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experimental.worldcat.org

You may also want to visit experimental.worldcat.org, where experimental projects are shared with the community during their development and testing stages.

Whether it's an enhancement to an existing service or an entirely new way of dealing with library information, at OCLC we're always working to transform our industry research and analysis into useable products. Check here from time-to-time for an inside look at what we're currently working on.

Many of the products "under construction" have one or more hands-on trials or applications. Spend some time experimenting, and leave us comments.

Projects in "the works" are not complete and may not be fully functional or tested. Also, there's never a guarantee that they'll become finished, available products, but we do want you to sample what's cooking in the kitchen. Once a product moves out of "the works," you can look at the History section to find information about its past.

New tools or products

ILS synchronization gateway (June–December 2011)

From June through December 2011, OCLC and member libraries are working together in a pilot project to evaluate software that will streamline the process to update WorldCat. The software, referred to as ILS synchronization gateway, will be installed on a local library workstation. It will detect additions and changes made to bibliographic records in the local ILS, send the changes to OCLC and update WorldCat.

Learn more about ILS synchronization gateway ››

Future delivery services from OCLC (mid-2012)

OCLC is currently developing a future delivery service that will give WorldCat Resource Sharing users a new interface that simplifies library and end-user requesting workflows through time-saving resource sharing tools. The new service, to be available from the interface that supports OCLC's new Web-scale Management Services, will benefit interlibrary loan staff and library users in a number of ways.

Learn more about future delivery from OCLC ››

Cooperative print archiving (12.2010)

The objective of this pilot project is to develop an infrastructure whereby partner libraries can distribute retention and preservation responsibilities across a group of institutions and reduce redundant library investments. The infrastructure will provide the means to document and share information about print archiving commitments. As of November 2010, OCLC has started implementing and evaluating processes for recording and disclosing print archiving commitments through a limited pilot program with a cohort of international academic and research libraries. A timeline for the pilot project is under development in consultation with participating libraries.

Learn more about the print archiving project ››

WorldCat.org Mobile Web beta (11.2010)

Note: WorldCat Local mobile moved out of beta and into production in June 2011.

OCLC has evolved WorldCat's mobile capabilities through a new browser-based mobile-specific site available in beta release for WorldCat.org users.

Views are targeted for iOS and Android platforms. Future plans include support for a broader set of devices such as Blackberries, Windows 7 Mobile and feature phones, as well as device detection. This release was shaped by member feedback to provide the broadest, most strategic way forward for long-term value to the OCLC membership. Users are encouraged to try some suggested searches and give feedback at worldcat.org/m.

Many partner-developed, third-party apps are also available that make use of WorldCat and WorldCat Registry data via APIs. For this reason, all libraries (regardless of WorldCat status) are encouraged to keep their Registry profile up-to-date. New partners are encouraged to contact OCLC.

OCLC continues to welcome feedback about the Mobile beta release.

Cooperative Collection Management Trust (CCMT) (03.2008)

The Cooperative Collection Management Trust (CCMT) is a group of institutions connected by the need to reduce the costs and footprint associated with physical storage and management of print materials while maintaining access to the content. OCLC is leading a pilot program that seeks to address these needs across a variety of institutions in North America.

Send us your comments on the CCMT pilot.

Shibboleth (06.2005)

Shibboleth utilizes the existing campus identity and access management infrastructures to authenticate individuals for access to restricted digital content and secure online services.

History

WorldCat Mobile pilot and WorldCat Local mobile beta (06.2011)

Libraries with a WorldCat Local or WorldCat Local "quick start" implementation can access a custom mobile version of their site at (institutionid).worldcat.org/m, as of June 2011. To support this effort, OCLC held a pilot of mobile access to WorldCat.org from January 2009 through June 2010. The pilot was available in the U.K., U.S., Germany, France, Canada and the Netherlands.

WorldCat® Copyright Evidence Registry (05.2011)
The WorldCat Copyright Evidence Registry pilot project explored the feasibility of cooperatively building a platform to share information generated by users while conducting copyright evidence investigations. The model proved less than optimal for use by members of the cooperative and the project was concluded.

Direct request for articles through WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad (09.2010)

WorldCat knowledge base (09.2010)

Web-scale management services

OCLC has released the first Web-scale cooperative library management service, continuing the progress toward the truly next generation of library services. This continues the 40-years-and-counting strategy of OCLC Cataloging, the benefits of which are visible in global resource sharing via ILL and public access through WorldCat.org.

