University of Delaware is first ARL, 200th library to go live with WorldShare Management Services

DUBLIN, Ohio - June 12, 2014 - PRLog -- The University of Delaware is the first member of the Association of Research Libraries and the 200th library to go live with OCLC WorldShare Management Services as its library management system.

WorldShare Management Services provide cloud-based library management and discovery applications in an integrated suite, offering librarians a comprehensive and cost-effective way to manage library workflows efficiently, and improve access to library collections and services.

“The University of Delaware Library has implemented OCLC innovative new services for many years,” said Susan Brynteson, Vice Provost and May Morris University Librarian. “The University of Delaware Library is pleased to be at the forefront of this transition to cloud-based library management services for ARL libraries, and looks forward to working with OCLC to help guide its continued evolution.”

“OCLC is fortunate to be able to work in partnership with great member institutions like the University of Delaware Library to develop new services and lead library innovation,” said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. “The Library’s extensive work with OCLC has helped pave the way for other ARL libraries to move to this new model for cooperative library management.”

Gregg A. Silvis, Associate University Librarian for Information Technology and Digital Initiatives, University of Delaware Library, has been an outspoken advocate for change in library management systems for years.

“WorldShare Management Services in many ways surpasses the vision that I had several years ago,” said Mr. Silvis. “I had been primarily thinking of management of physical items. So WorldShare has gone beyond my expectations, especially in terms of management of electronic resources. I think WorldShare Management Services is ahead of its time and lays the groundwork for the next five to 10 years of transformative change. ”

As the first ARL library to go live with WorldShare Management Services, the University of Delaware Library and OCLC worked together to ensure the new services have the features and functionality required to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff at a larger research institution.

In recognition of the changing nature of library management systems and the new capabilities offered by WorldShare Management Services, the online catalog of the University of Delaware Library that has been called DELCAT since its initial implementation in 1986 has been renamed DELCAT Discovery.

“The journey of WorldShare Management Services has been full of exciting ‘firsts’ and I’m thrilled to count the University of Delaware Library as our first ARL library,” said Andrew K. Pace, OCLC Executive Director, Networked Library Services. “The Library has been an excellent partner in moving WMS forward, tackling complex ordering, circulation and e-resource workflows, and helping OCLC deliver even more efficiency to the community with the insights they have contributed. We’re proud to see the University of Delaware Library as the first ARL to go live with WMS, and we are delighted that they are our 200th institution live in the WorldShare community.”

Dozens of libraries have already benefited from the technical service efficiencies made available through WorldShare. The University of Delaware Library contributed substantially to gain further efficiencies in technical services, as well as better usability in library access services and end-user discovery. “Rapid enhancement and improvement of OCLC’s management, resource sharing and discovery applications based on the insights of an actively engaged membership have been a hallmark OCLC’s community-driven application development,” said Mr. Pace.

Libraries on three continents—Australia, Europe and North America—are currently using OCLC WorldShare Management Services, which were released for general availability in July 2011. More about OCLC WorldShare Management Services can be found on theOCLC website.