WorldCat Discovery enhancements digest
Recommended actions
Actions that require a library decision to enable in WorldCat Discovery.
New features by functional area
Search results
Enhancements that aim to improve the relevance and usability of the search results page.
- Users can now quickly access alternate links and notes/license terms from search results, even when configuration promotes the first link (May 2022)
- View search history for current session (March 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: More compact remote database preview (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Holding branch name displays on search results scoped to a branch: availability off or availability on-demand (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Searches expanded with related terms regardless of language (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Search Expansion favors broader search recall (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Holdings summary exceeding one line with be truncated to optimize display (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Local Holding Records summary will display alongside availability when present (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Group Catalog holdings display prominently on item details (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: New link to locally held editions and formas in search results (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improvements to the search results tile layout to conserve whitespace (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Local editions on brief results consider years with special characters as oldest (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved experience for recommended ProQuest remote databases (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Numbers formatted on remote database recommendation counts (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Remote databases will be displayed in a dismissible tray in the modernized user interface (February 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved description of holdings statement (February 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Display of material format icons in the modernized WorldCat Discovery (January 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Easily locate and interact with “Chat with a librarian” functionality (January 2021)
- Improved representative record logic that considers a user's preferred browser language (May 2020)
- Editions and formats display will reflect new edition grouping options (May 2020)
- Expand your search results using authority files (April 2020)
- New filters for manuscript items (December 2019)
- Improved quality of knowledge base provider link (July 2019)
- Consistently search EBSCO and ProQuest databases not in the central index (May 2019)
- Users more easily identify available periodicals with display of additional local holdings metadata (May 2019)
- More precise filtering of author names on brief results (April2019)
- Improved description of Editions & Formats accordion on detailed WorldCat Discovery views (March 2019)
- New default cover art image for books (March 2019)
- Improved alignment of selected filters, text, and institution over colors (March 2019)
- Display knowledge base Journal coverage metadata to show relationship between article citations Journal availability (February 2019)
- Display only HathiTrust Links leading to full text (February 2019)
- Navigate from electronic items to physical items (January 2019)
- Navigate to other locally-held formats on search results (January 2019)
- Quickly browse search results with higher resolution cover art and aligned titles (January 2019)
Search tools
Enhancements that aid users in acting on search results.
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Revised sorting of the Author search filter (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Additional 19 million items available in the Open Access filter (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Open Access filter available when searching WorldCat databases (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Zotero and Mendeley citation support implemented (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improvement to IIIF Viewer expansion and display on search results (March 2021)
- New options for grouping edition clusters in search results (May 2020)
- New labels for customized filters in the dropdown menus (April 2020)
- Leverage citation style for APA 7th edition (April 2020)
- Minor design update to shelf browse metadata display (March 2020)
- Configure search filter settings (December 2019)
- Ungroup search results by default to support unique workflows (September 2019)
- Keep filter selections for subsequent searches (September 2019)
- Improved description for required search box actions for users of screen readers such as NVDA or JAWS (July 2019)
- WMS users can virtually browse library shelves to view related physical items (May 2019)
- Interface improvement (February 2019)
Detailed record
Enhancements that improve the interpretation of MARC data for end users and help users navigate to other editions and formats.
