Lorcan Dempsey

Dempsey was appointed director of UKOLN, a research and policy unit at the University of Bath, in 1994.{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Philip|title=Editorial: Introduction to Issue 24: Plumbing the Digital Library|magazine=Ariadne|url=http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue/24/editorial/|date=23 June 2000|accessdate=26 May 2014}}

In May 2000, Dempsey moved to work for the Jisc; part of his assignment involved being Programme Director of the DNER.{{cite web|last1=Dempsey|first1=Lorcan|last2=Pinfield|first2=Stephen|title=The Distributed National Electronic Resource and the Hybrid Library|magazine=Ariadne|url=http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue26/dner/|date=10 January 2001|accessdate=24 May 2012}} In 2001 he joined the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) as vice-president of Research.{{cite web|title=Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President, OCLC Research and Chief Strategist|url=https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/councils/asiapac/meetings/2014annual/bios/dempsey-bio.pdf|publisher=OCLC|date=24 October 2014|accessdate=10 March 2022}} He was named OCLC Chief Strategist in March 2004.

In January 2022, OCLC announced that Dempsey would retire from his position in April 2022,{{cite web |title=Lorcan Dempsey to retire as OCLC's Vice President for Research and Membership, and Chief Strategist |publisher=OCLC |url=https://www.oclc.org/en/news/releases/2022/20220121-lorcan-dempsey-retires.html |date=21 January 2022 |access-date=10 March 2022}} though he stayed through June.

In August 2023, Dempsey joined the faculty at the University of Washington Information School as Professor of Practice and Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, teaching in its MLIS and undergraduate informatics programs.{{Cite web |title=iSchool Directory {{!}} Information School {{!}} University of Washington |url=http://ischool.uw.edu/people/faculty/profile/lorcand |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=ischool.uw.edu |language=en}}

Dempsey maintains a blogOriginally at: {{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Lorcan|title=Orweblog|publisher=OCLC|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/|accessdate=5 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820190640/http://orweblog.oclc.org/|archive-date=20 August 2020}} Later continued at: {{cite web |title=LorcanDempsey.net|url=https://www.lorcandempsey.net/|accessdate=7 August 2022}} aimed at the wider library and digital information sectors, and tweets{{cite web|author=Dempsey, Lorcan |title=Twitter feed of Lorcan Dempsey|via=Twitter|url=https://www.twitter.com/lorcand|accessdate=24 May 2012}} on similar issues.

A 2007 blog post was responsible for the coining of the term amplified conference.{{cite web|author=Dempsey, Lorcan |title=The amplified conference|publisher=OCLC|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001404.html|date=25 July 2007|accessdate=30 August 2008}} He has introduced many other concepts and terminology into the library community, including the network level; collective collection; disclosure; sourcing and scaling; library logistics; making data work harder; Amazoogle; in the flow; discovery happens elsewhere; inside out and outside in (of collections) and web scale.{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Lorcan|title=Web scale|publisher=OCLC|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001238.html|date=5 January 2007|accessdate=28 May 2012}} He introduced the term memory institution into popular use.{{cite web|title=Memory Institutions|url=http://www.inherentvice.net/?p=150|website=inherentvice.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193423/http://www.inherentvice.net/?p=150|archive-date=29 October 2013|date=2 December 2008|accessdate=24 May 2012}}

