---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:03:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Patricia H Shoyinka <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Erik C. Delfino" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: OCLC User's Council Report (fwd)

Does anyone have a a complete and updated list of which federal libraries
have closed and which have been contracted out?
I am appalled at the numbers here listed. Also, I assume the number of
closed libraries is incomplete if you count only those using OCLC (I do
not have access).
Patricia Shoyinka
IRS District Library
PO Box 9112
Boston MA 02203
617-565-1783
[log in to unmask]


On Mon, 10 Feb 1997, Erik C. Delfino wrote:

> ------------------------------------
> Here is the report from the most recent OCLC User's Council
> meeting. The FEDLINK representatives are:
>
> Lee Hadden, US Geological Survey Library ([log in to unmask]);
> Marcia Talley, Nimitz Library, US Naval Academy ([log in to unmask]
> mil); Bernard Strong, National Defense University ([log in to unmask]).
>
> The first item of business is that FEDLINK is losing one member
> from the User's Council. Because of declining participation in OCLC,
> FEDLINK is losing one representative, and another library consortia,
> WILS, is gaining one. Next year there will be two FEDLINK
> representatives, instead of three. The number of Federal libraries
> have declined from ~510 member libraries to ~479, due to recent
> library closings and the contracting out
> of library services. Participation to the Online Union Catalog (OLUC)
> by Federal libraries has declined as well. Thus, the impact and
> presence of Federal libraries on the policy making User's Council
> will be diminished next year.
>
> Other news from OCLC:
>
> Cataloging
> Since 1989, OCLC has extended $26 million in credits for original
> cataloging and member contributions to the Online Union Catalog.
> PromptCat is now shelf ready. The Cataloging Micro-Enhancer (CAT
> ME) for Windows is now ready.
> The enrichment of the WorldCat has continued, with the addition of
> the 36th million bibliographic record entered from Cornell
> University.
>
> Reference
> 6,000 libraries in 47 countries are using First Search and other
> reference services. This now ranks behind only cataloging in
> OCLC usage. First Search has risen from NO place five years ago to
> _FIRST PLACE_ as the most used electronic resource. First Search with
> 33% of the market has moved to first place in electronic
> reference, passing Lexus/Nexus (2nd place), Westlaw (3rd place)
> and Dialog (4th place) in library usage. There are now over 200,000
> searches a day in First Search.
> Tsinghua University, China, has become another First Search user.
> Databases added include Chem Abstracts, Student Edition; AIDS and
> Cancer research. The basic package has expanded to 13 files, and full
> text reference materials have increased with the World Almanac, World
> Book, New York Times, Book of Facts and Wilson Peopleline.
> The First Search homepage should be ready in Febrary, 1997 at:
> http://www.oclc.org/oclc/menu/eco.htm.
>
> Interlibrary loans
> 78.8 million interlibrary loan transactions has been reached.
> This also shows an increase of 10.6% in interlibrary loan
> transactions during the past year. This is one of the most cost
> effective aspects of OCLC, since the exchange of information reduces
> costs among all libraries.
> The Interlibrary Loan Micro-enhancer (ILL ME) for Windows is now
> available.
> The Interlibrary Loan Fee Management (IFM) program is
> growing, with 850 libraries participating, generating $2.2 million
> in transactions. Although figures are not available, many
> member libraries have reduced prices for IFM transactions,
> due to reduced costs in collecting fees.
>
> International
> International usage of OCLC products is increasing. Fastest
> growth is in the Asia-Pacific area. There are over 300 new
> international users added in 1996 and 1997. A cataloging test
> for Swiss and Italian libraries are
> underway, as is usage of Unimarc. OCLC now has 24 hour access for
> international libraries.
>
> Pricing
> Future pricing will hold the line on real price increases. OCLC
> remains commited to holding prices at or below inflation rates. OCLC
> has cut costs, and now has fewer people on the staff in 1997 than
> in 1989. Meanwhile, employee costs are rising. Depreciation
> schedules are shrinking from a 3 year schedule
> for computer equipment to one measured only in months. OCLC will try
> to hold any price increases to 3.5%, the estimated inflation rate.
> OCLC has been holding the line in price increases since 1989, with
> little or no increases during this period.
>
> Computer News
> In 1996, OCLC has paid $1.6 million in subsidies to trade in 3,000
> older workstations. There are still too many older workstations (286s
> and below) in the system, which slows the system down. Members need
> to remove the over 2,000 computers on the system that are too old and
> klunky to use the system effectively. There remains almost
> 900 M300 computer workstations still using OCLC. The M300 was
> first introduced in 1985.
> Access to OCLC continues to be an area of advancement, with OCLC
> striving for a secure and effective method of access. As such, OCLC
> has entered into a partnership with Sprint to provide a secure method
> of access that will avoid the common Internet problems of brownouts
> and overload. For this system to work, more modern equipment is
> needed by the members, and older equipment and software will not be
> supported in the future.
> DOS is dead, and DOS programs will not be supported by OCLC after
> January 1, 1998. Windows 3.1 software and products support will be
> discontinued at a later date.
>
> OCLC Institute
> As part of the strategic plan, OCLC will develop an institute for
> the training and education of library managers. As a senior policy
> institute, OCLC will bring together library directors and other
> people concerned with the library world in a mutually beneficial
> educational setting.
>
> OCLC Strategic Plan
> OCLC is developing a strategic Plan for the next five years,
> concentrating on the "Four I's Goals": Integrate, Innovate,
> Internationalize and Inform. The first goal is to integrate and
> enhance all the core services. The second goal is to innovate by
> providing new, cost effective alternatives. The third goal is to
> internationalize by increasing global expansion and global
> perspective. The fourth goal is to inform by adding a training and
> educational service, the OCLC Institute.
>
> (30)
>
>
> --------------
> r. lee hadden
> [log in to unmask]
>