Configure patron facing features
WorldCat Discovery configuration options are accessible in the administrative interface, OCLC Service Configuration.
WorldCat Discovery configuration: Patron-facing features
Learn more in a training course:Personalize your Discovery interface
Sign in to OCLC Service Configuration, navigate to WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat Local > User Interface Options to:
Enable end-user sign in (for non-WorldShare Management Service libraries)
All WorldCat Discovery libraries can provide sign-in capability for their users. This enables users to save searches and personal lists. See Share records and create citations for more information.
To enable non-WMS logon options, register your library for end user logon capability. The OCLC implementation team will respond to the request and assist with configuration.
Institutions can select from the following implementation options:
- Create new accounts with an OCLC method that supports self-creation of authenticated accounts
- Use existing accounts with an OCLC link to your institution's existing authentication service, if it is compatible.
Add a link to your library's OPAC
Enable links so that users can go from a search result to an item record in your OPAC. See:
Configure ILL features
Configure WorldShare ILL Request Form
For WorldShare ILL libraries, configure your request form and customize elements of the form for your library users to provide access and request any item via WorldShare ILL from WorldCat Discovery.
For more information, see WorldShare ILL Request Form.
Use the WorldShare ILL Request Form as a blank form to support users who want to place an ILL request without first finding an item. Create a new custom link and populate the URL field with the registered OpenURL resolver your library created when configuring the WorldShare ILL Form. Refer to Custom Links for more information. The blank form will display in the Resources drop-down menu for users.
Add a patron facing ILL button
WorldCat Discovery supports: WorldShare ILL, Tipasa, ILLiad, and OpenURL-compliant forms (OpenURL 1.0).
- Sign in to OCLC Service Configuration.
- Navigate to WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat Local > Place Hold/Request Buttons.
- Follow the instructions to: Add a button that takes your patrons to your interlibrary loan form.
- Continue to the next section on this page for instructions to add a proxy and a prompt for patrons' remote access options.
Watch a video
Configure patron-initiated ILL request in WorldCat Discovery
Run time: 12:08
Learn how to configure patron-initiated ILL request for WorldCat® Discovery to allow your patrons to search and identify items, then initiate requests.
Add a custom chat widget
If your library offers online reference service, configure your custom links to open a chat widget in a new window when the link or chat area is clicked.
- Sign in to OCLC Service Configuration.
- Navigate to WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat Local > User interface options.
- Enter information for Custom link 1:
- Link type: Select library contact info
- Display Chat Widget: To display the chat widget for patrons, select Yes.
- Using a different reference service, such as LibAnswers?
- You can display a different chat widget by pasting a code snippet in the Chat code box provided
- Chat code: When copying and pasting a code snippet, ensure that it is copied directly from the source. When the code is copied from an e-mail or text document, carriage returns can sometimes be entered which will cause the code to fail.
- Display text: Create a custom text label of your choice (limit 24 characters).
- Click test URL to confirm that the widget appears as desired.
- You can display a different chat widget by pasting a code snippet in the Chat code box provided
Note: The recommended size for the widget is 185 pixels wide x 275 pixels high. URLs referenced within the chat widget code must utilize HTTPS to avoid mixed content warnings raised by most modern web browsers, which could render the chat widget inoperable.
Add a Custom Notification
Configure a custom message to display to your library users in WorldCat Discovery and in My Account and notify them of important information.
To configure a Custom Notification, see Display Settings, Custom Notification.