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:
Tom Storey+1-614-761-5032
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Nita Dean +1-614-761-5002
nita_dean@o
OCLC ISSUES 1998/99 ANNUAL REPORT
DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1999--OCLC has issued its 1998/99 Annual Report, the
32nd for the international, nonprofit, membership computer library service
and research organization.
In the report, Jay Jordan, OCLC president and chief executive officer, said
that the digital age offers libraries an opportunity to shape the future of
knowledge management in the networked community of the World Wide Web.
"Constant technological change, the phenomenal growth of the Internet, and
the emergence of e-commerce are putting new pressures on libraries," said
Mr. Jordan. "OCLC is uniquely positioned to help member libraries withstand
these pressures and thrive in the digital age. We will continue to focus on
making libraries the portal of choice for knowledge seekers. If we optimize
the power of collaboration, this will indeed be a great time for libraries."
For the year ended June 30, 1999, OCLC revenues were $146.1 million, up 7
percent from the previous year as libraries continued to increase their use
of OCLC online cataloging, resource sharing and reference services.
Contribution to equity was $7.3 million. OCLC provided member libraries
with $9.6 million in credits for cataloging and resource sharing to
encourage the growth and enhance the quality of WorldCat (the OCLC Online
Union Catalog).
Highlights of the 1998/99 OCLC Annual Report include:
* The number of participating libraries increased to 34,775 from 30,154.
* For the first time, the OCLC online system for cataloging and resource
sharing handled more than 1 billion messages as libraries cataloged 55.7
million items and arranged 8.2 million interlibrary loans.
* More than 1,200 libraries used the OCLC ILL Fee Management service to
reconcile 458,000 ILL transactions, saving libraries approximately $15
million in administrative costs.
* 2.2 million new cataloging records were added to WorldCat.
* Location listings in WorldCat grew to 720 million from 668 million.
* 15,000 libraries around the world used the OCLC FirstSearch service,
performing 61.9 million searches, a 23 percent increase over the previous
year.
* The number of e-journals available through OCLC FirstSearch Electronic
Collections Online nearly doubled, reaching 1,761 journals from 48
publishers.
OCLC and WLN merged to form the OCLC/WLN Pacific Northwest Service Center.
* The OCLC Institute conducted 40 educational events for 1,114 people.
The OCLC Office of Research launched the Cooperative Online Resource Catalog
project, in which libraries are using automated tools to build a shared
database of Internet resources.
Printed copies of the report can be obtained by writing to: OCLC Support
Services, MC 437, 6565 Frantz Rd., Dublin, Ohio 43017-3395; e-mail
<[log in to unmask]>; or fax
(+1-614-798-5728). When requesting, include the item number--MAN8440--and
the quantity needed. The OCLC Annual Report will be available on the World
Wide Web in January
<http://www.oclc.org/oclc/ar99/ar.htm>.
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/ >. (TS/RJM)
Carla
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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]
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