WorldCat is best described as what?

WorldCat is best described as the largest online public access catalog. It is a global catalog that allows users to search for books, articles, and other materials held in libraries worldwide. What sets WorldCat apart is its extensive database, which connects millions of bibliographic records from thousands of libraries, enabling users to find out what items are available in their local libraries or elsewhere.

This extensive network makes it an invaluable resource for researchers, educators, and the general public, as it facilitates access to a vast array of library resources across various formats. By entering a title, author, or subject in WorldCat, users can discover multiple libraries that hold the desired materials, significantly enhancing their ability to locate and utilize information.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of WorldCat. It is not limited to just physical books, does not primarily serve as a tool for analyzing library statistics, nor is it specifically a repository for digital manuscripts; these functions are served by different platforms and resources. Thus, describing WorldCat as the largest online public access catalog encapsulates its primary function and the wide-ranging services it offers to library users globally.