From your 1997-98 OCLC Users' Council Delegates:
   Benard Strong          Marcia Talley
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   ph: 202-287-9463       ph: 410-293-6905
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nita Dean +1-614-761-5002
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K. Wayne Smith to step down as OCLC President and CEO in June


Dublin, Ohio, Oct. 6, 1997--K. Wayne Smith, president and chief
executive officer of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, announced on
Oct. 5 that he would step down in June 1998.

Dr. Smith, age 59, has been president since Jan. 23, 1989.  He said he
would continue to serve OCLC in an advisory capacity after June 1998 but
would no longer be involved in day-to-day management.

Dr. Smith made the announcement at the October meeting of the OCLC Users
Council, which comprises representatives from OCLC-affiliated networks
and service centers.

Dr. Smith stated:  "I strongly believe this is the right decision at the
right time for OCLC and for me.  The OCLC that I have been privileged to
lead for the last nine years is an international institution with the
vital public purposes of helping libraries further access to the world's
information and reduce the costs of that information.  OCLC has become a
global force in scholarship, research and education.  For me personally,
this job has been a joy.  To quote Teddy Roosevelt, it has indeed been
'work worth doing.'  I also believe, however, that after nearly 10
years, it is time for new leadership at OCLC.  My successor will inherit
a strong, diverse and global library membership, a talented and
dedicated staff, and the opportunity for even greater success for OCLC
in the 21st century."

Before becoming OCLC's third president in 1989, Dr. Smith held key posts
in academe, business and government.  He has taught at the U.S. Military
Academy, Princeton University and Wake Forest University.  He has served
as chairman and CEO of World Book Encyclopedia; group managing partner,
Coopers & Lybrand; president and CEO, Dart Properties Group; and program
manager for defense studies, the RAND Corporation.  He was also director
of program analysis for the National Security Council, and in this White
House role he reported directly to Henry Kissinger.

Dr. Smith received the B.A. in political science from Wake Forest
University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics and political science from
Princeton University.

Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library
service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of
furthering access to the world's information and reducing information
costs.

More than 25,000 libraries in 63 countries use OCLC services to locate,
acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.  Researchers,
students, faculty, professional librarians and other information seekers
use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text
information when and where they need it.  OCLC and its member libraries
cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most consulted
electronic database in higher education.

OCLC's revenues in 1997 were $156 million.  There are approximately
1,000 employees at OCLC's 100-acre campus in Dublin, Ohio.  (PS)

 -0-

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Date:         Mon, 6 Oct 1997 10:35:58 -0400
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Subject:      K. Wayne Smith to step down
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