AUK Library Launches OCLC’s WorldShare Management Services
10th Oct 2022 | by the Department of PR & Marketing
AUK is pleased to announce that in support of the University’s efforts to achieve digital transformation, the AUK Library has implemented and launched Online Computer Library Center’s (OCLC) WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as its new cloud-based library system.
OCLC is a global, nonprofit, member-driven library organization that provides technology services, original research and community programs for the library community at large. With thousands of library members in more than 100 countries, OCLC also maintains WorldCat, the world’s union catalog of library resources. Eric van Lubeek, vice president, managing director, OCLC EMEA, and APAC remarked on AUK's inclusion of the platform, “We are pleased to welcome the American University of Kuwait (another AMICAL member) to the WorldShare platform. With the introduction of WorldShare Management Services, as their new cloud-based library management system, I am sure that it will help the American University of Kuwait achieve their goals as a forward thinking and research driven institution.”
WMS represents the new generation of library systems—taking routine library functions to the cloud and eliminating the need for maintaining local systems. The new platform supports the library’s strategic priorities and is designed with the user in mind. It provides fast and easy access to library resources of all formats.
AUK’s faculty, students, and staff will access their own accounts (using the University’s single sign-on) where they can view and renew borrowed materials, save their searches or selected resources/readings. With the new interface, the campus community can expand their search to include world libraries, thus searching beyond the content of the library.
Commenting on this new cloud-based library system, Asma Al Kanan, University Librarian, stated, “The migration to the new system demonstrates the library’s commitment to provide first-rate research services to the university community. The AUK library has always been a pioneer in adopting latest library technologies. It was the first library in Kuwait to integrate circulation of materials into a self-check kiosk, launch a platform for online subject guides, and establish an open access repository—besides other services and programs.”
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