Merrilee Proffitt Email & Phone Number

Oakland, Ca, Us

Manages the daily functions of the OCLC Research Library Partnership, a distinctive transnational collaborative network comprising peer institutions addressing shared challenges. Holds accountability for nurturing and expanding our community, crafting and disseminating effective communications, and orchestrating engagement initiatives. Responsible for the overall conception, execution, and evaluation of RLP programs, fostering continual improvement. Collaborates with colleagues throughout the OCLC Membership and Research division, as well as in sales, marketing, and product, to ensure the seamless dissemination of valuable insights gained from the OCLC RLP across our global organization. Acknowledged by organizational peers for commitment and proficiency as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) advocate and practitioner. Supports the Executive Director, Research Partnerships and Engagement in formulating strategic goals and business plans for the RLP; responsible for executing on those goals.

Primary OCLC RLP liaison for the digital library, archives, and special collections communities. Projects include examining practices around archival collections assessment, changing practices in digitization of special collections, and the future of libraries.Notable accomplishments include successfully executing projects focused on the intersection of Wikipedia/Wikimedia and libraries, delineating the role of public libraries in archives and special collections, establishing best practices for archives and orphan works, and conducting a comprehensive analysis of Encoded Archival Description (EAD). Pioneered the creation and supervision of OCLC's inaugural Wikipedian in Residence role, advocating for its inception. Instrumental in securing funding for the OCLC's groundbreaking project, "Wikipedia + Libraries: Better Together." Also served as a Subject Matter Expert for the WebJunction-hosted course, "Wikipedia + Libraries."

Served as the primary liaison for the RLG community, overseeing a spectrum of programmatic initiatives within RLG's Research Resources community, including standards work, and service-related efforts (ArchiveGrid, RLG Cultural Materials, RedLightGreen). Notably, in 2004, received the prestigious Society of American Archivists' C.F.W. Coker Award for contributions to RLG's Encoded Archival Description Guidelines.Independently initiated, planned, and orchestrated RLG Member Forums. These multi-day events served as pivotal engagement platforms for over 100 high-level decision-makers within the transnational cultural heritage community.Held the role of product manager for RedLightGreen, an innovative first-generation online union catalog tailored for college undergraduates. Successfully directed and coordinated efforts of both internal RLG staff and external contractors, facilitated beta testing with RLG member institutions, and orchestrated the comprehensive communication plan for the product.Led the conception, implementation, and management of the popular group blog, HangingTogether, launched in August 2005. Continues to be the driving force behind this effort.

Project manager for several high-profile, multi-year, multi-institution digital library projects. Supervised, directed, coordinated the work of seven staff members and also served as a work lead for other staff. As Provided overall leadership for the projects, working with and managing staff at other institutions and coordinating with external partners to keep the projects on track and on budget. Contributed to securing grant funding from a broad range of funders to make these projects possible.Projects included: Digital Scriptorium Project (1996-2001); Making of America II Project (1998-2000); Japanese American Relocation Digital Archive Project (1999-2000); LC-Ameritech Chinese in California Project (1999-2001); 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Project (2000-2001); California Cultures Digital Archive Project (2001-2002)Standards work: Member, TEI Working Group for Medieval Manuscript DescriptionCo-author of the Making of America II White Paper.

* Project work: EAD markup specialist for California Heritage Project; responsible for technical infrastructure on the APIS Project.* Standards work: contributed to initial development of the Encoded Archival Description (EAD); Library representative in Dublin Core and DLF Metadata Committee meetings.

Managed all phases of production for up to 100 interview projects. Supervised 8-10 clerical staff.

Master Of Library & Information Science - Mlis

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, American History (United States), English Literature Minor