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Thanks
to a Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant
from the California State Library, as Californians
search on Google
or Yahoo for
general information they can do a simultaneous
library holdings search. The service is called
Open WorldCat and is the result of research an
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) team began
in 2004. OCLC researchers’ idea was to make the
OCLC WorldCat database of library holdings
available via the web search engines people use
every day.
The
$1 million dollar LSTA grant from the California
State Library to Califa, a membership-based
service bureau for all California libraries, will
enhance public library participation. Because of
the Open WorldCat web-based search tool, citizens
throughout the state will enjoy having an
alternate avenue for finding California library
resources. As Californians use Open WorldCat’s
familiar search engines, they will feel “at
home” as they seek items in California
libraries. Library customers will also value the
convenience of reserving items from their local
library’s catalog via Google
or Yahoo by
simply using their local library cards.
The
California State Library’s partnership
with Califa will:
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make
local and regional library resources more
visible/accessible by zip code search in Google
and Yahoo;
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subsidize
OCLC FirstSearch WorldCat subscriptions for
at least one year for all public libraries
in the state;
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catch
up on library holdings in FirstSearch
WorldCat for public libraries throughout
California via no charge batch loading for
one year;
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create
a California Libraries Catalog via
FirstSearch based on a subset of OCLC
WorldCat. |
Library
holdings that have been added over the years to
OCLC WorldCat are now available through Google
and Yahoo.
Additional availability through other search
engines is in negotiation by OCLC. According to
Pam Bailey, Director of the OCLC Western Service
Center, the hit rate will improve throughout the
year as the batch load updates continue. Bailey
says, “By continuing to add libraries’
holdings to WorldCat through batch loading and
other means, California libraries are increasing
the likelihood users in their communities can find
the valuable information libraries have to
offer.”
More
information for California’s Public Libraries
In
order for the California libraries to be
searchable via Google
and Yahoo,
libraries need a subscription to OCLC FirstSearch
WorldCat, one of the things for which the LSTA
grant is paying. Updating the holdings to this
version of WorldCat is the mechanism used to get
the information to Google and Yahoo. To find out
more about the California Libraries Catalog and
eligible FirstSearch subscriptions, contact Califa
at 866 209 5439.
To
find out more about California Libraries Catalog
training as well as Open WorldCat, contact OCLC
Western Service Center at 800-854-5753.
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