OCLC and National Library of France Sign Agreement to Add Resources to WorldCat

Representatives from OCLC and the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF) have signed an agreement in Paris that will provide for the addition of records from the French National Library to OCLC’s WorldCat database. 

WorldCat is the world’s largest online resource for information found in libraries.  It currently holds 137 million records in its database including the records of 34 national libraries.  The French library will constitute an additional estimated 13.2 million bibliographic records. 

“The Bibliotheque nationale de France is willing to increase the audience of its cultural heritage materials,” says Bruno Racine, president of BnF.  “We are convinced that the contribution of our entire bibliographic catalogue to WorldCat is likely to enhance the value of the library collections.”  

The bibliographic data of the BnF is considered one of the richest catalogues in the world.

According to OCLC president, Jay Jordan, the records of the BnF will further enrich WorldCat and will increase the visibility of the unique resources held by the French national library.

For more, see the release from OCLC