Together

“Sharing horizons that are new to us,
Watching the signs along the way,
Talking it over just the two of us,
Working together day to day.
Together.”

(“We’ve Only Just Begun” – The Carpenters ; Music by Roger Nichols, Lyrics by Paul Williams) [Web site ; Wikipedia entry]

This song debuted on the radio in the fall of 1970, a year when OCLC was still very young [OCLC history], and a few years before RLG appeared on the scene [RLG Timeline]. Described by Richard Carpenter as “probably our best single” (see AMG article), it seems appropriate to invoke the words of this enduring favorite as IAG and all of our OCLC colleagues bid welcome to our newest colleagues from Mountain View, California, and to the marvelous organizations they’ve served so well for so long, into the OCLC family on this first official day of the two organizations coming together as one.

Over the last few weeks, OCLC and RLG staff have been crisscrossing the continent to meet in Mountain View, Dublin, New York, New Orleans, and wherever we can to compare notes, make plans, and get to know one another better. I was delighted to be part of an OCLC contingent visiting RLG in Mountain View recently, and I enjoyed the first-rate hospitality and superb company of my RLG Programs (RLG Programs staff) colleagues – a hospitality we look forward to retuning when they visit Dublin in the near future. We’re excited about the potential synergies between RLG Programs and OCLC Research, and, of course, beyond OCLC Programs and Research, a host of wonderful product and service enhancements will emerge as RLG’s offerings enrich OCLC’s lines (see FAQ for some recently-decided particulars).

Combining two world-class organizations will necessarily pose its share of challenges – as any transition does – but the broader, richer cooperative that will emerge should make the enterprise well worth the effort. We’re anticipating good things, and based on the conversations with and comments from many librarians at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, so are you.

So, a hearty welcome to one and all. We’re looking forward to working together day to day.