Introduction to Worldcat (OCLC)
Presentation for PGDILIT Course
By
Dr.D.N.Phadke
Coordinator,PGDILIT
Contact: Mob.9869786186
Mail:dnphadke@gmail.com
What is Worldcat?
World cat is a global Library Catalogue created
out of catalogue data shared by interested
libraries to OCLC to host globally.
It is facility to host library catalogue data as well
as digital resources in a modern way with meta
data to library’s own users.
It is a tool to create library consortium and
promote resource sharing
Present Features of Worldcat
It is union catalogue of:
*72000 world libraries from 170 countries.
*1,923,827,344 holdings
*470 languages
*17500 lakh full text documents
*Project Started by OCLC in 2003,which became
fully operational in 2006
*Free access to worldwide readers
Characteristics of Worldcat
1.Resources available in worldcat Global Catalogue
as:
Rare books, Music CDs, Videos ,audio books,
full text papers, research materials, photographs,
material rel. to amnesty, heritage and material of
genealogical importance available in worldwide
languages with facility to download.
Although referral type of information is available
getting material is not difficult
Worldcat-Characterastics
2.Alongwith library material as well as services
metadata of collections are also available
3.It is a comprehensive tool to host library OPAC on
Internet by using OCLC cloud facilities. It does
not require additional hardware as entire global
catalogue is available on cloud. Each entry relates
to library where it is held plus it is available with
advance search engine, browser, toolbar along
with social networking and online book stores
links
Characteristics Contd./4.It conserves library fund as worldcat facilitates to promote
library resource sharing helps to avoid duplication in
collection. It also facilitates streamlining acquisition,
cataloguing. It also helps in organising library consortia.
5.With global library cooperation each library participates in
mission of helping worldwide readers
6.Worldcat provides broader base for all OCLC services-First
search, question bank virtual etc.
7.It opens gateway to library readers to search literature
available in worldwide libraries along with self library
collection on similar topics there by clustering search
results
Worldcat In short
1.Each physical as well as electronic document finds place in
worlscat global catalogue
2. Place to get renouned,rare and material of social and
historical importance
3. Represents material belong to libraries of 170 countries
available in 470 different languages
4.Serachinhg collections of most of national libraries is
feasible.
5.Helps to record metadata of bibliographic and full text
collection
5.It facilitates evaluation of library collection
6.Clustering of documents available in different formats
possible
Advantages of Worldcat
1.Readers of your library can search your collection like
Google or yahoo
2.Worldcat facilitates library to through open its
collection and services on a wider platform
3.Not only your readers search material through worldcat
interface but they also evaluate their search and also
interact with other readers through social networking
tools in preparing standard search
4.Worldcat provides readers with comprehensive union
catalogue .It provides base for OCLC services
5.Collections available in diff. Languages of various
countries tries to create cultural bridging
Advantages6.Helps to get rare material
7.Facilitates to explore literature in different
formats
8.It helps in exploring sponsors for digitization of
rare material available in one of the library using
content.dm facility
9.Library can get usage statistics of use of its own
library collection
10.Each participating library gets opportunity to
participate in OCLC movement of serving
worldwide readers
FAQs on Worldcat
1.Where I should go to get worldcat access?
Simply if you go to site www.oclc.org/worldcat/
from any PC having internet connection you can
get connected to worldcat facility.To improve the
search if you register your pincode the site can
take you to searches from nearby libraries.
Can I Access Worldcat from my
home?
Yes! You can get connected from your
home,from school,worl place coffee shop-Cyber
Caffey,moreover you can access it from mobile
or tab having 2G/3G connection.You can reach
facebook of worldcat or can creat icon on your
broweser .You can place its icon your face book
or blog
Is worldcat facility is free or I need
to subscribe it against payment?
Worldcat is free search facility ,you can save
your searches for future use in your profile. Your
library can place icon of worldcat on their web
page through you can access worldcat. If your
library has shared its catalogue data or it has
subscribed to OCLCs First Search resource then
also youcan get access of worldcat through
library webpage
Now I have facility to serach worldcat How
I should actually search the material?
It is like search your library OPAC.By writing
search term in worldcat window you can get
search result. To improve it register your pin
code so that material available libraries near to
you is shown on priority. In any case material
from your library is shown on top of it.
Now I have searched the material but it is
available in some other library ,then how
Can I get it?
You can very well explore following possibilities:
1.Your library can place request to that library for ILL.If
not they can request to provide photocopy of it.
2.You may visit that library and request for material.
3.Findout if any of your friends who is member of that
library can help you in getting that material.
4.You may try to buy the from online book store as
worldcat site facilitates this.
Can I get access to electronic
database through Worldcat?
Library nearby to you might have subscribed to
OCLC databases(First Search) but you need to
become member of that library to get access to
database.
Can I request Librarian of nearby library to
provide access to worldcat?
Yes! You can try , any librarian who accepts
worldcat ideology and works for helping any
reader can certainly help you.
Types Worldcat facilities
1.Facility to search using worldcat interface, individually
or through any library.
2.Through a library who has participated in worldcat by
sharing catalogue data called- Worldcat Local
3.Library has subscribed to OCLC ‘s First Search
database and against that worldcat access is available
called as worldcat Local Quick Fast
4.One can view list of worldcat libraries who have
participated in it through through worldcat registry
,which can also be used to serach the material
Other Issues
1.Method of participation in worldcat by a
library
2.Installation of worldcat facility and creating
related Icons on library webpage
3.Subscription to OCLC first search
4.Maintaining the follow up and renewal etc.
Thank You
Any Questions