Frequently asked questions

1. What is OCLC ResearchWorks?
2. Who builds these things, anyway?
3. What will happen to these experiments over time?
4. Why in the world did OCLC Research decide to do this?
5. How soon will these become production-quality services?
6. What happened to that thing I was playing around with last week?
7. I know how to make one of the experiments really useful. Whom do I contact?
8. Why's it called "OCLC ResearchWorks"?
9. Why does this web page remind me of Google Labs?

1. What is OCLC ResearchWorks?
   OCLC ResearchWorks is a sandbox of sorts for OCLC Research Scientists and OCLC users. OCLC Researchers can demonstrate the uses to which their research can be put. We hope that you'll give us good feedback.
2. Who builds these things, anyway?
   Scientists from the OCLC Office of Research do.
3. What will happen to these experiments over time?
   This depends, in part, on you. Your comments and suggestions will make a difference in the continuing work we do for particular projects. Underused or uninteresting labs may be taken down, perhaps archived. Some prototypes may be modified and morphed based on users' comments. Wildly popular demos may be folded into OCLC services or licensed separately.
4. Why in the world did OCLC Research decide to do this?
   We want to show you our stuff! And to explore with you the possibilities that today's technologies offer.
5. How soon will these become production-quality services?
   We don't know. Maybe in a year; maybe never. We don't promise that these will become production services; our research helps us determine whether they should.
6. What happened to that thing I was playing around with last week?
   This is an experimental site, and we can't guarantee that all our labs will remain in public view. Sometimes we will take them down for repair. Sometimes we will take them down permanently, never to be seen again. Sometimes, they will pop into existence later as an OCLC licensable service.
7. I know how to make one of the experiments really useful. Whom do I contact?
   Send an email directly to the scientist who created them! We've provided a link for this purpose. We are very eager for your ideas and your comments.
8. Why's it called "OCLC ResearchWorks"?
   works a. To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful: This recipe seems to work. b. In preparation; under development: has a novel in the works. c. Informal. The full range of possibilities; everything: ordered a pizza with the works. d. FRBR. A distinct intellectual or artistic creation. OCLC Research is a world leader in FRBR experimentation, though that's not the only research we feature on this site.
9. Why does this web page remind me of Google Labs?
   We were inspired by Google to mount these demonstrations of OCLC Research's works in progress. Google graciously gave us permission to use their Labs page, including their terms and conditions, as a basis for ours.