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OCLC Library and Information Science Education Program Terms and Conditions

Version Date: September 3, 2026

Section 1. Introduction

These OCLC Library and Information Science Education Program Terms and Conditions (this "Agreement" or these "Terms") govern participation in the OCLC Library and Information Science Education Program (the "LIS Program"), which provides qualifying library and information science educational institutions with reduced-cost or no-cost access to designated OCLC services for instructional and educational purposes. These Terms are published by OCLC, Inc., an Ohio nonprofit corporation ("OCLC"). These Terms apply to and are incorporated into each Services Request Form that references them. Participation in the LIS Program is conditioned upon acceptance of these Terms.

Section 2. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms, the following capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below:

2.1 "Authorized Users" means current faculty members, instructors, staff administrators, and enrolled students participating in Institution's library and information science educational program.

2.2 "Credentials" means the user IDs, passwords, authorization numbers, tokens, and other access credentials used to access the Services.

2.3 "Effective Date" means, with respect to an Institution, the date on which Institution accepts these Terms by executing or otherwise agreeing to a Services Request Form, or by otherwise participating in the LIS Program.

2.4 "Institution" means the educational institution, school, department, college, university, library technician program, or other entity approved by OCLC for participation in the LIS Program.

2.5 "OCLC Data" means any data, content, records, metadata, identifiers, holdings information, bibliographic information, authority information, and other information accessed, retrieved, received, or derived through the Services.

2.6 "Services" means the OCLC products, services, platforms, software, databases, applications, content, and related resources made available through the LIS Program, as identified by OCLC from time to time and requested through a Services Request Form.

2.7 "Services Request Form" means a request form, enrollment form, online acceptance, or other ordering document that references these Terms and identifies the Services requested by Institution.

Section 3. Eligibility

3.1 Participation is limited to institutions approved by OCLC that qualify as one of the following:

  1. library and information science schools accredited by the American Library Association (ALA);
  2. colleges and universities offering a bachelor's degree or higher in library and information science education recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) or Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL);
  3. library/media technician training programs offering a certificate or associate degree within an accredited educational unit recognized by the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, or American Association of School Librarians (AASL); or
  4. OCLC invited schools of library and information science that offer degrees comparable to those described above in the Asia Pacific, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Middle East and Africa regions.

3.2 Institution represents that it meets the applicable eligibility criteria and shall promptly notify OCLC if it ceases to qualify. OCLC may verify eligibility at any time and may approve, deny, suspend, or terminate participation in its discretion.

Section 4. Limited Access Grant

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, OCLC grants Institution a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable right during the Term to access and use the Services solely through its Authorized Users and solely for the educational purposes permitted under this Agreement.

Section 5. Educational Use Restriction

5.1 The Services are provided solely for classroom instruction, student learning, faculty instruction, training, coursework, demonstrations, educational research directly related to instruction, and other educational activities approved by OCLC.

5.2 Institution shall not use, or permit the use of, the Services for:

  1. commercial activities;
  2. production or operational library services;
  3. production cataloging or production workflows unrelated to instruction;
  4. service bureau activities;
  5. creating or providing any competing bibliographic, cataloging, discovery, metadata, or similar service;
  6. supporting the operations of any library, archive, consortium, or other organization outside Institution's educational program;
  7. providing access to any individual who is not an Authorized User; or
  8. any purpose inconsistent with the educational objectives of the LIS Program.

5.3 Institution shall ensure that access to the Services is limited to Authorized Users and is not provided to unaffiliated third parties.

5.4 Participation in the LIS Program is separate from any commercial subscription or production use of OCLC services. Unless expressly stated otherwise, OCLC customer agreements, subscription agreements, and production service terms do not apply to Services provided under the LIS Program.

Section 6. Service Availability

The Services made available through the LIS Program may change from time to time. OCLC may add, modify, replace, suspend, or discontinue any Service at any time. Certain Services may be subject to supplemental terms, usage rules, technical requirements, documentation, or separate education licensing agreements. Those terms shall govern the applicable Service to the extent of any conflict with this Agreement.

Section 7. Credentials and Security

7.1 Administration. Credentials may be issued by OCLC, Institution, or both, depending on the applicable Service.

7.2 Institution Obligations. Institution shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized access to or use of the Services and shall:

  1. limit Credentials to Authorized Users;
  2. maintain appropriate administrative oversight;
  3. promptly disable access for users who are no longer eligible;
  4. promptly notify OCLC of any suspected or actual loss, theft, compromise, disclosure, or misuse of Credentials or unauthorized use of the Services; and
  5. cooperate with OCLC regarding security incidents affecting the Services.

