The OCLC Global Council met November 5–7 in Dublin, Ohio, to discuss direction and governance of the OCLC cooperative. Delegates heard reports from OCLC members and staff on emerging technologies and how they are impacting libraries around the world.
The Global Council also approved changes in regulations and bylaws of the cooperative. It passed a resolution to make changes in the Global Council bylaws by formalising committee structures, including two new committees (Communications and Finance); clarifying officer terms; and creating a process for establishing alternate delegates.
The Global Council also ratified an amendment to the OCLC Code of Regulations to discontinue the practice of the OCLC President and CEO serving as a voting member of the Board in keeping with emerging best practices among nonprofit organisations. The amendment will be effective when the next president & CEO assumes duty. Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO, is expected to retire by June 30, 2013. A successor has not yet been selected.
Under the direction of Global Council President ChewLeng Beh, Senior Director, Library and Professional Services and Director of SILAS National Library Board, Singapore, the Global Council also heard an update on the OCLC Board of Trustees from Sandy Yee, incoming Chair, and Dean of the Wayne State University Libraries and Library and Information Science Program. It also heard the OCLC President's Report, from Mr. Jordan and a report on OCLC Finance, by Rick Schwieterman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, OCLC.
Anja Smit, University Librarian, Utrecht University, Netherlands gave a presentation, "The Library Scene in The Netherlands". "Linked Data – Radical Change?" was presented by Richard Wallis, Technology Evangelist, OCLC, while "Wikipedians and Librarians: Two Communities Separated by Common Goals," was presented by Max Klein, OCLC Wikipedian in Residence, and Merilee Proffitt, Senior Program Officer, OCLC Research.
Delegates also participated in small group discussions that examined trends and issues in libraries and information science, including data quality, security, archive and museum interests, among others.
