--- WordNet/configure.ac
+++ WordNet/configure.ac
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ AC_CONFIG_HEADER([config.h])
 
 # Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CC
-AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AM_PROG_CC_C_O
+AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 
 # Checks for header files.
--- WordNet/lib/Makefile.am
+++ WordNet/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-lib_LIBRARIES = libWN.a
-libWN_a_SOURCES = binsrch.c morph.c search.c wnglobal.c wnhelp.c wnrtl.c wnutil.c
-libWN_a_CPPFLAGS = $(INCLUDES)
+lib_LTLIBRARIES = libWN.la
+libWN_la_SOURCES = binsrch.c morph.c search.c wnglobal.c wnhelp.c wnrtl.c wnutil.c
+libWN_la_CPPFLAGS = $(INCLUDES)
+libWN_la_LDFLAGS = -version-number 3:0:0
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir) -I$(top_srcdir)/include
 SUBDIRS = wnres