WorldCat Partners create more value for libraries
A flurry of recent WorldCat partnership activity provides libraries even more visibility on the Web, as librarians are becoming an increasingly important audience for technology vendors.
Kirtas Technologies, a worldwide leader in bound-book digitization, and OCLC have signed an agreement that will enable streamlined access to the ever-increasing numbers of digitized books on WorldCat.org and Kirtasbooks.com.
As part of the agreement, OCLC will be able to provide its users with data indicating that a book is either available as digitized content or that it can be made available for digitization.
In addition, OCLC will provide Kirtas with bibliographic records for use on Kirtasbooks.com, ensuring consistent and accurate descriptions of the books being offered for sale by its library content providers.
The recently enhanced "Find a Book" Web site from the MetaMetrics helps to connect readers with books appropriate for their reading level, using the popular Lexile Framework® for Reading. Readers can either enter their Lexile measure, or their grade and if they find reading materials difficult or easy. Once they find the books they're interested in, now they can connect to their local library through WorldCat.org and check availability.
Boopsie, OCLC's partner for the WorldCat Mobile pilot, has made a mobile app for the American Library Association conference in July, called ALA Mobile.
The mobile app promises to be "the fastest, easiest way to access important and useful information about the ALA Chicago show, directly from your cell phone," according to the ALA conference Web site.
Cindy Cunningham, Director of OCLC Partner Programs, shares OCLC's perspective: "We are thrilled that our WorldCat partner Boopsie has continued to deepen its roots with the library world, and we appreciate all their work to help OCLC, libraries and librarians become more mobile-savvy."
Download the app from your mobile phone browser at http://ala.boopsie.com from your mobile browser, or text "ala2009" to 41411.
(2009 06 26)
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