7.3 Responsibility for Use. Institution is responsible for all activities conducted through Credentials assigned to its Authorized Users, including unauthorized use. If OCLC becomes aware of unauthorized use or unauthorized access, OCLC may require or perform deactivation of affected Credentials.

Section 8. User Administration

Depending on the Service, OCLC or Institution may be responsible for creating, maintaining, modifying, and terminating user accounts. Institution shall designate at least one program administrator to coordinate participation in the LIS Program.

Section 9. Institution Responsibilities

Institution is responsible, at its sole cost, for: (a) internet access; (b) computing equipment and workstations; (c) technical infrastructure required to access the Services; (d) supervision of Authorized Users; (e) compliance with these Terms; and (f) compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Section 10. Fees

OCLC generally waives fees associated with participation in the LIS Program. OCLC may charge fees relating to third-party royalties, supplier charges, exceptional costs, optional services, training, or similar items identified by OCLC. Continued access to the applicable item may be conditioned upon payment of such fees. Institution remains responsible for its own equipment, connectivity, and implementation costs.

Section 11. Intellectual Property and Data Rights

OCLC and its licensors retain all right, title, and interest in and to the Services, software, databases, documentation, content, OCLC Data, and related intellectual property. Institution and its Authorized Users may access and use OCLC Data solely as part of their authorized use of the Services and solely for the educational purposes permitted by this Agreement.

Except as expressly permitted by OCLC, Institution shall not redistribute, resell, publish, or otherwise make OCLC Data available to any third party.

Except for the limited rights expressly granted under this Agreement, no ownership interest or license is granted to Institution or any Authorized User. OCLC reserves all rights not expressly granted.

Section 12. Data Protection

Each party shall comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws within the scope of its responsibilities. Institution shall not upload or disclose information through the Services in violation of applicable law and is responsible for obtaining any permissions or consents necessary for its Authorized Users' use of the Services.

Section 13. Term and Termination

13.1 Term. This Agreement begins on the Effective Date and continues until terminated under this Section (the "Term").

13.2 Termination for Convenience. Either party may terminate participation in the LIS Program upon thirty (30) days' written notice.

13.3 Immediate Suspension or Termination. OCLC may suspend or terminate access immediately if: (a) OCLC reasonably suspects unauthorized access or misuse; (b) Institution breaches this Agreement and fails to cure the breach within thirty (30) days after notice, where the breach is capable of cure; (c) continued participation presents legal, security, or operational risks; or (d) OCLC discontinues the applicable Service or the LIS Program.

13.4 Effect of Termination. Upon termination, Institution shall immediately cease using the Services and shall ensure that its Authorized Users do the same. Any provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.

Section 14. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OCLC AND ITS THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE. OCLC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES OR OCLC DATA WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

Section 15. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, OR LOSS OF DATA, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OCLC'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS (US$1,000).

Section 16. Miscellaneous

16.1 Assignment. Institution may not assign, transfer, delegate, or subcontract its rights or obligations under this Agreement without OCLC's prior written consent.

16.2 Modifications. OCLC may update these Terms from time to time by posting revised Terms on the applicable OCLC website. Continued participation in the LIS Program following the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16.3 Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for delays or failures of performance resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, pandemics, governmental actions, labor disputes, telecommunications failures, or supplier failures.

16.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio and the United States of America without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any lawsuit or dispute arising under this Agreement shall be brought in state or federal court in Franklin County, Ohio, and the parties to this Agreement hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Franklin County, Ohio.

16.5 Independent Contractors. The relationship of the parties is that of independent contractors; no agency, employment, partnership, or joint venture is created by these Terms.

16.6 Notices. Notices will be in writing and delivered to OCLC at [email protected] and to Institution at the contact identified in its most recent Services Request Form, or to such other address as a party may designate by written notice.

16.7 Non-Waiver. A failure or delay in enforcing any provision shall not prevent later enforcement, and a waiver of one breach shall not constitute a waiver of any other.

16.8 Severability. If any provision is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect, and a valid provision of similar import reflecting the original intent shall be substituted to the extent permissible.

16.9 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with any applicable Services Request Form, service-specific terms, or program documentation expressly incorporated by reference (including any accessible via URL, as updated from time to time), constitute the entire agreement regarding participation in the LIS Program and supersede all prior agreements, oral and written, relating to its subject matter.

Section 17. Acceptance

By submitting a Services Request Form referencing these Terms, accessing the Services, or otherwise participating in the LIS Program, Institution agrees to be legally bound by these Terms. If the individual accepting does so on behalf of an Institution, that individual represents that they have authority to bind Institution.