Dempsey has written{{cite web|title=Some written works by Lorcan Dempsey|publisher=OCLC|url=https://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/publications.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124131143/https://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/publications.html|archive-date=24 November 2017|url-status=dead|accessdate=24 May 2012}} and presented{{cite web|title=Some presentations by Lorcan Dempsey|publisher=OCLC|url=https://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/presentations.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218054733/https://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/presentations.html|archive-date=18 December 2017|url-status=dead|accessdate=24 May 2012}} extensively on library issues.{{cite web|title=WorldCat holdings of Lorcan Dempsey|url=https://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n90-602202/|website=worldcat.org|accessdate=24 May 2012}} His published works cover topics such as the Warwick Framework,{{cite web|last1=Dempsey|first1=Lorcan|last2=Weibel|first2=Stuart|title=The Warwick Metadata Workshop: A Framework for the Deployment of Resource Description|website=dlib.org|url=https://www.dlib.org/dlib/july96/07weibel.html|date=July 1996|accessdate=24 May 2012}} libraries in the contemporary world,{{cite journal|last=Dempsey|first=Lorcan|title=Always On: Libraries in a World of Permanent Connectivity|journal=First Monday|volume=14|number=1|doi=10.5210/fm.v14i1.2291|url=https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2291/2070|date=5 January 2009|accessdate=24 May 2012 |doi-access=free |url-access=subscription}} the evolution of the digital library,{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Lorcan|title=The (Digital) Library Environment: Ten Years After|magazine=Ariadne|url=http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue46/dempsey|date=8 February 2006|accessdate=24 May 2012}} and the library catalogue.{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Lorcan|title=The Library Catalogue in the New Discovery Environment: Some Thoughts|magazine=Ariadne|url=http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue48/dempsey|date=30 July 2006|accessdate=24 May 2012}}

In 2006 he noted the importance of Wikipedia as an addressable knowledge base: Wikipedia makes it easy to include in any online communications a pointer to more knowledge on any topic using a convenient stable URL.{{cite web|author=Dempsey, Lorcan|title=An addressable knowledge-base|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/000984.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609131052/http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/000984.html|publisher=OCLC|date=30 March 2006|archivedate=9 June 2007|accessdate=14 December 2015}} Reprinted in: {{cite book|last1=Dempsey|first1=Lorcan|last2=Varnum|first2=Kenneth J.|date=2014|title=The network reshapes the library: Lorcan Dempsey on libraries, services and networks|location=Chicago|publisher=ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association|isbn=9780838912331|oclc=881280201|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoZ0BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT61}} "The economy and convenience of doing this is enormous", he said.

{{blockquote|text=Rather than continuing a tedious Wikipedia good/Wikipedia bad conversation, we should recognize the attraction it has as an addressable knowledge base, understand the variety of uses to which it is put, and remind folks of the judgments they need to make depending on those uses.|author=Lorcan Dempsey|source="Wikipedia again: an addressable knowledge base"{{cite web|author=Dempsey, Lorcan|title=Wikipedia again: an addressable knowledge base|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001264.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609131956/http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001264.html|publisher=OCLC|date=8 February 2007|archivedate=9 June 2007|accessdate=14 December 2015}}}}

In 2012 he noted: "Wikipedia is already an 'addressable knowledge base', which creates huge value. DBpedia aims to add structure to this. Perhaps more importantly, Wikidata is an initiative to create a machine- and human-readable knowledge base of all the entities in Wikipedia and allow them to be augmented with further data and links."{{cite web|author=Dempsey, Lorcan|title=Making things of interest discoverable, referenceable, relatable ...|url=http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/002199.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826171014/http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/002199.html|publisher=OCLC|date=10 June 2012|archivedate=26 August 2012|accessdate=14 December 2015}} Reprinted in: {{cite book|last1=Dempsey|first1=Lorcan|last2=Varnum|first2=Kenneth J.|date=2014|title=The network reshapes the library: Lorcan Dempsey on libraries, services and networks|location=Chicago|publisher=ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association|isbn=9780838912331|oclc=881280201|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoZ0BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT99}}

• Course Director, TICER Summer School,{{cite web|title=Lorcan Dempsey to Serve as Course Director for Ticer International Summer School 2012|publisher=OCLC|url=http://oclc.org/research/news/2012/03-20.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317044009/https://www.oclc.org/research/news/2012/03-20.html|archive-date=17 March 2017|url-status=dead|date=20 March 2012|accessdate=26 May 2014}} Tilburg University, The Netherlands, 21 to 24 August 2012.
• Principal presenter, Hong Kong University Libraries Leadership Institute,{{cite web|title=The 9th Annual Library Leadership Institute|url=https://lib.hku.hk/leadership/2011.html|publisher=University of Hong Kong|date=20 March 2012|accessdate=2 June 2014}} Bangkok, Thailand, 29 April to 3 May 2011.

