The University of Delaware is the first member of the Association of Research Libraries and the 200th library to go live with OCLC WorldShare Management Services as its library management system. WorldShare Management Services provide cloud-based library management and discovery applications in an integrated suite, offering librarians a comprehensive and cost-effective way to manage library workflows efficiently, and improve access to library collections and services.
Gregg A. Silvis, Associate University Librarian for Information Technology and Digital Initiatives, University of Delaware Library, has been an outspoken advocate for change in library management systems for years.
As the first ARL library to go live with WorldShare Management Services, the University of Delaware Library and OCLC worked together to ensure the new services have the features and functionality required to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff at a larger research institution.
In recognition of the changing nature of library management systems and the new capabilities offered by WorldShare Management Services, the online catalogue of the University of Delaware Library that has been called DELCAT since its initial implementation in 1986 has been renamed DELCAT Discovery.
Dozens of libraries have already benefited from the technical service efficiencies made available through WorldShare. The University of Delaware Library contributed substantially to gain further efficiencies in technical services, as well as better usability in library access services and end-user discovery.
Libraries on three continents—Australia, Europe and North America—are currently using OCLC WorldShare Management Services, which were released for general availability in July 2011.
