Apply for funding for OCLC subscriptions

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) covers the costs of two OCLC subscriptions for eligible small public and academic Canadian libraries. We accept funding applications once a year in the fall.

On this page

• Subscriptions that are funded
• Duration of funding
• Libraries that are eligible for funding
• Libraries that are not eligible for funding
• Applying for funding
• After you apply
• If your request is approved
• If your request is not approved
• Get updates about funding

Subscriptions that are funded

We fund these OCLC subscriptions for eligible small libraries:

• CatExpress
• WorldShare Interlibrary Loan

Duration of funding

Funded subscriptions are for one year (April 1 to March 31). Libraries that received funding during the previous fiscal years are automatically qualified for future funding and do not need to reapply. LAC may periodically review the funding and require that libraries re-apply.

Libraries that are eligible for funding

We provide funding to these small public and academic Canadian libraries based on our contract with OCLC and on available resources:

• small public and academic libraries that do not receive provincial or territorial funding for copy cataloguing, reporting holdings, or interlibrary loan (ILL) services
• public libraries serving populations up to 50,000
• libraries at post-secondary schools (community colleges, CEGEPs and universities) with a collection size of up to 60,000 items
• LAC judges collection size by counting books, serial back files, sound and video recordings, serial titles (not issues), e-books and other e-reference sources such as online encyclopedia, web portals, and database subscriptions (not individual titles)

Libraries that are not eligible for funding

These types of libraries may not apply for funding:

• elementary and high school libraries (including school districts and school boards)
• regional library headquarters serving populations of more than 50,000
• special libraries
• federal and provincial government libraries

In addition to the above criteria,

• small public and academic libraries are not eligible for CatExpress if:
• they receive copy cataloguing or holdings reporting services from a province, territory, or another library
• they already receive funding for these services
• small public and academic libraries are not eligible for WorldShare Interlibrary Loan if:
• they receive ILL services from a province, territory, or another library
• they already receive funding for these services

Applying for funding

We accept applications in the fall each year. When we are ready to accept applications, we email libraries that have requested funding updates.

After you apply

• You will get an email asking you to confirm your email address
• After you confirm your email address, you will get another email acknowledging your application
• We will review your request within 6 weeks

If your request is approved

• You will get a confirmation email from us
• We will send your library's information to OCLC Canada
• OCLC Canada will email you to confirm your request including sending:
• a master service agreement for you to sign and return
• training material and technical support information
• Subscriptions begin next fiscal year in April

If your request is not approved

You will get an email from us explaining why your application was rejected.

Get updates about funding

Email servicesauxbibliotheques-libraryservices@bac-lac.gc.ca to get updates about funding for subscriptions.