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Breeding, Marshall. OCLC advances library discoverability through Google Search. May 2022. Library Technology Newsletter. OCLC has recently expanded its efforts to enable discovery of library collection items through Google search. The organization has joined those partnering with Google, providing feeds and other data needed to enable individuals to borrow items from their local library through the knowledge panels displayed in search results for books. By expanding its partnership program with Google, OCLC now provides a new and more powerful way to facilitate the exposure for library collections on the web. This mechanism enables links directly to the item in the library's catalog from the initial page of a Google search. This capability is facilitated by structured data from WorldCat delivered to Google and the linking data in the WorldCat Registry.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC Acquires Capira Technologies, Strengthening its Mobile Offerings. October 2020. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OCLC has acquired Capira Technologies, a small firm specializing in mobile apps for libraries. In a deal concluded on July 1, 2020, OCLC assumes responsibility for the company, including the development and support of its existing mobile apps. The four employees of Capira Technology also joined OCLC, including company founder Michael Berse.

Breeding, Marshall. Smarter Libraries Through Technology: 50 Years of Technology at OCLC. August 2017. Smart Libraries Newsletter. July 2017 marks fifty years since OCLC was founded as a pioneering organization to provide a new model of collaborative cataloging. OCLC has been a mainstay in the realm of cooperative services and in library technology. The history of OCLC has played out in terms of creating new services, expanding its reach through partnerships and acquisitions of other organizations, and evolving its products through new generations of technology. A detailed history of OCLC would consume volumes. In this issue of Smart Libraries Newsletter, we review some of the high points of the organization's evolution, focusing mostly on the technology trends behind its products and services.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC Acquires the Dutch ILS Provider HKA. November 2013. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OCLC has acquired Huijsmans en Kuijpers Automatisering BV (HKA), a vendor of library automation systems in the Netherlands. This acquisition further expands OCLC's already extensive involvement with cataloging and discovery services in the Netherlands. It also brings another for-profit ILS company into its organizational structure and brings a new set of products into its portfolio of technologies.

Huijsmans en Kuijpers Automatisering Background.

Breeding, Marshall. Innovative Interfaces Absorbs SkyRiver and Withdraws Lawsuit Against OCLC. April 2013. Smart Libraries Newsletter. In a major shift in strategy reflecting a more collaborative style of its new ownership and management, Innovative interfaces has withdrawn the lawsuit it filed against OCLC in July 2010. SkyRiver Technologies, the sister company and lead plaintiff of the suit, has been absorbed into Innovative Interfaces, which will integrate the SkyRiver cataloging service into its product offerings.

OCLC. OCLC Launches WorldShare Metadata Collection Management. November 1, 2012. . OCLC continues the expansion of new applications available on its new strategic WorldShare Platform with the release of WorldShare Metadata. WorldShare Metadata collection management joins other major applications that OCLC has developed on its new WorldShare Platform, including WorldShare Management Services, which offers functionality to displace a locally-installed integrated library system, and WorldShare License Manager, which provides tools for managing a library's subscriptions to electronic resources.

Breeding, Marshall. BIBSYS and OCLC Withdraw from Partnership. October 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. In previous issues of Smart Libraries Newsletter, we reported on the partnership for the BIBSYS consortium, comprising more than 100 research and special libraries in Norway to implement OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS). The BIBSYS project has been presented by OCLC as an example of a large-scale project based on WMS that uses it as a foundation to support applications and services created by libraries and other third parties, as is the vision for the WorldShare Platform. OCLC and BIBSYS have recently announced that the project has been discontinued.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC Expands Opportunities for Sharing WorldCat Metadata. October 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OCLC and Europeana have recently reached an agreement that would allow member libraries to contribute data to the Europeana.eu portal and remain within the WorldCat Rights and Responsibilities guidelines. Under this agreement, OCLC member libraries can contribute metadata derived from WorldCat using the Creative Commons Zero public domain license. Europeana and OCLC would then request that subsequent users of that contributed metadata give attribution to OCLC and the contributing institution.

