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Connexion®

With Connexion, you can:

Library shelf signage

Accelerate copy cataloging

Library with many people using computers

Create original MARC records

Computer screen showing Connexion interface

Download the free client application


Accelerate copy cataloging

Connexion allows you to simply search for matching records in WorldCat®, edit the record, set your holdings, export your records and print labels, if desired. You can also create and maintain copies of your library's local holdings records, which may contain additional data, such as local call numbers, holdings locations within the institution or local or copy-specific notes.

Library shelf signage

Create original MARC records

Connexion is a tool for OCLC member institutions to perform original cataloging, adding records for new resources to WorldCat's global collective. With Connexion, you can check WorldCat to see if a record or title exists, create a new record, validate the record and export it individually or with other records you've created.

Connexion offers flexible searching using derived, numeric and phrase options in over 90 indexes of Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Ethiopic, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Syriac, Tamil and Thai script data. Drop-down menus list available indexes, eliminating the need to memorize index labels. Experts can search via a command line using index labels and search strings.

You can search headings in a bibliographic record with the touch of a button and link headings to the associated authority records so the bibliographic record will automatically update if the authority record changes. You can also let other Connexion users worldwide know that the linked headings in the bibliographic records match those in the authority records.

Library with many people using computers

An interface that fits your needs

Connexion client is a Windows® desktop application available as a free download.

Connexion client adds productivity-boosting enhancements, including macros, additional keyboard customization—you can perform all navigation and cataloging actions using assignable key combinations—and integrated label printing. In addition, you can work offline using client local files and batch processing to send your transactions to OCLC. Connexion client supports Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Ethiopic, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Syriac, Tamil and Thai scripts, with interface language choices of Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, German, Japanese, Korean or Spanish. Individual users logging onto a shared workstation can maintain their own settings within the application.

System requirements

See Hardware, software, and user requirements for Connexion client

Further instruction

Complete information on using the Connexion client is available in Connexion client documentation.

Laptop showing Connexion interface

Connexion is a full-service cataloging tool backed by OCLC's 40+ years of cataloging experience. Connexion lets you create and edit high-quality bibliographic and authority records and then share them with the entire OCLC cooperative, which benefits libraries around the world.

Service availability

  • Available everywhere except Germany and the Netherlands

Learn more

Join OCLC-CAT, a listserv discussion of all OCLC cataloging services. Or browse the archives.


Join OCLC-CJK, a listserv discussion of OCLC Chinese, Japanese and Korean functionality. Or browse the archives.


A detailed comparison chart is available to help you compare functionality in all cataloging interfaces, point by point.