RLG and OCLC merge
This is huge news. RLG and OCLC will be merging into one organization. From the press release:
Two of the world’s largest membership-based information organizations have agreed to come together. The combined organization will offer an integrated product and service line, and will give libraries, archives and museums new leverage in developing services, standards and software that will help them support research and disseminate knowledge online.
The RLG Board of Directors and OCLC Board of Trustees have recommended that the two service and research organizations be combined effective July 1, 2006. If approved by RLG member institutions, RLG’s online products and services will be integrated with OCLC products and services, and RLG’s program initiatives will be brought forward as a new division of OCLC Programs and Research.
I hope that some of the excellent things RLG is a part of or produces, such as Open Content Alliance and RedLightGreen, will become folded into the things that OCLC can offer to its customers. I see this as a way for many of these excellent resources and services to make their way into more non-academic libraries, and to reach as many libraries and users as possible.
Back in December, I wrote a post about RLG wondering if it would be possible for OpenWorldCat to follow their lead on user interface and functionality. Well, l and behold, look what happens! I am wondering if this is OCLC’s first step toward creating its own ILS for libraries to purchase. Hmmm…
May 4th, 2006 at 7:22 am
You wrote: “I am wondering if this is OCLC’s first step toward creating its own ILS for libraries to purchase. Hmmm…”
OCLC was already down that road once before. uNless they do things differently this time, I hope they will advoid that mistake again. It is a shame to see the competition for providers of MARC records to decrease.
May 4th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
er… I don’t think RLG “produces” OCA…
May 5th, 2006 at 8:32 am
That’s what I get for being a relative newbie in the field. I didn’t know OCLC had made a foray into the ILS-world before.
May 5th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Absolutely right. Bad choice of words.