OCLC Pilots Traditional Libraries into Web Services

http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb050705-2.shtml
OCLC Collection services made their WorldCat available to search engines such as Google and Yahoo! In December of 2004 allowing users to search their giant card catalog. They are expanding the types of materials that will be available to include electronic journal collections. They are also making reference librarians available to answer questions online. Along with this, they will make books available for purchase through their site. There's even a summer reading program in the works based on the wiki format. With so much to offer, it's no surprise that OCLC will begin charging libraries for use. This is just another example of how new technologies are making huge amounts of information available to people regardless of their location. Libraries will remain vital parts of the community by embracing this technology and finding ways to promote it to their patrons.