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Press Release: OCLC [January 10, 2019]

National Library of Cuba collection registered in WorldCat to benefit researchers worldwide

DUBLIN, Ohio -- 10 January 2019. The University of Florida is working with the Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí (BNCJM), the National Library of Cuba, to register Cuban materials in WorldCat, the most comprehensive global database of library collections, making these resources available to researchers around the world.

Through a unique partnership between the BNCJM, the University of Florida and OCLC, 133,000 Cuban titles have been registered in WorldCat. More than 97,000 of these are unique records in WorldCat, and valuable additions to the worldwide library community.

"We are very pleased that materials from the Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí can now be discovered by researchers around the world through WorldCat," said Eduardo Moises Torres Cuevas, Director of the BNCJM. "This makes it possible for scholars to know what we hold at the library prior to making the trip to Cuba so they can conduct more productive research when they are here."

"For decades, the University of Florida has maintained a rich collection of materials related to Cuba as part of its Latin American and Caribbean Collection," said Judy Russell, Dean of University Libraries at the University of Florida. "Adding these titles to WorldCat is another major step in opening up Cuban resources to researchers everywhere and both BNCJM and the University are grateful to OCLC for their collaboration in this important effort."

"Working closely with the University of Florida, we believe that adding these records from the BNCJM to WorldCat will provide an unprecedented opportunity for scholars to uncover more about the history and culture of this important country," said Mary Sauer-Games, Vice President, Global Product Management, OCLC.

OCLC provided expertise in data cleansing and loaded the data in WorldCat for tens of thousands of BNCJM records. Additionally, the University of Florida converted thousands of cards to Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) records, provided BNCJM with copies of all the records loaded to date, and is providing ongoing support to BNCJM for loading future catalog records into WorldCat.

The BNCJM collection appears in WorldCat as part of the University of Florida Libraries collection distinguished by the holding designation "University of Florida BNCJM." Interlibrary loan is not available for these items, but the digital surrogates will become available for public access through Celebrating Cuba! Collaborative Digital Collections of Cuban Patrimony (http://ufdc.ufl.edu/Cuba), a set of initiatives to create broad and deep open access to digital collections that celebrate Cuban patrimony, including the unique holdings of the BNCJM.

The Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida began to develop and program collections to support Cuban studies in the late 1920s, and in 1952 under the national Farmington Plan, assumed a special responsibility for acquisitions. The Latin American and Caribbean Collection alone contains thousands of printed works and reels of microfilm concerning Cuba, and these holdings continue to grow rapidly each year. This reflects the University of Florida's overall broad-based interest in Cuba.

WorldCat offers researchers the ability to view library collections from anywhere in the world, giving them access to a rich assortment of information. There are 491 languages and dialects represented in WorldCat, and 62 percent of records represent materials in languages other than English.

Collections represented in WorldCat span more than 5,000 years of recorded knowledge. This unique collection of information encompasses records in a variety of formats—books, e-books, DVDs, digital resources, serials, sound recordings, musical scores, maps, visual materials, mixed materials, computer files and more.

More about WorldCat is on the OCLC website.

About the Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí

The Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí (http://www.bnjm.cu/web/app.php) is the national library of Cuba. It is located in Havana and named after the national hero José Martí. The library was established in October 18, 1901.

About the University of Florida libraries

The libraries of the University of Florida form the largest information resource system in the state of Florida and include seven libraries. Six are in the system known as the George A. Smathers Libraries, and one (the Lawton Chiles (Legal Information Center) is part of the College of Law. The Smathers Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), and LYRASIS. Print and electronic collections can be accessed through the library catalog as well as through general and subject-specific databases.

About OCLC

OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.


Summary: he University of Florida is working with the Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí (BNCJM), the National Library of Cuba, to register Cuban materials in WorldCat, the most comprehensive global database of library collections, making these resources available to researchers around the world.
Publication Year:2019
Type of Material:Press Release
LanguageEnglish
Date Issued:January 10, 2019
Publisher:OCLC
Company:
Company: OCLC
Permalink: https://librarytechnology.org/pr/23919/national-library-of-cuba-collection-registered-in-worldcat-to-benefit-researchers-worldwide

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