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WorldCat.org users can now purchase books from independent bookstores through Bookshop.org

DUBLIN, Ohio, 29 August 2023—WorldCat.org now offers users the option to purchase books from independent brick-and-mortar bookstores across the U.S. through Bookshop.org. Links to Bookshop.org display in the “Buy this item” section of item details on WorldCat.org search results for items available from Bookshop.org. This provides purchase options for people who would like to have their own copy of a book or cannot borrow it from favorite libraries.

When users click to Bookshop.org from WorldCat.org, they can select a bookstore to receive the full profit from their book purchase. If no bookstore is selected, the purchase will contribute to a profit-sharing pool that helps all participating bookstores.

OCLC plans to add Bookshop.org to “buy it now” links on the WorldCat Find mobile app in the coming months.

Learn more about WorldCat.org at oc.lc/worldcat-org.

Read the complete announcement here.

OCLC introduces AI-generated book recommendations in WorldCat.org and WorldCat Find beta
Artificial Intelligence application provides book recommendations requested by users

DUBLIN, Ohio, 21 June 2023—OCLC is beta testing book recommendations generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in WorldCat.org, the website that allows users to explore the collections of thousands of libraries through a single search. Searchers can now obtain AI-enabled book recommendations for print and e-books and then look for those items in libraries near them. The AI-generated book recommendations beta is now available in WorldCat.org and WorldCat Find (Apple app store, Google Play app store), the mobile app extension for WorldCat.org.

“OCLC has always been committed to offering new and emerging technologies to help libraries gain efficiencies and better serve their users,” said Mary Sauer-Games, OCLC Vice President, Global Product Management. “We believe that this particular application of AI technology has great potential for libraries and their users. We’re excited to test this new AI book recommendations feature to help people quickly find what they need in libraries through WorldCat.org and our Find app.”

During the beta test, AI-generated book recommendations will be available to WorldCat.org users in the United States and Canada viewing the English interface. Users can use the option to obtain recommendations for print and e-books. The book recommendation beta will also be available to all users of the WorldCat Find mobile app. WorldCat Find is currently available to users in the United States using an English interface.

OCLC encourages users to provide feedback about the new book recommendations feature through the WorldCat.org site and the WorldCat Find app.

Read the complete press release here.

Musicians, jazz organizations, and music experts curate resources to honor jazz on WorldCat.org
WorldCat.org's jazz topic page offers music fans a treasure trove of rare materials from libraries

DUBLIN, Ohio, 8 June 2023—WorldCat.org, the only website that connects online searchers to the world's libraries, has published a topic page dedicated to jazz music. Esteemed academics and institutions—including Dr. Tammy L. Kernodle, author and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at Miami (Ohio) University; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Tulane University; and the University of Chicago—have contributed to the project by curating resource lists that will delight jazz newcomers and seasoned listeners alike. Featuring a wide variety of verified materials from the collections of more than 10,000 libraries, WorldCat.org's jazz topic page provides visitors a broad and deep glimpse into the genre's past, present, and future.

Read the complete press release here.

Leading organizations and experts curate resources about sustainability for Earth Day
WorldCat.org puts environmental materials from global library collections on display

DUBLIN, Ohio, 19 April 2023—WorldCat.org, the website that connects online searchers to the world's libraries, has collaborated with environmental organizations and experts to showcase valuable sustainability and conservation materials from more than 10,000 library collections for Earth Day. These partners include preeminent voices in conservation, such as EARTHDAY.ORG, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Walden Woods Project, the Culinary Institute of America, and Kathryn Kellogg, founder of Going Zero Waste, among others. WorldCat.org formed these alliances to raise awareness among institution leaders, educators, students, parents, and the public at large about protecting, and living in harmony with, our shared and finite natural systems.

Read the complete release here.

WorldCat.org puts the world's libraries at people's fingertips
WorldCat.org's redesigned user experience makes exploring billions of resources in thousands of libraries around the world even easier

DUBLIN, Ohio, 24 August 2022—WorldCat.org, the only website that connects online searchers to the world's libraries, has been redesigned and reimagined to offer greater accessibility to the collections and resources of more than 10,000 libraries. From an updated technology infrastructure to a contemporary search interface and a wealth of additional user-centric features, the new site meets the needs of information seekers from academic researchers to those looking for their next vacation read.

"Libraries are the greatest sources of knowledge on the planet. And the updates to WorldCat.org make the world's largest collection of library resources on the web more discoverable," said Skip Prichard, President and CEO of OCLC, a global library nonprofit that's been innovating library technology, resources, and research for more than 50 years. "WorldCat.org is a powerful guide to library resources. There's nothing else like it. It's the only site that connects people to thousands of libraries and their collections in one simple search."

Read the complete release here.