Breeding, Marshall. Smarter Libraries through Technology: The OCLC Non-Event. July 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. The topic sparking the most buzz in library tech circles at ALA's Annual Conference was the unfortunate turn of events surrounding OCLC leadership. OCLC had named Jack Blount as its new President and Chief Executive Officer on June 8, 2012 and then rescinded the appointment with a subsequent and surprising announcement. A letter from Larry Alford, chair of the OCLC Board of Trustees, to the organization's membership dated June 20, 2012, gave the first public statement of this dramatic change of course. Jay Jordan will continue at the helm. The expected duration of Jordan's extended tenure as President and CEO of OCLC was not immediately announced as the organization defines a new executive selection process.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC Navigates the Realm of Open Linked Data. June 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OCLC's stance on linked data and open data has become a key topic of interest for libraries. OCLC has been involved with the Semantic Web and linked data as research projects for several years. It has released open data licenses for some of its ancillary products. Where the massive WorldCat database, OCLC's prime strategic asset, fits into plans for open data remains a pressing concern for librarians. Through a series of actions, OCLC has demonstrated a progressively more open approach to the information assets under its stewardship.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC Launches the WorldShare Brand and Wins an ARL Member. March 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OCLC announced WorldShare License Manager based on the OCLC WorldShare Platform to offer a complete set of services to help libraries manage their subscriptions to electronic resources. This product makes use of the OCLC WorldCat knowledge base, which holds data describing the universe of specific holdings that can be accessed via the electronic resource packages available to libraries. Functionality offered by the WorldShare License Manager includes selection, acquisition, and management of electronic resources as well as link resolution. The application manages related to vendors, subscription details, license terms, and access restrictions.

Breeding, Marshall. OCLC WorldShare Platform: OCLC Brands and Strengthens its Webscale Strategy. December 5, 2011. Information Today. OCLC has been promoting its Web-scale Management Services as an alternative to traditional library management systems and it has created a new technology platform to support both its own automation services as well as those created by library developers. Significant activity has been churning around these activities, with the initial version of the library automation services complete and 32 libraries now using it as their production platform. OCLC has now launched a new brand around these efforts: OCLC WorldShare.

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November 4, 2025. 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.

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October 17, 2025. 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.

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September 29, 2025. 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.

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September 15, 2025. 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.

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August 25, 2025. 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.

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August 15, 2025. 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.

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August 14, 2025. 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.

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July 22, 2025. 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.

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July 17, 2025. 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.

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July 2, 2025. 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.

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View All OCLC News Announcements

Jul 01, 2020 Capira Technologies becomes part of OCLC
Capira Technologies is now part of OCLC starting July 1, 2020.

May 31, 2019 Springshare acquires QuestionPoint from OCLC
OCLC has divested its QuestionPoint online reference service, selling the product to Springshare, a commercial company offering a variety of products, mostly focusing on public-facing library services delivered through a software-as-a-service platform. This product, officially branded as the Question- Point 24/7 Reference Cooperative, has been offered to libraries as a subscription service since 2002.

Jan 13, 2015 OCLC acquires Sustainable Collection Services
OCLC has acquired Sustainable Collection Services, the industry leader in helping libraries manage their print collections. OCLC maintains WorldCat, the largest aggregation of library data in the world, as well as the world's largest library resource sharing network. SCS is the leader in analyzing print collection data to help libraries manage and share their materials. SCS services leverage WorldCat data and analytics to show individual libraries and library consortia which titles should be kept locally, which can be discarded, and which are the best candidates for shared collections. All four SCS staff members will join OCLC as employees including its former executive director Rick Lugg.

Oct 01, 2013 OCLC acquires Huijsmans en Kuijpers Automatisering for $10,311,000
OCLC has acquired the shares of Huijsmans en Kuijpers Automatisering (HKA), a Dutch organization that develops, implements and manages systems for libraries, educational and cultural organizations. The addition of HKA, which offers the Wise line of library systems and services, enhances and extends OCLC services for libraries in the Netherlands. OCLC currently manages the infrastructure for interlibrary loan for many Dutch libraries and offers cataloging services through the GGC, the Dutch shared cataloging system, and the WorldCat global shared cataloging system. OCLC and HKA staff will now work together to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative services for libraries.

