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WorldCat Local : Overview

Overview

Download the WorldCat Local Frequently Asked Questions For libraries that want simple yet sophisticated end user discovery, WorldCat Local brings you a new concept - your own next-generation discovery tool already tailor-made and ready to be switched on for your library.

Unlike other discovery services, WorldCat Local is based on a proven web-scale solution for libraries - WorldCat.org. The user interface and experience are tried and tested with over 2.5 million unique visitors a month from all over the world. All you have to do is configure the interface to reflect your library’s branding and holdings and the same experience becomes that of your library.

One search box for everything

WorldCat Local simplifies the discovery-to-delivery experience by letting your library users find what they want, when and where they want it. No more looking for different kinds of library resources using different interfaces, or even thinking about your services as separate systems. The WorldCat Local search box seamlessly connects users to everything in your collection, including physical and electronic books and journals, digital media, the full-text of open access journal articles, special collections, digital objects and more.

Let’s get right to it - the content you pay for

Users can reach the content you subscribe to through a single search when WorldCat Local search results expand to include WorldCat, licensed content purchased from OCLC (First Search databases, NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks, CAMIO and ArchiveGrid digital collections).

And it doesn’t stop there. OCLC is working on a range of agreements with publishers and aggregators including The British Library, MLA and H.W. Wilson to index article-level metadata in WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local, so that your users can turn up relevant journal articles through a single catalogue search. Where journal databases are not indexed, metasearch capability is available to ensure that users can access the widest possible set of resources through a single search.

Smart design, more usage

We have found when the interface design and layout of your discovery service is right, your uses take advantage of the resources you have paid for a lot more frequently. WorldCat Local presents the user with choices at the relevant point during their search to enable them to decide how and by which means they would like materials made available to them. No fuss, no confusion, just an interface that makes it easy to find and gain access to what they need as quickly as possible.

All the features your users have come to expect from the best Web sites

Because WorldCat Local offers the same feature set as WorldCat.org - a site built to encourage and sustain high levels of traffic - your users will instantly feel at home with the look and feel of the interface. We include relevancy ranking of search results, results sets that bring multiple versions of a work together under one record, faceted browsing capability, citation formatting options, cover art, reviews, ratings and lists.