Membership resources
Stay up to date on core membership information, guiding principles and governance documents, member groups, and other resources.
Becoming an OCLC member
Membership in OCLC brings many benefits to a library and its users, including global access to information, high-quality research, participation in governance, and the value of shared resources. Institutions establish and maintain membership through a subscription to a qualifying OCLC product or service.
While there is no separate membership fee, OCLC members contractually agree to participate in cooperative services as set forth in Membership Criteria annually reviewed by the Board Membership Committee.
OCLC Canada Advisory Council
The OCLC Canada Advisory Council provides OCLC with advice on how to facilitate cooperation and collaboration within and outside Canada. Created in late 2001, the OCLC Canada Advisory Council met for the first time in January 2002 and now meets virtually twice a year.
Membership documents
Membership and Governance Protocols
(PDF, 144 KB)
20 March 2024
Code of Regulations
(PDF, 150 KB)
18 March 2024
Shared Values and Membership Principles of the OCLC Cooperative
(PDF, 80KB)
21 June 2010
Articles of Incorporation of OCLC
(PDF, 159 KB)
30 November 2016
OCLC Qualifying Subscriptions for Membership
(PDF, 195 KB)
25 April 2024
Other documents
WorldCat Rights and Responsibilities for the OCLC Cooperative