The OCLC Library and Information Science Education Program can help your LIS school provide students with the skills needed to lead in today's library environment. OCLC offers a rich array of resources to help faculty and students stay current with important professional topics through the WebJunction® community, OCLC Research, OCLC Training, and more. The LIS program offers access to reduced or no cost use of select OCLC services so students can be better prepared for real-world library work environments.
Who can participate?
For U.S.-based LIS programs, participation in the OCLC LIS Education Program requires appropriate accreditation or recognition, including:
- ALA-accredited master's program
- College/university offering a bachelor's degree or higher in library and information science education recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) or Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
- Library/Media Technician training program offering a certificate or associate degree recognized by the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), or American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
- Other
For non-U.S. LIS programs, eligibility will be determined regionally by OCLC staff.
What services are available?
- Connexion® – Cataloging Limited access to Connexion enables your students to create and edit high-quality bibliographic and authority records.
- Meridian® – Students can practice creating and connecting linked data entities, as well as learn how to enrich metadata by creating connections to existing values in MARC records.
- WebDewey® – The Dewey Decimal Classification® system is the most widely used library classification system in the world. WebDewey access gives students the most up-to-date DDC numbers to practice classifying library materials.
- WorldShare® Record Manager – Cataloging Limited access to WorldShare Record Manager allows students to search and view WorldCat bibliographic and authority records, create bibliographic records and save and edit them in a Save-In-Progress file, and gain practice reviewing field help links and other activities.
Application process
LIS Program deans, directors, and faculty may request access to OCLC services for classroom instructional purposes. To participate in the program, review and complete the OCLC LIS Education Program Registration and Service Request Form. Complete one request form per OCLC service. If the application is approved, a service agreement will be sent and will require signature at the program or institution level. Only one service agreement is required for each program or institution.
Credentials will be issued for a period of one year (June 1 through May 31). Applications must be completed annually for continued participation. Renewal communications will begin March 1 each year.
For more information, please contact Nancy Lensenmayer, Program Lead, Education and Engagement.
OCLC professional development opportunities
- WebJunction—"The learning place for libraries," WebJunction creates and curates free continuing education via courses, webinars, articles, and resources. Includes resources that can be used in lectures and as assigned course readings/viewings on topics of interest to public and academic library communities.
- OCLC Research—OCLC's long-standing research contributes to the advancement of library efficiency and impact. Research publications and recorded presentations are accessible online, can be freely downloaded, and serve as excellent teaching resources, especially in academic library and special topics courses.
- Subscriptions to OCLC communications—latest product updates, research, events, and much more delivered right to your inbox.
- OCLC Abstracts – digest of OCLC's most important and interesting news, including major announcements, the newest OCLC Research publications, key product and service updates, and featured events such as upcoming webinars and virtual conferences
- OCLC Next blog – provides insight and information about the work being done by and for libraries all over the world
- Hanging Together – OCLC Research blog
- Crossroads – e-newsletter covering WebJunction news and opportunities for public library professional development and learning
- OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards – A guide to the structure, coding practices, and input standards used in bibliographic records in the WorldCat® database.
- OCLC Training – OCLC offers a wide variety of options for OCLC product training, with many online instructor-led training and tutorials provided free of charge.
- Distinguished Seminar Series – invited presenters speak with OCLC staff and the library community on current issues facing the field, their current research, or other initiatives they have undertaken or recently completed. Sessions are recorded and archived.