OCLC, the nonprofit library technology cooperative known for its WorldCat network, has expanded its Library and Information Science (LIS) Education Program to give students hands-on access to next-generation linked data services alongside its established cataloguing and metadata tools. The update extends a program that has supported library school faculty and students since 1979.
What is changing
The expanded program now includes Meridian, a service that lets students create and connect linked data entities and enrich metadata by linking it to existing MARC records. This sits alongside previously available tools: Connexion, for creating and editing bibliographic and authority records; WebDewey, for practicing classification using current Dewey Decimal numbers; and WorldShare Record Manager, for searching, creating and editing WorldCat bibliographic and authority records. OCLC says a new release of its CONTENTdm digital collection management software will also become available through the program within the coming year.
Why linked data matters for library training
Linked data is a method of structuring information so that records can connect directly to related data elsewhere on the web, rather than existing as isolated entries. For libraries, this can mean clearer connections between authors, subjects and related works across different institutions' catalogs. Mary Sauer-Games, OCLC's Chief Product Officer, said the goal is to prepare "tomorrow's library leaders" with the technologies and workflows expected to shape their careers, describing the update as a way to "connect library data to the broader world."
Practical implications for students and libraries
Because the program draws on OCLC's WorldCat network, students practice with live, large-scale bibliographic infrastructure rather than isolated classroom simulations. OCLC states this experience is intended to help libraries later reduce duplicated cataloguing effort and improve how collections are discovered and shared across institutions. The company frames the expansion as part of a broader, decades-long effort rather than a one-time release, noting the program has operated for more than 45 years.
What remains unclear
OCLC has not detailed enrollment numbers, specific participating institutions, or a precise timeline for the CONTENTdm rollout beyond "the coming year." Readers interested in participation details or eligibility should consult the OCLC LIS Education Program directly, as those specifics were not included in the announcement reviewed here.