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Subject vocabulary grouping display includes new ontology (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved anchored paging on item details availability (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Indicators of search relevance (highlight) added to "Includes" + "Issued with" fields in item details page (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Metadata fields for Includes and Issued With are now available in the modernized interface (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Display LHR 852 $z notes with each specific item (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Metadata configuration enables customization of item details display (March 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: URLs will display as clickable links in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (March 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Notes & License Terms display from WorldCat knowledge base (January 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Edition and format information relocated to top of item details to streamline Access Options panel (January 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: “Request from” wording in Access Options panel customized to help users (January 2021)
- Additional subfield data ($b, $c, $d, $k and $q) is now exposed to display the name headings and other existing subfield data (December 2020)
- Additional title-related subfields (700,710 and 711) is now exposed in the record detail (December 2020)
- Public notes from Local Holdings Records display alongside item information (October 2019)
- Additional format information supports fulfillment decisions for users with specific needs (September 2019)
- Periodical Index and Supplement subfields in local holdings metadata will now display in WorldCat Discovery (May 2019)
- Links from brief search results will match updated language of Editions & Formats accordion on detailed views (March 2019)
Access and Availability
Enhancements that help users consistently and intuitively obtain items
- Automatically redirect users to interlibrary loan option when group (level 2) items are unavailable for Place Hold (March 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Search within availability details to find volume, year, or item (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: ‘View details’ link from Access Options panel to group catalog holdings display (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Availability on demand now available in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Deep links for WorldCat Discovery users without availability (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: When no fulfillment options are available, WorldCat Discovery will no longer display a message to contact the library (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Best access options for streamlined availability display on item details (February 2021)
WMS / Group Availability and Place Hold
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Updated text on place hold form promotes successful delivery of resources (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Recall integration available in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (May 2021)
- Update Level 1 WMS place hold form to support WMS Circulation pick-up improvements (October 2020)
- Configure custom text for Print DDA fulfillment options (March 2020)
Full text/Access Online links
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Quickly access report a broken link and notes/license terms from a single full-text link (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Best access options electronic fulfillment updated to favor primary e-links over outgoing OpenURL (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved labeling of Report a Broken Link functionality (May 2021)
- DOI will now display on A to Z page for incoming link resolver citations and searches (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Report a broken link added to the modernized interface (March 2021)
- Configure 856 links to surface full text and open access resources (August 2020)
- Improved display text for DOI links leading to PDFs informed by Unpaywall (December 2019)
Open Access and Freely Available Content
Enhancements that align to OCLC’s mission to privilege open access and freely available content.
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Additional 19 million items available in the Open Access filter (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Open Access filter available when searching WorldCat databases (July 2021)
- New search index added to support Open Access Filter (October 2020)
- Expanded access to content from Canadian government and education domains (July 2019)
- Faster access to open content with addition of open access filter to WorldCat.org (April 2019)
Advanced Search
Enhancements that extend the functionality of advanced searching.
Course Reserves
Enhancements that improve the management and discovery of lists of materials reserved for courses
- Users will now see time items are due to be returned in the due date display for items in course reserves (May 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Course Reserves actions are now available in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (February 2021)
Service Configuration
Enhancements that directly and significantly impact OCLC Service Configuration. Some smaller configuration changes are simply listed within a given enhancement.
- Configure Search history functionality (March 2022)
- Configure Save search functionality (March 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Configure resource sharing button for ZFL gateway (Germany) (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Configure navigation bar 'Resources' menu label (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: WorldCat Discovery Premium (non-WMS) institutions can choose between displaying item availability or deep links to their OPAC (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Configure default sort of availability detail (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Automatically redirect users to interlibrary loan option when local items are unavailable for Place Hold (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Branding configuration has been updated to clearly indicate which settings are applicable in the modern interface (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Configure color for navigational bar and visited/unvisited links now available (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Configure availability to highlight a single location or display an availability summary (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Customization for Access Options display text (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Control your institution's transition to the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (January 2021)
- Custom translation functionality is now available to support translated database group names (October 2020)
- View all availability within an edition cluster (May 2020)
- Update to support future Authority Expansion functionality (March 2020)
- Quickly view selected databases first in Metasearch Content module (May 2019)
- View service configuration updates to the Full Text OpenURL Resolvers (outgoing requests) module in real time (March 2019)
- View service configuration updates in real time (February 2019)
- Save search box generator configuration for reuse (January 2019)
My Account
Enhancements that help users maintain their WorldCat Discovery account profile.
Accessibility
Enhancements that help to make WorldCat Discovery usable and accessible for all.
