As part of the worldwide re-branding of OCLC, Inc., OCLC CAPCON became OCLC Eastern in February 2008. This change is to bring together all of OCLC's offices under a single brand identity with a unified product strategy. Since its original charter in 1974, this office has provided members with pioneering services, training and support. The timeline below gives highlights of our history and evolution to OCLC Eastern.
1974 - Early origins rooted in providing exceptional service to libraries
The Capital Consortium (CAPCON) Library Network, was initially chartered under the auspices of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area in 1974. The CAPCON Library Network served as a regional network for the OCLC cooperative in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The original organization offered sales, training and support for OCLC services such as cataloging, reference, resource sharing and more. As a natural outgrowth of meeting libraries' needs, (and as users' needs expanded) CAPCON broadened the scope of its services to include cooperative purchasing opportunities for additional electronic databases, consulting services and library supplies.
1993 - Pioneers in providing Web and Internet services
In 1993, CAPCON changed its official charter to become an independent 501(c)(3) corporation. During this time, CAPCON became an ISP (Internet Service Provider) for libraries and individuals in the Washington area in the early days of the Internet. In fact, many libraries' first e-mail address ended with "@capcon.net." Promoting libraries' use of the Web inspired the organization to begin providing innovative Web training services, in addition to the traditional support of OCLC products and services.
2003 - CAPCON becomes OCLC CAPCON Service Center
On June 17, 2003, the membership of CAPCON approved an agreement that enabled the nonprofit OCLC regional service provider to become the OCLC CAPCON Service Center. OCLC purchased CAPCON and created OCLC CAPCON, an OCLC-owned service center committed to bringing members quality education and support for all OCLC products and services. On November 12, the CAPCON Library Network officially became the OCLC CAPCON Service Center, continuing in our commitment to provide quality OCLC and library services to the membership.
2008 - OCLC CAPCON becomes OCLC Eastern
OCLC CAPCON becomes even more closely aligned with OCLC by transitioning its name to OCLC Eastern, bringing it together with all of OCLC's offices under a single brand identity and unified product strategy.
OCLC Eastern continues to offer its more than 350 member libraries throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia exceptional training, support and consulting services, and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas across the breadth of our industry—from the smallest school library to the largest academic research institution.
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