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Link to Copyright Clearance Center will help improve resource sharing workflow

To make the copyright permissions process more convenient for librarians, OCLC and CCC have formed a partnership to provide direct access to the CCC’s copyright permissions services from OCLC FirstSearch databases. The initial link connects library staff from bibliographic records and ILL request workforms to the main Web page of the CCC. Increasing levels of integration will be phased in over the next 10 months. The new functionality will assist library staff in the U.S. with copyright compliance and paying royalty fees.

As the OCLC cooperative celebrates 25 years of resource sharing in 2004, OCLC is planning changes to interlibrary loan that will help your library improve efficiency and workflow. “New directions in sharing” is your source for the latest news as OCLC ILL functionality migrates to the FirstSearch reference service.

Recent ILL enhancements to FirstSearch staff view

A new blueprint for the library?

Speakers at CLIR Symposium address trends in teaching and learning

From the CLIR fourth annual Sponsors’ Symposium, April 13, 2004, which featured seven speakers from the world of research and education: Libraries are critical agencies in an evolving “seamless learning infrastructure” of social agencies that facilitate learning, including schools, museums and archives. To support this infrastructure, they must break down the institutional silos of libraries and museums, repurpose learning materials and develop systems that support customized learning experiences and portals that will enable learners to locate the resources they need. The library must change from a collection-centered to a learning-centered resource, and staff must serve as partners in information creation and use. Rather than working behind desks, reference librarians now circulate on the floor, helping students with their information needs.

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No question about it: library reference services are changing

Chances are you’re probably already taking or considering steps to improve your library’s reference services. If you are—but especially if you’re not—go to Six Successful Ways to Evolve Your Reference Services on the OCLC Web site for ideas on how to create a more efficient service users will love. This helpful resource gives you tips for reevaluating and enhancing your library’s reference services. Use it to identify needs, dream about the perfect solution and more.

Six Successful Ways to Evolve Your Reference Services

OCLC welcomes the following new member libraries

Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Location: Johnstown, New York, USA
OCLC Symbol: YJMLS
OCLC Network: Nylink

Providence Christian College
Location: Ontario, California USA
OCLC Symbol: PCCLI
OCLC Network: OCLC Western Service Center

Engineering and Science Library, Queen’s University
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
OCLC Symbol: ISGAR
OCLC Network:OCLC Canada

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 925,759,602 holding locations as of June 19, 2004. Every 4 seconds an OCLC member library fills an interlibrary loan request using WorldCat, which has supported 136,471,146 interlibrary loan requests as of June 19, 2004. A library user searches WorldCat using the OCLC FirstSearch service every second.

See the latest WorldCat record

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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.