Yeah, But Can I Actually Get the Book?
August 6th, 2006First of all, I’m a huge fan of the new WorldCat. Huge. Fan.
That said, there’s still a big issue at stake that OCLC needs to consider. If I were a regular “Joe Smith Library User”, and I found a book at, say, Stony Brook, I would hop in my car and go down to the University library with the impression that I can take out the book.
Remember, I’m Joe Smith Library User and don’t know any better. I have no clue that I can’t check out books from my local University Library. I’d tell the poor librarian at Stony Brook, “I found it on WorldCat” and then I’ll be told that I may be able to get it via interlibrary loan for a small fee. But I can’t walk out of the building with my needed book.
You know what I would do, if I were Joe Smith Library User? I’d go home frustrated and buy it used from Amazon. 
There are so many funky borrowing privileges at the thousands of public, academic, and private libraries across the country. If OCLC can figure out a way to let me enter my library card number and then tell me where I can actually go and get the book, I’d be a happy camper. I think that this would mean working with the vendors…eeek!