Research Libraries Group (RLG) records now available
The Research Libraries Group, Inc. (RLG) was founded by The New York Public Library and Columbia, Harvard, and Yale universities and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in late 1975. In 1978 RLG moved its offices from Branford, Connecticut, to Stanford University in California; adopted Stanford’s library automation staff and computer system (BALLOTS) as the starting point for its own library system (RLIN), plus a series of complementary services and databases; and opened its membership to research institutions throughout the U.S.
The 1990s brought a growing number of overseas members. RLG membership grew to over 150 research libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural memory institutions. RLG and its member organizations worked to provide information discovery services, develop and operate collaborative programs, and create and promote relevant standards and practices. It was not necessary to be a member; however, to use a variety of RLG products, and many libraries and archives did so. On July 1, 2006, RLG merged with OCLC (formerly the Online Computer Library Center). Its computer services were migrated into OCLC’s, its member programs and standards work were integrated into an expanded OCLC department, and the now-smaller California staff were relocated from Mountain View to San Mateo, California.
The collection includes corporate documents, program and project files, grant proposals, system and software development files, digital material, photographs, and other documents and memorabilia. Each box has a scope and content note as well as more detailed description. Materials fall roughly into the following categories: Computer Systems (aka Development); Corporate Communications; Files of Noel Hanf, Wiggin & Dana; Finance & Administration; Marketing & Sales – photographs; Member Programs; President’s Office (aka Administration); Product Management. Digital files are closed until processed.
M1529 (172 record storage boxes, 2 flat boxes, 7 manuscript boxes, 2 small map folders)
A finding aid is available online.
