OCLC partners with Equinox Open Library Initiative to provide access to the WorldCat Metadata API for mutual customers

DUBLIN, Ohio, 18 March 2024—OCLC, the worldwide leader in library cataloging and metadata services, is partnering with Equinox Open Library Initiative to offer access to the WorldCat Metadata API for OCLC cataloging libraries using service platforms supported by Equinox. The integration is available to mutual customers.

Equinox, a leader in open source technology development and support for libraries, is the first to sign on to integrate the WorldCat Metadata API through the OCLC Partner Platform Program, which allows partners to integrate OCLC cataloging, discovery, and resource sharing functionality through a variety of APIs. The program also allows library service providers to integrate with OCLC’s WorldShare Management Services and OCLC Wise library service platforms.

“We’re excited to partner with Equinox to offer this integration and added functionality for our mutual customers,” said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development, Membership and Research. “This partnership promotes choice and flexibility in library services. We want to make it easy for libraries to use OCLC services through the platforms and service providers they choose.”

For its first service integration, Equinox plans to integrate the WorldCat Metadata API with the Westchester (New York) Library System, an Evergreen ILS customer that will be conducting a pilot project using the NightShift program for cataloging. This integration will support Westchester’s cataloging efforts by allowing them to more efficiently identify high-quality records from WorldCat. Equinox will also make metadata integration available to their customers using the Koha ILS.

“We are pleased to announce this partnership with OCLC which will provide new efficiencies for Evergreen ILS and Koha ILS libraries using OCLC services,” said Lisa Carlucci, Executive Director at Equinox. “Libraries benefit directly from collaborative innovation and the shared expertise of vendor partners. We look forward to working with OCLC and to supporting the Westchester Library System during their pilot.”

WorldCat is the most the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections. OCLC’s team of expert catalogers and data quality specialists create and constantly enrich WorldCat records with new, corrected, and updated information to ensure that WorldCat contains the highest quality records possible. OCLC’s Business Development team works with content providers worldwide to enhance WorldCat and ensure that the latest metadata is available for library users. Library staff members also contribute and enhance records and set holdings through their OCLC Cataloging and Metadata Subscription, ensuring that their library’s collections are represented in WorldCat.

The WorldCat Metadata API allows libraries to search, retrieve and maintain their bibliographic and holdings data in WorldCat. Libraries can also search for and view summary holdings and shared print retention information from OCLC member libraries.

Find more about OCLC Partnership opportunities on the website.

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