WorldCat Registry and Policies Directory now integrated

The OCLC Policies Directory is the repository of interlibrary loan policies for WorldCat Resource Sharing libraries. The new, completely redesigned version of the Policies Directory released 11 Jan 2010 is now also integrated with the WorldCat Registry.

What information is shared between the two systems?

Information such as institution name, type, location, catalog, home page, lending URLs and FEIN are shared between the Policies Directory and WorldCat Registry. This means that a library need only update information in one place in the WorldCat Registry, and the changes will be reflected in the Policies Directory within an hour. A sample view of the new Policies Directory:

Why use Policies Directory?

The Policies Directory is your source for detailed lending information that will help improve your chances of obtaining materials that you request. You can review the lending and copying policies of other libraries participating in WorldCat Resource Sharing, as well as their billing, system and contact information. Use this information to choose potential lenders, publish your own policies in the Web-based Directory, and reduce the number of unfillable requests you receive. The Policies Directory also allows you to deflect requests that you cannot fill so that they will bypass your library and reduce processing time.

Update your WorldCat Registry profile or Policies Directory listing, set your rules for request, and start saving time today!

(2010 01 14)