OCLC, the world’s largest library cooperative, has acquired the remaining shares of OCLC PICA Group B.V., the European-based library and information systems supplier, to become the sole shareholder of the organisation.
OCLC acquired 60 percent of the Pica organisation in 2000. Today’s purchase of the remaining 40 percent in OCLC PICA completes the acquisition of shares. Rein van Charldorp will remain in his current position as Managing Director of OCLC PICA.
Earlier this year, OCLC reorganised its management structure to achieve global integration of services and to establish teams comprised of staff from various geographic locations.
“Completing the acquisition of OCLC PICA will help facilitate the deployment of OCLC library services worldwide,” said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. “This is the next logical step in a process that has fostered tremendous cooperation between Stichting Pica and OCLC over the past seven years. OCLC and OCLC PICA will be better positioned to deliver a network of integrated global, regional and local services to libraries worldwide.”
“The complete integration with OCLC means we can offer libraries and other information suppliers more and better ways to share resources to support their patrons,” said Dr. van Charldorp. “This mission was at the foundation of both the Pica based organisation and OCLC four decades ago. As a truly global OCLC, we can execute that strategy on yet a higher level.”
Cooperation between OCLC and Pica began in 1977 when the organisations began sharing data. OCLC acquired a majority of Pica shares in 2000, which led to the formation of OCLC PICA in 2002.
