FirstSearch is a proven and highly trusted tool that empowers anyone to find the authoritative content they need in every format from worldwide library collections. FirstSearch delivers the precise, full-featured WorldCat searching that library staff and researchers value. 

FirstSearch contains 14 databases. Increase awareness of all library collections with a powerful lens on the world’s largest library catalog, WorldCat. FirstSearch navigates through WorldCat’s 554 million bibliographic records in seconds, connecting searchers to exactly what they need. WorldCatDissertations provides fast and convenient access to the dissertations and theses available in OCLC member libraries. Many theses are available electronically, at no charge, directly from the publishing institution. OpenAccessContent is a new database of open access content on the OCLC FirstSearch service will help researchers easily find open access resources from familiar content providers.

With FirstSearch, you can: Construct simple or complex searches to find exactly what you need; View holdings of other libraries; Connect users to full text; Get to the right resources fast; Search in the language you prefer.

Coverage: Before 4800 BC to present

FirstSearch Databases:

ArticleFirst: Index of articles that describe the Table of Contents pages of journals

ClasePeriodica: Index of Latin American journals in the sciences and humanities

Ebooks: OCLC catalog of online electronic books available through libraries worldwide

ECO-Index: An OCLC collection of scholarly journals

ERIC: Journal articles and reports in education

GPO: U.S. government publications

MEDLINE: All areas of medicine, including dentistry and nursing

OAIster: Union catalog of digital resources

OpenAccessContent: An OCLC index of worldwide open access content

PapersFirst: OCLC index of papers presented at conferences worldwide

ProceedingsFirst: An OCLC index of worldwide conference proceedings

SCIPIO: Art and rare book sales/auction catalogs

WorldCat: OCLC catalog of books, web resources, and other material worldwide

WorldCatDissertations: OCLC catalog of dissertations and theses available in OCLC member libraries