Library technology and research organization OCLC has introduced a new WorldCat.org, reimagining the single website that connects people to thousands of libraries in one search. The project is part of OCLC's commitment to increase access to libraries and their collections, and to help expand their impact. OCLC's ongoing investment in WorldCat.org ensures libraries and their extensive collections are easily accessible to anyone searching for information.
The completely redesigned WorldCat.org reaches more people with a mobile-friendly design and a more accessible experience; connects more people to each library with tools to promote local collections; provides more opportunities for engagement, including easier list creation and sharing; and improves discovery and fulfillment with access to local library e-resources.
WorldCat.org is the world's most comprehensive resource of information about library collections created by OCLC and collaboratively maintained by OCLC, libraries, publishers, and other partner organizations. WorldCat.org represents the world's largest online library community with access to billions of items from thousands of libraries.
The new WorldCat.org offers all formats of library resources and highlights the materials that are closest to searchers, increasing user satisfaction and introducing new people to the depth and breadth of library resources. Additionally, it extends the reach and influence of libraries, connecting to people who may never otherwise visit in person or online.
New tools and resources will help libraries stand out and promote what they have to offer to their communities. A library information page features locally relevant information like recent additions to collections, links to the catalog, access to library card request forms, and directions to physical locations. Library staff can also easily create and share lists that highlight a library's areas of expertise and unique materials.
WorldCat.org is central to OCLC's web visibility program that gives libraries the opportunity to be visible where the search for information begins. Whether it's local history, important e-resources, or an area of specialized expertise, WorldCat.org connects people to the collections that make every library unique.
OCLC offers several subscription options for libraries to make their collections more visible on the web. A new WorldCat Visibility subscription, available to libraries with any OCLC cataloging subscription, makes library resources visible to people searching WorldCat.org. It also shares information about library collections with search engines and other popular websites, and links people directly to items in library catalogs through Google Search or through WorldCat.org from a ’find in a library’ link; A new OCLC Small Library Edition subscription is a solution uniquely designed for small public (up to 15,000 population served) and community college libraries (up to 3,000 FTE enrollment) that provides the tools they need to catalog their collections, register them in WorldCat, and participate in OCLC's web visibility program.An OCLC cataloging subscription and a FirstSearch/WorldCat Discovery subscription enables a library to offer exceptional search options within the library as well as all the benefits of web visibility. It ensures that collections are front and center on campus or in the community and on WorldCat.org to people who link to the site from search engines and other sites.
To ensure more libraries are represented in WorldCat.org, OCLC is also introducing a basic institution listing for all libraries that maintain an OCLC cataloging subscription. This listing displays the library's name, city, state/province, and country on items for which they have holdings in WorldCat.
The new WorldCat.org site is being launched months after another major advancement in web visibility for libraries. In April, OCLC and Google announced they are working together to link directly from books discovered through Google Search to print book records in the catalogs of hundreds of U.S. libraries. The program is expected to expand to more libraries and connect to more library resources in the future.
OCLC began demonstrating the new WorldCat.org site at the Public Library Association Conference in Portland, Oregon, in March 2022, and has conducted extensive beta testing with librarians since then.
OCLC will enhance relationships with lifelong library supporters and inspire new advocates and users with a WorldCat.org marketing campaign to U.S. consumers starting in September.
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