Merger Update
MLC & INCOLSA Take Next Steps Toward Merger
Lansing, MI – August 12, 2009 – Building on the collaborative relationship of the past year, the
Michigan Library Consortium (MLC) and
INCOLSA, Inc., announced that they have entered into a formal investigation to merge the two organizations.
A merger design team consisting of MLC Executive Director Randy Dykhuis, INCOLSA Interim Executive Director Marnie Maxwell, and three members each from the INCOLSA Executive Committee and the MLC Board of Directors met at the end of July to establish a process for the merger. The due diligence process is underway. The timeline calls for a Memorandum of Understanding to be approved by both governing boards in mid-November.
“Our library members are challenged by the current economy, so it is in everyone’s best interest that we look for ways to control costs,” said Dykhuis. “The OCLC and group licensing cooperative initiatives between MLC and INCOLSA have been very well received by the members of both networks. Our governing boards have agreed that a merger of the two organizations is the next logical step.”
Over the next several months the merger design team will explore all aspects of the merger. “A critical component of the potential merger is gathering input from the members of both organizations,” said Maxwell. “INCOLSA and MLC will hold regional meetings later this year to ensure our members have a chance to make their voices heard as we embark on this next phase of delivering the highest quality service to our libraries.”
About INCOLSAINCOLSA is the statewide network providing leadership in cooperative activities for Indiana libraries. INCOLSA serves 768 member institutions, representing more than 2,200 libraries throughout Indiana.
About MLCMLC is a non-profit membership organization providing over 600 Michigan libraries of all types with a convenient, single point of contact for training, group purchasing and technical support for electronic resources.
[12 Aug 2009]
