# OCLC PICA > library automation company **Wikidata**: [Q116338](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116338) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_PICA) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/oclc-pica ## Summary OCLC PICA is a library automation company that develops software for the library industry, operating as part of the broader OCLC organization. The company specializes in providing technological solutions for library management, cataloging, and information retrieval systems. It is classified as a software company with a focus on library automation technologies. ## Key Facts - **Entity Classification**: Software company (library automation company) - **GND ID**: 10068742-8 - **Freebase ID**: /m/0cjlcd - **Alias**: OCLC EMEA - **Website**: http://www.oclc.org/nl-NL/gii.html - **National Library of Netherlands Autoriteit ID (nl_cr_aut_id)**: hka20251273366 - **Native name qualifier**: OCLC PICA (organizace) - **Wikipedia availability**: Available in German (de), English (en), and Dutch (nl) language editions - **Sitelink count**: 3 (across Wikimedia projects) - **Wikidata description**: Library automation company - **Industry**: Software industry - **Reference sources**: Wikidata entries , , ## FAQs **What type of organization is OCLC PICA?** OCLC PICA is a software company specializing in library automation, developing and providing technological solutions for library management and information organization systems. **Where is OCLC PICA headquartered and what regions does it serve?** The alias "OCLC EMEA" indicates that OCLC PICA serves the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region as part of OCLC's global operations. **What products or services does OCLC PICA provide?** As a library automation company, OCLC PICA develops software solutions for libraries, though specific product names and versions are not detailed in the available source material. **How is OCLC PICA connected to the broader OCLC organization?** OCLC PICA operates as a subsidiary or regional division of OCLC, a global library cooperative, specifically focusing on the EMEA market. **What identifiers are used to reference OCLC PICA in library and academic databases?** OCLC PICA is cataloged under multiple identifier systems including the German National Library ID (GND: 10068742-8), the National Library of Netherlands Autoriteit ID (hka20251273366), and Freebase ID (/m/0cjlcd). ## Why It Matters OCLC PICA matters because it represents a critical component of library infrastructure in the EMEA region, providing the technological backbone that enables libraries to organize, manage, and share their collections efficiently. As part of OCLC—one of the world's most influential library cooperatives—PICA contributes to the global effort to make library resources more accessible and interoperable across institutional boundaries. The company's focus on library automation addresses fundamental challenges in information management: how to catalog increasingly diverse physical and digital collections, how to enable resource sharing between institutions, and how to provide patrons with efficient access to knowledge resources. By developing specialized software for these purposes, OCLC PICA helps libraries modernize their operations and adapt to the digital age. The existence of multiple language editions of Wikipedia (German, English, Dutch) for OCLC PICA demonstrates its relevance across multiple European national contexts, suggesting significant operational presence and impact in the continental library community. ## Notable For - Operating as a specialized library automation company within the larger OCLC cooperative structure - Serving the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region under the OCLC EMEA alias - Being cataloged in multiple national and international authority databases (GND, NL CR AUT, Freebase) - Maintaining a presence across three Wikipedia language editions, indicating multi-national relevance - Operating within the software industry specifically targeting library and information science sectors ## Body ### Identity and Classification OCLC PICA is definitively classified as a software company with a specific focus on library automation. This classification places it within the broader software industry while distinguishing it from general-purpose software developers through its specialized domain expertise in library science and information management. The entity operates under the operational alias "OCLC EMEA," which clearly delineates its geographic scope of responsibility within the global OCLC organizational structure. ### Authority and Identification Systems The company is cataloged across multiple international authority and identifier systems, demonstrating its recognition within library, academic, and cultural heritage repositories. The German National Library (GND) assigned identifier 10068742-8 to OCLC PICA, enabling precise referencing within German-speaking library networks. The National Library of the Netherlands maintains an autoriteit record (hka20251273366) with the native name qualifier "OCLC PICA (organizace)," indicating recognition within Dutch and potentially Czech library systems. The Freebase identifier /m/0cjlcd provides additional semantic web connectivity, while the sitelink count of 3 across Wikimedia projects confirms its documented presence in multiple language contexts. ### Geographic and Linguistic Presence OCLC PICA maintains documented presence across three Wikipedia language editions: German (de), English (en), and Dutch (nl). This multilingual representation correlates directly with the company's operational focus on the EMEA region, encompassing German-speaking, English-speaking, and Dutch-speaking library markets. The availability of Wikipedia articles in these specific languages serves as a proxy indicator for the company's market penetration and relevance within these national library communities. ### Organizational Context As part of the OCLC cooperative—a worldwide library organization dedicated to improving access to information—OCLC PICA functions as the regional arm responsible for European, Middle Eastern, and African markets. The organizational structure reflects a common pattern in global library technology vendors, where centralized research and development combines with regional sales, support, and customization capabilities. The company's website URL (http://www.oclc.org/nl-NL/gii.html) further confirms its positioning within the OCLC web presence, with the Dutch-language path suggesting particular attention to the Dutch market. ### Industry Position Within the library automation sector, OCLC PICA competes alongside other major vendors providing integrated library systems, discovery platforms, and resource management solutions. The sector has undergone significant consolidation over decades, with OCLC emerging as one of the dominant global players. The specific focus on library automation distinguishes OCLC PICA from general enterprise software companies, requiring deep domain expertise in library workflows, cataloging standards (MARC, RDA, Dublin Core), and the unique operational requirements of library environments. ### Reference Infrastructure The source material indicates that OCLC PICA is referenced in Wikidata entries , , and , providing scholarly and encyclopedic documentation of the entity. These references enable linked data applications, knowledge graph construction, and cross-referencing with related library technology entities, cooperative members, and industry standards bodies. ## References 1. Czech National Authority Database