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WorldCat Search API in early Invitation Only Release

OCLC has invited interested librarians to review a new WorldCat Search API in advance of its upcoming general release. Invited developers will test the usefulness of the API to access WorldCat for results of queries, full bibliographic records, and holdings including links to library OPACs.

The API will provide access to WorldCat bibliographic records and holdings organized around a FRBR work level. The WorldCat Search API should increase the number of links to library OPACs. It will enable participants to deliver WorldCat access to their users without requiring them to leave a library’s website. In addition, OCLC anticipates that use of the API will result in the development of new WorldCat-related applications by developers within the OCLC membership.

The general release of the WorldCat Search API is planned for mid-2008. The API will be available to all cataloging members, GGC-participants and CBS-partners as part of their membership. Terms and conditions for others are under discussion.

The WorldCat Search API will provide access to the WorldCat database from clients that can send RESTful URI queries with either the OpenSearch or SRU protocols and can accept RSS, Atom, MARC XML or Dublin Core responses.

Features of the WorldCat Search API include:

  • Searches descriptions of all formats of library resources contributed to the WorldCat database by library staff worldwide.
  • Compatible with searches sent in OpenSearch or SRU CQL syntax.
    • OpenSearch responses are available in RSS or Atom format
    • SRU responses are available in MARC XML or Dublin Core.
  • Provides a geographically-sorted list of libraries that own each item in WorldCat, with library information that includes the institution name, location, and an OPAC link.

Members of the OCLC Developer's Network have worked with OCLC on the development of this API. The Network will continue to advise OCLC on the development of additional Web services in the future.

Additional information about the WorldCat Search API is available here: http://worldcat.org/devnet/index.php/SearchAPIDetails.

Register for email updates about the release of the WorldCat Search API as well as the OCLC Developer's Network by selecting "WC-DEVNET-L" at https://www3.oclc.org/app/listserv/.