Skip to main content
OCLC Support

Query WorldCat to create a spreadsheet of your WorldCat holdings

You can compile a spreadsheet of your library’s WorldCat holdings that includes OCLC number, author, title, and the LC call number. Follow the instructions to create a query collection and use a record editing tool.

Configure institution settings for query collections

If you haven't already, follow the instructions to Configure institution settings for query collections. Many of the settings are optional. At a minimum, configure the required settings below:

Verify your OCLC Symbol

Use the OCLC Symbol setting to verify that your institution's OCLC symbol is selected. Collection Manager uses the symbol displayed here to maintain WorldCat holdings and to output records.

Enable MARC Records

Use the MARC Records setting to enable record delivery. Note that collection-level record delivery settings will remain disabled. You will need to enable record delivery within your collections before records will be delivered.

To enable record delivery in the institution settings:

  1. Navigate to Institution Settings > MARC Records.
  2. Select Yes for Enable MARC Record Delivery.

Once you enable record delivery, tabs of settings to customize your records will appear. The settings in these tabs apply across all collections and records you output from Collection Manager. To customize your records, complete the settings in each tab relevant for your collection types: Customize Records, WorldCat Updates, Record Delivery, Cataloging Partner Options.

Create a query collection to retrieve records for your holdings

Create a query collection leaving One-time delivery selected:

  1. Sign in to the WorldShare interface at your library's WorldShare URL. Replace yourlibrary with your library's identifier: https://yourlibrary.share.worldcat.org/wms
  2. Navigate to Metadata > Collection Manager > Create a Collection > Query collection.
  3. Enter a Collection Name.
  4. The Collection ID is automatically supplied. Do not delete it.
  5. Enter your WorldCat Selection Criteria. Replace [OCLC symbol] with your library's symbol:

    li:[OCLC symbol]

  6. Leave One-time delivery selected for the Collection Type.
  7. Click Create.

Create query collection window

For complete instructions, see Create a query collection.

Enable MARC Records at the collection-level

Within the query collection you just created:

  1. Expand MARC Records.
  2. Select Use institution setting to enable record delivery at the collection level.
  3. Complete the settings in collection-level Customize Records tab
    • Note that many libraries enter a collection-specific note or custom text.
  4. Complete the settings in the collection-level Record Delivery tab
    • Configure the Delivery File Output setting to Deliver records for this collection in a separate file. If you do not configure this setting, records from your query collection will be output in a file with records from other collections. File names are limited to 25 alphanumeric characters. 
  5. Click Save.

Your profile is now set up. Records might be output as soon as the following day (records are output on weekdays, US EST). Large collections require an additional day to output records.

Collection-level record delivery option "Use Institution Setting"

Download files using My Files

See Download files in My Files.

Use MarcEdit to pull specific fields from your file of records

MarcEdit is available for download at: http://marcedit.reeset.net.

OCLC cannot provide support for this third-party tool. Find tutorials about using MarcEdit: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=marcedit.

To use MarcEdit to pull specific fields from your file of records:

  1. Navigate to Tools > Export > Export Tab Delimited Records to convert them to a tab-delimited file. 
  2. In Set File Paths, enter the path of the file you downloaded from Collection Manager.
  3. Enter the path where you would like to output files. 
  4. Browse to your desired source file by clicking the folder next to the text box. Click Next.
  5. Define the fields and subfields that you want to export into the spreadsheet. Select a field and subfield and click Add Field until you have all of the desired fields represented. For example, you could choose:
    • ISBN (020$a),
    • OCLC number (035 $a),
    • LC call number (050 $a and $b),
    • Author (100 $a), and
    • Title (245 $a, $b and $c)
  6. Once you have selected all of the desired fields/subfields, click Export

 You can save your selections for future use. The resulting .txt file can be opened and viewed as a spreadsheet for additional manipulation as needed.