Dec 2012 Capira Technologies founded by Ted Gutmann, Robert Johnson, and Michael Berse
Capira Technologies founded by Michael Berse

Apr 18, 2011 OCLC acquires the assets of German library system provider, BOND GmbH for $5,915,400
OCLC acquires the assets of German library system provider, BOND GmbH and Co. KG. BOND, based in Böhl-Iggelheim, near Mannheim, is a leading integrated system provider for public libraries in German speaking countries. From the 2011 OCLC Annual Report: Effective April 15, 2011, OCLC EMEA B.V. acquired certain assets and related liabilities of B.O.N.D. GmbH & Co.KG (BOND), a German software development organization specializing in library management systems for 4,100,000 Euros ($5,915,400). The agreement allows for additional consideration of up to a maximum of 1,500,000 Euros that may be paid if BOND achieves predefined revenue targets during fiscal year 2012. The fair value of the contingency is deemed to be zero at June 30, 2011. The purchase was accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting. Assets acquired, primarily software of 4,823,600 Euros ($6,959,500) and liabilities assumed, primarily contract performance liabilities of 723,600 Euros ($1,044,100) were based on their fair values at the date of acquisition. BOND’s operations subsequent to the date of the sale are included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2011, and its revenues for the two and a half months ended June 30, 2011, were $283,000.

Mar 17, 2010 OCLC sells NetLibrary to EBSCO Publishing for $7,867,200
From the 2009/10 OCLC Annual Report: On March 17, 2010, OCLC sold the assets of the NetLibrary Division (including the NetLibrary platform, operations and infrastructure in Boulder, Colorado) and the rights to license a select number of vendor-owned databases previously sold on the OCLC FirstSearch service to EBSCO Publishing for $7,867,200 and assumption of related liabilities. The transition services agreement between OCLC and EBSCO Publishing ($230,000 annually for an initial term of three years) ensures that all NetLibrary eBooks have been placed in a dark archive at OCLC and OCLC will continue to make OCLC- MARC records available for download by the relevant library for NetLibrary eBooks as well as providing library holdings synchronization. OCLC recognized a gain on the sale of $21,666,500.

Mar 17, 2010 EBSCO Publishing acquires the NetLibrary Division from OCLC
OCLC and EBSCO Publishing signed an agreement whereby EBSCO will purchase the assets of the OCLC NetLibrary Division and the rights to license a select number of vendor-owned databases currently available through the OCLC FirstSearch service. The purchase includes the NetLibrary eBook and eAudiobook platform as well as operations and infrastructure in Boulder, Colorado.

Aug 01, 2009 OCLC sells Preservation Service Center to Backstage Library Works
From the OCLC 2009/10 Annual Report: Effective August 1, 2009, OCLC sold the assets of its Preservation Service Center operation to Backstage Library Works, Inc. for $100,000 cash, $313,500 promissory note (paid in full on October 1, 2009), and a royalty of up to $1,750,000. The royalty agreement has a seven-year term and requires 4% of revenues above $300,000 per year, payable quarterly. The first $1,000,000 of royalty is secured by personal guarantee and a life insurance policy. The royalties above $1,000,000 will be recognized as payments are received. The building in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was purchased by Backstage Library Works, Inc. on November 2, 2009, for $1,400,000. OCLC recognized a total gain on the sale of $822,400 including the discounted guaranteed royalty receivable of $717,100.

Sep 12, 2008 OCLC acquires Amlib for $2,477,800 (US)

From the 2009 OCLC Annual report: Effective July 1, 2008, OCLC EMEA B.V. acquired certain assets and related liabilities of Amlib Pty. Ltd., (“Amlib”) the Australian software development organization specializing in library management solutions for 2,600,000 Australian dollars ($2,477,800). The purchase was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting. Assets acquired of 2,796,200 Australian dollars ($2,644,700) and liabilities assumed of 427,500 Australian dollars ($407,300) were based on their fair market values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill, representing the excess of cost over fair value of assets acquired of 231,300 Australian dollars ($220,400) was recorded and is included in fixed assets. Amlib’s operations subsequent to the date of the sale are included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2009.

