30 Years of Connecting South African Libraries to the World
A partnership that has helped shape the modern South African library landscape
Three Decades of Collaboration
For 30 years, Sabinet has partnered with OCLC to help South African libraries
connect to global library networks, adopt international standards and improve
access to knowledge.
Through shared cataloguing, resource sharing and cloud-based library management
services, the partnership has supported libraries as they modernised services,
improved efficiencies and expanded access to information for researchers,
students and communities.
Impact on South African Libraries
- Connected local collections to the world’s largest bibliographic network.
- Enabled shared cataloguing and resource sharing across institutions.
- Improved discoverability and visibility of South African library collections.
- Supported digital transformation through cloud-based library management services.
- Delivered local implementation, training and support for South African libraries.
- Helped libraries improve efficiency, reduce duplication and realise cost savings
through shared services and collaborative approaches.
Partnership in Numbers
A Partnership Through Time
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Partnership established |
| 1999 | WorldCat services introduced |
| 2006 | South African cataloguing integrated into WorldCat |
| 2013 | WMS introduced in South Africa |
| 2026 | Celebrating 30 years |
30 Years of Connecting Collections, People and Knowledge
For three decades, Sabinet has helped South African libraries connect collections,
people and knowledge. By combining global library infrastructure with local expertise
and support, the partnership has strengthened discovery, collaboration and access to
trusted information across the library sector.