OCLC’s Model in WorldCat: A Focus on Relationships

Abstract

Conceptual models are a key component to holistically understanding data and using it in end-user applications. They provide an understandable roadmap for exploring, visualizing, and surfacing information. Library reference models serve a similar purpose by describing component parts of bibliographic materials that can help users find materials that fit their specific information needs. This work presents OCLC’s thinking in how to adapt the traditional Works, Expression, Manifestation, and Item (WEMI) model in WorldCat based on experiments with WorldCat bibliographic records.