What's New

OCLC WorldCat Selection Enhancements

OCLC will be introducing several enhancements to WorldCat Selection on August 28, 2008. The enhancements include the following:

• Administrators can customize the number of days records remain in WorldCat Selection for your institution.
• On records distributed to multiple selectors, a list of selectors and their selection decisions appear at the bottom of the record. An asterisk displays next to the selectors name if the record has been deleted from the system to denote that the specified selector no longer has access to it.
• Searching page has been expanded to include search cells for all indexes so you no longer have to select the Source or Projected Date indexes from the drop down list.
• Word order no longer matters when searching indexes such as author or title.
• Users can now customize the number of records on a list to 25, 100, 250, or 1000.
  
• Users can now define up to 40 defer reasons; previously only 20 were supported.

Also, there are vendor updates to WorldCat Selection. Coutts Information Services records now include a link to OASIS. Leila Books is an active WorldCat Selection partner and Howard Karno Books has agreed to become a partner. 

Lindsay & Croft and YBP Library Services are in the final preparation stages to become active partners.  Lindsay & Croft and YBP Library Services records will include a link to GOBI.

Current active partners include Aux Amateurs de Livres International, Blackwell Book Service, Casalini Libri, China National Publishing Industry Trading Corporation, Coutts Information Services, Harrassowitz, Jean Touzot Librairie Internationale, Leila Books, and Library of Congress.

Upcoming partners will include China Educational Publications Import & Export Corporation, East View Information Services, Erasmus Boekhandel BV, Iberbook-Sánchez-Cuesta, S.A., Librairie Erasmus, Lindsay & Croft, Puvill Libros, and YBP Library Services.

More information on WorldCat Selection can be found at: http://www.oclc.org/us/en/selection/default.htm. You can also contact OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975, or memserv@ohionet.org for a demonstration or for further information.

WorldCat Search API released

The WorldCat Search API, a web service that has been in pilot phase for several months, was released this Sunday, August 11. The WorldCat Search API allows your application to search and retrieve of bibliographic records in WorldCat, along with information on related library locations.

For more information about the API, visit the OCLC Grid Services page on the WorldCat Developer's wiki. OCLC full cataloging users can register to use the API using the WorldCat Affiliate Tools page.

OCLC introduces Web Harvester

OCLC is now offering Web Harvester, a new product that allows libraries and other cultural heritage institutions to capture and add Web content to their digital collections managed by OCLC's CONTENTdm Digital Collection Management Software. OCLC's Web Harvester addresses the need to store and provide access to otherwise highly transient information resources that solely exist on Web sites.

OCLC's Web Harvester evolved from collaboration with several state libraries, state archives and universities over a period of seven years. Participants emphasized the increasing importance of collecting and managing Web-based content as information resources move online yet remain within libraries' and archives' collection scopes.

The Web Harvester is integrated into library workflows, allowing library staff to capture content as part of the cataloging process. The captured content is then sent to the organization's digital collections where it can be managed with other CONTENTdm digital content.

The Web Harvester is accessed via the Connexion client, OCLC's powerful cataloging service, and captures content ranging from single, Web-based documents to entire Web sites. Once retrieved, users can review the captured Web content and add it to a collection managed by OCLC's CONTENTdm software. Once in CONTENTdm, then Web content can be accessed and managed in conjunction with other digital collections. Harvested items are discoverable from WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and the CONTENTdm Web interface.

For additional security, master files of the captured content also can be ingested to the OCLC Digital Archive, the service for long-term storage of originals and master files from libraries' digital collections.

The Web Harvester is an optional product for current Hosting users of CONTENTdm to expand their ability to collect, manage and provide access to digital content.

The Georgetown Law Library and the State Law Libraries of Maryland and Virginia have been using OCLC's Web Harvester in a pilot project. The Chesapeake Project is a digital preservation program established to preserve and ensure permanent access to vital legal information currently available in digital formats on the World Wide Web. For more information about the Chesapeake Project, see the Chesapeake Project web site.

