Directory of libraries

How to manage your institutional profile in the WorldCat Registry

By Carrie Benseler

The WorldCat Registry is a free, comprehensive directory of all libraries and consortia and the services they provide. From a single, Web-accessible location, librarians can manage and share data that define their organizations, such as virtual and physical locations, consortial relationships, services offered, staff contacts and more.

A WorldCat Registry profile allows any library institution or consortium—OCLC members and nonmembers alike—to maintain and share it with other libraries, technology vendors and funding agencies. This removes the administrative burden of maintaining multiple profiles by various means (Web interfaces, paper forms, faxes and phone calls), and can automate routine tasks such as activating a new subscription service or renewing an existing one.

In addition, through WorldCat.org and other Web services, institutional profile information in the WorldCat Registry is syndicated across many popular Web sites where information seekers begin their search. As a result, more information seekers can discover and use the content and services of registered libraries.

Manage your profile

• First, visit the WorldCat Registry Web site and sign in by creating a new user account or use an existing account from one of the following OCLC services: OCLC Online Service Center (preferred), WorldCat.org or WebJunction. You will need to request authorization to manage a profile if your account has not been preauthorized.

• The next step is to create, review or edit your institutional profile. For OCLC member institutions, profiles have already been created and prepopulated with pertinent information. Library staff at OCLC member institutions are encouraged to sign in to review and edit their profiles. Library consortia may create a consortial record and view information already provided by members in the “Members Report” section.

• Finally, share your institutional profile with any organization that could benefit by sending them a special encoded Web link that provides access to a read-only version of your Registry profile, allowing others to proactively locate the most current information about your institution.

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