Action for Libraries
WorldCat.org - A New Discovery Service for Your Library
By Heather Clark
In early August, OCLC released WorldCat.org, a free search service of the WorldCat database. The simple, streamlined search interface uses relevancy ranking and FRBR concepts to present search results. The service is freely available on the World Wide Web, and users are able to find items available at local libraries when they add a postal code to the search. The entire 70-plus million record WorldCat database is available to be searched on WorldCat.org. Search results display only records that are attached to holdings of participating libraries.
Participating libraries are WorldCat-cataloging libraries that subscribe to WorldCat on FirstSearch in order to provide public access to their collections through FirstSearch. This means that search results do not necessarily return all available matching items in the WorldCat database, and that when a user generates a list of holdings for an item in a particular geographic area, the listings will not necessarily display all libraries in the defined region that actually have the item.
Libraries that have subscription access to FirstSearch will have their ownership displayed for users, making the WorldCat.org service a discovery point for those who might not go to a library home page as a first source of information.
Simple Search Queries
The searching functionality in WorldCat.org differs from the way FirstSearch or Connexion performs searches. Users are presented with a simple search box without opportunity to initially limit the search. OCLC is seeking to provide a search experience that is more familiar to the general Internet user.
Search Screen on WorldCat.org
'FRBR-ized' Results
Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) is a conceptual model that groups multiple bibliographic records for the same title together in a common result record. Generally, this larger group is then divided into subsets of various editions. Results lists in a FRBR-ized format allow simpler viewing access. A user does not need to scroll through many records for very similar items.
Link to Your Library
WorldCat.org uses your library settings in the FirstSearch administrative module to create deep links from the item record
in WorldCat to the item record in your library catalog. When a library's IP addresses are registered in the admin module,
authenticated users of WorldCat.org can also link to a library's FirstSearch account and to interlibrary loan services. Libraries can also register links to their home page, an information page (i.e. hours, directions, etc.), virtual reference desk and Open URLserver. Libraries should also be aware that WorldCat.org is likely to increase interlibrary loan requests as their collections receive greater exposure on the World Wide Web.
Open WorldCat vs. WorldCat.org
You may be familiar with the Open WorldCat Project, which allows the ability to search the WorldCat database through search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Ask.com. This service will continue. However, WorldCat.org expands this Web presence by making the whole of WorldCat's 67 million records available on the open Web. Other vendors are only indexing 3 million-to-4 million of WorldCat's records. See a comparative diagram of the services.
Search Box Download
The new service also includes a downloadable search box that you can add to a Web page. To download the search box code, you need to register, but no cost is involved.
Other Search Tools
The WorldCat.org site also provides several tools that are able to perform searches directly in your browser. You may download toolbars for Google and Yahoo! as well as a search plug-in for Firefox. You can also build Web links to the WorldCat page for a particular item using its standard identifying number.
"Why Should I Still Subscribe to FirstSearch?"
WorldCat.org will display all WorldCat item records, but local library ownership will only display for those libraries that have a FirstSearch subscription.
This discovery view of your library's holdings and services is an added value to your FirstSearch subscription. FirstSearch is still a primary resource for reference work and in-depth research. Setting defined limits for your search queries is not possible with the WorldCat.org functions. WorldCat.org allows keyword searching only. Search results can be narrowed by format, subject, author and year, but only after an initial search is completed. OCLC has no plans to discontinue the FirstSearch service. Libraries that do not want their ownership to display can opt out of the program. Contact Heather Clark if you wish to opt out.
Other Features
WorldCat.org also offers options for users to purchase the items that they discover. Use of the Buy it Now button will benefit the WorldCat.org library program. Records also have the capacity to capture user-created data such as Table of Contents, reviews, etc. This social software is not a wiki-type function, so comments cannot be edited by other users.
It Ain't Perfect
You may notice inconsistencies and results lists that don't make sense to you. It is important to remember that this service is released in a Beta version, which means that OCLC will be making changes and tweaking the search functions to make the results better and better. Be sure to pass on any inconsistencies or ideas for added features to OCLC through the Feedback link in the upper right corner of the initial search screen.
Promote Your Library's Presence in WorldCat.org
OCLC has developed materials for you to use to promote your libraries presence in WorldCat.org, including customizable posters, table tents and press releases. You can use these materials to communicate the greater access to your materials through WorldCat.org. Materials are available on the OCLC Web site.
The Breakdown
Just what are the differences between the various views of WorldCat? FirstSearch, Open WorldCat and WorldCat.org all search the same database, but each service provides different searching functionality and, consequently, different search results will display. You can see a chart that illustrates the differences between FirstSearch, WorldCat and Open WorldCat.
For More Information
Information about WorldCat.org and other Open WorldCat services is available on the OCLC WorldCat Web site. See FAQ for WorldCat.org for additional information.
Additionally, BCR has an archived Free Friday Forum about WorldCat.org. The presentation is about one hour long, explains WorldCat.org in detail and contains examples of how the service works. The program link is located on BCR's Free Friday Forum archive Web page. Directions for setting up your computer for viewing the forum are available on that Web page. Specific questions can be addressed to Heather Clark at BCR.