Formatted Citations

The API provides a way to obtain formatted bibliographic citations, in an HTML encoded form suitable for incorporation into a web application. The supported bibliographic citation formats are APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, and Turabian. Requests include a record identifier and an optional citation format (if the format is not specified, an MLA-formatted citation is returned).

Some examples

The simplest formulation of a citation request includes just the identifer (here OCLC number), and an MLA citation is returned:
http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/15550774?wskey=[key]

To specify a citation format, include a cformat parameter with one of these valid values: apa, chicago, harvard, mla, turabian, or all
http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/15550774?cformat=turabian&wskey=[key]

Examples of each identifier available

OCLC number:

http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/[oclc number]?wskey=[key]

ISBN:

http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/isbn/[isbn]=[key]

ISSN:

http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/issn/[issn]?wskey=[key]

Any standard numbers other then OCLC number, such as LCCNs:

http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/citations/sn/[value]?wskey=[key]

Note that these citations are based on the reference standard for each style. However, formatting rules within a style can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher, institution or organization should be applied.

In addition, some text formatting within citations may be lost or altered when copied into word processing programs or Web-based applications such as e-mail services.