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WorldCat.org Terms of Use

A. Agreement to Terms of Use of WorldCat.org

THESE TERMS OF USE GOVERN YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF WORLDCAT.ORG. PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE (“TERMS”) CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU START TO USE WORLDCAT.ORG. BY USING WORLDCAT.ORG, YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND AND ABIDE BY THESE TERMS. YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE TO US IS GOVERNED BY OUR PRIVACY POLICY, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT https://policies.oclc.org/en/privacy/privacy-statement.html AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.

Where these Terms refer to “WorldCat.org,” “OCLC,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” they mean OCLC, Inc. and its affiliates. You understand that OCLC may update or otherwise modify these Terms at any time in its sole discretion. OCLC may issue notice of changes by a notice posted on OCLC’s website, or any other means reasonably calculated to provide notice. If any change is unacceptable, your only recourse is to cease using WorldCat.org. Your continued use of WorldCat.org will constitute binding acceptance of the Terms. We encourage you to periodically review this page so that you are aware of any changes.

B. Your Use of WorldCat.org

OCLC grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use WorldCat.org solely for Non-Commercial Use. “Non-Commercial Use” means your internal or personal use for purposes of resource discovery, learning, teaching, academic research, scientific research, private study, and verification of bibliographic information. By accessing and using WorldCat.org, you agree to comply with the following use parameters:

1. Prohibited Use

  1. Prohibited Use of WorldCat.org Data or Content

    You may not access, copy, store, distribute, display, publish, export, reuse, or otherwise use WorldCat.org data or content in any manner not expressly permitted under these Terms, including:

    • capturing or reproducing data in bulk, or making more copies than reasonably necessary for personal use;
    • building, training, enhancing, or supplementing a database, dataset, index, search tool, or any AI or machine‑learning model;
    • using data for cataloging or metadata creation;
    • storing data on a permanent or long‑term basis, including compiling or repackaging it into databases or other collections;
    • disclosing data except as reasonably incidental to permitted use.
       

  2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

    You may not violate any applicable laws or regulations in connection with your use of WorldCat.org, including export control laws governing the transfer of software, technical data, or other controlled materials.

  3. Security, Integrity, and Technical Restrictions

    You may not engage in any activity that threatens the security, integrity, or proper functioning of WorldCat.org or any OCLC systems, including:

    • introducing malware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, corrupted files, or other harmful code;
    • interfering with, disrupting, damaging, or impairing networks, infrastructure, or systems;
    • attempting to bypass, disable, or interfere with security, access controls, usage limitations, or required notices;
    • reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, modifying, or creating derivative works of any part of WorldCat.org, except where such rights cannot legally be restricted;
    • using bots, spiders, automated tools, or scraping/mining routines to access or extract data.

  4. Unlawful, Infringing, or Harmful Activities

    You may not use WorldCat.org to engage in, promote, or facilitate any unlawful, infringing, intrusive, fraudulent, defamatory, or otherwise harmful conduct, including violation of the rights of others (such as privacy, intellectual property, or proprietary rights). This includes distributing spam, unsolicited promotions, or mass communications.

2. Monitoring & Legal Compliance

You acknowledge and agree that OCLC is authorized to monitor traffic and communications into and out of WorldCat.org to:

  1. prevent the introduction of viruses, malware, or hostile code;
  2. detect, prevent, or investigate intrusions or security incidents;
  3. provide operational support; and
  4. enforce these Terms.

C. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

WORLDCAT.ORG AND ALL INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, PRODUCTS (INCLUDING SOFTWARE), AND OTHER SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH WORLDCAT.ORG ARE PROVIDED BY OCLC ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN WRITING. OCLC MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE WORLDCAT.ORG OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, PRODUCTS (INCLUDING SOFTWARE), OR OTHER SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH WORLDCAT.ORG, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN WRITING. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF WORLDCAT.ORG IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

OCLC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. OCLC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT WORLDCAT.ORG, OR INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, PRODUCTS (INCLUDING SOFTWARE), OR OTHER SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH THE WORLDCAT.ORG, OCLC’S SERVERS, OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SENT FROM OCLC ARE FREE OF VIRUSES, ERRORS, INTERRUPTIONS, OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT THEY WILL BE ACCURATE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR FREE FROM THIRD-PARTY CONTENT.

TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY LAW, OCLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM THE USE OF WORLDCAT.ORG, OR FROM ANY INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, PRODUCTS (INCLUDING SOFTWARE), OR OTHER SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH WORLDCAT.ORG, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN WRITING.

D. Release

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL OCLC, ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND YOU HEREBY EXPRESSLY RELEASE EACH FROM, DAMAGES OR LIABILITY OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM CLAIMS RELATED TO: (A) WORLDCAT.ORG SERVICES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS BASED ON INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT, PATENT, TRADE SECRET OR OTHER RIGHT, LIBEL, SLANDER OR INVASION OF PRIVACY OR ERRORS, INACCURACIES OR OMISSIONS IN WORLDCAT.ORG SERVICES); OR (B) ANY ACT UNDERTAKEN OR OMISSION MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, IN EACH CASE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RELEASED PARTY HAD BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. If you are a California resident, you agree to waive your rights under California Civil Code § 1542, which states, "A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor." Residents of other states and nations similarly waive their rights under analogous laws, statutes, or regulations.

E. Intellectual Property

WorldCat.org and WorldCat, as well as the features, functionality, software, and the selection, coordination, and arrangement of data and content made available through WorldCat.org, are owned by OCLC and protected by U.S. and international intellectual property laws.

“OCLC,” “WorldCat,” “WorldCat.org,” and the WorldCat logo are trademarks or service marks of OCLC. Third-party product, service, and business names are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Except as expressly permitted in these Terms, you acquire no rights in or to WorldCat.org or WorldCat (including but not limited to software, data, content, text, displays, images, video, audio, and the design and arrangement thereof).

F. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify OCLC and its directors, officers, employees, and contractors against any third-party legal proceedings (including actions by government authorities) arising out of or relating to your unlawful use of the services or breach of these Terms, including intellectual property infringement claims. This indemnity covers any liability or expense arising from claims, losses, damages, judgments, fines, litigation costs, and attorneys’ fees.

G. Assignment

You may not assign or otherwise transfer your rights and obligations under these Terms, in whole or in part, without OCLC’s prior written consent.

H. Export Controls / Trade Restrictions

WorldCat.org may not be used by persons or entities subject to U.S. export controls or sanctions, and may be used only in compliance with applicable export and trade laws.

I. Governing Law & Courts

This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio and the laws of the United States, without giving effect to any conflict of law principles. You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be filed, and that venue properly lies, only in the state or federal courts located in Ohio, United States of America and you consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating such action.

J. Additional Terms for WorldCat.org Account Holders

The Terms in this Section apply only to users who create a WorldCat.org account.

User-Generated Content

“User‑Generated Content” means text, images, and other content you submit, post, link to, or otherwise provide through your WorldCat.org account or user profile.

a) Your responsibility.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that User‑Generated Content complies with all applicable laws, including copyright, privacy, and defamation laws, and for all resulting liability.

b) Prohibited content.

You may not upload or contribute User‑Generated Content that is illegal, inaccurate, obscene, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, infringing of intellectual property rights, or otherwise objectionable, or that contains viruses, political campaigning, commercial solicitation, chain letters, mass mailings, or “spam.”

c) No impersonation.

You may not misrepresent your identity or impersonate another person or entity.

d) License to OCLC.

You grant OCLC (and its affiliates) a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non‑exclusive, transferable, fully paid, royalty‑free license to:

  1. use, copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, and otherwise exploit User‑Generated Content; and
  2. publicly display, transmit, distribute, license, and sell User‑Generated Content and derivative works.

You acknowledge and agree that OCLC has the right to:

  1. Remove any User-Generated Content for any or no reason in our sole discretion.
  2. Take any action with respect to any User-Generated Content that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such User-Generated Content violates the Terms of Use, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the WorldCat.org or the public, or could create liability for OCLC.
  3. Disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy.
  4. Take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of WorldCat.org.
  5. Terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the WorldCat.org for any or no reason, including without limitation, any violation of these Terms of Use.

However, we do not undertake to review User-Generated Content before it is posted on the WorldCat.org. Accordingly, we assume no liability for any action or inaction regarding transmissions, communications, or content provided by any user of WorldCat.org. OCLC has no liability or responsibility to anyone for performance or nonperformance of the activities described in this section.

K. Severability

If any provision of these Terms shall be deemed unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision such provision shall be eliminated or limited and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

L. Waiver

No waiver of any provision of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such provision or any other provision, and any failure of OCLC to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Terms updated as of February 28, 2026