SHEFFIELD, UK, 15 July 2021—The University of Suffolk is now live with OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as their new library services platform, a move that will improve workflows and make it possible for staff to make more data-driven management decisions.

WorldShare Management Services (WMS) is a cloud-based platform with WorldCat as its foundation, which allows library staff to draw on OCLC's shared data network and technology for more efficient workflows. WMS supports strategic priorities with actionable data and is designed with the user in mind. WMS also enables staff to better manage resources in all formats and to provide their users with improved access to the library's collections and the world's knowledge.

"We are excited to be working with OCLC, who have shown from the early stages of procurement and through our implementation that they are a partner, not simply a supplier," said Dr. Ellen Buck, Director of Learning and Teaching at the University of Suffolk. "The WMS platform meets all our requirements and more, from simple resource searching to improvements in our acquisition workflows allowing for data-driven decision making. This means both students and staff can find and use what they need, when they need it through a single, modern user interface that is as happy on a mobile device as a laptop computer, and we can deliver better value for money."

Established in 2007 as University Campus Suffolk, the institution has roots that date back to the Tudor period, when Cardinal Wolsey created the Cardinal College in Ipswich, the legacy of which is still represented throughout the institution today. In 2016, the institution became an independent university, the University of Suffolk, and transformed the provision of higher education in Suffolk and beyond.

"As a 21^st century university, we prepare our students for a world where nothing ever stays the same. We embrace change, and our students learn to embrace change, too. This is no different for our platforms and systems; as a university, we are fully focused on the student experience and we need to ensure that our platforms meet and exceed that requirement, and can deliver the results we need now—and in the years to come," said Buck.

"We are pleased to welcome the University of Suffolk to the WMS community. The introduction of WMS means that library staff can work differently. They will have more opportunities to work collaboratively, and to use data to make more evidence-based decisions—all while delivering a complete user-friendly experience for their students," said Eric van Lubeek, Vice President, Managing Director, OCLC EMEA & APAC.