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Register today for OCLC meetings and events at PLA 2004

Receive a free gift when you join your fellow public librarians at OCLC events, such as the OCLC update breakfast, the WebJunction reception and a presentation on the OCLC Environmental Scan

Going to the Public Library Association conference February 24-28 in Seattle, Washington? Put OCLC on your schedule by registering to attend any of the 12 special sessions OCLC has planned. And make sure you visit OCLC booth 208/209 to see what's new, ask questions and preview the latest service enhancements. To help plan your time, here is a complete list of OCLC events.

How will these technology trends affect your library?

The beginning of the year seems to be the time for predictions. Here are a few trends that the Mercury News and Red Herring forecast for 2004 that also might find their way into your library.

The laptop replaces the desktop. Will you need more outlets for laptops and fewer personal computers? In 2003, U.S. computer buyers started spending more money buying laptops than desktop computers.

Bluetooth wireless technology starts shipping in PCs. Do you have a wireless network? Bluetooth, the wireless technology that replaces the cables on electronics, is projected to have a big year in 2004.

VideoBlogs start replacing WebBlogs. Self publishing begins moving away from text and onto video. Can your library PCs handle the new content?

Digital Immediate Gratification accelerates. DIG continues to change the way people live and think. In the culture of the online world, impatience is escalating. Think of the implications for a library.

Mercury News Red Herring

OCLC Members Council to focus on innovative solutions for tough economic times

In its February 8-10 meeting in Dublin, Ohio, Council will address:

How are member libraries dealing with the economic challenges of the current era, and how do these challenges vary in different parts of the world?
What can OCLC do to help libraries cope with limited budgets in the next two to three years?

In addition, Members Council delegates also will discuss recommendations to improve the communication process between Council and the OCLC cooperative and how Council can become more global in its perspective.

If you are interested in contributing ideas for these discussions, please contact your Members Council delegates and network or service center.

OCLC Members Council
OCLC regional service providers

OCLC welcomes the following new member libraries

James Wood Middle School
Location: Winchester, Virginia, USA
OCLC Symbol: JWOJL
OCLC Network: Independent

Visitation Academy
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
OCLC Symbol: ACVJL
OCLC Network: Independent

McMullen Memorial Library
Location: Huntington, Texas, USA
OCLC Symbol: MMPJL
OCLC Network: Independent

Rylander Memorial Library
Location: San Saba, Texas, USA
OCLC Symbol: RMLJL
OCLC Network: Independent

Pioneer Library
Location: Wenatchee, Washington, USA
OCLC Symbol: PNLJL
OCLC Network: Independent

More information about OCLC participating institutions

WorldCat update

Every 12 seconds an OCLC member library adds a new record to WorldCat, which contains more than 54 million records representing 911,162,396 holding locations as of January 31, 2004. Every 4 seconds an OCLC member library fills an interlibrary loan request using WorldCat, which has supported 132,788,175 interlibrary loan requests as of January 31, 2004. A library user searches WorldCat using the OCLC FirstSearch service every second.

See the latest WorldCat record

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