OCLC Buying TechAtlas

By Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 4/15/2007

OCLC announced March 13 that it is applying a $1.9 million Gates Foundation grant toward the purchase of TechAtlas, a technology planning software firm. WebJuntion, OCLC's online community of librarians, “will further develop this web-based technology management and planning tool with particular attention to helping public libraries create E-Rate-compliant technology plans...,” reported OCLC. “WebJunction will begin an intensive round of design and development work to extend TechAtlas features, such as expanding the ability to allow consortia to review and approve technology plans for their member libraries.” TechAtlas provides an environment for small to medium-sized libraries to inventory their technology assets and use that information as a starting point for building a comprehensive technology plan.