OCLC is pleased to continue to work with LC on creative solutions for reducing the arrearage. Catalogers search OCLC SiteSearch using the same terminal-based Z39.50 client they use when searching LC's internal MUMS system. When a record is found, it is retrieved and used as the basis of the Library of Congress catalog record, significantly reducing cataloging effort. The Library of Congress began this project with records from Russia and Germany. Success with these countries led to the addition of records from Spain and Italy.
Plans are under way to expand to other countries.
With OCLC SiteSearch, libraries can offer one interface to local databases and the more than 50 databases available through FirstSearch. Libraries may choose to use the FirstSearch interface or any other Z39.50-compatible client interface.