Dominic Agyei Dankwah
As a 2026 Mortenson Center Associate, one of the most memorable experiences of the programme has been the opportunity to visit the headquarters of OCLC in Dublin, Ohio. While the visit offered valuable insights into one of the world’s most influential library cooperatives, what stayed with me most was a simple but powerful statement that appeared throughout the organisation: “Together, we make breakthroughs possible.” At first glance, it seemed like a corporate slogan. Yet, as I reflected on the conversations, innovations, and collaborations that define OCLC’s work, I realised that the statement captures something fundamental about librarianship itself. Libraries have always been about connecting people with knowledge. Increasingly, however, the future of libraries depends not only on what individual institutions can accomplish, but on what we can achieve collectively.
The visit highlighted the power of connection. OCLC’s services are built on the idea that libraries are stronger when they work together. Through shared cataloguing, resource sharing, metadata services, and collaborative technology solutions, libraries across different countries and contexts contribute to and benefit from a common ecosystem. The scale of this collaboration is impressive, but the principle behind it is remarkably simple: no single library can do everything alone. This message resonated strongly with my experiences as a librarian in Ghana. Across Africa, libraries often operate under significant resource constraints. Budget limitations, infrastructure challenges, and competing institutional priorities can make it difficult to provide the full range of services our users require. Yet some of the most impactful initiatives on the continent have emerged not from isolated efforts but from collaboration. Networks such as LIBSENSE, WACREN, CARLIGH, and professional associations demonstrate that collective action can achieve what individual institutions often cannot.
Another theme that emerged during the visit was innovation. Innovation is frequently associated with technology, and OCLC undoubtedly exemplifies technological advancement in library services. However, I left with the impression that innovation is ultimately about solving problems through collaboration. Many of the breakthroughs that libraries celebrate today are not simply the result of new technologies; they are the result of people working together to identify challenges, share expertise, and develop solutions that benefit the wider community. This perspective is particularly relevant as libraries navigate rapidly evolving information environments shaped by artificial intelligence, open science, research data management, digital preservation, and changing user expectations. The challenges we face are increasingly complex and interconnected. Addressing them requires more than technological tools; it requires partnerships, networks, and a willingness to learn from one another.
As a Mortenson Associate, I have come to appreciate that one of the programme’s greatest strengths lies in its emphasis on international exchange and professional community. Throughout the programme, I have had the privilege of engaging with librarians from diverse countries, institutions, and professional backgrounds. Each conversation has reinforced a lesson that was echoed during the OCLC visit: innovation flourishes when people bring different experiences and perspectives together.
The visit also prompted me to reflect on the future of libraries in Africa. Across the continent, there is growing interest in open science, digital scholarship, research visibility, and equitable access to knowledge. Achieving progress in these areas will require sustained collaboration among libraries, universities, research institutions, policymakers, and technology partners. No single institution possesses all the expertise, resources, or solutions needed to address the challenges ahead. Our success will depend on our ability to work together across institutional, national, and disciplinary boundaries. Perhaps this is why OCLC’s philosophy felt so relevant beyond its own organisational context. “Together, we make breakthroughs possible” is not merely a statement about technology or library systems. It is a reminder that meaningful progress is often collective. It is about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities that would not exist in isolation.
As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded of an Akan proverb from my home country of Ghana: “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.” The proverb speaks to the collective nature of knowledge and learning. In many ways, it captures the same spirit embodied in OCLC’s philosophy. The future of libraries will undoubtedly be shaped by technological innovation. Yet the most important breakthroughs may continue to emerge from something far more enduring: our willingness to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. My visit to OCLC served as a powerful reminder that while libraries may differ in size, geography, and resources, we are united by a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and serving our communities. And perhaps that is the most important breakthrough of all.