WorldCat® knowledge base
Make your electronic content easier to find, use and manage
The WorldCat knowledge base combines data about your library's electronic resources and linking features that enable access to the content and help you manage the workflows associated with these materials. Unlike data in a traditional knowledge base, WorldCat knowledge base data is not tied to a particular application. Knowledge base data is added and maintained in a single place for use with a growing number of OCLC and non-OCLC services.
The WorldCat knowledge base currently enables the following functionality in OCLC services:
OCLC WorldShare Metadata Collection Manager: Automatic management of WorldCat holdings and delivery of WorldCat MARC records for all of your electronic materials
OCLC WorldShare License Manager: Integrated link resolution in a full-featured license management solution
WorldCat Local: OpenURL resolution and A to Z list
WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad: Quick and easy resource sharing of electronic content
A knowledge base API is available, allowing members to create their own unique solutions.
WorldCat knowledge base functionality is included as part of your full OCLC Cataloging subscription.
For more information
If you do not currently have a cataloging subscription, please contact libservices@oclc.org for more information.
For help with your WorldCat knowledge base implementation, contact your nearest OCLC office or regional distributor.
“With the WorldCat knowledge base and License Manager, we can do direct interlibrary loan. We don't have to go to our link resolver to see whether we have the item; we can see in the system whether or not we have it. And we can set holdings to electronic content directly in the system with one click.”
Elliot Polak, Head of Library Technology, Norwich University
How it works
The WorldCat knowledge base combines data about your library's licensed content and linking features that enable access to that content. The knowledge base includes:
Collection data—The databases or packages purchased by your library. Content providers regularly add and change metadata for these materials, and the WorldCat knowledge base is updated to reflect these changes.
Title data—Titles that are part of a collection, including descriptive and identifier metadata.
Holdings data—An inventory of the titles to which your library or consortium subscribes. Includes the range of coverage for each title and embargo periods. Updated by your library, content partners or OCLC's harvesting program.
Linking logic—Citation data and your institution's affiliation are combined with linking logic defined by the knowledge base to create a link to the full text at the article or title level. The WorldCat knowledge base uses an associated license management tool to connect to your library's license data. This allows identification of collections that your library may loan to other libraries and instructions on how to do so.
Sources of data for the WorldCat knowledge base include:
- Local library knowledge base profiles
- Holdings addition and automatic updates by Pubget
- Manual selection by library staff
- Addition of collection data, title data and holdings by content providers