OCLC has acquired Amlib, the Australian software development organisation specialising in library management solutions. Amlib, based in Rowville and Perth, Australia, serves libraries in Australia, Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Amlib library management solution is particularly popular amongst school, public and special libraries, because of the combination of comprehensive functionality, high reliability and attractive pricing. It further complements the existing OCLC portfolio of integrated library management systems, a market where OCLC has established a strong presence in recent years. As a result of the acquisition, 11 Amlib staff members will become part of the OCLC Australia office, under the direction of Chris Thewlis.

Jan 11, 2008 OCLC acquires EZproxy from Useful Utilities for $600,000
From the 2009 OCLC Annual Report: Effective January 11, 2008, OCLC acquired certain assets and related liabilities of Useful Utilities, LLC, (“EZproxy”) the owner of the EZproxy software for $600,000. EZproxy provides libraries a solution for authenticating remote user access to licensed databases. The purchase was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting. Assets acquired of $600,000 and liabilities assumed of $395,400 were based on their fair market values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill, representing the excess of cost over fair value of assets acquired, of $395,400 was recorded and is included in fixed assets. EZproxy’s operations subsequent to the date of the sale are included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2008.

Jan 01, 2008 OCLC EMEA B.V. sells its shares of Strata Preservation N.V. $331,000 to KMM Group
OCLC EMEA B.V. sold its shares of Strata Preservation N.V. for 225,000 Euros ($331,000) to KMM Group.

Jul 03, 2007 OCLC acquires remaining shares of OCLC PICA
Effective July 1, 2007 OCLC EMEA B.V. repurchased the outstanding shares from its minority shareholder Stitchting Pica effectively becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of OCLC for 10,272000 Euros or $13,903,200

Jan 19, 2007 Eric van Lubeek appointed Director of Operations and Services of OCLC PICA
van Lubeek was previously Managing Director of Infor Library Solutions.

Aug 14, 2006 OCLC acquires DiMeMa, Inc. for $3,912,200
From the 2006 OCLC Annual Report: On August 14, 2006, OCLC through OCLC Information Distribution, Inc., acquired DiMeMa, Inc., the organization that developed and supports CONTENTdm, for $3,912,200, which approximates the value of the software intangible.

Jul 01, 2006 OCLC acquires Research Libraries group
From the 2006 OCLC Annual Report: Effective July 1, 2006, OCLC combined operations with The Research Libraries Group, Inc. (“RLG”). The fair values of assets acquired with the transaction were approximately $2.8 million and liabilities assumed were approximately $7.1 million with goodwill expected to be approximately $4.3 million. that will be evaluated for impairment.

May 03, 2006 OCLC announces agreement to acquire Research Libraries Group

Jan 03, 2006 OCLC acquires Openly Informatics for $1,950,000
From the 2006 OCLC Annual Report: On January 1, 2006, OCLC acquired certain assets and related liabilities of Openly Informatics, Inc., a global knowledge base provider for $1,950,000.

Nov 03, 2005 OCLC PICA acquires Fretwell-Downing Informatics for $8,913,100
According to the 2006 OCLC Annual Report: FDI—On November 2, 2005, OCLC PICA B.V. purchased Fretwell-Downing Group, Ltd. and subsidiaries (“FDI”), a provider of digital library solutions, for 7,383,600 Euros ($8,913,100 at November 2, 2005).

Jun 27, 2005 OCLC PICA acquires Sisis Informationssysteme for $4,504,700
According to the OCLC 2006 Annual Report: SISIS—Effective July 1, 2005, OCLC PICA B.V. purchased library management systems provider Sisis Informationssysteme GmbH and subsidiary (“Sisis”) for 3,769,500 Euros ($4,504,700 at July 1, 2005).

