View this and past issues on the Web at http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/design/abstracts/

OCLC research head addresses Library and Archives Canada as part of “Leaders in the Field” program

Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President, OCLC Research and Chief Strategist, says that libraries and archives need to build services that reach out into the working and learning patterns of their users, particularly in a world where, for many, users’ information horizons are defined by 'Amazoogle'

Mr. Dempsey’s May 4th presentation, The Pattern is New in Every Moment: Observations on Issues Affecting Libraries and Archives within the Framework of the 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan, considered some of the major challenges faced by memory organizations in an environment of change. Among the key points he made:

Libraries and archives need to build services that reach out into the working and learning patterns of their users, particularly in a world where, for many, users' information horizons are defined by 'Amazoogle.'
As we enter a digital environment, there is a convergence of interests between the curatorial traditions of libraries and archives as they share an interest in digital asset management, in surfacing materials in learning and interpretive environments, and as they look towards issues of context, provenance and authenticity.

“Lorcan’s wide-ranging presentation and his sessions with our staff really brought into focus many of the changes in the information environment, and what these changes mean for us at Library and Archives Canada as we create a new national knowledge institution for Canada,” said Andrée Delagrave, assistant deputy minister of transformation, Library and Archives Canada.

The newly-created Library and Archives Canada, which draws together the former National Library and National Archives, initiated the invitational “Leaders in the Field” speaker series as a way to strengthen its understanding of the broader environment and to ensure that its vision and transformational changes are informed by the views of international experts. The first speaker in the series was Dr. Robert Martin, Director of the Institute for Museums and Library Services. Chris Batt, Chief Executive, The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in the United Kingdom, will be the third speaker in the series.

View the presentation
Libraries and Archives Canada

“Digital Kids” in Texas school to use e-books and laptops instead of textbooks

As a fast-growing suburban district outside of Dallas, Texas, Forney Independent School District faces a textbook shortage each school year. This year will be a little different, however, for some fifth and sixth grade students at Johnson Elementary School. They will use laptops and e-books instead of textbooks. The Electronic Books Pilot Program of the Forney District is the latest in a series of projects aimed at replacing printed versions of texts with electronic ones. “These are digital kids, accustomed to multi-tasking and accustomed to the electronic world,” says Superintendent Mike Smith.

News story
Forney news release

E-learning: a new community topic on the OCLC Web site

E-learning is an influential new force in education. Learn about and discuss the role of libraries in this growing new educational platform through the community section of the OCLC Web site.

The Basics of E-learning
Best Practices of E-learning Initiatives
Standards and Specifications
Trends Shaping the Future of E-learning
E-learning Interest and Working Groups
Discussion Forum

OCLC welcomes the following new member libraries

Liberty University School of Law
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
OCLC Symbol: LBRTY
OCLC Network: SOLINET

The Library Corporation Research Park Library
Location: Inwood, West Virginia, USA
OCLC Symbol: MXIDC

Membership guidelines and protocols

WorldCat update

Every 12 seconds an OCLC member library adds a new record to WorldCat, which contains more than 55 million records representing 922,619,990 holding locations as of May 8, 2004. Every 4 seconds an OCLC member library fills an interlibrary loan request using WorldCat, which has supported 135,739,980 interlibrary loan requests as of May 8, 2004. A library user searches WorldCat using the OCLC FirstSearch service every second.

See the latest WorldCat record

Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Questions/Comments

OCLC Abstracts uses the Internet to deliver timely information about OCLC services, programs, news and events directly to subscribers’ desktops. This e-journal augments and complements OCLC’s Web site and print communications.