# /programs/about/default.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/programs/about/default.htm

# About RLG Programs

Overview of our mission and work

## Our mission

RLG Programs supports research institutions in collaboratively designing the future. RLG Programs works with and for its partner organizations, enhancing their ability to support research in all its forms.

## Who we are

RLG Programs comprises about 140 partners, including research libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural memory institutions. Our global partnership has remarkable collections for research, teaching and learning.

Originally founded in 1974 by The New York Public Library and Columbia, Harvard, and Yale universities, RLG Programs became part of OCLC in July 2006. The resulting organization is becoming the leading venue for applied research, community building and prototyping of systems and services that support research and learning.
RLG Programs is funded in part through annual partner affiliation dues and works closely with a RLG Partnership Council and the RLG Committee of the OCLC Board of Trustees. It is headquartered in San Mateo, California.

## What we do

RLG Programs supports research institutions in collaboratively designing the future.

RLG Programs works with and for its partner organizations, enhancing their ability to support research in all its forms.

RLG Programs staff engage in a wide variety of activities in support of our mission and work agenda, including:

- convening groups of experts
- building communities
- building consensus on shared challenges
- prototyping innovative information tools and services
- organizing collaborative initiatives, and
- taking an active role in creating and promoting relevant standards and practices.

## Read about our updates and accomplishments

- OCLC Research Highlights of Progress in Support of the RLG Partnership: January–March 2009 (.pdf: 111K/11pp.)
- Highlights of Progress in Support of the RLG Partnership: July–December 2008 (.pdf: 156K/12pp.)
- The RLG Partnership and OCLC Programs and Research Annual Highlights, July 2007–June 2008. (.pdf: 158K/5pp.)

## Read, download or print our brochure

- Fostering Collective Action through the RLG Partnership. (.pdf: 75K/4pp.)