WorldCat Basic API (12.2009)
The WorldCat Basic API is a simple interface into WorldCat that anyone and everyone in the world can use. It is a mashable access point for noncommercial lightweight apps built by developers who may or may not have ties to the library community. The WorldCat Basic API uses OpenSearch and return feeds in Atom and RSS. Results include OCLC number links to WorldCat.org, ISBNs and formatted citations for up to 1,000 requests/day. Get more details on the OCLC Developer Network wiki.

EZproxy hosted service (04.2009)

EZproxy hosted service is designed to help libraries with limited IT resources still deliver a quality experience with eContent access for remote users. Having a hosted access and authentication service means a library will always have the latest network infrastructure, bandwidth and security—but it frees library IT staff to focus on other tasks.

WorldCat Search API (06.2008)
The WorldCat Search API provides machine-to-machine access to WorldCat bibliographic records and holdings organized to group similar editions of the same item together.

WorldCat Navigator: Resource Sharing solution (04.2008)
WorldCat Navigator is a new consortial borrowing solution that provides seamless resource sharing within your library consortia and beyond. The service manages returnable and nonreturnable items, and integrates with circulation systems to create a superior discovery-to-delivery tool that saves time for library users and increases efficiency for library staff. for library groups. Learn more.

Next Generation Cataloging Pilot (11.2007)
The pilot explored upstream metadata capture and enhancement using publisher and vendor ONIX metadata, and resulted in launch of a new service, OCLC Metadata Services for Publishers.

WorldCat Local (04.2007)
WorldCat Local allows libraries to combine the cooperative power of OCLC member libraries worldwide with the ability to customize WorldCat.org as a solution for local discovery and delivery services.

Open WorldCat Reference Services Pilot (06.2005)
This successful pilot resulted in the Open WorldCat and WorldCat.org programs which provide users with a more intuitive mechanism for obtaining search assistance.

Open WorldCat Holdings display using Google Maps (06.2005)
While not introduced into production after this pilot project, this functionality may be implemented for future products.

OCLC Terminologies Pilot (07.2006)
The successful pilot culminated in the OCLC Terminologies service. It provides access to multiple thesauri for libraries, museums, and archives to create consistent metadata for their collections providing mappings across thesauri to assist in relating terminology.

eSerials Holdings Pilot (06.2006)
The pilot resulted in the eSerials Holdings service which makes it easy for library staff and patrons to find and use full-text electronic journals in library collections.

Closed Dates in Authority Records RSS feed (03.2006)
OCLC now provides an RSS feed to announce headings to which death dates have been added. The feed was made available on March 31, 2006.

Wiki WorldCat (WikiD) Pilot
Open WorldCat users are able to add their own content to authoritative WorldCat information about library-held titles. Available under the Details and Reviews tabs, this functionality permits those who have located library items through Open WorldCat to return to the interface and add evaluative content.

FireFox Search Extensions
OCLC developed several FireFox search extensions for you to more readily use Webjunction, FirstSearch, and QuestionPoint.

More FireFox Search Extensions
OCLC has developed two Open WorldCat FireFox extensions that return Yahoo! and Google search results limited to “Find in a Library” links.

Buying Links on Open WorldCat (08.2005)
Open WorldCat users can purchase books from the “Find in a Library” interface through links to partner Web retailers.

COinS (03.2006)
OCLC added COinS to its Open WorldCat web pages. Context Objects in Spans represent a standardized way to embed citation metadata into a web page.

OCLC OpenURL Resolver Registry
OCLC's OpenURL Resolver Registry provides a means by which individuals and information partners can maintain OpenURL resolver information in a single location and utilize this information across services in the information industry.

WorldCat Collection Analysis demo
WorldCat Collection Analysis lets you analyze your collection and compare it to other collections without requiring you to expend extensive staff, time, or financial resources.

'Find in a Library' on Google Scholar
Find in a Library lets you locate books, videos and other materials in a library near you. This service is built into Google Scholar. When your Google Scholar search term matches the title of a library-owned item, the search result for that item will include a “Library Search” link.

Yahoo! Toolbar with WorldCat searching
A special edition of the Yahoo! Toolbar for the Internet Explorer Web browser with built-in functionality to search libraries via WorldCat.