LEIDEN, Netherlands, 15 April 2025—Three more libraries based in the Middle East have recently selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as their new library services platform to better serve students, faculty, and their local and regional communities as well as to gain international visibility of their collections.

WMS is a cloud-based, fully integrated library services platform that provides users with fast, reliable access to the library's collections and a worldwide network of knowledge. With WorldCat as its foundation, library staff can draw on OCLC's shared data network and technology for more efficient workflows.

Libraries that have recently joined the WMS community include:

• The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) was established in 2014 and is located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. As an American institution, their education program offerings follow the American structure of higher education degrees. AUK's library collection includes more than 40,000 print books and 500,000 e-books. Those collections will be also visible in the Arabic Discovery Catalog, an OCLC initiative that aims to bring together library collections in Arabic or related to Arabic language and culture into one catalog to enhance the discoverability and visibility of these collections for international research.
  
  "The AUK Library has long been a hub for academic and research excellence, supporting our vibrant community. To meet the evolving needs of today's students and faculty, we needed a system to unify all services and operations under one umbrella and set them on the right track. OCLC WMS emerged as the ideal solution. I believe WMS will enhance the learning environment, streamline library operations through data-driven decision-making, and further strengthen the AUK Library's role as a cornerstone of academic excellence," said Gulan Ahmed, Library Director.
• The Africa Institute Library - Global Studies University, based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, was founded in 2018 as an interdisciplinary research institute specializing in Africa and the African diaspora in the humanities and social sciences. The library offers a rich and diverse collection of physical resources including 4,500 print books and journals, 1,000 print archival materials, and the distinguished Tejumola Collection. As for the digital collection, the library provides access to over 40,000 e-books and a wide array of manuscripts, among other materials.
  
  "Global Studies University Library has chosen OCLC's WorldShare Management Services to optimize operations, enhance access to global resources, and deliver innovative services to our diverse community. This robust platform empowers us to better serve our users and advance the mission of our institution," said Adel Labidi, Chief Librarian at The Africa Institute - Global Studies University.
• Located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and founded in 2006, the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) offers a wide range of programs in various fields. Their efforts are focused on pursuing excellence in teaching and research, contributing to the development of Kurdistan. UKH's library is dedicated to serving its community, as well as residents of Kurdistan and the international community interested in Kurdistan's affairs.
  
  "After investigating system possibilities—particularly those applicable that met our requirements, were future proof, and used with the Middle East generally—we had shortlisted down to a handful of possibilities. Site visits to a variety of establishments having these in place were made, where discussions with on-site staff on the usage and performance of the systems and suppliers they used were extremely fruitful. After some technical exploration with the OCLC team to ensure that the transition of data could be handled with minimal fuss or disruption to current provision, the decision in the end was really not in question. WorldShare Management Services was deemed to be the most suitable to meet UKH requirements. Our installation project is now under way, and we are looking forward to a long and positive collaboration with OCLC," said Lesley A T Gaj, Director of Library & UKH Ombudsman.

"We are very pleased to see how more and more libraries based in Middle Eastern countries continue to select OCLC's library services platform and we welcome them into the WMS community. WMS will allow these institutions to further build on their missions of excelling in education, research, and cultural exchange by improving the user discovery experience and increasing access to a world of resources," said Eric van Lubeek, Managing Director, OCLC EMEA & APAC.

More than 850 libraries of all types use WorldShare Management Services worldwide.