N e w s R e l e a s e s

Northwestern States and Hawaii Join BCR

AURORA, CO, JANUARY 23, 2001 — The Bibliographical Center for Research (BCR) is pleased to welcome the state libraries of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington as new state members, the latest partners in BCR's multistate, nonprofit library network. The five new states join the BCR member states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. This is the largest territorial expansion ever undertaken by a U.S. library network.

The state libraries' memberships automatically extend BCR membership to every library located in their states, giving them access to all BCR resource sharing programs and services. Through BCR, member libraries may contract for OCLC products and services and have access to discounted group contracts for reference databases and electronic books, as well as library supplies and computer equipment. BCR's extensive training program not only brings the most up-to-date information and technology workshops to libraries in member states, but includes a number of online classes that members can take while at their own computers.

Nor are the new members the only ones to gain from this expanded partnership. With the large number of libraries gained from this expanded partnership, BCR will be able to negotiate larger discounts with more vendors, providing all member libraries with even more cost-effective products and services.

"Membership in BCR is of great benefit to the Hawaii State Public Library System," said Virginia Lowell, Hawaii state librarian. "We now have access to a comprehensive training program, we can add our service population numbers to those in other states to get better pricing on online and Web-based services, and we can get better discounts on library supplies. Better yet, our membership will benefit other libraries in Hawaii that will have access to BCR's expertise in negotiating contracts and in member pricing."

Oregon State Librarian Jim Scheppke concurred, "In Oregon we are seeing the need to improve our infrastructure for multi-type library cooperation, both within our state and beyond our borders. By joining BCR we hope to benefit from a wide range of collaborative endeavors with libraries throughout the West."

Charles Bolles, state librarian from Idaho, added. "The Idaho State Library is looking forward to collaborating with BCR in planning and delivering improved library services in Idaho. I am excited about the opportunity for Idaho's libraries to benefit from BCR's products and services."

"Alaska, too, is looking forward to new opportunities for resource sharing and cooperative projects within the BCR region," stated Karen Crane, state librarian from Alaska.

"Washington libraries stand to gain much from the closer association with other libraries that is afforded by membership in BCR. We also look forward to contributing to BCR's success," said Washington State Librarian Nancy Zussy.

Richard Doyle, director of Library Services and Technology at Coe College (Iowa) and president of the BCR Board of Trustees, said "Expanding BCR's state membership offers many exciting possibilities for enhancing services in our existing member states as well as the library community in the Northwest and Hawaii. We regard this as a serious and long-term commitment and a relationship that needs to be nurtured and developed very carefully. The BCR Board of Trustees and staff are looking forward to working with their library colleagues throughout BCR's five new member states."

To find information about BCR and the many benefits the library network provides its members, browse on the Web to www.bcr.org. Or call BCR at (800) 397-1552.

BCR, a nonprofit library network, helps libraries acquire, implement and manage automated information services. BCR services include Internet training and consulting; access, training and support for OCLC services and products; electronic database creation; online, CD-ROM and Internet reference database discounts; microcomputer product discounts, support and training; custom cataloging; and a variety of group-purchase discounts.

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