Hanging Together - the OCLC Research blog

An open cardboard box containing three books standing upright, each with a solid-colored cover: magenta, teal, and navy blue. The books are neatly arranged, with their white pages slightly visible, suggesting organization or packing for storage or transport.

Rising to the challenge: How the SHARES resource sharing community navigated a global disruption to international shipping

September 15, 2025September 15, 2025 - by Dennis Massie - Leave a Comment

When international ILL shipping faced an unprecedented disruption, the OCLC RLP SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders.

Two hands, one with darker skin and the other with lighter skin, pressing their thumbs together in a gesture of unity or agreement. The background features a pattern of glowing blue hexagons, creating a futuristic and collaborative atmosphere.

Research Library Partnership / Resource Sharing / SHARES

Roles for resource sharing practitioners in making library materials accessible

July 1, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Dennis Massie

The OCLC Research Library Partnership and the SHARES resource sharing consortium are connecting library professionals to share strategies for improving accessibility. Read highlights from a recent webinar that spotlight innovative approaches and collaborations that help ensure access to materials for all users.

A cluttered office storage room filled with tall cabinets and shelves overflowing with stacks of colorful paper folders in pink, green, and yellow. The papers are piled on top of cabinets, spilling out of shelves, and scattered on the floor, creating a chaotic and disorganized environment. Bright fluorescent lighting illuminates the space, emphasizing the abundance of materials.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata

Efficiënt ontdubbelen in WorldCat: hoe AI en catalogiseerwerk elkaar versterken

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Bemal Rajapatirana

Ontdek hoe OCLC AI inzet om het ontdubbelen in WorldCat te versnellen, zonder de zorg en expertise van catalogiseerders te verliezen. Een hybride aanpak combineert machine learning met menselijke controle, verbetert metadata en zorgt voor verantwoorde innovatie in bibliotheekcatalogi.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata

Deduplicación eficiente de WorldCat: Equilibrando la IA y la catalogación profesional

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Bemal Rajapatirana

Descubra cómo OCLC utiliza la IA para acelerar la deduplicación en WorldCat, combinando Aprendizaje Automático con supervisión humana. Este enfoque híbrido mejora la calidad de los metadatos en distintos idiomas y colecciones, garantizando una innovación responsable en la catalogación bibliotecaria.

Archives and Special Collections / Library Management / Research Library Partnership / Research support

Leading through uncertainty: Fostering morale and connection in challenging times

June 26, 2025August 22, 2025 - by Rebecca Bryant

Library leaders from RLP institutions share insights on navigating austerity and uncertainty, including effective planning, communications, morale-building strategies.

Miscellaneous

World of cats meets real cat: My thoughts on the ultimate library quilt

June 9, 2025June 5, 2025 - by Chobe - 4 Comments.

Feline blogger Chobe is back to share about a purr-fect quilt made by OCLC quilters–just in time for ALA

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata

Scaling de-duplication in WorldCat: Balancing AI innovation with cataloging care

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 - by Bemal Rajapatirana

Discover how OCLC uses AI to accelerate WorldCat de-duplication while preserving catalogers’ care and expertise. Learn how a hybrid approach blends machine learning with human oversight to improve metadata quality across languages and collections, ensuring responsible innovation in library cataloging.

A close-up view of a keyboard illuminated by vibrant, multicolored LED backlighting. The keys display a range of bright hues, including red, green, blue, and purple, creating a striking contrast against the dark background. The focus is on specific keys, such as "Alt" and symbols, with the lighting emphasizing their contours and making them visually prominent. The scene conveys a modern and tech-oriented aesthetic.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata / Research Library Partnership

Artificial intelligence to support metadata workflows: an OCLC RLP working group

May 14, 2025June 25, 2025 - by Merrilee Proffitt

Discover how an OCLC RLP working group is exploring the power of AI to streamline workflows, tackle backlogs, and enhance collection descriptions. This work includes exploring key challenges, best practices, and ethical approaches to integrating AI into metadata management.