Library Technology Guides

Taipei National University of the Arts signs on to WorldShare Management Services to create efficiencies and support future growth. Taipei National University of the Arts has selected WorldShare Management Services as its new library services platform to streamline library operations, enhance cataloging efficiency, and prepare for future growth. [Full Announcement].

University of Chichester signs on to OCLC's WorldShare Management Services to enhance student and staff library experience. OCLC announced that the University of Chichester has selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as its library services platform. The comprehensive cloud-based platform will help the university streamline library operations and provide enhanced access to global research resources for students and faculty. [Full Announcement].

OCLC Leaders Council elects Keith Webster to Board of Trustees. The OCLC Leaders Council has elected Keith Webster, Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon University, to the OCLC Board of Trustees. Webster was appointed Dean of University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon in July 2013 and two years later to the additional role of Director of Emerging and Integrative Media Initiatives. In 2021, his deanship was endowed by the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, making him the inaugural Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean. [Full Announcement].

El Paso Community College Library is using OCLC's WorldShare Management Services to break down barriers to learning. El Paso Community College is now using OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as its library services platform to improve efficiencies, modernize resource management, and support students and faculty in today's digital world. [Full Announcement].

OCLC expands global partnerships with CORE sponsorship agreement. OCLC has announced a sponsorship agreement with COnnecting REpositories, expanding OCLC's commitment to supporting open access research infrastructure worldwide. This partnership builds on OCLC's recent agreements with organizations including the International Image Interoperability Framework, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations. [Full Announcement].

POWER Library selects OCLC's CONTENTdm platform for PA photos and documents. After a thorough evaluation process that included reviewing proposals from multiple vendors through a Request for Proposals, POWER Library has selected OCLC's CONTENTdm platform to power its PA Photos and Documents service. The move to CONTENTdm will enhance the service's ability to manage and provide public access to content digitized by libraries, non-profit organizations, and community groups across the commonwealth. [Full Announcement].

Srinakharinwirot University now live with OCLC's WorldShare Management Services, the best solution for staff and library users. Calling OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) the "best solution" for both staff and library users, Srinakharinwirot University, in Bangkok, Thailand, is now live with WMS as its library services platform. [Full Announcement].

More than 2 million requests filled through OCLC's Express digital delivery program. Libraries in OCLC's Express digital delivery program have reached a significant milestone: filling more than 2 million copy requests since the program launched in January 2021. This achievement underscores the power of the program to connect libraries delivering exceptional service and meet the growing demand from library users for quick access to articles and book chapters. The Express program, designed for libraries committed to fast turnaround times, enables digital resource borrowing and lending through OCLC's global resource sharing network. To qualify for the program, libraries must maintain an average turnaround time of 18 hours or less. Today, the 1,100 participating Express libraries are now filling requests in an impressive average of just 10 hours—a game-changer for library users who want quick access to information. [Full Announcement].

Edith Cowan University is using OCLC's Choreo Insights to further access to resources. Edith Cowan University is using OCLC's Choreo Insights library analytics solution to provide greater access to resources for faculty and students. The university, the first to use Choreo Insights in Australia, is committed to making as many resources available online as possible to improve the library experience for all users. Choreo Insights empowers libraries to make collection assessment decisions for long-term planning with confidence. The comprehensive library analytics solution uses the power of WorldCat, the world's most comprehensive database of information about library collections, to align academic library collections with institutional focus areas, curriculum priorities, and future trends. Since the dataset is refreshed weekly, libraries can make decisions based on a current view of their collections. [Full Announcement].

53 new libraries sign on to OCLC's WorldShare Management Services platform. OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS)—the first cloud-based library services platform and the only platform built with WorldCat as its foundation—continues to expand its reach. Since July 2024, 53 new libraries have selected WMS to streamline operations, improve user experiences, increase the visibility of collections, and collaborate with leading institutions worldwide through OCLC's global network. [Full Announcement].

AI-powered smart fulfillment enhancements advance OCLC's Resource Sharing services for libraries. OCLC is using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analysis to deliver faster, smarter resource sharing solutions for libraries worldwide. First launched in 2020 as automation tools powered by data and machine learning, OCLC's latest smart fulfillment features now incorporate cutting-edge AI. The latest smart fulfillment enhancements optimize interlibrary loan (ILL) processes, enabling libraries to deliver items faster while reducing staff workload. [Full Announcement].

