The University of Macau (UM) Wu Yee Sun Library recently joined the union catalogue of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) in the United States, becoming the first university in Macao to join the library cooperative. The database itemises the collections of 17,900 libraries in 123 countries and regions. It also allows libraries and readers from around the world to search for and purchase books published in Macao, which is expected to provide a boost to Macao’s publishing industry.

Ever since joining the catalogue, UM’s international interlibrary loan rate has surged and the UM library has become a platform for sharing resources with libraries around the world, particularly information about rare books. Statistics show that between October 2018 and August 2019, the UM library uploaded nearly 15,000 items to the OCLC. Among them, over 1,500 items appeared for the first time in the record. Some publishers in Macao say that they have received enquiries from abroad.

For more information, please visit UM’s catalogue at http://umaclib3.umac.mo/search~S10. The UM Wu Yee Sun Library is open Monday through Sunday from 8:00am to 12:00am.