News and Events

WorldCat.org enhancements in August 2009

This month's enhancements see the single search get social and a new "Search for a library" feature.

Single search access gets social

As you know, now WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local "quick start" can provide access to all OCLC electronic resource services directly, to authenticated users. New this month is the addition of "Library 2.0" social features on licensed content items. This enhancement includes the ability to rate, review and tag licensed content—as well as being able to add it to lists to create bibliographies or track recent reading on a given topic.

Searchers continue to enjoy the relevancy rankings, faceted browsing and simultaneous searching of an unlimited number of databases with this new single search access.

Integrated search results from searches through the enhanced interface include items OCLC electronic resources such as OCLC FirstSearch databases and NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks.

If your library purchases content from OCLC's electronic services, you may configure your single-search access to this content immediately through the new Service Configuration module.

Find out more about single search access

New Search for a Library feature provides location, maps and visibility

A new "Search for a Library" feature for WorldCat.org helps people find your library easier. Users can search for libraries by name, location or zip/postal code, and refine their search by library type. Results order depends on the type of search conducted. (Note that zip codes nearby don't appear yet, but will be coming soon.)

Google Maps have also been integrated into the experience, which pulls location information from the WorldCat Registry. This is the first step toward making all libraries visible on the Web—regardless of OCLC membership status.

As we've been testing, we're seeing some incorrect street addresses showing up as P.O. boxes, along with some other anomalies. If your library is not appearing the way you'd like it to for users, please update your WorldCat Registry profile. It's fast, free and easy to do.

Update your WorldCat Registry profile now >>

(2009 08 24)