Yahoo!, one of the worlds most visited website, has started a pilot project to integrate a search utility of bibliographic database of the OCLC Online Computer Library Centre, the worlds largest library cooperative, to its toolbar. Yahoo toolbar can be run in a web browser with links to applications like mail, dating, personals, e-commerce and search functionalities.
With the integration of OCLCs WorldCat database search functionality into Yahoo! toolbar, millions of people worldwide can locate document holdings in their nearest libraries, through internet. More than 2 million most popular searchable records of WorldCat, a bibliographic database of books, movies and audio files created and maintained by more than 9000 libararies, are made available through this initiative called OpenWorldCat. The initiative plans to providing access to WorldCats more than 56 million records in near future.
To search WorldCats most popular records using Yahoo! toolbar, the query is to be entered in a search box located in the toolbar. Records can also be searched by clicking the WorldCat logo or using the drop-down menu which features a "libraries" link. Consumers will then be prompted for their zip code to determine if the library materials they are looking for are available in a nearby library.
OCLC/Yahoo! toolbar also provides access to other OCLC services like FirstSearch service; the NetLibrary eBook service; the OCLC member library list; the OCLC Web site; and a link to the About WorldCat site.
Source: OCLC.
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