OCLC - Who are you? Do we really want to know?

We have been discussing today the mysterious policy changes to OCLC's use of WorldCat records. Our team wondered when did OCLC became the bad guy? Our library programmer and I just had a conversation last week about how old and confusing we found the policy currently in place. When did we begin to automatically assume that any changes they make to their policies would make matters worse, instead of better. In part, we decided it is because they hold all our data and don't do some simple things to add value to it. We've also had some bad experiences in the past with their help desk and the new service model does not allay our fears. By removing our regional representative from the chain, they are taking out the local contact who put a face on the bloated body of OCLC. Perhaps they have gotten too big, and we find it hard to trust big corporations, whether they are "non-profit" or not. We are not quite sure whose best interests they have in mind.

There are three ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way, and the OCLC way! Which is the wrong way but slower. - D.W. (2008) a tribute to the Simpsons.