Global library cooperative Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC), US, has announced that the WorldCat Mobile pilot, a programme that makes collections from libraries visible through mobile devices, has been extended to Europe. Expanding the pilot to Europe means that now phones in the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, and France will also be operational.
The WorldCat Mobile pilot allows users to search for and find books and other materials available in libraries near them through a Web application they can access from a PDA or smartphone. Based on WorldCat.org, the pilot has already proved a huge success in the US and Canada. Advanced global positioning capabilities found in many smartphones and PDAs make it possible for users to find local library materials, if the library in question has loaded records in WorldCat, no matter where they happen to be.
Created in collaboration with Boopsie, Inc., a US-based provider of software for mobile devices, the WorldCat Mobile pilot is a downloadable application that supports many devices, including Nokia, Blackberry and iPhone. OCLC is currently inviting feedback from European users as to their experiences with the service.
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