Jim Buchman, State Library of Ohio

On April 28, 2008, the State Library of Ohio became the first state library in the country to implement WorldCat Local. 

What is WorldCat Local?  WorldCat Local is a simplified interface to the State Library’s on-line library catalog.  This Google-like search box allows users to search and place requests for library materials owned by the State Library, OhioLINK and other libraries worldwide through interlibrary loan.  Results are grouped based on availability and location of requested materials.

WorldCat Local has improved service by expanding the number of resources located from a single search and making it easier to request selected materials.

Since its implementation, WorldCat Local has logged 6,723 visitors who have entered over 15,000 searches for library resources. 

Book reviews are available under the Review Tab.  These reviews include Amazon reviews as well as user contributed reviews.  In addition, users may refine searches by limiting by Author, Format, Year, Content, Audience, Language, and Topic.

Users may search WorldCat Local from the State Library’s website: www.library.ohio.gov

For more information on using this service, contact Jim Buchman, Head of Patron & Catalog Services at jbuchman@sloma.state.oh.us or by phone at: 614-644-6954.