May 27, 2005 OCLC PICA acquires a majority share in Strata Preservation in The Hague.
Strata Preservation specializes in high-end preservation services, for fragile and unique materials that cultural heritage institutions want to preserve and make more easily accessible to the public. Strata Preservation N.V. was established in 2002 as a joint venture of American-based OCLC Inc (60 %) and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (40 %). OCLC PICA B.V., also a Dutch company and itself owned by OCLC Inc (60 %) and Stichting Pica (40 %), has now taken over the share that OCLC Inc had in Strata Preservation. On top of the synergy advantages mentioned earlier, this means that Strata Preservation can now be managed more directly in a time that national and international microfilming and digitization are expected to take off. Strata Preservation currently employs a staff of almost 20.

Aug 2004 OCLC absorbs 24/7 Reference Service from Metropolitan Cooperative Library System

Nov 12, 2003 OCLC acquires CAPCON
On June 17, 2003, the membership of CAPCON approved an agreement that enabled the nonprofit OCLC regional service provider to become the OCLC CAPCON Service Center. OCLC purchased CAPCON and created OCLC CAPCON, an OCLC-owned service center to offer education and support for all OCLC products and services. On November 12, the CAPCON Library Network officially became the OCLC CAPCON Service Center.

Apr 16, 2002 Rein van Charldorp appointed Managing Director of OCLC PICA

Apr 20, 2001 InfoVision Technology assumes support for Altarama Systems library management products
InfoVision Technology and Altarama Systems have concluded an agreement for InfoVision Technology to provide support for the Altarama library software products and a migration path for all Altarama customers (using Data*Library, VTLS or Virtua) to InfoVision's Windows based Amlib Library Management System.

Apr 1999 OCLC acquires 60 percent ownership of PICA BV for $8.7 million
OCLC acquires sixty-percent ownership of PICA, with forty percent retained by the Stichting Pica. From the 1999 OCLC Annual Report: "Effective December 23, 1999, OCLC acquired 35 percent equity interest in Pica B.V. for $5.4 million from the Pica Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Leiden, the Netherlands. Pica B.V. provides cataloging, interlibrary loan, local and end-user (reference) services to libraries in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Subsequently, on September 29, 2000, OCLC acquired an additional 25 percent of Pica B.V. shares for $3.3 million, bringing OCLC’s total share to 60 percent as prescribed in the agreement with Pica Foundation. For the six months ended June 30, 2000, Pica B.V. recorded revenues of $3.9 million and a positive result after taxes of $397,200. OCLC’s equity share is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements in “Other Income.” Pica B.V. complements the activities of OCLC Europe, the Middle East & Africa, based in Birmingham, England. Both organizations are self-supporting from revenues generated by system use in their regions."

1999 OCLC acquires Library Technical Services (LTS)
OCLC acquires the Winnipeg, Canada-based Library Technical Services (LTS). OCLC LTS provides original and copy cataloging as well as physical processing of materials for libraries.

Jan 1999 OCLC acquires WLN
OCLC Pacific merged with the Western Library Network (WLN) to form OCLC/WLN Pacific Northwest Service Center. This organization is now named OCLC Western.

May 11, 1998 Robert L. (Jay) Jordan becomes President and CEO of OCLC
The Board of Trustees of OCLC Online Computer Library Center has named Robert L. "Jay" Jordan as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Jordan, 55, a business executive, will become the fourth president in OCLC’s 31-year history in May 1998, succeeding K. Wayne Smith, who is stepping down after nearly 10 years. Mr. Jordan is currently president, new business development, Information Handling Services Group, Englewood, Colorado.

Oct 1997 OCLC acquires Blackwell North America's authority control service business

Jul 1997 OCLC sells Information Dimensions to Gores Technology Group.
IDI became part of OpenText in June 1998.

1997 Pica takes a majority share in new-founded company ALS International Limited
Pica has been able to consolidate its position on the market of local library systems by taking a majority share in the new-founded company ALS International Limited, established in Stevenage, England. A close co-operation between ALSI and Pica in the area of software development for local library systems will bear its fruit in the years to come. (Pica 1997 Annual Report http://develop.pica.nl:2002/content/1098/pdf/annualreport97.pdf)

Jun 1993 OCLC Acquires Information Dimensions, Inc., from Battelle Memorial Institute

Apr 1990 Ameritech acquires LS/2000 from OCLC
Ameritech acquires the rights to the library automation products of the OCLC Local Systems Division, including LS/2, LS/2000, ACQ-350, and SC350.

