? Midwest Tape supports all of it.
These options allow libraries to manage high-demand titles, TV series, and multi-disc collections however they work best for patrons.
MARC records that fit your cataloging standards
Every title ordered comes with a vendor or full OCLC MARC record, customizable to your cataloging specifications. Add local call numbers, remove subject headings, adjust GMDs, or include item tags unique to your library. Midwest Tape also supports 9xx ordering, EDI ordering, and electronic invoicing, making integration with your ILS seamless.
Why Midwest Tape Leads the Industry
Midwest Tape’s status as a trusted partner for thousands of libraries exists because processing isn’t an afterthought—it’s a core service designed around each library’s needs.
Libraries choose Midwest Tape because:
- Customization is standard. Every label, brand element, casing option, and MARC record can be uniquely tailored to library needs.
- Workflows become simpler. Staff can skip time-consuming prep and go straight to serving patrons.
- Customer service is top-rated. Dedicated processing coordinators help libraries design, refine, and update their specifications anytime.
- Quality is unmatched. From digitally applied labels to durable materials and proprietary SoundSafe cases, Midwest Tape delivers consistently excellent results.
Getting Started Is Easy
Midwest Tape’s processing services fit libraries of any size and budget. A dedicated processing coordinator will work with you to develop a solution customized to your workflows, branding, and collection goals.
When materials arrive shelf ready and done your way, everything runs smoother. Circulation increases. Theft decreases. And patrons get the high-quality library experience they expect.
