The migration to electronic documents at OCLC

When OCLC introduced its Web site to the public in the fall of 1994, the company was, internally, still dependent on paper. While the site allowed the OCLC community to access documents electronically, almost all internal documents remained on paper. Paper copies were retained and archived. Paper copies were used for internal document review and approval. Once each week, paper updates on products and services were gathered, copied, collated, and mailed to OCLC-affiliated regional networks (distributors). Motivation for a document management system included the growth of the OCLC membership, the reduction in time lines for development of new products, and OCLC's commitment to seek ISO certification. The paper traces the migration of restricted OCLC documentation such as marketing and support materials, software documentation, and quality records, from hardcopy to electronic formats.