Web Services
If you’re ready to get down to the nitty gritty of OCLC web services, you’re in the right place. Find documentation for API URLs, content negotiation options, response formats and sample requests. Prefer to learn by doing? Try an API using our API Explorer.
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Web Services
- Status: Production
- Sandbox access: Yes
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- Status: Beta
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Article Exchange API
A write web service for cloud-based document delivery. Provides developer level access to the Article Exchange document-sharing site. Article Exchange provides a single, secure location where lending libraries can place requested documents and the borrowing library can retrieve articles or book chapters the library user requested via interlibrary loan. This url can be used to retrieve a document from the web service
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API access to: WorldShare Interlibrary Loan
Classify
Classify books, videos, CDs and other materials based on identifier: ISBN or OCLC Number
Dewey Web Services
Portion of Dewey Decimal classification represented as Linked Data
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API access to: Dewey Services
FAST API
Developer access to OCLC's Faceted Application of Subject Terminologies (FAST) subject headings data.
Interlibrary Loan Policies Directory
A read only web service that allows a developer to send a query about an OCLC member library using their OCLC Symbol or Registry ID and in return receive ILL policies information about that institution.
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API access to: WorldShare Interlibrary Loan
QuestionPoint Knowledge Base API
Developer-level access to QuestionPoint knowledge base Question and Answer (Q&A) pairs that QuestionPoint libraries saved for future re-use, for FAQ pages, for patron searches. The QuestionPoint global knowledge base is a collection of Q&A pairs contributed by nearly 500 libraries worldwide. Local knowledge bases are built and maintained by single libraries or regional library groups and usually contain information more specific to that group.
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API access to: QuestionPoint
VIAF (Virtual International Authority File)
Access to linked names for the same entity across the world's major name authority files, including national and regional variations in language, character set, and spelling.
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API access to: VIAF
WMS Acquisitions API
A read-write Web service for the Acquisitions module of OCLC WorldShare Management Services so library staff can create, update, delete and submit orders and get invoices for materials they’d like to acquire. Provides developer-level access to order, invoice, budget and funding data.
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WMS Availability API
Retrieve Availability information for materials within a specific library's collections
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WMS Circulation API
A read-only Web service for the Circulation module of OCLC WorldShare Management Services. Access to pulllists and notifications.
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WMS Collection Management API
Developer-level access to WorldCat Local Holding Records (LHRs), with the ability to retrieve, create, update, and delete this information. LHRs let you add your local collection information, such as call numbers, location, notes and more.
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WMS NCIP Service
A Web service to handle common library user-facing functions based on the industry standard NCIP functionality (NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol, also known as Z39.83). Part of the suite of APIs related to OCLC WorldShare Management Services.
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WMS Vendor Information Center API
Developer-level access to information about who your library works with—the vendors you rely on for materials, products, content and services.
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API access to: WorldShare Management Services
WorldCat Discovery API
Search and find resources in WorldCat and our central index, from cataloged data to article information, expressed as part of the Web of data.
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API access to: WorldCat Discovery
WorldCat Identities
A service that provides personal, corporate and subject-based identities (writers, authors, characters, corporations, horses, ships, etc.) based on information in WorldCat.
WorldCat knowledge base API
A read-only service for e-resource discovery and linking. Provides developer-level access to a library's information in the WorldCat knowledge base. The WorldCat knowledge base combines data about your library's econtent with access to it through linking features.
WorldCat Metadata API
The WorldCat Metadata API is a read-write service for WorldCat that makes it possible to add or update master bibliographic records in WorldCat, maintain holdings information, and work with local bibliographic data.
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API access to: WorldCat
WorldCat Recommender Service
This method provides recommendations for books and other materials based on data in WorldCat.
WorldCat Registry
Developer-level access to information in the Worldcat Registry: a free global directory for libraries, consortia, archives and museums. (http://www.worldcat.org/registry/institutions)
WorldCat Search API
Developer-level Access to WorldCat - for bibliographic holdings and location data
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API access to: WorldCat
WorldShare License Manager API
Search, Read, and List institution-specific license details from a central database of information and actions related to your library’s licensed resources.
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API access to: WorldShare License Manager