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

OCLC Members Council starts a new year

At the first of three 2003-2004 meetings, delegates discussed innovative ways to meet users' expectations, new technologies to deliver new services, new models for collaboration, and planning for the future by closely studying the information environment.

“Libraries should seek new solutions to the problems of the current era,” said Bob Seal, University Librarian, Mary Couts Burnett Library, Texas Christian University, and OCLC Members Council President. “No matter what type of library you work in, you and your colleagues face tremendous challenges such as reduced or flat budgets, rapid technological change, increased expectations and demands by patrons. Our users have a tremendous number of information options these days, only one of which is libraries. We are challenged to refocus our energies, listen to and observe our patrons, and think in new ways if we wish to survive. This Members Council program is designed to help us explore some new ways of thinking.”

Read the story

netLibrary, Sybex sign agreement to distribute computer science books

Several hundred Sybex Inc. titles, including the acclaimed Mastering Series and other Sybex bestsellers, are now available through netLibrary, the leading provider of eBooks to libraries and a division of OCLC. Forthcoming Sybex Inc. titles will be added as they are released. The agreement enhances netLibrary's core subject strengths in computers and information technology.

Read the release

New ARL study suggests that borrowing costs are decreasing

In its third study of interlibrary loan/document delivery operations in North American libraries, the Association of Research Libraries reports a unit cost of $17.50 for mediated borrowing compared with $18.35 in the previous 1996 study. When adjusted for inflation, the unit cost is $14.88, a 19% reduction in constant dollars.

Read the report

OCLC welcomes the following new member libraries

University of Lethbridge Library
Location:Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
OCLC Symbol: CN4UL
OCLC Network: OCLC Canada

London South Bank University
Location: London, United Kingdom
OCLC Symbol: UKSBU
OCLC Network: OCLC PICA

Beijing University of Technology Library
Location: Beijing, CHINA
OCLC Symbol: CCBEI
OCLC Network: OCLC Asia Pacific

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 53 million records representing 903,105,109 holding locations as of November 8, 2003. Every 4 seconds an OCLC member library fills an interlibrary loan request using WorldCat, which has supported 130,899,223 interlibrary loan requests as of November 8, 2003. 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.