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Audit search results & item details to promote accessible branding choices (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Static ‘Loading…’ text message replaces animated spinners for users who prefer reduced motion (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Interface elements in focus with a keyboard use default browser focus style rather than branded colors (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: View OCLC accessibility statement, cookie notice and information security management certificate (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Custom notification text accessibility maintained with default contrasting colors (November 2021)
- Accessibility enhancements improve experience for people who use screen readers (May 2019)
General/Communication
General updates that impact multiple pages within the interface / Enhancements that help libraries better communicate with their patrons.
- Saved items icon moved to the navigation bar (March 2022)
- Institution symbol and WorldCat registry ID will now appear in the footer (March 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: View OCLC accessibility statement, cookie notice and information security management certificate (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Share via email has default subject line (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Signed in users alerted to session timeout (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Updated greeting for the Sign-in prompt (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Improved formatting when copying a Citation (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Share action includes sender's email for easy reply (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Improved formatting on the "Copy Link" action (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Improved visibility of the search box when a light brand color is configured (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery Interface: Improvements have been made to secondary buttons with light search and fulfillment color (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Updated OCLC customer support contact information on WorldCat Discovery's feedback form (June 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Indicators of search relevance (highlight) multiple author experience improved (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Indicators of search relevance (highlight) Summary field truncated at three lines (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: DVD and Film icons updated (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Revisit icon size (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Design changes to Checkbox/Radio/Toggle states (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Search icon moved to the opposite side of the search bar (May 2021)
- Arabic user interface (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Sign-in options now display based on subscription type (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Updated availability summary description better describes holdings (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Additional information is now included in author fields (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved default cover art display (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Transliteration is now available in the WorldCat Discovery modernized interface (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Send feedback moved to footer (January 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: WorldCat Discovery sandbox users will now see informational banner display (January 2021)
- WorldCat Discovery redesigned interface preview (December 2020)
- Configure a custom notification (July 2020)
3rd Party Integrations
Enhancements that create an integration between WorldCat Discovery and a 3rd party vendor. These require a vendor subscription to access.
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Talis reading lists implemented in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: COinS added to support Talis Aspire Reading Lists bookmarklet (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Integrate with LibKey Discovery from the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface to explore articles within journals (BrowZine) - (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Libraries with LibKey (BrowZine) will now see their links display in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (March 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: StackMap call to action and modal now available in the modernized user interface (February 2021)
- Integrate LibKey Discovery with incoming OCLC Link Resolver (January 2020)
- Integrate with LibKey Discovery to directly access PDF content and explore articles within journals using BrowZine (December 2019)
- StackMap can be displayed based on item availability (October 2019)
- Locate items in the library with StackMap integration (January 2019)
Prominent bug fixes
More pervasive changes that impact the majority of WorldCat Discovery users. Most smaller bug fixes are not included here.
- "Cite" and "share" header color now meets accessibility standards (May 2022)
- Headings in "Cite" and "Share" windows now honor language selection (May 2022)
- Screen readers will now no longer read additional text string after item summary (May 2022)
- Search box generator now honors "Libraries Worldwide" scope setting (April 2022)
- Selecting "Saved Items" in mobile environment now resolves appropriately to the "Saved Items" page (April 2022)
- Resolved the issue with incorrect display of Cover Art (April 2022)
- OPAC status grid now displays in Italian language (April 2022)
- "Place Hold" action now displays in variant records (April 2022)
- Availability dates will now display in DD/MM/YYYY format for the UK browser locale (March 2022)
- Variant records issue resolved for the search box generator (March 2022)
- Advanced Search “Clear” action will now remove all text fields (March 2022)
