by Yoonju Gal
Visits
This week started with a five-hour drive by charter bus to Ohio. OCLC, located in Dublin, Ohio, was enormous. I had only used WorldCat before and never really considered what role OCLC played. OCLC is a member-driven library community with over 30,000 members in more than 100 countries. After an overview of OCLC, Senior Research Specialist Brittany presented on the New Model Library. Through this project, they discussed their experiences during the pandemic and envisioned the future of their library. They interviewed 29 library leaders worldwide and created a framework for thinking about the future library based on three experiences: Work Experience, Collection Experience, and Engagement Experience. These three experiences can also be applied to the four impact areas identified in the New Model Library. We paired up to discuss the future of libraries. I linked the Collection Experience to Space, emphasizing the need for flexible collection strategies for senior users who either dislike or cannot use digital resources. This session aligned well with this year’s theme at the Mortenson Center and gave me ideas for my action plan.


One of the most impressive parts was the OCLC data center. Managed under strict security, the center stores the data we use in WorldCat. It was fascinating to think that while I was there, my colleagues in Korea were accessing this server. The data center spans 14,000 square feet, with two feet of concrete below the floor. Air conditioning units around the room blow air under the floor and push it up to the equipment, expelling hot air upwards. This system protects the equipment from humidity and heat. They also introduced a newly implemented AI server, which mainly serves for language translation, enabling real-time translations for new languages. To ensure data security, backups are maintained at a secondary data center 20 miles away, with a third backup in Pittsburgh. Impressively, the data center remains operational even during storms, thanks to four diesel generators and an external fuel tank that allows automatic operation for three days. With a fuel supply contract, they can run the data center and the building indefinitely as long as fuel is available.



On the second day in Ohio, we visited the Ohio State University Library. Our first stop was Thompson Library. Each floor offered guided tours and explanations. The library was stunning, with shelves packed with books visible through large glass windows. The variety of spaces was impressive, and the convenience of checking room availability and reservations in real-time via iPads outside meeting rooms was nice. In our library, we have to ask staff or check online, but this system seemed very convenient.


Next, we headed to the Research Commons at 18th Avenue Library. This space was exclusive to graduate students, faculty, and post-docs. It focused on providing collaborative spaces for research projects. The computer lab was unique. Initially designed for interactive computer lab sessions, the space transitioned entirely online due to the pandemic. Using Guacamole software, remote access to these PCs allowed users to work with high-performance software installed on them. The brainstorming room was the most flexible space, fully hybrid, with ceiling-mounted microphones ensuring clear audio transmission during meetings. Another upgraded feature was the ability to split the room into two smaller spaces using a soundproof, whiteboard-equipped partition wall. The library’s proactive support for researchers’ spatial needs was impressive.


Our next stop was Westerville Public Library, introduced by Assistant Director Kristin, who took great pride in her community. The things they did for the local community were admirable. Her story reminded me of my experience working at the National Children’s Library. Initially, she struggled with the youth department but found her role more interesting over time. To attract non-users, they used library characters and held events like animal farms and fantasy-themed events.


They provided home delivery services for seniors and temporarily disabled people. The school delivery service was also impressive, encouraging students to use the library services. The drive-thru service, which many libraries adopted during the pandemic, was already in operation there. The office was filled with books requested by users, and they even provided dog treats for pets in the car. This considerate service left a lasting, warm impression.


The Homework Help service was also notable, offering assistance to elementary and middle school students with their homework, supported by staff and volunteers. The library was bustling with happy faces, making my visit a joyful experience.
Despite the heat, the trip to Ohio was filled with valuable experiences.
Learning
The sessions on digital services, particularly Preservation and Digitization Services, were very informative. Preservation was similar to our library, maintaining proper temperature and humidity, regular pest control, and keeping the storage clean. Deciding which materials to preserve based on their value and condition was a good idea. The digitization process was similar to our library, but I found their approach to preservation and digitization differences intriguing. At our library, there is often a conflict between the preservation and digitization departments. The preservation department worries about further damaging old materials during digitization, while the digitization department argues for digitizing before more damage occurs. However, at UIUC, they viewed already damaged materials as easier to digitize since they could handle them not much worrying about further damage, given they would undergo preservation work anyway. This perspective was enviable. The explanation about digitizing newspapers was also fascinating. I emailed the one of the librarians, in charge of digital project, the next day with a few questions, particularly about their OCR work. Thankfully, I was able to get a quick reply. While we generate a lot of OCR data, we don’t provide it directly to users due to low recognition rates. However, UIUC uses a crowdsourcing approach, allowing users to participate and correct low-recognition texts. This example from UIUC was very helpful, considering we are planning a similar project involving volunteers at the National Library of Korea.


Networking
I had dinner with my library friend Esra. We visited Ko-Fusion, a sushi chain in downtown. The restaurant had a massive vault, which, according to a server, was left over from when the building used to be a bank. It was fascinating to see a vault I had only seen in heist movies.


We also visited The Literary, a bookstore. This time, I enjoyed coffee and desserts and bought another book, “How to Stop Time” by Matt Haig. Being here in the Mortenson Center felt so great that I wished time would stop. We discussed our countries’ cultures and lives (she’s from Turkey). It was interesting to note that while both countries enjoy rice, the cooking methods differ.


On the way back, we stopped by the Champaign Public Library, which had been recently remodeled and was beautiful inside. There were plenty of play spaces for children, and it was interesting to see that they sold donated books already in their collection to help fund the library. The library also offered numerous community services, including career services to help people find jobs or prepare for interviews. It was clear that the library played a significant role as a member of the community.



