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Worldwide (English) Change

Implementation instructions

WorldCat library access implementation consists of the following tasks:

Enabling access to WorldCat from other services

Access to the OCLC WorldCat database can be configured from various information providers. This access provides library holdings information and limited bibliographic data for known-item searches. To enable links from other services to WorldCat, follow these steps:

  1. Enable the link using the administrative interface of the service from which you wish to link. This assumes you have a subscription to both the service you wish to link from and FirstSearch. Enter your FirstSearch authorization, which must include the WorldCat database, to enable linking. Click here for instructions on configuring the link.
  2. Test the link from the partner's user interface. The link will appear as text or a graphic depending on the partner's implementation in their service. The link will enable you to see the WorldCat library access interface and the fulfillment services you have enabled in the FirstSearch service, including outbound links (JSTOR, Infotrieve, etc.), outbound OpenURL links, and OPAC link.

Contact user support for the partner service if you have questions about accessing WorldCat. Click here to find contact information for current partners.

Enabling OCLC FirstSearch options from other partner services

Various FirstSearch linking and gateway features can be enabled within the FirstSearch administrative module. If enabled in FirstSearch, these features will be available to your users that link from other partners' services. See the OCLC FirstSearch Administative Module Reference Guide for detailed instructions on enabling these features:

  1. Online bookseller links can be enabled for WorldCat within the Linking area of the FirstSearch administrative module. See Link your library's users from WorldCat to bookseller's service.
  2. Links to your library's web catalog can be enabled for WorldCat within the Linking area. These links can also be shared with users of the listed online booksellers. See Links to your library's catalog.
  3. Outbound linking can be enabled from WorldCat to other online services used by your library within the Linking area. This currently includes netLibrary, Infotrieve, and JSTOR. See Outbound Linking.
  4. An outbound OpenURL link can be configured for WorldCat. See OpenURL Links.

Setting up IP address recognition for fulfillment options

  1. IP address authenticated users accessing WorldCat in FirstSearch from links in partner services (for example, EBSCOhost or Gale Infotrac) will see fulfillment options that the library has enabled in the FirstSearch administrative module. These may include:
    1. Links to the library's catalog
    2. Link to Z39.50 library catalog holdings
    3. Interlibrary Loan
    4. OpenURL Links
    5. Infotrieve Outbound Linking
    6. JSTOR Outbound Linking
    7. netLibrary Outbound Linking

  2. A remote user accessing WorldCat on FirstSearch from links in partner services will not see fulfillment options requiring IP authentication in the linking interface unless the user’s IP address, as it appears to FirstSearch, is one that the library has specified for IP-address recognition.

    Remote access to fulfillment options through partner linking is not currently supported by OCLC WebScript CGI (Common Gateway Interface).

  3. For additional information online for IP authentications in FirstSearch please see IP Address Recognition: Getting Started.

Note: Links from partner services must be configured for IP authentication from a primary FirstSearch autho to avoid IP conflict.