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Get involved with OCLC

Libraries & Groups: Address shared challenges at scale

OCLC is different. From the beginning, we’ve been a nonprofit, member-driven organization. No investors here. Everything we do is focused on helping libraries connect, share, and thrive.

When we come together as a growing network of libraries, we address shared challenges at scale. And we can better understand the evolving needs of libraries, their users, and their communities. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and industry groups in more than 100 countries actively contribute data and use OCLC products and services to achieve valuable efficiencies and greater impact.

As an OCLC member, your institution benefits by:

Scaling capacity

Take advantage of cost savings, improved efficiencies, and new technologies that maximize the power of cooperative, cloud-based services and shared data.

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Library on-demand

Inspired by extensive user research and realized through OCLC’s wide range of products and services, learn more about our Library on-demand vision for libraries.

Learn about Library on-demand

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OCLC products

OCLC products help libraries address these challenges by sharing data, streamlining workflows, and connecting people to the knowledge held in the world's library collections.

View all products and services

Scaling innovation

Participate and benefit from our original research, pilots, and beta software activities, and take advantage of OCLC’s Developer Network and APIs.

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OCLC Research

Explore and learn from one of the largest library-focused research organizations in the world, with publications, videos, and events.

Explore OCLC Research

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Developer Network

Collaborate, experiment, and learn with other programmers as you put OCLC web services and APIs to work.

Join our Developer Network

Scaling learning

Benefit from the shared knowledge of your peers in the Community Center and explore the wealth of training topics in WebJunction. Our learning platforms support global engagement with thousands of library staff each day.

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Community Center

Not just online help, but a collaborative network providing peer-to-peer learning and feedback that drives development of new features for OCLC products and services.

Connect in the Community Center

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WebJunction

Experience free, community-based training that provides pragmatic ideas and examples that can be replicated and modified for your library.

Visit WebJunction

Scaling connections

Gain opportunities for library staff to take part in thought leadership discussions, online webinars, and lending leadership to Regional and Global Councils.

Meet global challenges with collaborative leadership

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Global Council areas of focus help concentrate efforts around a challenge facing libraries around the world. This important work spans not only geographic regions, but all types of libraries, while providing opportunities for professionals at all levels of their careers to participate and add their voices and ideas to the conversation. Council also works with OCLC staff to develop original research around these themes, producing ongoing resources and presentations.

Learn more

Global survey results: Redefining the library experience

As libraries continually evolve how they engage with their users, this year's focus for the OCLC Global Council survey explored engagement, programming, and partnerships that impact the experiences of library workers and those they serve.

View the report

Become an OCLC member

Becoming an OCLC member is simple. Any institution that maintains a subscription to a qualifying OCLC product or service is considered a member of OCLC. While there is no separate membership fee, OCLC members contractually agree to participate in cooperative services.

Learn more

Interested in getting more involved as an individual?

Learn how you can be part of a global network sharing your expertise and services.