OCLC

OCLC. It is a global nonprofit library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership. Founded in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center, its mission is to advance worldwide access to information and reduce library costs through collaboration. Its most renowned service is WorldCat, a vast union catalog that lists the collections of tens of thousands of libraries worldwide.

History

The organization was incorporated on July 5, 1967, by Fred Kilgour and the presidents of Ohio University, Kenyon College, and the College of Wooster, with funding from the Ohio College Association. Its initial goal was to create a computerized network for Ohio academic libraries to share resources and reduce costs. The success of its early cataloging system led to rapid expansion beyond Ohio, and the name was changed to OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., in 1981 to reflect its national and then international scope. A key milestone was the public release of the WorldCat database via the World Wide Web in the 1990s, vastly increasing global access to its collective catalog.

Services and products

The cooperative's flagship service is the WorldCat database, which connects the holdings of libraries in over 100 countries. Major technology services include the WorldShare Management System, a cloud-based platform for library management, and the OCLC CONTENTdm software for managing digital collections. It also provides the Dewey Decimal Classification system through a partnership with Forest Press, and maintains the VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) project in cooperation with national libraries like the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Other significant offerings encompass the OCLC Research division and the QuestionPoint virtual reference service.

Governance and membership

Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by its member libraries, the organization operates as a membership-based cooperative. Membership is open to libraries and information centers globally, encompassing institutions such as the Library of Congress, the British Library, and thousands of academic, public, school, and special libraries. Regional service providers, like the AMIGOS Library Services in the Southwestern United States, offer support and training. The Global Council, comprising elected delegates from member libraries, advises the board and helps shape the organization's strategic direction.

Impact and criticism

The organization has profoundly transformed library science by enabling unprecedented resource sharing and collaborative cataloging, significantly reducing operational costs for libraries worldwide. Its work on standards and data exchange has been instrumental in the development of the modern bibliographic utility. However, it has faced criticism regarding the pricing of its services and its dominant market position, with some librarians and competitors arguing this creates a de facto monopoly. Debates have also occurred over the future of the cooperative model in the face of competition from commercial entities like Ex Libris Group and the evolving landscape of open access and linked data.

See also

* Library of Congress Control Number * MARC standards * Interlibrary loan * Bibliographic record * Research Libraries Group

Category:Library organizations Category:Non-profit organizations based in Ohio Category:Organizations established in 1967