PLA Public Library Association

Good morning! Please forgive cross-posting. Worldcat has had a banner announcing their pending website redesign for weeks, and I looked forward to seeing what they'd come up with. After logging in and transferring my lists and favorites, I was disheartened to discover that of 10, only 4 of my favorite libraries were listed. My own system, Miami-Dade County Public Library (the 7th largest in the nation according to recent data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey) does not appear in search results any longer.

This is particularly dismaying because several websites patrons use to discover books, including Goodreads, link directly to WorldCat as a link that says "Libraries". If we cannot be found there, the public could think we simply do not have the item they want.

When you click on the "For Librarians" tab on WorldCat and then the "web visibility program" link, you will the following graphic:
This change from a free listing of library collections to an apparent pay-for-play model will cause many systems like mine to be bypassed when their patrons are looking for items online unless they go directly to our website. Unfortunately, this discourages the organic discovery of books through "partner" websites, like the aforementioned GoodReads, and Wikipedia. I would love to hear the thoughts of others about this issue: has anyone gotten pricing for their own system? Do you believe it to be worth the money? Isn't this TERRIBLE? lol

Thank you for time. --Shaunterria Owens, Youth Services Specialist, Miami-Dade Public Library

Good morning! Please forgive cross-posting. Worldcat has had a banner announcing their pending website redesign for weeks, and I looked forward to seeing what they'd come up with. After logging in and transferring my lists and favorites, I was disheartened to discover that of 10, only 4 of my favorite libraries were listed. My own system, Miami-Dade County Public Library (the 7th largest in the nation according to recent data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey) does not appear in search results any longer.

This is particularly dismaying because several websites patrons use to discover books, including Goodreads, link directly to WorldCat as a link that says "Libraries". If we cannot be found there, the public could think we simply do not have the item they want.

When you click on the "For Librarians" tab on WorldCat and then the "web visibility program" link, you will the following graphic:
This change from a free listing of library collections to an apparent pay-for-play model will cause many systems like mine to be bypassed when their patrons are looking for items online unless they go directly to our website. Unfortunately, this discourages the organic discovery of books through "partner" websites, like the aforementioned GoodReads, and Wikipedia. I would love to hear the thoughts of others about this issue: has anyone gotten pricing for their own system? Do you believe it to be worth the money? Isn't this TERRIBLE? lol

Thank you for time. --Shaunterria Owens, Youth Services Specialist, Miami-Dade Public Library