OCLC is seeking examples of “breakthrough stories” from member libraries. Submissions should describe a project, initiative, or partnership that has resulted in not only increased access to information, but also greater engagement with library users and the broader community. Stories featuring innovative uses of technology, to improve access to current collections or to create entirely-new ones, are typical of last year’s winners. Some examples from academic libraries follow.
- Montreal’s McGill University had a severe cataloging backlog that took up several rooms. Through collaboration with OCLC, the University not only cleared the backlog, allowing staff to focus on higher-priority projects, but it was also able to devote more space to student needs.
- With OCLC research assistance, the Triangle Resources Library Network in North Carolina provided access to large collections of digitized documents from the state’s Long Civil Rights Movement initiative.
- Using WorldCat, a worldwide organization of art libraries put together a discovery service that was detailed enough for academic research, but still user-friendly for the general public.
To read more about these, and other, “breakthrough stories”, and to submit your own, go here.