Copac

Copac was an online union catalogue that merged the catalogues of major research and specialist libraries across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It included contributions from over ninety libraries, such as the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and the National Library of Wales. The service held more than forty million records by 2019, covering a wide range of subjects. Users accessed Copac freely through web browsers or dedicated clients like Z39.50. It also supported OpenURL and SRU interfaces for linking from external sites. The catalogue was managed by Jisc in partnership with Research Libraries UK (RLUK). Specialist libraries like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers also provided records. Contributors ranged from the National Trust to Middle Temple Library. Copac served researchers in higher education and beyond, offering a reliable tool for locating materials. Its value lay in consolidating dispersed collections into a single searchable resource. Visitors to Copac found a straightforward interface for locating books, journals, and other materials. The system allowed searches across multiple libraries without visiting each one individually. Links from external sites directed users straight to relevant records. Though replaced by Library Hub Discover in 2019, its legacy remains in the records it organised. The service demonstrated how shared catalogues could simplify research across institutions.