Bibliographic Utilities
Once an institution decides to create cataloging records or metadata for its collection, it has the option of contributing its records to a bibliographic utility. A bibliographic utility is an organization that provides access to, and support for, databases and information retrieval systems, either directly to member libraries or through a network of regional service centers, usually via a proprietary interface.
The largest bibliographic utilities in the U.S. are
OCLC. Online Computer Library Corporation
A nonprofit, membership, library computer service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.