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WorldCat (OCLC)

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying languages using the FSI courses. If you would like to see a specific language forum not listed below, just let us know.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=321
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 3:22am


Topic: WorldCat (OCLC)
Posted By: leftfield
Subject: WorldCat (OCLC)
Date Posted: 20 February 2007 at 2:18pm
Hi,  I'm very excited to have found this site the other day.  When I first started looking for quality resources for learning a new language, I was dismayed at the cost.  This site alleviates many of the problems of access to good materials. 

A problem here, however, is with people who would like to participate in the digitization process, but cannot afford to buy the original materials.  However, many folks may have materials nearby but just do not know it.

WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org), run by OCLC,  is a collaboratively maintained database of bibliographic records.  It is used by libraries to submit and acquire bibliographic records for cataloging their collections.  One can visit the site and find nearby libraries that have a particular book in their collection.

For example, I've noticed that many people are anxious for the Spanish Basic Program to be completed but only one person is contributing.  You can go to worldcat, and search for it by title.  Or you can go to the advanced search page and search by OCLC# (1806722 for the text part but not the audio).  You will get a listing of libraries sorted by geographical proximity that have that publication.  In some cases, there is even a link straight to the record in a library's online catalog.

happy searching!



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