Merrilee Proffitt
@merrileeiam.bsky.social
Democracy's Library @ the Internet Archive | Library and archives leader | People at the center of all I do; DEI advocate and practitioner
Oh hey it's me! Happy to be at @archive.org !
The #InternetArchive welcomes Merrilee Proffitt as director of Democracy’s Library, US! With decades in digital libraries & open knowledge, she’ll expand free access to government research & boost transparency, equity & engagement.
More ➡️ blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
@merrileeiam.bsky.social
More ➡️ blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
@merrileeiam.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Oh hey it's me! Happy to be at @archive.org !
New job alert! Thank you @archive.org @brewster.kahle.org and @chrisfreeland.com for this nice write up!
blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
Meet Merrilee Proffitt, Director of Democracy’s Library US | Internet Archive Blogs
blog.archive.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
New job alert! Thank you @archive.org @brewster.kahle.org and @chrisfreeland.com for this nice write up!
blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
blog.archive.org/2025/11/18/m...
Happy Halloween!
Kate James has a round up of werewolf resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!
I learned a new word! Lycanthropy.
hangingtogether.org/werewolves-i...
#libraries #spooky #werewolves #lycanthrope
Kate James has a round up of werewolf resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!
I learned a new word! Lycanthropy.
hangingtogether.org/werewolves-i...
#libraries #spooky #werewolves #lycanthrope
Werewolves in WorldCat - Hanging Together
If you enjoy a good werewolf story, read on for a description of some resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!
hangingtogether.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Happy Halloween!
Kate James has a round up of werewolf resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!
I learned a new word! Lycanthropy.
hangingtogether.org/werewolves-i...
#libraries #spooky #werewolves #lycanthrope
Kate James has a round up of werewolf resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!
I learned a new word! Lycanthropy.
hangingtogether.org/werewolves-i...
#libraries #spooky #werewolves #lycanthrope
Final post with findings from the OCLC RLP AI and Metadata Workflows Working group.
It recaps what we learned over months of discussions. Our findings? AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries (and OCLC) think about balancing innovation with quality and ethical practice.
It recaps what we learned over months of discussions. Our findings? AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries (and OCLC) think about balancing innovation with quality and ethical practice.
Striking the right balance: Opportunities and challenges of AI in metadata workflows - Hanging Together
AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries can balance innovation with quality and ethical practice.
hangingtogether.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Final post with findings from the OCLC RLP AI and Metadata Workflows Working group.
It recaps what we learned over months of discussions. Our findings? AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries (and OCLC) think about balancing innovation with quality and ethical practice.
It recaps what we learned over months of discussions. Our findings? AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries (and OCLC) think about balancing innovation with quality and ethical practice.
The third blog post in our AI and metadata workflows series is here.
Read and find out -- can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.
Read and find out -- can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.
Examining the role of AI in institutional repository workflows - Hanging Together
Can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.
hangingtogether.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The third blog post in our AI and metadata workflows series is here.
Read and find out -- can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.
Read and find out -- can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.
Pleased to share the recording from the first of three webinars in our Reimagining Descriptive Workflows series, featuring @ellycope.bsky.social, Ceilan Hunter-Green and @kats23.bsky.social
speaking to building institutional capacity for reparative description through collaborative approaches.
speaking to building institutional capacity for reparative description through collaborative approaches.
Reimagining Descriptive Workflows building institutional capacity through collaborative approaches at Manchester and Leeds universities
Transforming descriptive practices requires more than good intentions—it demands strategic planning, institutional support, and practical implementation frameworks that can be sustained over time. Thi...
oclc.wistia.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Pleased to share the recording from the first of three webinars in our Reimagining Descriptive Workflows series, featuring @ellycope.bsky.social, Ceilan Hunter-Green and @kats23.bsky.social
speaking to building institutional capacity for reparative description through collaborative approaches.
speaking to building institutional capacity for reparative description through collaborative approaches.
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
First in a new blog post series from OCLC summarising the discussions of Metadata Managers as we explored the challenges and opportunities of AI in metadata creation and management.
📢New blog post! Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows - Hanging Together
Facing backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
hangingtogether.org
October 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM
First in a new blog post series from OCLC summarising the discussions of Metadata Managers as we explored the challenges and opportunities of AI in metadata creation and management.
Amazing recap of today's webinar. Two more sessions upcoming in this series! Thanks to all our presenters and to @emmabooth.bsky.social for the reportage in real time!
Joining an @oclc.org RLP webinar on "Reimagining Descriptive Workflows: building institutional capacity through collaborative approaches" - Kathryn Sullivan @kats23.bsky.social of @uomlibrary.bsky.social @manchester.ac.uk & Elly Cope @ellycope.bsky.social of @universityofleeds.bsky.social #metadata
October 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Amazing recap of today's webinar. Two more sessions upcoming in this series! Thanks to all our presenters and to @emmabooth.bsky.social for the reportage in real time!
📢New blog post! Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows - Hanging Together
Facing backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
hangingtogether.org
October 9, 2025 at 3:48 PM
📢New blog post! Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.
