Library and Information Science Commons^™

Open Records, Open Possibilities, John Mark Ockerbloom

John Mark Ockerbloom

Slides and prepared remarks for an ALA panel discussion on sharing bibliographic records and OCLC's proposed WorldCat policy.

I give some examples of useful innovations that can advance the mission of libraries when records are openly shared, and argue that more restrictive policies like OCLC's proposal can cost the library community dearly in lost opportunities. I show how the open source community has alternative ways to license work openly, and to cover costs. Finally, I argue that, even if WorldCat is not prepared to open access to all its bibliographic records, the members of the cooperative should be empowered to …