1985 OCLC acquires MetaMicro
OCLC acquired Metamicro, a microcomputer-based software product which later evolved into OCLCs SC350 serials control system

Aug 1983 OCLC acquires Avatar
OCLC acquires Avatar to assist in the development of LS/2000

Apr 1982 OCLC purchased Total Library System from The Claremont Colleges
Purchased Total Library System from The Claremont Colleges in California. HP/3000 based system.

Jul 06, 1967 Ohio College Library Center founded
The colleges and universities in the state of Ohio founded the Ohio College Library Center to create a computerized system for the libraries of Ohio academic institutions.

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2025 OCLC Accomplishments Narrative

OCLC provides a wide variety of products and services to libraries of all types and sizes around the world. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. OCLC also provides research and programs to support libraries, librarians, and the communities we serve.

2024 was a year of major accomplishments for libraries and OCLC. Some highlights:

AI

Artificial intelligence is rapidly driving innovation and reshaping our world. AI holds the potential to make information even more relevant and accessible than ever before. AI brings new capabilities that can reshape entire professions, networks, and institutions.

OCLC is innovating from top to bottom, reimagining everything in light of AI and advancing technology. Every product, every process, is being evaluated with a fresh perspective as we continue to push the boundaries of what seemed impossible a short time ago. This commitment to innovation is rooted in a long-standing spirit of collaboration with libraries and institutions—a partnership that spans decades.

In 2024, OCLC focused heavily on integrating new technologies that enhance the value we provide to libraries and their users. A significant advancement has been the introduction of AI-generated book recommendations in WorldCat.org, which gives libraries more personalized and relevant suggestions for their users. This initiative underscores our commitment to leveraging AI to enrich the library experience while maintaining the integrity and breadth of library collections.

OCLC incorporated AI into our resource sharing network, significantly reducing turnaround times. In 2024, just one of these advancements has saved library users an estimated 410,000 hours of wait time and freed library staff from 13,600 hours of processing time, allowing them to focus on higher-value services for their communities.

OCLC has been using AI behind the scenes for years. Innovative solutions are helping protect and manage services and shared infrastructure including WorldCat.

In August 2023, OCLC implemented our first machine learning model for detecting duplicate bibliographic records as part of our ongoing efforts to mitigate and reduce their presence in WorldCat. In the lead up to this, we had invited the cataloging community to participate in data labeling exercises, from which we received feedback from over 300 users on approximately 34,000 duplicates to help validate our model’s understanding of duplicate records in WorldCat. This initiative led to the removal of ~5.4 million duplicates from WorldCat for printed book materials in English and other languages like French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

OCLC has now enhanced and extended our AI model to de-duplicate all formats, languages, and scripts in WorldCat. Leveraging the labeled data collected from community participation, we’ve tuned and optimized the AI machine learning algorithm, completed extensive internal testing, and engaged WorldCat Member Merge libraries to provide external verification of the algorithm’s performance.

At OCLC, we believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at its best when guided by human expertise. Our journey with AI is a partnership—where the insights and values of library professionals shape how AI serves communities.

Linked Data

OCLC advanced our linked data ecosystem, positioning libraries to bridge traditional cataloging methods with modern metadata management. We added more than 400 million linked data entities to WorldCat bibliographic records at no additional charge to libraries, further enhancing the discoverability of their collections.

We introduced OCLC Meridian, a powerful tool that empowers library staff to create their own linked data authorities, giving them greater control over their data management. OCLC enhanced WorldShare Record Manager to enable library staff to add linked data entities to their own bibliographic records, seamlessly integrating linked data into their workflows and beyond. As part of OCLC’s linked data strategy, we also unlocked the power of the Dewey Decimal Classification system by creating URIs for Dewey numbers. This Dewey linked data provides subject classifications to Works entities in WorldCat Entities, creating a layer of new relationships for knowledge graphs that power discovery.