(🎉Me, celebrating the OCLC RLP!)
#AIandLibraries
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
Nicely said. This was a central theme of my course on collaboration and the value of consortia > Time and again, connections to trusted peers have proven to be every bit as essential as all the other types of infrastructure we depend upon to do our jobs. buff.ly/ru6fpPR
Rising to the challenge: How the SHARES resource sharing community navigated a global disruption to international shipping - Hanging Together
When international ILL shipping faced an unprecedented disruption, the OCLC RLP SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving…
hangingtogether.org
September 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Nicely said. This was a central theme of my course on collaboration and the value of consortia > Time and again, connections to trusted peers have proven to be every bit as essential as all the other types of infrastructure we depend upon to do our jobs. buff.ly/ru6fpPR
Global shipping chaos? No problem. When international ILL faced an unprecedented disruption, the SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders. 🌍📚
New blog post tells the tale! #ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
New blog post tells the tale! #ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Rising to the challenge: How the SHARES resource sharing community navigated a global disruption to international shipping - Hanging Together
When international ILL shipping faced an unprecedented disruption, the OCLC RLP SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving acros...
hangingtogether.org
September 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Global shipping chaos? No problem. When international ILL faced an unprecedented disruption, the SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders. 🌍📚
New blog post tells the tale! #ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
New blog post tells the tale! #ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Global shipping chaos? No problem. When international ILL faced unprecedented disruption, the SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders. 🌍📚
Find out more in a new blog post
#ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Find out more in a new blog post
#ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Rising to the challenge: How the SHARES resource sharing community navigated a global disruption to international shipping - Hanging Together
When international ILL shipping faced an unprecedented disruption, the OCLC RLP SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving acros...
hangingtogether.org
September 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Global shipping chaos? No problem. When international ILL faced unprecedented disruption, the SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders. 🌍📚
Find out more in a new blog post
#ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Find out more in a new blog post
#ResourceSharing #Libraries #OCLCRLP
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
Over the last 50 years, Chicana transformed the way we analyze and write history as well as who is included in U.S. history. @umichlibrary.bsky.social hosts a digital collection of oral histories you can view in The First 100: Chicanas Changing History archival project. quod.lib.umich.edu/f/first100
Index
| The First 100: Chicanas Changing History | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections
quod.lib.umich.edu
July 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Over the last 50 years, Chicana transformed the way we analyze and write history as well as who is included in U.S. history. @umichlibrary.bsky.social hosts a digital collection of oral histories you can view in The First 100: Chicanas Changing History archival project. quod.lib.umich.edu/f/first100
When you already loved using M dashes in your writing...
July 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM
When you already loved using M dashes in your writing...
Check out this new blog post from Dennis Massie highlighting how our amazing OCLC RLP SHARES community members on resource sharing teams work to boost accessibility in libraries! 💡📚 Must-read blog post on ILL, alt formats & inclusive partnerships. 🙌 #LibraryAccessibility #ILL #AccessForAll
Roles for resource sharing practitioners in making library materials accessible - Hanging Together
The OCLC Research Library Partnership and the SHARES resource sharing consortium are connecting library professionals to share strategies for improving accessibility. Read highlights from a recent web...
hangingtogether.org
July 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Check out this new blog post from Dennis Massie highlighting how our amazing OCLC RLP SHARES community members on resource sharing teams work to boost accessibility in libraries! 💡📚 Must-read blog post on ILL, alt formats & inclusive partnerships. 🙌 #LibraryAccessibility #ILL #AccessForAll
🌟 New OCLC RLP leadership roundtable findings are out! 50 leaders from 43 institutions shared real challenges & actionable solutions for leading through uncertainty.
Key takeaway: effective leadership = strategic thinking + genuine care for people.
Click to the blog for more!
#libraryleadership
Key takeaway: effective leadership = strategic thinking + genuine care for people.
Click to the blog for more!
#libraryleadership
Leading through uncertainty: Fostering morale and connection in challenging times.
Library leaders from RLP institutions share insights about leadership in times of austerity and uncertainty. Explore operational adaptation and planning strategies that can strengthen morale and organ...
hangingtogether.org
June 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
🌟 New OCLC RLP leadership roundtable findings are out! 50 leaders from 43 institutions shared real challenges & actionable solutions for leading through uncertainty.
Key takeaway: effective leadership = strategic thinking + genuine care for people.
Click to the blog for more!
#libraryleadership
Key takeaway: effective leadership = strategic thinking + genuine care for people.
Click to the blog for more!
#libraryleadership
We’re thrilled to welcome the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, to the OCLC Research Library Partnership! 🎉 Their renowned collections and expertise in art and design enrich our global network of research libraries. Welcome, NAL!
National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum joins the OCLC Research Library Partnership
The National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum (NAL) has joined the OCLC Research Library Partnership (RLP).
www.oclc.org
June 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
We’re thrilled to welcome the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, to the OCLC Research Library Partnership! 🎉 Their renowned collections and expertise in art and design enrich our global network of research libraries. Welcome, NAL!
Getting started with the Total Cost of Stewardship Symposium at #rbms25! What a great way to kick off the conference. Michelle Light welcoming us on behalf of Yale.
