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OCLC WorldShare Management Services vs Ex Libris Alma

OCLC WorldShare Management Services logo

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Software

Cloud-based library management built on WorldCat

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ex Libris Alma logo

Ex Libris Alma

Software

Unified library services platform for the modern library

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OCLC WorldShare Management Services pricing is not published for WorldShare Management Services; the site routes buyers to a Library Services Consultant rather than listing figures; Ex Libris Alma pricing is not published for Alma; the site provides no plans or figures and requires contacting a sales representative for a quote
  • They diverge on capability: OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging, Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OCLC WorldShare Management Services and Ex Libris Alma actually diverge.

Attributes where OCLC WorldShare Management Services and Ex Libris Alma differ
AttributeOCLC WorldShare Management ServicesEx Libris Alma
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Api
Founded19671986

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • WorldCat cataloging
  • Circulation management
  • Acquisitions and invoicing
  • License management
  • Interlibrary loan
  • WorldCat Discovery
  • Mobile circulation
  • Request management

Only in Ex Libris Alma

  • Unified resource management
  • Electronic resource management
  • Digital asset management
  • Acquisitions and licensing
  • Circulation and fulfillment
  • Resource sharing
  • Consortia support
  • API ecosystem

Both cover

  • Analytics and reporting
  • Campus systems
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • Libraries relying on the shared WorldCat catalog for cataloging and resource sharingnot Ex Libris Alma

Ex Libris Alma

  • Academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platformnot OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • Pricing is not published for WorldShare Management Services; the site routes buyers to a Library Services Consultant rather than listing figures

Ex Libris Alma

  • Pricing is not published for Alma; the site provides no plans or figures and requires contacting a sales representative for a quote

Pricing, plan by plan

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

On request
  • WMS Standard$undefined/year
    • WorldCat cataloging
    • Circulation management
    • Acquisitions
  • WMS Premium$undefined/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • License Manager
    • Advanced analytics

Ex Libris Alma

On request
  • Alma Essentials$undefined/year
    • Core library services
    • Print resource management
    • Basic acquisitions
  • Alma Premium$undefined/year
    • Everything in Essentials
    • Electronic resource management
    • Digital resource management
  • Alma Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Everything in Premium
    • Multi-institution network
    • Consortia management

Which should you pick?

Choose OCLC WorldShare Management Services if

  • You need worldcat cataloging.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want circulation management.
OCLC WorldShare Management Services review

Choose Ex Libris Alma if

  • You need unified resource management.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want electronic resource management.
Ex Libris Alma review

Questions people ask

Is OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Ex Libris Alma better?
Neither clearly leads. OCLC WorldShare Management Services starts at On request and Ex Libris Alma at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Ex Libris Alma?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services starts at On request and Ex Libris Alma at On request.
Does OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Ex Libris Alma run on more platforms?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Ex Libris Alma runs on Web, Api.
What is OCLC WorldShare Management Services best used for?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services is most often used for libraries relying on the shared worldcat catalog for cataloging and resource sharing. Of those, libraries relying on the shared worldcat catalog for cataloging and resource sharing is not what Ex Libris Alma is typically brought in for.
What can OCLC WorldShare Management Services do that Ex Libris Alma cannot?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging, Circulation management, Acquisitions and invoicing, License management. Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Electronic resource management, Digital asset management, Acquisitions and licensing. Both handle Analytics and reporting, Campus systems, SOC2, ISO27001.
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