News briefs

Kirtas Technologies, a worldwide leader in bound-book digitization, and OCLC have signed an agreement that will enable streamlined access to the ever-increasing numbers of digitized books to users of OCLC’s WorldCat and Kirtasbooks.com.

As part of the agreement, OCLC will be able to provide its users with data indicating that a book is available either as digitized content or that it can be made available for digitization.

In addition, OCLC will provide Kirtas with bibliographic records for use on Kirtasbooks.com, ensuring consistent and accurate descriptions of the books being offered for sale by its library content providers.

Key membership events include the OCLC Symposium, Leadership Beyond the Recession; the special presentation, From Awareness to Funding: The Next Chapter; and the OCLC Update Breakfast.

• OCLC Symposium: Leadership Beyond the Recession. The course you set during tough times will have a profound impact on your library’s long-term sustainability. Keynote speaker and best-selling author Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D, (The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary) will engage the audience in a conversation that explores ways to bring a unique customer experience to the library.
  Friday, July 10, 1:30–4:30 p.m., Chicago Hilton, Grand Ballroom
• From Awareness to Funding: The Next Chapter. Join Cathy De Rosa and Jenny Johnson from OCLC for an update on OCLC’s continuing efforts—with generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—to help public library leaders heighten awareness of the needs of local libraries and increase support for the services they provide.
  Saturday, July 11, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., McCormick Place West, Room W-474
• OCLC Update Breakfast. Join OCLC and your colleagues for breakfast, a free gift and an update on OCLC activities from Jay Jordan, President and CEO. Then, share roundtable conversation with colleagues who share your interests, hosted by OCLC staff.
  Sunday, July 12, 7–9 a.m., Chicago Hilton, International Ballroom

Powered by OCLC's QuestionPoint service, AskScotland is a collaborative national service developed by the Scottish Library and Information Council that will pool the staff and resources of Scotland’s public library services to bring their knowledge and rich collections to a global audience.

The new service will enable people all over the world to get answers to questions about Scotland and was launched June 1 by Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Government of Scotland.