Libraries are incubators of innovation. Students, scholars, inventors, writers and leaders throughout history have turned to libraries for information, assistance and inspiration. In order to help foster that spirit, OCLC explores new and changing technologies that improve information services for libraries and their users.

Here you can find some of the beta services that we're working on. These services have emerged from their experimental origins are are on a path to becoming fully production services in the near future. They embrace new and emerging technologies in order to discover ways to better enable data sharing, cooperative services and community growth within the profession.

Current beta services

ArchiveGrid

ArchiveGrid connects you with primary source material held in archives around the world. You will find historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. ArchiveGrid also helps researchers contact archives to request information, arrange a visit, and order copies.

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OCLC WSSL: Web Site for Small Libraries

OCLC's Website for Small Libraries (WSSL) is a cloud-based service providing a website with basic patron and inventory management for libraries with fewer than 20,000 items in their collections. Simple text editing is all it takes to build your website. Try it and see how easy it is to get your library on the Web.

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Experimental work at OCLC

  • WorldCat Experimental :  In order to help foster that spirit, OCLC explores new and changing technologies that improve information services for libraries and their users. Here you can find some of the experimental projects that we're working on.
    • ResearchWorks :  OCLC's research laboratory, demonstrating ideas for applying new technologies to organize information, including examples of things you can incorporate into your own systems.
    • OCLC Developer Network :  A community of developers collaborating to propose, discuss and test OCLC web services.