In addition to the announcement of Ebsco Publishing’s acquisition of Netlibrary, OCLC has also announced

“an important change to our FirstSearch content services. OCLC is transitioning out of our role as reseller of vendor-owned content. Therefore we will transfer or discontinue sale of the vendor-owned databases on FirstSearch when subscriptions have ended.

We will instead increase our focus for both FirstSearch and WorldCat.org on providing libraries with access to a rich set of library-owned content and increasing visibility and access to the full scope of a library’s collection. We will work with libraries, publishers and other information providers to expand WorldCat.org as a comprehensive platform for eContent.”

Drexel currently has access to several databases on the Firstsearch platform.

Those affected by this change are:

• AltPressIndex
• BasicBiosis
• Contemporary Women’s Issues
• GeoRefS
• Wilson Select Plus

We will have access to these databases on the Firstsearch platform until our subscriptions end (July 2010), at which time we will have to replace access through another provider.

Drexel also has access to several databases that will remain available on through OCLC Firstsearch.  those are:

• ArticleFirst
• Clase & Periodica
• OCLC Electronic Books
• Electronic Collections Online (ECO)
• GPO Monthly Catalog
• History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
• PapersFirst
• ProceedingsFirst
• World Almanacs

For more information on the cheanges to OCLC Firstsearch, see this FAQ from OCLC: http://www.oclc.org/firstsearch/content/questions/