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OCLC pilot designed to increase use of libraries’ eSerials

OCLC will begin a pilot project later this month that will make it easy for library staff and users to find and use full-text electronic journals in library collections. The pilot will involve 20 libraries and four partners—TDNet, EBSCO, Serials Solutions and Ex Libris.

The pilot will drive use of these electronic collections through greater visibility in WorldCat applications, such as the OCLC FirstSearch service, WorldCat Resource Sharing services, and the WorldCat Collection Analysis service, and on the open Web through the OCLC Open WorldCat program.

“This effort illustrates OCLC’s focus and commitment to helping libraries manage their digital collections as well as we have been helping them manage their print collections,” said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. “The arrangement with our partners in this pilot makes it possible for libraries to benefit with greater visibility of their electronic materials.”

View news release

Taking the library into the community

The Liverpool Public Library, Liverpool, New York, is featured in the blog Library Marketing—Thinking Outside the Book for doing a library outreach program at the local Panera Bread restaurant. Between 9-11 a.m. on certain Saturdays, librarian David Fulton sets up his laptop and, using Panera’s wireless network, answers reference questions and shows the library’s Web site and how to use it to gain access to all sorts of information, including the library’s research databases and online public access catalog. People also can sign up for library cards and enter a raffle for a totebag full of library trinkets, mugs, pens, bookmarks, etc. Says Mr. Fulton, “We’re trying to get the library out into the community and show them that we’re technically hip. Everyone thinks it’s a cool idea but you should see the face of a half-asleep coffee junkie when you ask them if they have a library card.”

View blog entry
David Fulton’s blog

OCLC launches ‘Ask a Librarian’ pilot in Open WorldCat

OCLC has implemented a pilot project within the Open WorldCat program that allows Web searchers to submit questions to librarians through online reference services of OCLC member libraries.

All libraries using the OCLC QuestionPoint platform, the virtual reference service supported by a network of cooperating libraries worldwide, are included in the pilot. The pilot also includes approximately 150 other libraries that run virtual reference desks on other platforms and have provided reference links to OCLC.

View news release

OCLC welcomes these new member libraries

Surrey Public Library
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
OCLC Symbol: CNSPL
OCLC Network: OCLC Canada

Imperial County Free Library
Location: El Centro, California, USA
OCLC Symbol: CAICF
OCLC Network: OCLC Western Service Center

Orland Junior High School
Location: Orland Park, Illinois, USA
OCLC Symbol: ILOMC
OCLC Network: ILLINET

Century Junior High School
Location: Orland Park, Illinois, USA
OCLC Symbol: CJHSL
OCLC Network: ILLINET

Membership guidelines and protocols

WorldCat update

WorldCat is the world’s most comprehensive bibliographic database. Updated at a rate of nearly one new record every 10 seconds, WorldCat contains more than 60 million bibliographic records and holdings information contributed by more than 8,600 libraries around the world. The new Open WorldCat program makes the items in library collections—physical and digital, popular or special—discoverable by people searching the Internet.

See the latest WorldCat record

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OCLC Abstracts uses the Internet to deliver timely information about OCLC services, programs, news and events directly to subscribers’ desktops. This e-journal augments and complements OCLC’s Web site and print communications.