It has been a couple of years since I posted statistics from WorldCat, so here is a new spreadsheet based on an October 1, 2009 snapshot (see the earlier post for an explanation of the table). WorldCat has changed dramatically...
* Alternative to OCLC cataloging already in some libraries
* Fewer records, emphasis on quality
* Copy cataloging record search and notification included
* Google has access to WorldCat metadata
* Google says bad metadata comes from external providers
* No restrictions on which WorldCat metadata fields can be used
But, now more than ever, OCLC must end its attempts to restrict and monopolize library data. It was ugly and unfair for OCLC to claim ownership over what is largely public data. It is obscene to leverage that data monopoly into a software monopoly.
A. Pohl. Bibliotheksdienst, 43 (3):
274--290(March 2009)The article gives an overview over the background, genesis, content and critic of OCLC's proposed metadata policy for WorldCat records. In the end it poses questions for an approach on licensing bibliographic data in germany..