Single Bibliographic Record

To retrieve a single record in MARC XML or Dublin Core format, use a "content" request and an OCLC number, ISSN, or ISBN rather than a search.

The simplest content requests are sent with this URL pattern:

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

For example:

• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/15550774?wskey=[key]
• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/isbn/078946988X?&wskey=[key]
• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/issn/0000-0019?&wskey=[key]

Examples including the response in Dublin Core and the service level as full:

• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/15550774?recordSchema=info%3Asrw%2Fschema%2F1%2Fdc&servicelevel=full&wskey=[key]
• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/isbn/078946988X?recordSchema=info%3Asrw%2Fschema%2F1%2Fdc&servicelevel=full&wskey=[key]
• http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/catalog/content/issn/0000-0019?recordSchema=info%3Asrw%2Fschema%2F1%2Fdc&servicelevel=full&wskey=[key]

Reponses can be in MARC XML or Dublin Core.  The default is MARC XML. For Dublin Core use the parameter &recordSchema=info%3Asrw%2Fschema%2F1%2Fdc.

Note: the data fields retrieved will be impacted by what Service Level is used. 

• If no service level is given the bibliographic data fields will be provided at the default level. This level can be used for any users without the user being authenticated as a library user.
• If the data will be used only by authenticated users [library staff, patrons, faculty, students, and people within the library building] then the full service level can be used for more complete bibliographic data fields.