WorldCat Overview
WorldCat is a comprehensive union catalog managed by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), a nonprofit global library organization. It is designed to facilitate the discovery and access of library resources from thousands of institutions worldwide.
What WorldCat Does
WorldCat integrates the collections of over 15,637 libraries in 207 countries, making it the world’s largest bibliographic database. It contains more than 540 million bibliographic records in 483 languages, representing over 3 billion physical and digital library assets.
Key Features
Unified Search
WorldCat allows users to perform a single search that spans across multiple formats and collections, including books, audiobooks, maps, musical scores, recordings, e-books, e-journals, articles, and digital images. This unified search capability eliminates the need to consult multiple services and interfaces.
Global Access
Users can search for resources in nearly 500 languages and find items from libraries closest to their location. The search results include information on which libraries own the resources, enabling users to access or request items through interlibrary loan services.
E-Content and Open-Access Resources
WorldCat Discovery, an extension of WorldCat, provides access to a vast e-book collection with over 40 million e-books from sources like Overdrive, ebrary, MyiLibrary, ProQuest, EBSCO, Gale, and Elsevier. Additionally, it includes more than 122 million open-access resources from sources such as HathiTrust, Oxford University Press, and Project Gutenberg, expanding research collections without additional budget impact.
Advanced Search Capabilities
Users can refine their searches using various tools and syntax. For example, they can use keyword and phrase searches within specific indexes, and employ advanced search criteria such as combining terms, excluding certain keywords, and limiting searches to specific databases.
Community Contributions
WorldCat functions somewhat like a library-based version of Goodreads, allowing users to add notes, table of contents, ratings, and critiques to listings. This community-contributed content enhances the discovery experience by providing additional context and user feedback.
Mobile Accessibility
The WorldCat Find app, available on Apple and Google Play stores, is designed for mobile users, enabling them to search WorldCat collections and find resources from libraries nearby. The app highlights libraries closest to the user and provides functionality to access or request items directly.
Integration and Partnerships
WorldCat collaborates with hundreds of library groups, publishers, and technology providers to ensure that library resources are widely accessible. It also integrates with other services, such as Wikipedia’s VisualEditor, and works with the Internet Archive to include digitized books in its database.
Functionality
- Resource Discovery: Users can search for a wide range of materials, from physical items like books and videos to digital content such as e-books and research articles.
- Library Links: Search results include links to local library catalogs, allowing users to check the real-time status of items and access them directly or through interlibrary loan services.
- Personalized Lists: Users can create and manage personalized lists of resources, categorize them in various ways, and share these lists with others.
- Historical and Rare Content: WorldCat includes historical documents, photos, and rare items that are often unavailable to the public, making it a valuable resource for research.
In summary, WorldCat is an indispensable tool for anyone seeking to locate and access library resources globally. Its extensive database, advanced search features, and community-driven contributions make it a powerful resource for researchers, students, and library patrons alike.