As of August, WorldCat, the OCLC database with 1.3 billion items in more than 10,000 libraries worldwide, became available as a standalone site on the Web in beta test mode.
WorldCat has been available in the Open WorldCat project for some time, making it searchable through the Google, Yahoo! and Windows Live search bars using the phrase "find in a library" plus the title.
To look at what each of the versions of WorldCat offers (including via FirstSearch) see this comparison table of the various features. One of the major differences between the two sites is that the standalone version searches the entire WorldCat holdings, where the Open WorldCat participants only access a subset of the data. WorldCat.org also shows an additional screen where users can narrow their search by various fields (e.g., author, format, language).
An additional feature from the new beta site is "a free modularized version of the WorldCat.org search box" that anyone (or any library) can download to place on a Web page or blog. Two other tools, the WorldCat Search Toolbars and the Create a WorldCat Link for an item, have been available for some time.
When you take it for a spin and kick the tires, you may find that some library catalog links work better than others. If you find yours is one that does not connect directly to the item's record and you'd like to see one that does, in the CFLC service area both the Orange County Library System and the Volusia County Public Library catalog links do go directly to the appropriate record.
Try it, you'll like it!
SUBJECTS: TUESDAY'S TOOLS; OCLC ODDMENTS
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