OCLC to provide libraries with expanded service

Posted by Jennifer on 23 September, 2008 in OCLC

DUBLIN, Ohio, September 24, 2008-OCLC senior management staff and
members of the United States Regional OCLC Network Directors Advisory
Committee (RONDAC) met September 9 to begin the rollout of a new service
model that will provide OCLC members in the U.S. with an expanded set of
product and service options.The new service program is the result of more than three years of
studies and discussions with partners, member libraries and service
experts intended to ensure that OCLC is providing service and support
that deliver maximum value and efficiencies for today’s libraries.

Since OCLC was founded more than 40 years ago, OCLC has partnered with a
network of regional service providers to deliver services and support to
member libraries across the United States. This original partnership
model will be updated and expanded to incorporate the many new service
capabilities and cost sharing opportunities now available via the Web
and other technologies. The new service model is designed to take full
advantage of current technologies to support the strong and growing team
of library and library system talent represented by the OCLC partner
community across the country. Rollout of the new program will begin
July 1, 2009.

“Our goal is straightforward-we want to deliver top quality services to
OCLC member libraries in all 50 states that consistently leverage
today’s best practices in service and support,” said Cathy De Rosa, Vice
President for the Americas and Global Vice President of Marketing, OCLC.
“And, wherever possible, provide those services at a reduced cost to
libraries.”

The new structure will provide OCLC member libraries in the United
States with enhanced service options including communications,
distribution, service and support. Benefits to libraries will include
an expanded set of product training and access to an OCLC national
training calendar; enhanced online ordering; improved and simplified
billing and administrative services; more online product information;
simplified product pricing options; and an expanded network of training
and education partners.

“We have significantly expanded the number of products and services we
provide to the growing community of OCLC member libraries,” said Ms. De
Rosa. “It is equally important that we provide our members with the
most effective way to learn about, access and use those services.”

“We look forward to continuing our long-term partnerships with the U.S.
regional service providers as we work together to grow the community of
OCLC partners and offer new programs and service options to OCLC
libraries and users,” said Ms. De Rosa.

More information and timelines for the expanded service programs will be
available later this year at www.oclc.org <

http://www.oclc.org/> .About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit
library service and research organization that has provided
computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent,
preservation, library management and Web services to 60,000 libraries in
112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide
have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource
for finding library materials. For more information about OCLC, visit
www.oclc.org.

OCLC and WorldCat are trademarks/service marks of OCLC, Inc.

Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service
marks of their respective owners.