Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

OCLC to review policy on WorldCat records

OCLC Board of Trustees and Members Council to convene Review Board of Shared Data Creation and Stewardship, press release, January 13, 2009.

OCLC Members Council and the OCLC Board of Trustees will jointly convene a Review Board of Shared Data Creation and Stewardship to represent the membership and inform OCLC on the principles and best practices for sharing library data. The group will discuss the Policy for Use and Transfer of WorldCat Records with the OCLC membership and library community.

The purpose of this Review Board is to engage the membership and solicit feedback and questions before the new policy is implemented. In order to allow sufficient time for feedback and discussion, implementation of the Policy will be delayed until the third quarter of the 2009 calendar year. ...

Jennifer Younger, Edward H. Arnold Director of Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame, and an OCLC Members Council delegate, will chair the Review Board. Members Council delegates and other leaders in the library community will be represented on the Review Board. ...

The Review Board on Principles of Shared Data Creation and Stewardship will:

  • Consult with librarians and member representatives as appropriate.
  • Review reports, letters and comments including blog and listserv messages from the global library community regarding the revised Policy.
  • Recommend principles of shared data creation and changes in the Policy for Use and Transfer of WorldCat Records that will preserve the community around WorldCat infrastructure and services, and strengthen libraries. ...

The Review Board will also take into consideration other sources of review, like the recently formed ARL Study Group. The Review Board will provide findings to the President of Members Council, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the OCLC President and CEO.

The Review Board on Principles of Shared Data Creation and Stewardship is scheduled to meet in late January to develop a work plan. ... [A] preliminary report will be made to Members Council during its February meeting.

Delegates will discuss the report at the May Members Council meeting, and a final report is scheduled to be submitted to the OCLC Board of Trustees following the May meeting.

Implementation of the Policy had been set for February 2009, but the Policy will be under further review by the Board of Trustees and Members Council into the third quarter of 2009.

For more on the ARL review, see: See also our past post on the policy change.