OCLC to Sponsor New IFLA Early Career Development Fellowship

PRESS RELEASE : for immediate release
August 24, 1999

Nita Dean
Manager of Public Relations
OCLC Online Computer Library Center

DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 24, 1999-Today at the IFLA General Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and OCLC announced the IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship, which will support library and information science professionals who are in the early stages of their career development and from countries with developing economies.

Up to four fellowship recipients a year will travel to OCLC Headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA, for four weeks to participate in an intensive program of lectures, seminars and mentoring.

"This new kind of cooperation between IFLA and OCLC is really a great achievement, which will allow librarians from developing countries to come to the United States, have good technical training, and visit a few North American libraries," said Christine Deschamps, president of IFLA and OCLC Board of Trustees member. "I can only hope that other bodies will join us and give additional funding to help more librarians to come each year."

"As the leading global library cooperative, OCLC is in a position to promote the evolution of libraries worldwide," said Jay Jordan, OCLC president and CEO. "This career development program, created in collaboration with IFLA, has the potential to positively affect individuals, their institutions, their countries and the global knowledge management practices of the future. The OCLC membership will also benefit from the diverse viewpoints and experiences the Early Career Development fellows will bring to the program."

"The program will be designed to provide as much background as possible on emerging technologies and their role in global cooperative librarianship," said Martin Dillon, executive director of the OCLC Institute. "It will provide advanced, continuing education and exposure to a broad range of issues in information technologies and library operations."

Early Career Development fellows will participate in OCLC Institute seminars, observe portions of an OCLC Users Council meeting, and visit selected North American libraries.

More information is available from the OCLC Institute on the Web at http://www.oclc.org/institute/, via telephone at +1-614-764-6357, or by writing to the OCLC Institute at 6600 Frantz Rd., Dublin, Ohio, USA, 43017.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (founded in 1927) is a worldwide, independent organisation created to provide librarians around the world with a forum for exchanging ideas and promoting international cooperation. IFLA is also doing research and development in all fields of library activities. IFLA's objectives are: to represent librarianship in matters of international interest; to promote the continuing education of library personnel; and to develop, maintain and promote guidelines for library services.

With over 1,600 members in more than 150 countries, IFLA is nowadays a truly global organization. The federation is deeply rooted in the library community worldwide. More information is available at http://www.ifla.org.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization whose computer network and services link more than 34,000 libraries in 67 countries and territories. OCLC is dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.

In the United States, more information is available (via telephone: +1-614-764-6000 or 1-800-848-5878; fax: +1-614-764-6096; or e-mail: oclc@oclc.org).
In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, contact the OCLC Europe office, located in Birmingham, United Kingdom (phone: +44 121 456 4656; fax: +44 121 456 4680; or e-mail: europe@oclc.org).
In Asia and the Pacific region, contact the OCLC Asia Pacific office in Dublin, Ohio (phone: +1-614-764-6189; fax: +1-614-764-4331; or e-mail: asia_pacific_services@oclc.org).
In Canada, contact the OCLC Canada office in Montreal, Quebec (phone: +1-450-658-6583 or 1-888-658-6583; fax: +1-450-658-6231; or e-mail: canada@oclc.org).
In Latin America and the Caribbean, contact the OCLC Latin America and the Caribbean office in Dublin, Ohio (phone: +1-614-761-5196; fax: +1-614-718-1026; or e-mail: america_latina@oclc.org).
More information about OCLC, its affiliated U.S. regional networks, service centers, international divisions and distributors is available at http://www.oclc.org/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Nita Dean
Tel.: +1-614-761-5002
nita_dean@oclc.org