FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Candi Clevenger, Communications Manager,
OhioLINK, 614-728-3600 ext. 329, candi@ohiolink.edu
Columbus, Ohio (August 2, 2007) – Ohio students, faculty and staff now have access to one of the top ten largest theological collections in the United States from the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus (TCGC). This access is possible because TCGC members, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Pontifical College Josephinum and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, have recently joined OhioLINK, an academic library consortium that delivers the information needed to support Ohio higher education. These additions bring the total number of OhioLINK members to 87, including 16 public/research universities, 23 community/technical colleges, 47 private colleges and the State Library of Ohio.
“Having access to these specialized collections will be a benefit to students and faculty of many disciplines here at Ohio State, including art, history, literature, music, religious studies and sociology.” Joe Branin, Director of the Ohio State University Libraries, said.
More than 600,000 Ohio students, faculty and staff can now browse 360,000 theological books and other library materials, borrow items for up to 15 weeks, and pick up those requested items in just 2-3 days at a participating library. In addition, students, faculty and staff at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Pontifical College Josephinum and Trinity Lutheran Seminary will gain access to the more than 46 million books and other library materials owned by OhioLINK member libraries and two Ohio public library systems.
“Being a part of OhioLINK allows us to support the research needs of our students and faculty in ways that we weren.t able to do before,” Monsignor Paul Langsfeld, Rector/President, Pontifical College Josephinum, said. “OhioLINK provides more library resources than any single library, especially a small library, could ever afford individually.”
But OhioLINK is more than just a fast and efficient way to borrow and share physical library items. Together with member libraries, OhioLINK also provides students, faculty and staff with 24/7 access to the information resources they need to be successful academically, including:
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Pontifical College Josephinum and Trinity Lutheran Seminary joined OhioLINK as part of the Ohio Private Academic Libraries (OPAL) consortium. Funding for OPAL membership was provided to the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act Funds, awarded to the State Library of Ohio by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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The Ohio Board of Regents determined the need for a network of libraries in 1989 and in 1992 the statewide central catalog went live. Today, OhioLINK provides easy access to information and rapid delivery of library materials throughout the state and serves more than 600,000 students, faculty, and staff at 87 institutions. For more information, visit www.ohiolink.edu/about/news.