DUBLIN, Ohio, 08 December 2025—OCLC has added powerful new AI features to its WorldShare Record Manager and Connexion cataloging applications. These updates help catalogers by automatically suggesting classification numbers and subject headings, saving time and improving accuracy.¹
Catalogers can now see AI-generated suggestions for Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) numbers, Library of Congress Classification (LCC) numbers, and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) as they create or edit records. The system draws on WorldCat data—built from hundreds of millions of library records—to make these intelligent recommendations.
📊 OCLC’s New AI Cataloging Tools
🚀 What’s New?
OCLC adds AI-powered cataloging assistance
to WorldShare Record Manager and Connexion.
These tools help librarians save time and improve accuracy when creating and editing bibliographic records.
🔍 AI Suggestions Include:
✅ Classification Numbers
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
Library of Congress Classification (LCC)
✅ Subject Headings
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
➡️ AI suggestions appear automatically as catalogers work.
🧠 How It Works
Uses WorldCat data drawn from hundreds of millions of records.
Catalogers can customize which suggestions they see.
They stay in control, choosing whether to accept or ignore AI recommendations.
⏱️ Benefits
📌 Saves time
Pilot tests show catalogers saved up to ~20 minutes per title.
📌 Improves accuracy
AI acts as a “safety net” to catch missed details.
📌 Learns over time
User choices help refine future AI suggestions.
🤝 Designed to Support, Not Replace
OCLC emphasizes AI is used to augment human expertise, not replace professional judgment.
🎯 Part of a Broader AI Strategy
This is one of several ways OCLC is incorporating AI to support library workflows — including de-duplication and discovery.
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