Hanging Together - the OCLC Research blog

Engraving by Henrick Goltzius depicting Jupiter seated at a dinner table and Lycaon with the head of a wolf.

Werewolves in WorldCat

October 31, 2025October 31, 2025 - by Kate James - 2 Comments.

If you enjoy a good werewolf story, read on for a description of some resources that will leave you howling for more—all available in WorldCat, of course!

Collaboration / Collective Collections

Autonomy to alliance: Unpacking the motivations for library partnership

October 30, 2025October 30, 2025 - by Brian Lavoie - Leave a Comment

Why collaborate? Here’s some evidence on why libraries band together to steward their collective print book collection.

A colorful visualization of interconnected data points and glowing nodes against a background of bibliographic text in various colors, including orange, yellow, and white. The text includes references to metadata and cataloging terms, symbolizing the integration of AI in cataloging workflows.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata / Research Library Partnership

Striking the right balance: Opportunities and challenges of AI in metadata workflows

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025 - by Rebecca Bryant - Leave a Comment

AI can enhance metadata work—but only with care. Learn how libraries can balance innovation with quality and ethical practice.

A vibrant visualization featuring interconnected glowing nodes and lines overlaid on a background of text strings, including URLs and references to "University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee" in multiple languages and scripts. The design symbolizes data networks, global collaboration, and metadata integration.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata / Research Library Partnership / Research support

Examining the role of AI in institutional repository workflows

October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 - by Brian Lavoie - Leave a Comment

Can AI help to manage institutional repository metadata? From improving deposit workflows to cleaning up legacy data, explore how AI might support IRs while keeping human expertise front and center.

A vibrant digital illustration featuring the name "Mary Shelley" repeated in various languages and scripts, overlaid on a glowing network of interconnected nodes and lines. The colorful nodes emit light in hues of yellow, pink, green, and blue, symbolizing data connections and metadata integration.

Archives and Special Collections / Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata / Research Library Partnership

Exploring AI uses in archives and special collections: Integration, entities, and addressing need

October 14, 2025October 14, 2025 - by Kate James - Leave a Comment

Learn how archives and special collections are exploring using AI responsibly to meet accessibility requirements and improve access to unique resources.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata / Research Library Partnership

Backlogs and beyond: AI in primary cataloging workflows

October 9, 2025October 9, 2025 - by Merrilee Proffitt - 1 Comment

Facing cataloging backlogs, legacy metadata issues, and language challenges, libraries are exploring how AI may offer practical support—while keeping human expertise central.

An open cardboard box containing three books standing upright, each with a solid-colored cover: magenta, teal, and navy blue. The books are neatly arranged, with their white pages slightly visible, suggesting organization or packing for storage or transport.

Research Library Partnership / Resource Sharing / SHARES

Rising to the challenge: How the SHARES resource sharing community navigated a global disruption to international shipping

September 15, 2025October 4, 2025 - by Dennis Massie - 1 Comment

When international ILL shipping faced an unprecedented disruption, the OCLC RLP SHARES community turned confusion into collaboration, crafting creative solutions to keep library materials moving across borders.

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Research Library Partnership / Resource Sharing / SHARES

Roles for resource sharing practitioners in making library materials accessible

July 1, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Dennis Massie

The OCLC Research Library Partnership and the SHARES resource sharing consortium are connecting library professionals to share strategies for improving accessibility. Read highlights from a recent webinar that spotlight innovative approaches and collaborations that help ensure access to materials for all users.

A cluttered office storage room filled with tall cabinets and shelves overflowing with stacks of colorful paper folders in pink, green, and yellow. The papers are piled on top of cabinets, spilling out of shelves, and scattered on the floor, creating a chaotic and disorganized environment. Bright fluorescent lighting illuminates the space, emphasizing the abundance of materials.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata

Efficiënt ontdubbelen in WorldCat: hoe AI en catalogiseerwerk elkaar versterken

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Bemal Rajapatirana

Ontdek hoe OCLC AI inzet om het ontdubbelen in WorldCat te versnellen, zonder de zorg en expertise van catalogiseerders te verliezen. Een hybride aanpak combineert machine learning met menselijke controle, verbetert metadata en zorgt voor verantwoorde innovatie in bibliotheekcatalogi.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Metadata

Deduplicación eficiente de WorldCat: Equilibrando la IA y la catalogación profesional

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 - by Bemal Rajapatirana

Descubra cómo OCLC utiliza la IA para acelerar la deduplicación en WorldCat, combinando Aprendizaje Automático con supervisión humana. Este enfoque híbrido mejora la calidad de los metadatos en distintos idiomas y colecciones, garantizando una innovación responsable en la catalogación bibliotecaria.