Membership resources
Stay up to date on core membership information, guiding principles and governance documents, member groups, and other resources related to OCLC's Global and Regional Councils.
Becoming an OCLC member
Membership in OCLC brings many benefits to a library and its users, including global access to information, high quality research, participation in governance, and the value of shared resources. Many institutions maintain membership by contributing holdings to WorldCat as a single institution, as a member of a consortium, or through a state or national library.
While there is no separate membership fee, OCLC members contractually agree to participate in cooperative services as set forth in Membership Criteria annually reviewed by the Board Membership Committee. These criteria require an institution to complete at least one of these activities annually:
- Contributing metadata
- Sharing holdings information
- Making digital content available to other members through the WorldCat Digital Collection Gateway
- Sharing materials using OCLC services, such as WorldShare Interlibrary Loan, ILLiad, or other services
- Subscribing or contracting for an OCLC library management system that will facilitate global sharing when transitioned to WorldShare.
Maintain your voting contact
One of the most unique and important benefits of OCLC membership is electing member representatives to your Regional Council. Delegates elected from these councils (Americas; Asia Pacific; and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) reflect your interests through the OCLC Global Council, which works on behalf of members worldwide. Elections take place each year, and each member institution with qualifying activity as of 30 June receives one vote.
Provide or update your institution's voting contact information
OCLC Canada Advisory Council
The OCLC Canada Advisory Council provides OCLC with advice on how to facilitate cooperation and collaboration within and outside Canada. This advice is communicated directly to OCLC through OCLC Americas Regional Council Members and OCLC Canada employees who attend the Council meetings, and through the OCLC Canada delegates to OCLC Global Council.
Membership documents
Membership and Goverance Protocols
(PDF, 234 KB)
18 September 2020
Code of Regulations
(PDF, 143 KB)
16 November 2016
Shared Values and Membership Principles of the OCLC Cooperative
(PDF, 80KB)
21 June 2010
Articles of Incorporation of OCLC
(PDF, 159 KB)
30 November 2016
OCLC Global Council & Regional Council Bylaws
(PDF, 240 KB)
1 October 2020
Other documents
WorldCat Rights and Responsibilities for the OCLC Cooperative