Support for WorldCat Local

Getting Started with WorldCat Local

OCLC offers personal support as you customize and activate your library’s WorldCat Local site. An Implementation Manager works with you and your staff to configure WorldCat Local to meet your library’s needs. In addition, OCLC offers a variety of resources to help you throughout the activation process, including online resources and interactive webinars.

Just Getting Started?

Now that you’ve decided to use WorldCat Local, there are a number of steps you can take to prepare for system activation. The steps below will help ensure a smooth transition as you begin to integrate WorldCat Local with your current library system. If you have further questions, contact your OCLC representative.

Please see the WorldCat Local Activation Guide for detailed information.

Step 1

Make sure your library’s holdings are current in WorldCat. See the document entitled Batchload Solutions: WorldCat Local for more information. Also, consider attending a WorldCat Local Batchload Solutions webinar. See the upcoming webinar schedule on the WorldCat Local Webinar Registration page.

Step 2

As appropriate, attend the introductory, customization and batchload webinars.

The WorldCat Local Introductory webinar helps you and/or your library staff to understand WorldCat Local and the activation process.

The WorldCat Local Customization webinar is presented by the WorldCat Implementation team. This webinar includes:

• A walk-through of the OCLC Service Configuration modules
• A demonstration of the relationships between changes you make in the Service Configuration modules and your library's WorldCat Local implementation
• An overview of the implementation timeline
• Training and documentation resources provided by OCLC
• A live question and answer session
• The opportunity to interact with other librarians who are implementing WorldCat Local

The WorldCat Local Batchload Solutions webinar includes information on how to:

• Identify the project type appropriate for your library
• Identify the best output option(s) for your library
• Follow the basic OCLC Batchload process
• Submit an online Batchload Order form to OCLC
• Access Batchload training and documentation

How do I find out about the webinars?
See the WorldCat Local Webinar Registration page for links to upcoming sessions.

To view a recording of a previously conducted WorldCat Local webinar, please see Recent Web sessions and podcasts.

Step 3

After you attend the Customization webinar, OCLC will send an e-mail with links to:

• OCLC Service Configuration
• WorldCat Local Batchload Solutions webinar information (useful to attend if your library needs to update its holdings in WorldCat)
• Training and documentation resources for you and your library staff
• Marketing and promotional materials to introduce your patrons to WorldCat Local

Step 4

Request a Service Configuration account, and complete your configuration in OCLC Service Configuration. Most of the changes you make are visible immediately.

Step 5

Once you are satisfied with your WorldCat Local, use the Searchbox Tool to create a search box and the HTML code you’ll need to embed your WorldCat Local search box on your library’s website.

Step 6

Complete the order form to purchase WorldCat Local. See the Ordering link in the side column.

Step 7

Once your WorldCat Local site is live, OCLC’s Customer Service Division will provide ongoing support. You will also have access to online web usage statistics reports that show how your patrons are using your WorldCat Local site for discovery and delivery of your library’s resources.

Advanced User?

Ongoing support for WorldCat Local libraries is managed at OCLC. Built on the foundation of WorldCat.org and delivered at the network level, WorldCat Local is enhanced regularly with new features and functionality as it is added to WorldCat.org. OCLC also manages library-specific support for individual sites on an ongoing basis.

Other Resources

Use the links in the side column to access other valuable resources for WorldCat Local, such as documentation and training.

Get assistance for WorldCat Local

For support enquiries in UK and Ireland, please contact the Support desk.
E support-uk@oclc.org
T +44 (0) 114 281 6042
F +44 (0) 114 281 6041

P Support Desk, OCLC, Brincliffe House, 861 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 7AE, UK

Support is available between the hours of 09:00 and 17:30 (UK Time).

If you already subscribe to WorldCat on FirstSearch and catalog with OCLC, then you'll want to know about WorldCat Local "quick start." You can visit the welcome page to read more about how you can prepare for WorldCat Local "quick start," then complete the registration form.