From your 1999-2000 OCLC Users' Council Delegates:
   Arlene Luster                   Marcia Talley
   [log in to unmask]          [log in to unmask]
   ph: 808-449-2209                ph:  410-293-6905


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nita Dean +1-614-761-5002
[log in to unmask]

KENTUCKY LAUNCHES STATEWIDE VIRTUAL LIBRARY

DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1999--On Nov. 1, the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual
Library (KCVL) launched its comprehensive information resources and
services.

Using OCLC SiteSearch WebZ software as its powerful front-end platform, the
virtual library makes research easy and convenient for the Kentucky
Commonwealth Virtual University (KCVU) community and the citizens of the
commonwealth.

As the gateway to information resources housed either in Kentucky libraries
or accessible through the Internet, the KCVL Web site <http://www.kcvl.org>
offers, through one seamless interface, a wide range of information,
including 16 OCLC FirstSearch service databases.

The online public access catalogs of the eight public universities and 28
community and technical colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical
College System (KCTCS) are accessible on the virtual library, along with the
Z39.50-compliant OPACs of other Kentucky libraries.  Access to these
resources, which are either housed in Kentucky libraries or accessible
through the Internet, allows students to find the holdings of each library
and to have materials delivered to the library near them.

The virtual library also includes a unique Kentuckiana collection; state and
federal government information resources organized by subjects and annotated
by librarians; an "anytime, anywhere" tutorial to help students and citizens
tap into the riches on the Web by showing them step-by-step what the Web
resources are, how to search and assess them, and how to use them
responsibly; and a Virtual Reference Desk, built as a gateway to
non-governmental Web resources that are of value to Kentuckians in general.


"Though the KCVU students are its primary audience, the virtual library has
been constructed to support lifelong learning for all Kentuckians," said
Ling-yuh W. (Miko) Pattie, director, Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual Library.
"The recognition that the library is an essential building block in
developing this virtual university makes it stand out."

Ms. Pattie said the KCVL is built on a long tradition of cooperation and
collaboration among all types of libraries through the Kentucky Library
Network (KLN), a resource sharing membership organization established in
1985.

"OCLC is proud to be an integral part of this exciting project," said George
Needham, vice president, OCLC Member Services.  "It strongly complements our
vision of helping libraries serve people by providing economical access to
knowledge through innovation and collaboration."

OCLC SiteSearch software provides a comprehensive solution for managing
distributed library information resources in a World Wide Web environment.
It offers a toolkit that lets libraries integrate their electronic resources
under one Web interface, provide flexible access to those resources, and
build unique local databases.

Introduced in 1991, the OCLC FirstSearch service is designed for people who
use libraries and requires no training or online search experience.
FirstSearch provides access to 85 databases, nearly 2,000 electronic
journals from Electronic Collections Online, and links to the OCLC
Interlibrary Loan service.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a
nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization
whose computer network and services link more than 35,000 libraries in 67
countries and territories.  OCLC is dedicated to the public purposes of
furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.

In the United States, more information is available (via telephone:
+1-614-764-6000 or
1-800-848-5878; fax:  +1-614-764-6096; or e-mail:  [log in to unmask]).  In
Europe, the Middle East and Africa, contact the OCLC Europe office, located
in Birmingham, United Kingdom (phone:  +44 121 456 4656; fax:  +44 121 456
4680; or e-mail:  [log in to unmask]).  In Asia and the Pacific region, contact
the OCLC Asia Pacific office in Dublin, Ohio (phone:  +1-614-764-6189; fax:
+1-614-764-4331; or e-mail:  [log in to unmask]).  In Canada, contact the
OCLC Canada office in Montreal, Quebec (phone:  +1-450-658-6583 or
1-888-658-6583; fax:  +1-450-658-6231; or e-mail:  [log in to unmask]).  In
Latin America and the Caribbean, contact the OCLC Latin America and the
Caribbean office in Dublin, Ohio (phone:  +1-614-761-5196; fax:
+1-614-718-1026; or e-mail:  [log in to unmask]).

More information about OCLC, its affiliated U.S. regional networks, service
centers, international divisions and distributors is available at
<http://www.oclc.org/>.  (ND)

Carla

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                        Carla Krass
                        OCLC Users Council Coordinator
                        6565 Frantz Road, MC 705
                        Dublin, OH  43017
                        Phone:  614/764-6163
                        Fax:       614/798-5732
                        EMail:    [log in to unmask]
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~