For more than four decades, OCLC has been committed to advancing the library profession through community-facing research and community programming. Our investments in original research and programs like the OCLC Research Library Partnership (RLP) and WebJunction have produced a record of thought leadership, fostered collaborative problem-solving, and supported professional development in key areas, equipping libraries to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Today, our Research and Programming organization includes three teams: a research group composed of research scientists with deep subject matter expertise and experience with research methods; and two programming units staffed with specialists with extensive practitioner-level experience from the research library sector (our Research Library Partnership team) and public libraries (our WebJunction team). Like other internal organizations within OCLC, the Research and Programming group is led by an Executive Director.
To ensure continued relevance and impact for the libraries we serve, we are undertaking a strategic realignment of our Research and Programming organization. While the overarching structure—three equally important teams, each with its own director—will remain intact, we are making strategic changes in the portfolios of some teams and consolidating capacity to improve Research and Programming operations. Several changes are underway, all with a focus on increasing the value we create with and for the library community.
Strategic shifts
Leadership transition: We are actively recruiting new leadership for our Research and RLP teams. We seek individuals who possess not only a strong understanding of the higher education landscape and proven program management expertise, but also a sophisticated understanding of the key technologies that are transforming library work, AI especially. This transition will ensure our leadership team possesses a new perspective and the technological acumen necessary to guide our initiatives moving forward. These new leaders will bring new perspectives and technological expertise that will directly benefit the communities served by libraries.
Expanded research agenda: We’re broadening our research agenda to meet a wider range of library needs. This expanded agenda will focus on understanding the key technologies (including AI) transforming library work across four broad areas:
- Investigating library roles in research, teaching, and learning across the higher education ecosystem
- Exploring curation as an exercise in community building, as well as collections stewardship; this includes greater attention to important developments in the public library sector
- Analyzing emerging metadata frameworks and workflows to better understand the future of library “knowledge work”
- Examining the organizational economics of libraries, with an eye toward optimizing resources and workflows within and across institutional networks
By focusing on these areas, we aim to address community needs and enhance the value we deliver to the varied communities we serve.
Enhanced program alignment: We are unifying our approach to community programming, leveraging engagement and learning platforms to share expertise across the RLP and WebJunction teams. We are also developing new ways to deliver value by:
- Connecting research outputs to a broader range of audiences, moving beyond (but not replacing) long-form narrative formats to reach readers who prefer data visualizations, infographics, or audio summaries
- Facilitating new opportunities for collaborative learning through workshops and cohort-based programs
These enhancements will create more accessible and engaging ways for communities to benefit from our research outputs and empower community members to engage with and contribute to library initiatives.
Rationale for change
These changes are being implemented in response to significant shifts within the library ecosystem, particularly the increasing impact of AI and other technologies. My goal is to position OCLC Research to effectively address these changes and to continue to serve as a vital resource for libraries and the communities they support.
I am confident that these strategic shifts will enhance our ability to support libraries in their ongoing work. We will continue to share updates as our plans progress. In the interim, I invite your feedback and insights on areas in the higher education and academic and public library sectors that require more research, reflection, and discussion. Please feel welcome to contact us to share your perspectives.
Constance Malpas is Executive Director, Research and Programming. She joined OCLC in 2006, first working with the Research Library Partnership and later as a Research Scientist and Strategic Intelligence Manager. Constance is the author/co-author of multiple OCLC Research publications on library collections and services, collaboration, and the evolving higher education landscape.
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