Module 10: Library OPAC

I enjoyed this lecture about library OPACs because it allowed me to feel a renewed excitement about my job at OCLC.  When Dr. Roland talked about the vision for changes to library OPACs, so many of the changes we are looking forward to have already happened for those libraries that use WorldCat Local as their OPAC.  With the available databases that are centrally indexed and the introduction of the WorldCat knowledge base for managing electronic resources, libraries can truly have a single interface to search all of their resources.  There are a range of options for discovery, and one can limit a search using facets that are assembled on the fly.  An information seeker can tag their search results for retrieving later or to enhance searching.  Anyone can add a review to any record in WorldCat.  If a record has been added to a user's published list, the information seeker is given the option to view that list.  And there are over 300 ways to share a record with others, including Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc.

For those libraries that are using WorldShare Management Services, a Collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) is available so that librarians, vendors and developers can write their own applications using these web services to enhance existing services.  One vendor has written a mind-mapping tool for students in academic environments called MindView that now connects to WorldCat using the WorldCat Search API to discover and provide citation information for sources represented in the mind-maps constructed by students.

Every week, our marketing department sends out a report that includes "Tweets of the Week."  I enjoy seeing the enthusiastic tweets from library students who are just discovering the awesomeness of WorldCat.  I feel very fortunate to be able to work at a place that one of my co-workers once called the "mecca for librarians."

Forgive me if this sounds like a plug for my workplace, but after listening to Dr. Roland's lecture, it seemed like it was worth sharing all of the exciting developments that are happening at OCLC.  OCLC's mission is a simple one:  "The world's libraries.  Connected."  Our history represents decades of cooperative sharing among the world's libraries.  It's an exciting and challenging place to work.  As WorldCat grows, we are providing more and easier access to an ever-expanding body of information and knowledge.