WorldShare Management Services (WMS)

WorldShare Management Services (WMS) is the first cloud-based library services platform and only WMS is built with WorldCat as its foundation. By focusing on library efficiency, WMS allows library staff to better meet the learning and research needs of onsite, hybrid, and remote users. With cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, e-resource management, and resource sharing capabilities, WMS makes it possible for libraries to direct their limited resources to create the greatest impact and easily extend their reach beyond their own electronic and print collections.

More than 850 libraries in 26 countries have now selected WMS as their library services platform. In 2024, 64 contracts were signed representing 83 libraries implementing WMS. Notable institutions such as Heidelberg University Library, WISPALS Library Consortium in Wisconsin, and the Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU have joined the WMS community, further validating its global impact in streamlining library operations, reducing complexity, and improving user experiences.

In 2024, OCLC implemented enhancements in WorldShare Management Services—most based on community feedback. Among the noteworthy enhancements: a new, modernized user interface with increased usability and accessibility for circulation staff; support for ad-hoc emails from library staff to individual patrons; expanded support for licensing e-resources at the title level; and new APIs for creating purchase requests that synchronize with other systems.

Wise

OCLC Wise is a community engagement system designed around people, driven by data, and inspired by the community. Wise combines the power of customer relationship management, marketing, and analytics with ILS functions. This transformative community engagement system empowers libraries to strengthen current customer relationships, build new connections with the wider community, and better meet changing community needs both inside and outside of the library building.

Wise helps public libraries meet customer needs by facilitating data-driven decisions across functional areas. Wise is designed around people—both library users and library staff—not the collection, which enables libraries to evolve as their communities evolve. It helps evaluate how people use the library, what people want, and how they prefer to receive information.

OCLC has been awarded the contract to implement the Unified Library System in the Netherlands with Wise, further strengthening OCLC’s support of public libraries. As part of this initiative, Wise will play a vital part in the country’s digital infrastructure for public libraries and their users. A total of 102 libraries will participate in the unified library system, serving a combined population of 14.4 million people out of the Netherlands’ total population of 17.9 million. This collective effort will enhance access to public library services and resources across the country, supporting the continued development of a connected and robust public library network.

In 2024, OCLC continued to add new features to Wise, including single identity management capabilities for Dutch libraries. We also continue to expand features for all Wise libraries in our fully web-based Wise Console. This includes new events management tools in the US, as well as enhanced capabilities in areas as diverse as holds management and improved support for local devices.

CloudLibrary

In April 2024, OCLC acquired CloudLibrary, a platform that offers access to a wide variety of digital content through libraries. The acquisition supports public libraries in their efforts to successfully manage accelerated shifts to and the increasing demand for digital collections.

CloudLibrary provides access to a rich collection of digital content in more than 50 languages, including millions of ebooks and audiobooks as well as tens of thousands of magazines, digital newspapers, digital comics, and streaming media services. Libraries make these collections available to their communities through CloudLibrary’s top-rated mobile app while a web portal makes it easy for library staff to manage their subscriptions.

OCLC is in a unique position to provide CloudLibrary with a world-class technology infrastructure and a network of public libraries that serves well over 300 million people worldwide.

CloudLibrary received Platinum recognition as part of the 2025 Modern Library Awards from LibraryWorks.

Resource Sharing

Partnering with the Big Ten Academic Alliance, OCLC developed a new state-of-the-art solution that reimagines resource sharing for library groups. All BTAA libraries are live on the new system, and we continue to work with BTAA to further develop this new consortia borrowing solution that expedites delivery of digital and print items to library users.

With OCLC Resource Sharing for Groups, participating libraries have all the tools needed to easily lend and borrow resources from group members. If a request cannot be filled within the group, it seamlessly scales out to regional partners and to OCLC‘s global resource sharing network without any staff intervention. The solution also builds on smart fulfillment functionality for fast, predictable delivery based on local policies, group profiles, available resources, library relationships, and user needs—with first supplier fill rates at 90–95%.

WorldCat

In 2024, 33.6 billion searches were performed, and 52.2 million new records were created in WorldCat.

OCLC, together with libraries and partners, improved the quality of 22% of all WorldCat bibliographic records in 2024. OCLC staff worked on 121 million records while the library community improved an additional 2.3 million records. Improved quality means improved discoverability and access to information. WorldCat’s unique participatory model allows this to happen at a scale that no individual institution can achieve alone.

