OCLC WorldCat as a Cooperative Catalog

Abstract

Traditionally, “cooperative cataloging” has emphasized the importance of very high standards, with the goal of cataloging “once and for all,” and the creation of records that can be used without alteration. By this definition, only a small percentage of the records ever created are cooperative. By another definition, the Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC's) WorldCat is the largest cooperative catalog ever, allowing ongoing editing of records created by tens of thousands of libraries. This article challenges catalogers to rethink practices in terms of a world catalog. Standards need to be more flexible, to encompass records from many sources. Catalog maintenance should become more cooperative and make better use of automation.

KEYWORDS:

• cooperative cataloging
• OCLC WorldCat
• catalog maintainance
• authority control
• cataloging standards

Notes

1. Jeffrey Beall, “The Impact of Vendor Records on Cataloging and Access in Academic Libraries,” Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services 24 (2000): 229–237.

2. “WorldCat Facts and Statistics,” OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. http://www.oclc.org/us/en/worldcat/statistics/default.htm

3. “WorldCat Gold Records,” OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. http://www.oclc.org/us/en/worldcat/statistics/goldrecords.htm

4. Library of Congress Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate, “Report of Fiscal 2007,” Library of Congress, 9. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/aba07.pdf

5. Library of Congress Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate, “Program for Cooperative Cataloging Statistics,” Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/stats/totalstatsFY2007a.pdf

6. Library of Congress Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control, “Report on the Future of Bibliographic Control,” Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/bibliographic-future/news/lcwg-report-draft-11–30-07-final.pdf