The world today is drastically different than it was in 1989, when the Ohio higher education community conceived a bold vision of “the most powerful statewide library and information system in the nation.” Since beginning operations in 1992, OhioLINK has been viewed as one of the most successful, if not the most successful, academic library consortium worldwide. But in order to respond to the changed world and to succeed long-term, the OhioLINK community must critically consider strategic and fundamental changes. If need be, elements of OhioLINK and Ohio academic libraries must be reinvented.

The World Has Changed

• When OhioLINK was conceived, Ohio students and faculty had few information alternatives. Most information was accessible only in print or other physical formats.
• There was a newly emerging Internet, but no World Wide Web and no Google or Yahoo.
• Information and communications technologies have merged and dominate our daily life. Today’s students have always known: cyberspace, PCs and Macs, video games, e-mail, MP3 players, music file sharing via the Web, cell phones and digital cameras.
• Information creation is exploding globally at rates never seen before.

These Changes Exert Pressure on Libraries
The pressures on libraries are greater than ever before. The problems OhioLINK was intended to solve have either intensified or accelerated, including:

• Rising costs and decreasing library purchasing power under a dysfunctional scholarly publishing system
• A rapidly increasing volume of information
• Expanding user needs and expectations for immediate, desktop access to information resources of all types
• Rapid advancements in the Web and in technology as tools of information delivery
• Ohio higher education’s need to become an increasingly integrated community
• Five years of limitations on Ohio higher education and library funding and a guarded outlook for the future

Internet
Milestones

1991
CERN Releases World Wide Web

1993
Mosaic, the first graphics-based Web browser, launches

1994
Radio stations start rebroadcasting 24 hours a day on the Net

1995
Traditional online dial-up systems (e.g. AOL) begin providing Internet access

1995
eBay and Amazon debut

1998
Google launches

2002
Having a blog becomes popular

2003
MySpace debuts

2004
Facebook debuts

Source: Hobbes' Internet Timeline
(c)1993-2005 by Robert H. Zakon.

We Can Successfully Meet These Challenges
Despite the pressures and rapid changes of the world today, this remains an exciting time for OhioLINK and Ohio’s academic libraries. Four positive underlying factors will help us succeed in the future:

• The OhioLINK community fully understands the transformative effect of collaboration and remains committed to working together.
• The global library and higher education communities are of one mind about the issues facing us all. OhioLINK is an active collaborator with libraries across the globe.
• The array of technological tools with which to achieve statewide efficiencies
  and cost effective services has never been richer.
• The need for and ability of the higher education system to positively impact the economy of Ohio and well-being of its citizens has never been greater. In the long run, this will benefit the OhioLINK program.

Priority #1: Utilize user-based research to improve electronic information delivery systems and connect users to needed information effectively.

1. Create the ability to search as many OhioLINK and library resources as possible at one time.
2. Provide access to OhioLINK resources through the popular Web sites utilized by our users.
3. Create customization options to meet individual needs, including options activated by users and options within the system that respond to specific actions.
4. Deliver OhioLINK services to all platforms (PCs, PDAs, tablet devices, etc.).
5. Broadly examine all aspects of library operations and implement collaborative innovations to reduce and control costs and improve effectiveness in the delivery of information.

Priority #2: Provide content statewide through sustainable economic models

1. Manage licenses aggressively to focus on the most essential and affordable content.
2. Collaborate with other Ohio library, education, and business organizations to coordinate and expand services and value.
3. Investigate all options for more affordable textbook delivery (in coordination with campus book stores and other campus units).

Priority #3: Maximize access to the intellectual resources of our member institutions and libraries as well as those freely available on the Web.

1. Maximize accessibility of relevant freely available Web resources (e.g. growing array of Open Access journals) in concert with licensed content.
2. Fully develop the Ohio Digital Resource Commons and related services.
3. Obtain grants to accelerate our ability to digitize the intellectual assets of our member institutions and libraries.

As we strive to transform and reinvent ourselves to serve Ohio students, faculty, researchers and the state more effectively, we ask for your support, energies, creativity, understanding and feedback.