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Should I use WorldCat.org?

WorldCat.org is a global catalog of library materials. You can search for books, music, video, articles and much more at libraries near you. - worldcat.org

Worth it. Use it if you need to find which libraries worldwide hold a book, recording, or article — it is free and unmatched in scope. Skip it if you want full-text access, modern search UX, or guaranteed access from every region.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~20 public sources: OCLC official pages, Reddit threads, and library-community blogs.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support evidence in sources
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Public search

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Library subscriptionsPaid by libraries, not individuals

Best for

  • Genealogists tracing titles
  • Librarians and catalogers
  • Book collectors locating editions
  • Self-publishers checking library holdings

Not for

  • Anyone wanting full-text reading — it locates items, doesn't serve them
  • Casual readers; Google Books or a library card is simpler
  • Users in regions with reported access blocking
  • People needing school (PK-12) library coverage

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Interlibrary loan costs depend on your library; WorldCat itself doesn't set them.

medium

Terms restrict bulk/automated use; scraping led to the Anna's Archive lawsuit.

medium

Regional access blocking reported; workarounds unclear.

low

Post-redesign complaints mean some users now seek alternatives; test your searches first.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free global catalog of books, music, video, articles
  • Shows which nearby libraries hold a specific title
  • Librarians call it the best database by far
  • Free accounts support lists and profiles
  • Operated by OCLC, the global library cooperative

Cons

  • Users say the redesigned search has gotten worse
  • Access blocks reported from Europe on some setups
  • No full-text access; only points to holding libraries
  • PK-12 school libraries often not included

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/29/2026 - 10 sources - No vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed; OCLC actively litigates mass scraping of WorldCat data.

official x3review x5security x1news x1
  • Anna's Archive scraping lawsuit, OCLC alleged Anna's Archive hacked WorldCat to extract data; OCLC won a default judgment.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free public search, no paywall
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Users report access blocks, degraded search
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Vast bibliographic data; thin consumer features
  • Support quality. No support evidence in sources
  • Security posture: 4/5. No public vulnerabilities; actively defends data
  • Free Price Public search; libraries pay OCLC separately
  • OCLC Operator Nonprofit library cooperative
  • Global Catalog scope Books, music, video, articles

Pricing

Public search

Free

  • Search the global catalog
  • Account with lists and profiles

Library subscriptions

Paid by libraries, not individuals

  • OCLC cataloging and services
  • Pricing not publicly listed

Security

No vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed; OCLC actively litigates mass scraping of WorldCat data.

  • Anna's Archive scraping lawsuitOCLC alleged Anna's Archive hacked WorldCat to extract data; OCLC won a default judgment.⁷

What users say

Librarians long praised WorldCat as the best database, but a recent redesign and access problems drew sharp criticism.

“What a blessing WorldCat is... Best database by far!”
Reddit, r/Libraries
“Any good alternatives to Worldcat? It has become so trash ...”
Reddit, r/BookCollecting
“You can use WorldCat.org to find out which libraries carry ...”
Reddit, r/writing

Alternatives

Compare WorldCat.org with each alternative.

  • Your local library catalog

    Faster route to actually borrowing items

Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources: OCLC official pages, Reddit threads, and library-community blogs.

Free global library catalog — unmatched for locating titles at libraries; expect clunky search and some access blocks.

Methodology

Based on ~20 public sources: OCLC official pages, Reddit threads, and library-community blogs.

Sources

  1. WorldCat.org homepagesearch.worldcat.org
    official
  2. About WorldCat.orgsearch.worldcat.org
    official
  3. What a blessing WorldCat is... Best database by far!reddit.com
    review
  4. Any good alternatives to Worldcat?reddit.com
    review
  5. Worldcat.org unaccessiblereddit.com
    review
  6. What's Up With WorldCat?ruthtillman.com
    review
  7. Lawsuit Accuses Anna's Archive of Hacking WorldCatreddit.com
    security
  8. OCLC WorldCat.org Services Terms and Conditionspolicies.oclc.org
    official
  9. ARLIS/NA Advocacy: OCLC WorldCat Subscription Pricingarlisna.org
    news
  10. WorldCat - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    review

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