From your 1997-98 OCLC Users' Council Delegates:
   Bernard 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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OCLC ACQUIRES BLACKWELL'S AUTHORITY CONTROL SERVICES BUSINESS

DUBLIN, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1997--OCLC has acquired Blackwell's Authority Control
Services business.

"The blend of Blackwell's 20 years of authority control development with
OCLC's authorities innovations and network resources will result in
remarkable benefits for the nation's libraries," said Fred A. Philipp,
president and CEO of Blackwell's Book Services.  "OCLC's acquisition will
ensure the continuation of this successful service while allowing
Blackwell's to focus its resources on the further development of technical
services in support of its primary business of bookselling."

"The addition of Blackwell's services to the year-old OCLC Authority Control
service will enable us to provide libraries with a full range of
cost-effective authority services," said Donald J. Muccino, OCLC executive
vice president and chief operating officer.  "As we proceed to automate and
integrate Blackwell's system into OCLC's collections and technical services,
we will work closely with Blackwell's users to ensure a smooth transition.
 We expect that the combined offerings in authority control will help
increase the availability of authority information while reducing the rate
of rise of its cost."

Authority control is used to correct, update and modernize key bibliographic
access points such as personal names, subject headings and series.  It
contributes to libraries' cataloging efficiency and provides higher-quality
search results for end users.

Blackwell's provides a full range of traditional library bookselling
services integrated with the latest in library technology and technical
services.  Blackwell's has offices in Lake Oswego,Oregon, and offices and
distribution centers in Oxford, England, and Blackwood, New Jersey.

OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer
library service and research organization whose computer network and
services link more than 25,000 libraries in 63 countries and territories.
 More information is available at www.oclc.org.  (ND/PS)

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