WorldCat Knowledge Base API 1.0 transition resources
The WorldCat Knowledge Base API allows customers to manage and retrieve knowledge base data — including provider, database, title, and holdings information — for use in local systems and integrations.
OCLC recommends that all customers begin transitioning to WorldCat Knowledge Base API v2 as soon as possible. Unlike some other OCLC API transitions, this is a direct version upgrade — every v1 use case is supported in v2, so there's no need to evaluate alternate OCLC products or services. The work is updating how your application authenticates and where it sends requests.
What's changing in version 2
Two changes apply to every WorldCat Knowledge Base API consumer, regardless of use case.
Authentication: OAuth replaces WSKey Lite / API key
WSKey Lite aka API key authentication is being deprecated. All WorldCat Knowledge Base API v2 requests must authenticate using OAuth 2.0. If your integration currently authenticates with a WSKey Lite credential (aka an API key), you'll need to update it to request and use an OAuth access token before v1 access ends.
Base URL change
| Version | Base URL |
|---|---|
| WorldCat Knowledge Base API v1 | https://worldcat.org/webservices/kb |
| WorldCat Knowledge Base API v2 | https://metadata.api.oclc.org/knowledgebase |
Update any hardcoded URLs, configuration files, environment variables, or Postman collections that reference the v1 base URL.
About WorldCat Knowledge Base API v2
Modern OAuth 2.0 authentication to support different types of client applications
A uniform, JSON-based data model for data exchange
More robust logging and monitoring to assist with customer support and troubleshooting
Recommended transition path
Because every v1 use case carries forward into v2, there's a single transition path rather than a use-case-by-use-case decision:
| Current WorldCat Knowledge Base API v1 | WorldCat Knowledge Base API v2 |
|---|---|
| WSKey Lite / API key authentication | OAuth 2.0 (client credentials grant) |
| Base URL: https://worldcat.org/webservices/kb | Base URL: https://metadata.api.oclc.org/knowledgebase |
Support for your transition
Our API team is committed to supporting your transition from WorldCat Knowledge Base API v1 to v2.
Learn from an API expert
OCLC APIs Office Hours. Office Hours provide an opportunity for you to discuss questions related to your institution's transition with OCLC API experts. View past OCLC APIs Office Hours Register for future Office Hours
Help for specific transition tasks
Personal assistance when you need it