Leiden, Netherlands, 19 July 2018. Complutense University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), one of the oldest universities in the world and among the top universities in Spain, is now using OCLC WorldShare Management Services as its library management system.
WorldShare Management Services (WMS) is the cloud-based library services platform that provides all of the applications needed to manage a library, including acquisitions, circulation, metadata, resource sharing, license management, and a discovery service for users. It also includes a range of reports that helps libraries better understand their activities and track key metrics over time.
The Complutense University of Madrid Library is the largest academic library in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. On April 13, 1499, Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, Cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo as well as Regent of Castile established the Complutensis Universitas (Complutense University in Latin), through a Papal Bull granted by Pope Alexander VI. Today it has 32 branches and comprises 354 staff. The library collection consists of 3 million books, 126,000 e-books and 81,000 manuscripts, with special collections that date from the 15th century.
"WMS allows UCM to connect, innovate and cooperate with libraries of other institutions with an integrated solution for offering digital and physical content on applied scientific information," said Mr. Andoni Calderón, Library Director, Complutense University of Madrid. "We expect WMS to increase efficiencies for our staff and users, improve access to resources, and offer an opportunity to share our work through the cloud-based system."
As part of the OCLC cooperative, libraries are using WMS to share bibliographic records, publisher and knowledge base data, vendor records, and more. With WorldCat at its foundation, WMS enables libraries to draw on the collaborative data for more efficient workflows. WMS also provides libraries with the unique opportunity to share innovation, applications, infrastructure, vision and success.
"We are delighted to welcome the Universidad Complutense de Madrid to the worldwide WMS community," said Eric van Lubeek, Vice President, Managing Director of OCLC EMEA and APAC. "With WMS, the Library of Complutense University will realize cost savings, greater efficiencies and value by sharing data and work among member libraries around the world."
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.