• The Research Library: Scalable Efficiency and Scalable Learning. 2012 SLIS David Kaser Lecture Series, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 7 October 2012.{{cite web|title=Lorcan Dempsey: Kaser Lecture Speaker, 10/5/12|url=http://ils.indiana.edu/news/story.php?story_id=2432|publisher=Indiana University|date=17 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328234849/https://ils.indiana.edu/news/story.php?story_id=2432|archive-date=28 March 2013|url-status=dead|accessdate=2 June 2014}}
• Universities, libraries, collections, futures. Miles Conrad Lecture, NFAIS 52nd Annual Conference, Philadelphia. 1 March 2010.{{cite web|title=NFAIS names Lorcan Dempsey as 2010 Miles Conrad Lecturer|url=http://xrefer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/nfais-names-lorcan-dempsey-as-2010.html|website=xrefer.blogspot.co.uk|date=6 March 2010|accessdate=2 June 2014}}
• Discovery, Delivery, Disclosure. University of Minnesota Libraries Planning Speaker Series. Minneapolis, 23 November 2009.{{cite web|title=University Libraries Planning Speaker Series|url=https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Staff/UniversityLibrariesSpeakerSeries.html#dempsey|website=wiki.lib.umn.edu|date=23 November 2009|accessdate=2 June 2014}}
• The Changing Scholarly and Cultural Record. Hall Center for the Humanities, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 5 December 2007.{{cite web|title=Hall Center for the Humanities: Calendar|url=https://www.hallcenter.ku.edu/~hallcenter/cgi-bin/index.php/calendar/event/lorcan-dempsey-the-changing-scholarly-and-cultural-record-some-issues-for-universities-in-an-age-of-globalization|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222658/https://hallcenter.ku.edu/~hallcenter/cgi-bin/index.php/calendar/event/lorcan-dempsey-the-changing-scholarly-and-cultural-record-some-issues-for-universities-in-an-age-of-globalization|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead|date=5 December 2007|accessdate=2 June 2014}}
• The Network Rewrites the Library. Phineas L. Windsor Lectureship, UIUC-Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. 23 February 2007.{{cite web|title=Lorcan Dempsey – Recent presentations|url=http://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/presentations.html?urlm=160986|publisher=OCLC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830111156/http://www.oclc.org/research/people/dempsey/presentations.html?urlm=160986|archive-date=30 August 2013|url-status=dead|date=23 February 2007|accessdate=2 June 2014}}
• Libraries and the network platform: A new cooperative context. Inaugural Frederick G. Kilgour Lecture in Information and Library Science, The School of Information and Library Science, UNC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 22 February 2006.

Dempsey is the co-recipient of the 2004 ALCTS presidential citation{{cite web|title=ALCTS Awards Honor Outstanding Contributions|url=https://www.ala.org/alcts/ano/v15/n4/ano15n4_evts_awards|website=ala.org|year=2004|accessdate=24 May 2012}} and the 2010 NFAIS Miles Conrad award.{{cite web | url=https://www.niso.org/awards/MCA | title=Miles Conrad Award and Lectures | NISO website }}{{cite web|title=Lorcan Dempsey is NFAIS 2010 Miles Conrad Lecturer|publisher=OCLC|url=http://www.oclc.org/research/news/2010-03-05.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424041745/http://www.oclc.org/research/news/2010-03-05.htm|archive-date=24 April 2010|url-status=dead|date=5 March 2010|accessdate=26 May 2014}} In June 2014, Dempsey was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the university (DUniv) by The Open University of the UK.{{cite web|author=Open University|title=Presentation of Graduates and Conferment of Honorary Degrees|publisher=Open University|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/file/low%20res%20final%20GD.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005548/http://www.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/file/low%20res%20final%20GD.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2014|url-status=dead|date=4 March 2014}}

Dempsey is married to Ann Lennon, also a librarian. He has two children.{{cite web|title=iSchool announces first slate of 2023 faculty hires|publisher=Information School, University of Washington|url=https://ischool.uw.edu/news/2023/07/ischool-announces-first-slate-2023-faculty-hires|date=10 July 2023}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:Academics of Aberystwyth University

Category:Academics of the University of Bath

Category:Alumni of University College Dublin

Category:Irish librarians

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