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Worldwide (English) Change

Single-search access to OCLC electronic resources

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Single-search access to OCLC electronic resources

Single-search access to OCLC electronic resources

Your WorldCat search experience just got better! Users of WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start” can now search all OCLC electronic resource services from directly within those applications. This upgrade is available to subscribing libraries at no additional charge, and will improve the discovery experience for OCLC resources across the board. Through the simple WorldCat search box users now can retrieve integrated results that include items from OCLC FirstSearch, NetLibrary, Electronic Collections Online journals, ArchiveGrid and CAMIO (the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online).

The release of the enhanced interface represents the first step in OCLC’s plan to fully integrate its electronic resources into WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start.” Following the initial release, OCLC will add functionality regularly, with the eventual goal of making WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start” the primary interface to these services.

Materials now delivered through different interfaces (FirstSearch, NetLibrary, CAMIO and ArchiveGrid) are searchable as separate “databases” that display as facets in search results to support fine-tuning of results by source. Users may also choose to search an unlimited number of databases simultaneously.

Existing interfaces for FirstSearch, NetLibrary, CAMIO and ArchiveGrid will be available through at least 2011 to ensure a smooth transition for library staff and library users. Library staff control when they introduce the access enhancements to their users.

The resources that are searchable through WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local are:

  • WorldCat.org: The entire WorldCat database of more than 153 million bibliographic records plus more than 66 million article-level records from GPO Monthly Catalog, ArticleFirst, Medline, ERIC, British Library Inside Serials and Elsevier indexed in WorldCat.org continue to be accessible through the interface.
  • OCLC FirstSearch: Access to the entire WorldCat database, plus dozens of respected databases of bibliographic and full-text content, including WilsonSelectPlus, MLA International Bibliography, The Philosopher’s Index and American Psychological Association databases. Library ownership from WorldCat is linked to search results in most FirstSearch databases, so users know at a glance which libraries own an item.
  • NetLibrary: More than 190,000 full-text eBooks and 11,000 eAudiobooks from more than 550 leading publishers worldwide. eBooks include reference materials, computer science and IT titles, best-selling fiction and more from the world’s leading publishers of scholarly, trade, STM and reference content.
  • Electronic Collections Online: Bibliographic information and full text articles for a growing collection of 6,200 electronic journals from 70 publishers in a wide range of subject areas.
  • ArchiveGrid: Online access to nearly a million descriptions of archival collections held by thousands of libraries, museums, historical societies and archives worldwide.
  • CAMIO: Approximately 95,000 art images, including photographs, paintings, sculpture, decorative and utilitarian objects, prints, drawings and watercolors, jewelry and costumes, textiles and architecture; plus audio, video and mixed media.