SHEFFIELD, UK, 25 February 2025—OCLC has once again been recognized as the highest-ranked supplier in the latest Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC)) framework agreement for library management systems. This marks the second time OCLC has earned this distinction, having previously secured the top ranking in 2020 for WorldShare Management Services (WMS).

APUC, founded in 2007, is a procurement centre of expertise for a range of different products and services. The organization works with Scotland's 60 universities and colleges, encouraging sustainable innovation and procurement collaboration, which in turn provides a more economical approach to the tender process for institutions.

"Aston University Library and Learning Services used the APUC framework to ask for tenders for a new library management system and discovery tool in 2022," said Ian Simpson, Content and Discovery Manager at Aston University. "The framework allowed us to effectively assess and select our new library management system, which was awarded to OCLC, implementing WMS and WorldCat Discovery in 2023."

"Using the APUC framework, we found that OCLC's products met our requirements, and working with their excellent team during the implementation project ensured we have been able to enhance the student experience of our digital services and improve our internal processes by adopting a digital first approach, one of the objectives in the Aston 2030 strategy," Simpson said.

This framework agreement is not exclusively for Scottish institutions and can be used by members of other UK regional Higher Education and Further Education purchasing associations.

WMS is a complete cloud-based library services platform that supports an institution's strategic priorities providing actionable data and an experience designed with the user in mind. Library staff can save time and money with efficient management of both physical and electronic resources in one integrated solution. With WorldCat as its foundation, WMS connects users to unparalleled global resources through OCLC's powerful global network of libraries.

"We are delighted to have been named the highest ranked supplier again on the latest APUC framework agreement," said Mary Sauer-Games, Chief Product Officer, OCLC. "OCLC was the first to move library management services to the cloud. This ranking shows how far WMS has come and demonstrates our commitment to continued innovation on behalf of libraries worldwide."