Update to WorldCat Interface Options

Due to significant changes to the WorldCat.org user experience, UW-Madison Libraries have updated most general WorldCat.org links on our web pages to point to WorldCat’s FirstSearch interface.

WorldCat.org recently started requiring users to register for a personal account to access basic features, such as viewing all editions and formats for a given item.

The FirstSearch interface in WorldCat does not require users to register for a personal account, includes advanced search options, and displays more details about resources than WorldCat.org. It also provides consistent access to UW-Madison Libraries Interlibrary Loan Services.

WorldCat is a catalog of millions of books, serials, audiovisual media, maps, archives, manuscripts, scores, computer files, web sites, and other materials owned by libraries around the world, including UW-Madison and the Library of Congress. Access to WorldCat.org will continue to be available through the Database Library.

Please reach out to Ask a Librarian with any questions or feedback about this change!