DUBLIN, Ohio, USA, 3 August 2009—OCLC has announced that Backstage Library Works, an organization that provides digitization, retrospective conversion and cataloging services to libraries, has acquired the assets of OCLC’s Preservation Service Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as part of a multiyear strategic partner relationship.
The Preservation Service Center was founded by a consortium of research libraries in 1985 as MAPS (Mid-Atlantic Preservation Service). Since acquiring the Center in 1990, OCLC has made considerable improvements to equipment and facilities. The state-of-the-art facility is a consistent leader in reformatting a wide variety of library and archive materials. The center operates two studios—one for microfilming and the other for digital imaging.
"The Preservation Service Center has done an outstanding job of providing high-quality microfilming and digital preservation services to libraries," said John Merrill, President, Backstage Library Works. "The Center and its accomplished staff are a welcome addition and an excellent fit for the users of Backstage Library Works services. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with OCLC to benefit libraries worldwide."
OCLC has partnered with Backstage Library Works on a variety of projects for over a decade. In 2004, Backstage acquired OCLC’s MARS authority control service and has upgraded and expanded the service.
"OCLC’s mission and strategy are focused on working with our members to grow the reach and value of WorldCat and to provide new, cooperative Web-scale management services for libraries and other institutions," said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. "We believe that the Preservation Service Center continues to be a valuable information resource that will have an opportunity to grow and thrive in the Backstage environment."
About Backstage Library Works
Headquartered in the Provo/Orem, Utah area, Backstage Library Works has been providing professional and technical services to libraries, museums and archives around the world since 1987. From authority control and cataloging to digitization and metadata, Backstage can help improve access to collections. Visit the Backstage Library Works Web site for more information at www.bslw.com.
About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 71,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.