In 2024, OCLC’s e-resource content grew to 150 million digital items. These efforts improve discovery of and provide one-click access to these valuable resources for library users. In 2024, our WorldCat services contained 120 million open access items and had 4 billion records that contain article metadata with links to full text.

Also in 2024, OCLC signed a Partner Platform Agreement with Equinox for the integration of our metadata API. The metadata API allows our mutual customers who catalog with OCLC to access WorldCat and both download records and upload updates and holdings information from within their third-party service.

WorldCat Discovery

In 2024, searches increased 14% in WorldCat Discovery, which helps people find and get resources in their library and libraries worldwide through a single search of WorldCat and more than 3,300 authoritative e-content collections. WorldCat Discovery enables users to identify and obtain resources in a wide variety of formats and collections through searches that deliver results without bias toward any content providers. Customization through configuration gives users an experience that meets local needs, and ongoing enhancements keep pace with the changing needs of libraries and their users.

OCLC added 46 new content collections from 11 content providers to the WorldCat Discovery central index to ensure discovery of their content. OCLC has agreements with 422 publishers and information providers to include metadata for 3,156 collections.

To increase access to Arabic library collections, OCLC launched a new Arabic Discovery Catalog in 2024. The new catalog brings together bibliographic records from libraries located in Arabic countries into one catalog. It includes records of more than 4.2 million Arabic resources and continues to grow, making it one of the most comprehensive resources of Arabic culture. OCLC staff indexed records in Arabic and took steps to ensure that sorting and searching of results are accurately displayed to deliver an intuitive and seamless experience using Arabic script. This work mirrors a similar regional catalog developed for Spain released in 2021 as well as topic discovery catalogs such as the Art Discovery Group Catalog.

WorldCat.org

OCLC enhanced WorldCat.org with new tools to help libraries boost web visibility and showcase their collections, including:

• Library information pages now feature lists created by library staff.
• Users can now download and share list-specific QR codes to point people to their libraries’ featured lists.

Working with Google, OCLC expanded the number of libraries and material formats included in our program that links people directly to records in library catalogs from Google Search results. Approximately 1,000 US libraries are now included in the direct links program. We added ebook links for US libraries, and OCLC has sent more than 1.3 million clicks directly to library collections from Google Search results since the program began.

To maximize a library’s exposure and impact, it’s essential to meet today’s users where they look for information. OCLC’s web visibility program makes it easier for libraries to connect with information seekers online. WorldCat.org is at the center of OCLC’s web visibility program, sending more than 10 million users to library websites each year.

Choreo Insights

In 2024, OCLC doubled the number of subscribers and expanded the capabilities of Choreo Insights, the new library analytics solution. With a near-monthly release cadence, Choreo Insights added support for additional material types, richer subject search using FAST headings and CIP codes, a title-list upload and matching feature, and visualization exports. In addition, with a new shared print analysis feature, libraries can identify the extent to which their titles are committed for retention by other libraries and analyze the benefits of participating in a shared print program. OCLC has expanded the analysis capabilities of Choreo Insights to support the full range of languages represented in WorldCat.

GreenGlass

GreenGlass continued to be the industry’s leading print management and deselection solution, with satisfied, repeat customers including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington. In Canada, the Federal Science Libraries added a GreenGlass for Serials subscription to their initial GreenGlass for Monographs purchase.

Engagement

In 2024, OCLC relaunched the OCLC Community Center on a new platform to modernize the user experience and provide new features to help community members stay engaged. Many of these features originated in suggestions from the community.

During the year, 1,800 new community members joined a vibrant community of more than 23,000 in the new space. These users have access to more than 46,000 posts across the site with improved search options, making it easier to find previously shared content.

OCLC

OCLC was named the best place to work in IT among midsize global organizations on Computerworld’s 2024 Best Places to Work in IT annual list. It was the second consecutive year that OCLC has been recognized as best in its class. OCLC also placed first for its diversity strategies programs for the second consecutive year.

FY24 Revenue: $238.5 million

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