KU News Release

Information technology expert to speak at KU

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Libraries and the Hall Center for the Humanities will host Lorcan Dempsey, vice president and chief strategist for the Online Computer Library Center Inc., for a series of events in December.

Dempsey, who has worked for libraries and educational organizations in Ireland, England and the United States, will discuss the relationship of information technology to the work of libraries and where it may lead in the future. This is his first visit to Kansas.

“Lorcan Dempsey began his career as a researcher in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and now travels globally as part of his duties at OCLC, a network of more than 50,000 cooperating libraries across the world,” said Lorraine J. Haricombe, dean of KU Libraries. “Lorcan hopes to learn about trends in this region and share lessons from his own research. OCLC aims to help librarians, archivists and museum leaders work together to meet the needs of the people we all serve — locally and around the world. I am delighted to welcome him to KU.”

Dempsey will offer his expertise during three main events:

— A meeting of senior leaders from area libraries from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Spencer Research Library
— A presentation titled “The changing scholarly and cultural record: Some issues for universities in an age of globalization” from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Hall Center for the Humanities. Interested attendees should R.S.V.P. by calling KU Libraries at (785) 864-8961.
— A meeting with KU Information Services staff from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.

Dempsey has consulted with international policy and service organizations and has policy, research and service development experience in networked information and digital libraries. He writes and lectures extensively, and can be followed on the Web via his popular blog. He is a member of the National Information Standards Organization board and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

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