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Why link to WorldCat?

How to link to WorldCat

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How to Link to WorldCat

Be socially responsible when you tell someone about the great book you just read, or suggest a resource during a virtual reference session—link to WorldCat.org instead of commercial third-party sites. Here's how:

Link to a Specific item (the Permalink)

This one is easiest and ready made for you on the detailed record page. Look for the "Share It" box on a detailed record page. Click the "Link to this Page" and the URL will reset to a permalink—the OCLC number. Copy that link from your browser bar and paste it wherever you want to use it. You can also link on the ISBN or ISSN, show all editions or limit by geography (country, province, state or ZIP code) if you like.
Screenshot: Link to this page
Look for "Link to this page" under the "Share it" header

Here's how the URLs look, written out:

   http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/[item OCLC Number]
   http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/[item ISBN]
   http://www.worldcat.org/issn/[item ISSN]
   http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/[item OCLC Number]/editions 
   http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/[item OCLC Number]&loc=[location]

Link to Lists

WorldCat lists are great for doing readers' advisory services online. You can let people know what you're reading, recommend what to read next and notify what's new in your library through lists. Pepper your lists in multiple places through RSS feeds; you'll only need to update them in a single place.

Bookclubs and teens love to use WorldCat lists—seeing all the covers helps people remember what they've read and guide future group selections. Academics can build lists around general disciplines or specific classes, so faculty/staff/students can be automatically notified when a new item of interest arrives in your collection.

Interesting lists to link to:
100 Best First Lines from Novels
Arabic Provost 2007
Caldecott Winners
Economics at the Jason Library, DSU
Emily's Law book
Things to Check Out

Screenshot: Share lists with others
Share lists with others through RSS feeds for subject-specific content.

Link to Identities

Still in beta but worth pointing out, WorldCat Identities show you all the works associated your favorite authors or characters, plus timelines, cover art, related characters, audience level indications and more. Look in the "Details" tab on the detailed record for a specific author, or see the Top 100 tag cloud of WorldCat Identities.

Screenshot: Get to WorldCat Identities pages
Get to WorldCat Identities pages from the details tab of a specific item.

Link to topical search results pages

This is how you would embed a keyword search on a subject, author or title. For multiple keywords, add the plus-sign (+).

A few examples:

   http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=[keyword]
   http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au:[keyword]+[keyword]
   http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=ti:[keyword]+[keyword]

Display the search box and other widgets

Download and add the modular WorldCat Search box to your online presence, so readers will stay on your site but still find relevant library materials. No HTML required.
Screenshot: WorldCat Search

Get even more ideas on how to link in to WorldCat from the 3 minute online video: