Director of libraries Wilbur Stolt goes global

In the growing universe of information, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) stands out as a vital global resource. Recently, OCLC members from the Americas Regional Council elected Wilbur Stolt, UND director of libraries, as a delegate to the OCLC Global Council for a three-year term.

OCLC is a member-driven group comprising libraries, archives and museums including the UND libraries, creates and supports services which organize and provide access to information and collections managed by member institutions throughout the world.

Stolt was one of 14 librarians from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean chosen to represent OCLC members from the Americas Region. There are a total of 48 Global Council Member Delegates who are elected by the three Regional Councils and represent OCLC member libraries in their respective areas around the world. Stolt’s election to this prestigious position by his peers underscores the professional respect he has earned in the library world.

OCLC operates as a worldwide library cooperative, owned, governed and sustained by members since 1967. It’s a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs, according to the organization’s Web site. More than 72,000 libraries in 86 countries and territories use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.

The OCLC Americas Regional Council (ARC) comprises member librarians from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. The Americas Regional Council elects member librarians to one-year terms on the Americas Regional Council Executive Committee and to three-year terms on the Global Council as Member Delegates. The ARC meetings provide a forum to discuss issues that are important to its members and to advise OCLC about its products, services, policies and operating direction through the Global Council.

OCLC Global Council responsibilities include:

• Electing six members to the OCLC Board of Trustees from among Global Council Member Delegates.
• Ratifying amendments to the OCLC Code of Regulations and Articles of Incorporation.
• Discussing interests of mutual concern and making recommendations to OCLC management and members of the OCLC Board of Trustees.
• Ensuring regular and open communication between the Membership and the OCLC management and Board of Trustees.

More information about the election and the Americas Regional Council is available at www.oclc.org/councils/americas.