EasyBib.com and OCLC collaborate to build library-branded citation service

Jan. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- OCLC and ImagineEasy Solutions, LLC are collaborating to create a customizable library version of ImagineEasy Solutions’ popular EasyBib.com service, the most popular online citation site on the Web. The EasyBib Library Edition service will be rolled out in a beta testing phase with select OCLC member libraries this month.

EasyBib is an automatic bibliography composer, used by more than 23 million unique visitors in the past year. More than 500,000 new citations are added each day during peak periods of use, such as at the end of university terms. Students simply search or enter bibliographic data of a particular source and EasyBib formats the citation, alphabetizes the works cited list and exports it to word-processing software. Students can also use EasyBib’s notebook feature to dynamically organize their research information associated with their citations.

EasyBib, a WorldCat.org partner site, already generates a robust traffic stream to libraries through WorldCat.org, using the WorldCat Search API to power book search citations.

“Our partnership with the EasyBib team is a natural fit for the cooperative,” said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development. “This library-branded version of EasyBib’s simple and intuitive citation service helps further library visibility online, and helps to remind Web users of the value and importance of libraries to the research process. In addition, much of the traffic to EasyBib comes from institutions that are also members of the OCLC cooperative—so offering enterprise versions of EasyBib is a natural, cost-effective way for member libraries to market their services to their students at the point of need.”

Jointly designed by OCLC and Imagine Easy Solutions, EasyBib Library Edition will provide an opportunity for libraries to reach students where they already go for help with citation formatting. The Library Edition will offer a variety of features designed to extend library reach and usage, such as:

•   Library-branded interface
•   Links to library home page and catalog
•   Search box for easy discovery of additional resources at your library and beyond
•   Integration with virtual reference services
•   IP redirects to your library’s customized version
•   Deep links into a library’s OPAC
•   Integration with the OpenURL Gateway.

“We are excited to bring OCLC’s powerful tools to our service, which will provide not only a gateway to discover more library content, but also improve the research experience for students,” said Neal Taparia, co-founder of EasyBib.

OCLC will be the exclusive provider for EasyBib Library Edition, and a provider for EasyBib School Edition, EasyBib’s standard institutional service. OCLC is currently working with a set of member libraries that will serve as test sites for the beta service of Library Edition, which is expected to be available in the U.S. and Canada by spring 2011.

About EasyBib
EasyBib is a service from ImagineEasy Solutions, LLC. ImagineEasy Solutions was founded in 2001 by Darshan Somashekar and Neal Taparia while they were both students in high school. EasyBib.com has grown to be one of the most popular citation tools, used by more than 23 million students a year. ImagineEasy Solutions is based in New York City. For more information, visit www.easybib.com and www.imagineeasy.com.

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About OCLC
Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing library costs. More than 72,000 libraries in 170 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials. Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the world’s largest online database for discovery of library resources. Search WorldCat on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.