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Non-Profit Org Claims Rights In Library Catalog Data
lamona writes "The main source of the bibliographic records that are carried in library databases is a non-profit organization called OCLC. Over the weekend OCLC 'leaked' its new policy that claims contractual rights in the subsequent uses of the data, uses such as downloading book information into Zotero or other bibliographic software. The policy explicitly forbids any use that would compete with OCLC. This would essentially rule out the creation of free and open databases of library content, such as the Open Library and LibraryThing. The library blogosphere is up in arms . But can our right to say: "Twain, Mark. The adventures of Tom Sawyer" be saved?"
OCLC stores the bibliographic records in its database, but it did not create the vast majority of them. The records were created by catalogers at thousands of libraries. These libraries contribute their records to OCLC so that they can be shared with other libraries, but never do they grant OCLC ownership of the records.
I am a library director and I have used OCLC in my career. Your statements have a number of errors in them. OCLC is a user generated database. It is also a Union Catalog of all the libraries who use OCLC. It is also a means of sharing materials by using the Union Catalog for Inter Library Loans. If a library needs a MARC record (a digital bibliographic record in a very specific electronic format) it goes to OCLC to see if anyone else has that record. If no one has the record then the library creates the MARC record using common cataloging standards such as LC subject headings and Dewey Decimal Classification. Once the record is saved any other library can then use it for its own catloging. OCLC stores the record, keeps track of who owns the material. Libraries pay a geat deal of money for these services. Now OCLC is saying that this information which was not developed by them is there property and cannot be used without their permission.