Dublin, OH -- 13 November 2003. In a move initiated by the CAPCON Board of Trustees and approved by the CAPCON membership, OCLC has purchased the business assets of the CAPCON Library Network to form the OCLC CAPCON Service Center, which will continue to serve libraries in the Washington, D.C. area under the leadership of Executive Director Katherine Blauer.
The agreement, finalized Nov. 12, enables OCLC to serve libraries formerly served by the CAPCON Library Network. The OCLC CAPCON Service Center will continue to offer the CAPCON Collection, OCLC services, training and support to more than 300 libraries in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
"OCLC is interested in strengthening its services to a variety of types of libraries, all of which are well represented in the CAPCON membership," said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. "This new relationship with libraries in the Washington area will allow OCLC to learn more about these library communities and develop services to meet their needs as well as the needs of similar institutions worldwide."
"The CAPCON Board of Trustees believes this move is clearly in the best interest of the membership and we believe that the new OCLC CAPCON Service Center will provide the kind of service and support our libraries need to serve their users today—and in the future," said Richard Murphy, Chair, CAPCON Board of Trustees, and Director, Prince William County (Virginia) Public Library System.
Ms. Blauer was named executive director of the new OCLC CAPCON Service Center. "Katherine brings to the job a strong background in librarianship, management, communications, sales and service," said Phyllis B. Spies, Vice President, OCLC Worldwide Library Services.
Ms. Blauer was most recently president of Gaylord Information Systems, where she was responsible for all aspects of the Polaris and GALAXY library automation systems, including product management, research and development, customer support, sales and marketing, and business development. From 1997-1999, she was vice president of sales for Information Access Company where she was responsible for sales to statewide consortia, and large academic and public libraries. From 1985-1997, Ms. Blauer held a variety of positions at OCLC, including director of National Sales, regional marketing manager, and product manager for the acquisitions subsystem.
"I am delighted and honored to be leading the new OCLC CAPCON Service Center. Our highest priority is serving our member libraries' diverse information needs," said Ms. Blauer.
Ms. Blauer is from the United Kingdom, where she received her certification in librarianship. She also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Capital University. From 1965-1985 she was a library practitioner with extensive experience in academic, public and special libraries, including work at the University of Glasgow, University College London, Carnegie-Mellon University, Glasgow District Libraries, American Electric Power, and General Public Utilities.
She resides in Arlington, Virginia.
As the OCLC CAPCON Service Center, CAPCON members will continue to be represented on the OCLC Members Council. The CAPCON Board of Trustees will become an advisory council to the service center. The OCLC CAPCON Service Center executive director will join directors of OCLC Service Centers for the Western U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia Pacific as part of OCLC Worldwide Library Services.
