Weinheimer Jim wrote:
> I also have a feeling that the option of WorldCat Local (which is going to be *very attractive* to many libraries in this current economic environment) is somehow central to it all. See: http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/
> For those libraries who opt into this "free" option, it will be almost irresistible. The basis of WorldCat Local (as I understand it) is that each library will need only the item management parts of an ILS (acquisitions, circulation, location) and that users will search WorldCat, which will then link into your system to display the availability information to the users, and your library comes up No. 1 in the list of libraries.
>
OCLC is already testing what it calls "web scale" library management
services -- that is, circulation, acquisitions, etc. run off of
Worldcat. (http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/200927.htm). In
theory this could entirely replace local systems (although I imagine
that libraries will want to keep some kind of local inventory.... or
maybe not).
> But again, if I am correct in my understanding, the master record held in OCLC, along with the OCLC control number will become very valuable, indeed.
>
>
>
I think it already is very valuable, although under-utilized due to
restrictions (e.g. membership). This adds to my bewilderment about
OCLC's apparent fear of competition. OCLC has an extremely valuable
product, is used by over 60,000 libraries, and has 30 years of history
with the library community. Why are they acting so defensively?
kc
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Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
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Received on Fri Jul 03 2009 - 10:37:09 EDT