June 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Getting started with the Total Cost of Stewardship Symposium at #rbms25! What a great way to kick off the conference. Michelle Light welcoming us on behalf of Yale.
Everyone's favorite guest blogger, Chobe, is back to let us know about the OCLC contribution to the quilt auction for the upcoming ALA meeting, which helps raise money for the ALA Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship Fund, which awards a $5,000 scholarship to a (human) studying to be a librarian.
The ultimate cat quilt
Feline blogger Chobe is back to share about a purr-fect quilt made by OCLC quilters--just in time for ALA
hangingtogether.org
June 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Everyone's favorite guest blogger, Chobe, is back to let us know about the OCLC contribution to the quilt auction for the upcoming ALA meeting, which helps raise money for the ALA Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship Fund, which awards a $5,000 scholarship to a (human) studying to be a librarian.
WorldCat has a huge number of records, and an impressive number of records are added each year. Record deduplication is important (and IMO unseen) work that happens behind the scenes. A blog post expands on the work to lower barriers to deduplication using machine learning paired with human effort.
Scaling de-duplication in WorldCat: Balancing AI innovation with cataloging care - Hanging Together
Discover how OCLC uses AI to accelerate WorldCat de-duplication while preserving catalogers' care and expertise. Learn how a hybrid approach blends machine learning with human oversight to improve met...
hangingtogether.org
June 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
WorldCat has a huge number of records, and an impressive number of records are added each year. Record deduplication is important (and IMO unseen) work that happens behind the scenes. A blog post expands on the work to lower barriers to deduplication using machine learning paired with human effort.
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
‘Archival intelligence’: A retrospective on retiring faculty member Elizabeth Yakel 📜 www.si.umich.edu/about-umsi/n...
‘Archival intelligence’: A retrospective on retiring faculty member Elizabeth Yakel | umsi
Yakel will retire this June, concluding a 25-year chapter at UMSI that has shaped the school’s direction and the archival field more broadly.
www.si.umich.edu
May 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
‘Archival intelligence’: A retrospective on retiring faculty member Elizabeth Yakel 📜 www.si.umich.edu/about-umsi/n...
We've been revisiting enduring OCLC Research Reports in a series of blog posts. Beyond the Silos of the LAMs: Collaboration Among Libraries, Archives and Museums has not only stood the test of time, but it relates to ongoing and current efforts by OCLC Research with a collaboration lens.
#libraries
#libraries
Revisiting an OCLC Research report that remains essential reading for library collaboration
"Beyond the Silos of the LAMs" continues to offer timeless insights on how libraries can cultivate meaningful collaborations. Discover why this landmark OCLC report remains essential reading for infor...
hangingtogether.org
May 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We've been revisiting enduring OCLC Research Reports in a series of blog posts. Beyond the Silos of the LAMs: Collaboration Among Libraries, Archives and Museums has not only stood the test of time, but it relates to ongoing and current efforts by OCLC Research with a collaboration lens.
#libraries
#libraries
Learn how an OCLC RLP working group is exploring the power of AI to streamline workflows, tackle backlogs, and enhance collection descriptions. This work includes exploring key challenges, best practices, and ethical approaches to integrating AI into metadata management.
#ai #libraries #metadata
#ai #libraries #metadata
Artificial intelligence to support metadata workflows: an OCLC RLP working group - Hanging Together
Discover how an OCLC RLP working group is exploring the power of AI to streamline workflows, tackle backlogs, and enhance collection descriptions. This work includes exploring key challenges, best pra...
hangingtogether.org
May 15, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Learn how an OCLC RLP working group is exploring the power of AI to streamline workflows, tackle backlogs, and enhance collection descriptions. This work includes exploring key challenges, best practices, and ethical approaches to integrating AI into metadata management.
#ai #libraries #metadata
#ai #libraries #metadata
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
Libraries and archives in the UK and Ireland are working to improve descriptive practices, tools, and workflows to better contextualize collections.
⤵️ In this #HangingTogether blog, hear from #OCLCrlp professionals leading this effort. #OCLCresearch
⤵️ In this #HangingTogether blog, hear from #OCLCrlp professionals leading this effort. #OCLCresearch
Reimagine Descriptive Workflows in the UK and Ireland: An OCLC RLP community-informed discussion - Hanging Together
OCLC RLP convenings illuminate how UK and Irish libraries are reimagining descriptive workflows to create welcoming spaces for all users.
hangingtogether.org
May 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Libraries and archives in the UK and Ireland are working to improve descriptive practices, tools, and workflows to better contextualize collections.
⤵️ In this #HangingTogether blog, hear from #OCLCrlp professionals leading this effort. #OCLCresearch
⤵️ In this #HangingTogether blog, hear from #OCLCrlp professionals leading this effort. #OCLCresearch
Reposted by Merrilee Proffitt
ChatGPT action figure creation is so much fun! Prompt I used is in the comment. (Let’s discuss bias and hallucination offline😀)
April 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
ChatGPT action figure creation is so much fun! Prompt I used is in the comment. (Let’s discuss bias and hallucination offline😀)