OCLC facts for kids
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OCLC headquarters
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| Founded | July 5, 1967 (as Ohio College Library Center) |
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| Founder | Fred Kilgour |
| Type | 501(c)3 organization |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ohio, U.S. |
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Region
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Worldwide |
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Members
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30,000+ libraries in 100+ countries |
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President & CEO
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Skip Prichard |
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Revenue (2020–21)
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$217.8 million |
OCLC, Inc., also known as OCLC, is a non-profit group in the United States. It helps libraries around the world by offering technology, research, and community programs.
OCLC started in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center. As it grew, its name changed to Online Computer Library Center. In 2017, it officially became OCLC, Inc. OCLC works with thousands of libraries to create and update WorldCat. This is the biggest online library catalog in the world. Libraries pay fees for OCLC's services, which helps fund the organization. OCLC also manages the Dewey Decimal Classification system, which helps organize books.
Contents
How OCLC Began
OCLC started in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center. University leaders and library directors in Ohio wanted to create a computer network for libraries. They met on July 5, 1967, to officially start the non-profit group. They hired Frederick G. Kilgour, a former librarian from Yale University, as their first leader.
Kilgour and Ralph H. Parker, a library head from the University of Missouri, had suggested this idea in 1965. They wanted to combine computers with libraries to make things more efficient. Their goal was to link library catalogs electronically. This would help libraries share resources, save money, and better serve students and researchers. The first library to use OCLC for online cataloging was the Alden Library at Ohio University on August 26, 1971. This was the first time any library in the world did online cataloging.
Growing Across the Globe
From 1967 to 1977, only libraries in Ohio could join OCLC. But in 1978, new rules allowed libraries from other states to become members. In 2002, the rules changed again so that libraries outside the United States could join too.
As OCLC grew, it worked with "networks" across the U.S. These networks helped libraries with training, support, and marketing for OCLC services. By 2008, there were 15 such groups. These networks also helped choose people to represent libraries in OCLC's leadership. Later, OCLC changed how it worked with these networks and opened a main support center.
Leaders of OCLC
Here are the people who have served as president of OCLC:
- 1967–1980: Frederick G. Kilgour
- 1980–1989: Rowland C. W. Brown
- 1989–1998: K. Wayne Smith
- 1998–2013: Jay Jordan
- 2013–present: Skip Prichard
What Services OCLC Offers
OCLC provides information like bibliographies (lists of books), summaries, and full texts to people.
OCLC and its member libraries work together to create and update WorldCat. This is the OCLC Online Union Catalog, the largest online public access catalog (OPAC) in the world. WorldCat has records from public and private libraries everywhere.
OCLC bought the rights to the Dewey Decimal Classification System in 1988. This system helps libraries organize books by topic.
Until 2015, OCLC also printed catalog cards for libraries. These were physical cards used to list books.
Software for Libraries
OCLC sells different software programs to help libraries:
- CONTENTdm helps libraries manage their digital collections.
- Wise is a system that helps libraries manage their books and connect with their community.
- WorldCat Discovery lets library users search for books, e-books, and other resources all in one place.
- WorldShare Management Services helps libraries manage their electronic resources.
Research and Learning
OCLC has been doing research for libraries for over 30 years. They share their research findings through articles, reports, and presentations. These are available on their website.
- Research Articles: You can find articles from different journals, including The Code4Lib Journal and OCLC Research.
- Reports: They publish important reports on topics like how libraries use virtual help and how people feel about library funding.
- Newsletters: Current and old newsletters for the library and archive community are available.
- Presentations: You can watch presentations from guest speakers and OCLC researchers from conferences and online events.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, OCLC was part of the REALM project. This project studied how the virus might spread on library materials. They published reports to help libraries stay safe.
Supporting Libraries
OCLC has always worked to support libraries. OCLC staff meet with library leaders, researchers, and political leaders. They work to advance research, education, and access to information.
WebJunction is a part of OCLC that offers training for librarians. It is funded by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In 2003, OCLC teamed up with search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Ask.com. This made it possible to search WorldCat records directly through these search engines.
OCLC also created the "Geek the Library" campaign in 2009. This campaign highlighted the important role of public libraries. It was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
OCLC has worked with groups like the Society of American Archivists and the World Wide Web Consortium. They helped create the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative. This is a group that works to develop standards for online information.
OCLC has also worked with the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia. They have helped integrate library information with Wikipedia projects. They also offered training programs for librarians on how to work with Wikipedia.
WorldCat: A Huge Online Database
OCLC's WorldCat database is used by people and librarians for finding and cataloging books. You can search WorldCat through a service called FirstSearch, which many libraries subscribe to. It's also available to everyone through WorldCat.org.
Identifiers and Linked Data
OCLC gives a special number called an "OCN" (OCLC Control Number) to each new record in WorldCat. These numbers are given out in order. By mid-2013, over a billion OCNs had been created. In September 2013, OCLC made these numbers public so that more people could use them. OCNs help link WorldCat records to local library records.
OCNs are very useful for identifying books that don't have ISBNs, like older books. OCNs are often used as identifiers on Wikipedia and Wikidata. For example, many book information boxes on Wikipedia use OCNs.
OCLC also runs the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF). This is an international list of names that helps organize information. VIAF numbers are widely used as standard identifiers, including on Wikipedia.
Companies Joining OCLC
OCLC has acquired several companies over the years to expand its services. For example, in 2002, OCLC bought NetLibrary, which provided electronic books. In 2007, OCLC PICA, a company based in the Netherlands that works with library systems, was renamed OCLC. In 2006, the Research Libraries Group (RLG) joined with OCLC.
In 2008, OCLC bought EZproxy, a tool that helps people access library resources from anywhere. They also acquired OAIster, which provides access to digital collections.
In 2013, OCLC acquired HKA, a Dutch company that created the Wise library system. OCLC now offers Wise to libraries in the United States. In 2015, OCLC acquired Sustainable Collection Services (SCS), which helps libraries manage their print collections. In 2017, OCLC acquired Relais International, a company that helps libraries share books with each other.
See also
In Spanish: OCLC para niños
- Dynix (software)
- Public library advocacy
