A 'first' for UD Library
University of Delaware Library to implement new 'cloud-based' system
11 a.m., Jan. 18, 2012--The University of Delaware Library has selected OCLC WorldShare Management Services as a Web-based cooperative library management system for metadata management, acquisitions, circulation, discovery, license management and workflow improvements.
The new “cloud-based” system will increase effectiveness and better utilize the library’s vast resources. The University of Delaware Library is the first academic research library and the first member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to implement the OCLC WorldShare Management Services.
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The University of Delaware Library will implement WorldShare Management Services, including the WorldShare License Manager, by the summer of 2013.
In 2008, the library was one of the first research institutions to implement WorldCat Local, OCLC’s Webscale discovery and delivery service. Since then, 29 ARL libraries have implemented WorldCat Local.
“OCLC has a long and distinguished history of supporting libraries in their role of bringing information to users,” said Susan Brynteson, vice provost and May Morris director of libraries, who has been involved with the OCLC cooperative for many years. “The University of Delaware Library is delighted to be at the forefront in this next-generation of library services.”
“OCLC’s Webscale solution represents transformative change,” said Gregg A. Silvis, assistant director for Library Computing Systems at UD. “Libraries have been working toward this type of solution for years. Taking routine library functions to the cloud will reduce duplication of loading records locally and eliminates the need for maintaining local systems. In addition, as the first academic research library in the U.S. to implement OCLC WorldShare Management Services, the library is glad to have the opportunity to develop these services to help meet the needs of other research libraries."
UD Provost Tom Apple stated, "The implementation of WorldShare Management Services demonstrates the commitment of the library to provide first-rate research services to the faculty and students of the University of Delaware."
The University of Delaware Library will have an improved means for getting users to resources of all types and formats, according to Silvis. “WorldShare Management Services will provide the library the opportunity to conduct careful analysis of our workflows across the library.”
“The University of Delaware Library has always been a pioneering library, eager to take a leadership role in innovation efforts of the cooperative,” says Jay Jordan, OCLC president and chief executive officer. “OCLS looks forward to working closely with the library staff to ensure WorldShare Management Services meet their needs, and so that their successful implementation will help others to move to this cooperative model.”
Andrew Pace, OCLC executive director of Networked Library Services, explained that the cooperative works collaboratively with the membership to ensure that services have meaning to and impact on the library community. “The University of Delaware Library will be invaluable in helping OCLC shape and enhance WorldShare Management Services.”
Libraries using OCLC WorldShare Management Services lower the total cost of ownership for their library’s management and free staff time for higher-priority services. These services provide a Web-based environment that streamlines cataloging, acquisitions, license management and circulation. OCLC WorldShare Management Services enable libraries to share infrastructure costs and resources, as well as collaborate in ways that free them from the restrictions of local hardware and software.
In 2010, OCLC announced that it was making OCLC WorldShare Management Services available and more than 30 relatively small-sized libraries became early adopters. OCLC WorldShare Management Services was released for general availability July 1, 2011. There are currently 33 libraries using OCLC WorldShare Management Services, and 117 libraries worldwide have committed to the new service.
More about OCLC WorldShare Management Services can be found on the OCLC website.
About OCLC
Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing library costs.
More than 72,000 libraries in 170 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials.
Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the world’s largest online database for discovery of library resources. Search WorldCat.org on the Web.
For more information, visit the OCLC website.