- Holding summary now displays on search results (March 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved display of item level and LHR level notes (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Local bibliographic data 590 private notes no longer display (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: All interface elements display in the chosen language when users change their interface language (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Changes to Service Configuration OPAC status grid now save successfully in all languages (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Service Configuration interface fully translated into all supported languages (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Print serial titles that do not have a title URL no longer display in A - Z list as a clickable link (February 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Advanced Search scope honored (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Link to reserved materials from a Course Reserves list (January 2022)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Source code no longer displays on certain Traditional Chinese interface elements (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Shelving location data from your OPAC correctly positioned within the availability table for WorldCat Discovery Premium libraries (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: For search results that include remote databases, users are correctly positioned at the top of the next page when paging forward (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Text boxes have visible outlines for libraries with light branding colors (November 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Some searches containing a IIIF image now resolve as expected (October 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: All “Share” emails will be delivered to recipient’s inbox and should no longer be flagged as spam (October 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Group Related Editions issue solved for the Search Box Generator (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Authentication prompt for remote databases now points to custom links configuration (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: reCAPTCHA puzzle correctly displays when Reporting a Broken Link (RABL) (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improved text contrast for Saved Search modal to support accessibility (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Alert message displays when zero results are returned when using Open Access filter (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Call numbers will display in Search Results (September 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Highlighted Search Terms will now be read when using a screen reader (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Full Text Resolver will now display on the fulfillment panel (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Resolves the Search failure for Full Text Index (August 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Resolves the errors for searches using “and* or “apa* (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improvements to Report a broken link inquiries to a user’s institution (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Display of availability dates in the format of a searcher’s selected language (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Appropriate availability will now display in WorldCat Discovery premium when there is no item location (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Report a Broken Link (RABL) does not send the report after the first or second success message -- Intermittent (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Some parts of the Description are not translated (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: French sort options in Editions & Formats is resolved (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Search suggestions are no longer blocking the results when using the search icon (July 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Database display on Save Search Modal and User Portal (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Browser language honored in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Chat with the librarian window enlarged (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Chat with Librarian will now display as default text if custom chat text is not configured (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Group Catalog library scoping accessibility improved (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Group Catalog Library scoping selection changes (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Item detail tabbing issue resolved (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Footer language is updated (May 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Level 1 fulfillment button no longer duplicated (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Custom link for remote access login will be resolved (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Remote database experience will remain closed after user action (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Access Online database information text has been improved (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Fulfillment/e-link buttons will no longer be truncated (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Link color changed for Expand your search to Libraries Worldwide (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Improvements made to search results scrolling performance (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: When disabled, “More information” links will not display in the modernized WorldCat Discovery interface (April 2021)
- Usage Statistics for remote databases will now display (April 2021)
- Records emailed from WorldCat Discovery for items held by libraries worldwide will display correct formatting (April 2021)
- Modernized WorldCat Discovery interface: Multiple databases can be selected from database filter (January 2021)
- Restricted database search button color correction (January 2021)
- Specific copy notes on place hold form will accurately reflect configuration (December 2020)
- Pickup locations with special characters such as "+" will display correctly in the place hold form (December 2020)
- Non-open access links will display correctly and accurately reflect configuration (December 2020)
- When users are proxied into WorldCat Discovery, reCAPTCHA will no longer prevent email from sending (September 2020)
- Html code fixed for the apostrophe ''' in a library's name under Editions and Formats tab (September 2020)
- Local Holding Summary statement will now translate (August 2020)
- De-duplication of LHR displays when search results are grouped by work or edition and edition availability is enabled (August 2020)
- OPAC status grid now correctly responds to temporary locations (August 2020)
- Searches from My Account with diacritics are now successful (August 2020)
- Searches from Course Reserves for instructor names with diacritics are now successful (August 2020)
- Searches that use “Apply Year Range” facet in the WorldCat Discovery has been resolved (August 2020)
- Display of public notes on 867 fields have been corrected to display in the availability (August 2020)
- Corrected display of fulfillment options for articles using the OPAC status grid (May 2020)
- De-duplication for Level 2 display (May 2020)
- Improved advanced search load time (May 2020)
- Correction with scoping down to Level 1 holdings when using Metasearch Content module (April 2020)
- Correction of translation for all seasons in Journal availability status display (April 2020)
- Default images for manuscript cover art will now display correctly (March 2020)
- Hosted CONTENTdm thumbnail images using http display as cover art (April 2019)