The main attraction of the new site is the WorldCat search box. Web users can now search the entire WorldCat database with the method most familiar to them: simple keywords. As in Open WorldCat, each linked result leads to a Find in a Library information page. From there, users can enter geographic information such as a zip code or other postal code, receive a list of nearby libraries that own the item and link directly to a library's online catalog record to initiate circulation activity or access electronic content. Users can also create their own WorldCat account and add book reviews, table-of-contents information and notes to many WorldCat items, helping to personalize their library search experience.

However, for a user to be directed back to your library, your library must have a current subscription to the WorldCat database on OCLC FirstSearch. Your library's holdings must also be maintained on the cataloging side of OCLC. There are no additional charges for WorldCat.org.

From WorldCat.org, Web individual users or staff at organizations can easily download and install the free, WorldCat search box to their respective personal or commercial Web pages, allowing even more people to discover library content through WorldCat. Libraries and other groups inside and outside the OCLC cooperative are encouraged to add the box to their Web sites. We believe that sharing the ability to search for library materials to as many other sites as possible will help increase the awareness of libraries as primary sources of reliable information and helpful personal assistance.

To try the new WorldCat search box and download the box to your own Web site, visit the site at worldcat.org/.

Heather Clark, BCR member services librarian, is conducting a special information session on the new WorldCat.org interface from OCLC. Join her on August 25, 2006, from 1-2 pm MST to find out just how this FREE interface can be used to search WorldCat for anyone with an Internet connection. WorldCat.org is an exciting development that will make library collections more broadly accessible on the World Wide Web. Features include "FRBRized" results displays, user contributed reviews and a downloadable search box you can add to your library pages. Clark will review the details and test out the functionality in this free session in the interactive BCR WebLive classroom.

Contact BCR's Heather Clark at hclark@bcr.org for more information.