University Park, PA -- The Penn State University Libraries are sponsoring the video conference "A New Harvest: Revealing Hidden Resources With the Open Archives Metadata Harvesting Protocol," on Tuesday, March 26, 2002, noon–2:30 p.m., in the Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library, on Penn State's University Park campus.

The conference is the first in a series of three satellite video conferences, titled "Steering by Standards," presented by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). The series is designed to help librarians and other information professionals face the challenges of charting new organizational directions that incorporate emerging standards for electronic resource sharing. Gaining insight into these global initiatives will help information technology leaders make effective decisions as they respond locally.

"A New Harvest" is hosted by Lorcan Dempsey, vice president of the OCLC Office of Research. The featured-speaker is Herbert Van de Sompel, director of e-Strategy and Programmes at the British Library. The Open Archives Metadata Harvesting Protocol is a mechanism that will provide access to electronic information unavailable through today�s search engines. This will allow Universities and other sources to consistently show their information, such as e-prints, technical reports, learning materials, image collections, and more. The conference will discuss how the mechanism works and the potential impact it will have on scholarship, learning, and personal fulfillment.

Each video conference will bring together recognized standards experts and practitioners with work-related issues. The audience will have an opportunity to interact with them during the programs. The host will facilitate discussion and debate among all participants.

The series is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Judy Hewes, assistant to the department head, Cataloging Services, University Libraries, at jjh@psulias.psu.edu or 814-865-1755.