OCLC and MAPS

From an OCLC Press release received 9/4/90:

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    OCLC BEGINS NEGOTIATIONS TO ACQUIRE MID-ATLANTIC PRESERVATION
    SERVICE

    Dublin, Ohio -- OCLC Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and the
    Mid- Atlantic Preservation Service (MAPS) have signed a letter of
    intent that could lead, following negotiations, to the acquisition
    of MAPS by OCLC.

    MAPS, a nonprofit organization, is engaged in quality preservation
    microfilming for archives, historical societies, libraries and
    museums. OCLC, a nonprofit membership organization, operates an
    international computer network used by more than 10,000 libraries in
    the United States and 38 other countries.

    According to the letter of intent, OCLC would acquire the assets and
    business of MAPS, subject to the negotiation and execution of a
    mutually satisfactory definitive agreement and approvals by both
    Boards of Trustees. The parties hope to conclude an agreement and
    complete the transaction in the fall of 1990.

    Dr. K. Wayne Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, OCLC,
    stated: "MAPS' impressive preservation capabilities would complement
    OCLC's networking and technical capabilities.  Together, the two
    organizations would broaden and enhance preservation services for
    libraries."

    C. Lee Jones, President of MAPS, stated: "With similar public
    purpose goals, the proposed union of OCLC and MAPS will result in
    much improved and expanded preservation services.  We look forward
    to offering them to all libraries, archives, museums, and historical
    societies, regardless of current bibliographic network affiliation."

    Based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, MAPS was founded in 1986 by
    Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton Universities, and the New York
    Public and the New York State Library.  MAPS has 52 employees housed
    in a new 17,000 square- foot building, which was funded with a $1.5
    million grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts.  MAPS operates an
    11-camera microfilming service committed exclusively to archival
    quality preservation filming. In 1990, it will produce over 5
    million frames of microfilm to preserve newspapers, brittle books,
    manuscript collections, archival materials, letterpress books,
    photographs, technical drawings, and other materials.

    OCLC is engaged in library service and research.  OCLC systems help
    libraries locate, acquire, catalog, and lend books and other library
    materials.  The OCLC computerized database provides information used
    by researchers, students, faculty, and scholars as well as
    professional librarians.  Preservation librarians have long used the
    OCLC database to assist in making decisions about what they will
    preserve in their collections, and OCLC has recently announced a
    number of initiatives responding to the growing preservation needs
    of the library community. OCLC's research and long-term interests
    include conversion of deteriorating materials into machine-readable
    form and electronic document delivery. OCLC employs 850 persons.

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 4:12
                Distributed: Thursday, September 6, 1990
                        Message Id: cdl-4-12-001
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