The National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum joins the OCLC Research Library Partnership. The National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum has joined the OCLC Research Library Partnership, bringing its renowned collections and expertise to the global network of research libraries. As one of the world's leading art libraries, The NAL's participation enhances the partnership's ability to address shared challenges and advance innovation in the library and cultural heritage fields. The NAL joins other world class art, independent, and academic research libraries in the unique, transnational network of research libraries that comprise the RLP. [Full Announcement].

University of Glasgow selects OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as their new library services platform. The University of Glasgow has selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as their new fully integrated library services platform, a move that they are confident will provide an improved experience for all users of the library. The University of Glasgow is a global top 100 university and a member of the prestigious Russell Group. [Full Announcement].

Two Spanish university libraries select OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as their new library services platform. The University of Zaragoza and Loyola University, both in Spain, have selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as their fully integrated library services platform to handle all essential functions of several campus libraries. [Full Announcement].

Our continuing, shared responsibility to protect the unparalleled value of WorldCat. We welcome fair competition. But we must protect and defend WorldCat and OCLC member libraries against any attempt to misuse WorldCat records. Recently, we were forced to file suit against Baker & Taylor and its subsidiary Bridgeall Libraries Ltd. to stop wrongfully providing WorldCat records in their competitive BTCat service.We have partnered with and respected Baker & Taylor in the past. But their current actions cross a clear line. They are encouraging libraries to disregard their legal obligations to OCLC and to each other by constructing BTCat—not through their own efforts, but by using WorldCat records and OCLC resources. Despite our repeated requests to Baker & Taylor to cease this conduct, we are now left with no choice but to initiate legal action to protect the integrity of WorldCat. [Full Announcement].

Three more libraries join OCLC's WorldShare Management Services community in the Middle East. Three more libraries based in the Middle East have recently selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as their new library services platform to better serve students, faculty, and their local and regional communities as well as to gain international visibility of their collections, including American University of Kurdistan, The Africa Institute Library - Global Studies University, and the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr. [Full Announcement].

OCLC's CloudLibrary is now integrated with WorldCat, making digital content more visible, discoverable for users. OCLC's CloudLibrary, the platform that offers access to a wide variety of digital content, is now integrated with WorldCat, making this content more visible and discoverable through libraries with OCLC cataloging subscriptions. CloudLibrary libraries that maintain an OCLC cataloging subscription can register their CloudLibrary collection in WorldCat. Once registered, libraries that subscribe to FirstSearch or WorldCat Visibility can enable the collection to be viewed across the web through a wide variety of strategic partnerships with search engines and other popular websites. [Full Announcement].

OCLC Research: evolving for greater impact. OCLC Research and Programming organization includes three teams: a research group composed of research scientists with deep subject matter expertise and experience with research methods; and two programming units staffed with specialists with extensive practitioner-level experience from the research library sector and public libraries. Like other internal organizations within OCLC, the Research and Programming group is led by an Executive Director. To ensure continued relevance and impact for the libraries we serve, we are undertaking a strategic realignment of our Research and Programming organization. While the overarching structure—three equally important teams, each with its own director—will remain intact, we are making strategic changes in the portfolios of some teams and consolidating capacity to improve Research and Programming operations. Several changes are underway, all with a focus on increasing the value we create with and for the library community. [Full Announcement].

OCLC is highest ranked supplier on latest APUC framework agreement. OCLC has once again been recognized as the highest-ranked supplier in the latest Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges framework agreement for library management systems. This marks the second time OCLC has earned this distinction, having previously secured the top ranking in 2020 for WorldShare Management Services. [Full Announcement].

Implementing AI to further scale and accelerate WorldCat de-duplication. OCLC Metadata Quality teams implement a variety of measures—both manual and automated—to improve the quality and usefulness of WorldCat data. These extensive and ongoing efforts ensure that WorldCat data supports the needs of our membership and our global network of thousands of libraries across a wide range of services. As the technologies and tools that allow us to do this important work evolve, we are continually exploring new methods for enriching, repairing, and de-duplicating WorldCat records—data that powers the global discovery and sharing of library resources. [Full Announcement].