To learn more about the Web Harvester, please visit the Web Harvester section of the OCLC web site. Libraries or other cultural heritage institutions interested in more information about OCLC's Web Harvester should send an e-mail to memserv@ohionet.org, or telephone 1-800-686-8975.

CONTENTdm Power Point Plug-in 2008 Released

OCLC is pleased to announce the release of CONTENTdm PowerPoint Plug-in 2008.

This new version of the PowerPoint Plug-in includes the following new features:

• Support for Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Windows Vista.
• Support for JPEG2000 images. The plug-in will automatically download JPEG derivatives from JPEG2000 images for use in PowerPoint slides.
• Search capabilities. Users can search collections for items to download in addition to downloading items saved as My Favorites.
• My Favorites can now be downloaded when saved using Firefox 2.0 in addition to Internet Explorer 6.0 or later.
• More slide layout options. Users can choose to download one, two, or four images per slide with or without titles and metadata.

The CONTENTdm PowerPoint Plug-in 2008 is available free of charge for all CONTENTdm users. It can be downloaded from the CONTENTdm User Support Center at any time and may be used on an unlimited number of workstations. The User Support Center is password protected and first time visitors will need to register and create a personal account. To do this, each user must select the Register now option and then enter an Organization ID. If you do not know your Organization ID, or have problems setting up a personal account, please contact contentdmsupport@oclc.org for assistance.

Please note that this new version also requires an update to your CONTENTdm server. All hosted CONTENTdm servers have already been updated.

Help files are available for the plug-in at the CONTENTdm Online Help site. They are also available in PDF format for distribution to your end-users.

If you need assistance with installing the plug-in please contact either OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975, memserv@ohionet.org, or CONTENTdm support at contentdmsupport@oclc.org or 1-877-797-0887.

Leila Books is WorldCat Selection Partner

OCLC is pleased to announce that Leila Books is now an active WorldCat Selection partner. Leila Books, located in Cairo, Egypt, was established in 1960 as a bookseller and subscription agent. They specialize in serving academic and research libraries and scholars for orders from Egypt and the entire Arab world (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen). Firm orders, approval plans according to profile, and standing orders are all supported by Leila Books. They have been contributing records to OCLC WorldCat since September 2007.

For more information on Leila Books, please visit the Leila Books website.

For more information on WorldCat Selection, including a complete list of current and upcoming partners, see the OCLC WorldCat Selection website.

If you require further information on WorldCat Selection, or are interested in free demonstration, please contact OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975, or memserv@ohionet.org.

OCLC Connexion Client Version 2.10 Released
Connexion client version 2.10 is available for download from the Software download area of the OCLC Product Services Web. You will be required to upgrade to version 2.10 by April 1, 2008. An upgrade warning message will begin appearing when you start version 1.7x or 2.00 beginning in early February 2008.
If you have been using version 1.7x, you will receive all the enhancements from version 2.00 in addition to the enhancements in version 2.10. You can upgrade directly from 1.7x to version 2.10. For more detail and to download the client, go to Connexion client recent enhancements. http://www.oclc.org/connexion/interface/client/enhancements/recent.htm

Enhancements in version 2.10 include:

• Use new macro commands GetListCellData and GetListCellDataUnicode to retrieve data from lists
• Set an option to be warned before you export when unlinked non-Latin fields are present in a record
• Select one of multiple headings in a bibliographic field to lock a linked authority record
• Control genre headings in fields tagged 655 second indicator zero.
• Display language of cataloging from field 040 subfield b in WorldCat search results lists
• See the code S for SCIPIO records in the Library type column in WorldCat search results lists
• See the SCIPIO date of sale in hyphenated format (1899-08-19) in WorldCat search results lists
• Export and import in Dublin Core Qualified, Dublin Core Simple, OCLC Dublin Core Qualified and OCLC Dublin Core Simple
• Include non-Latin data in 4xx, 7xx and selected 6xx fields in authority records (to be made available by the Library of Congress no earlier than April 2008)

Please contact OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975 or memserv@ohionet.org if you have any questions or need further information.

OCLC Releases OCLC Connexion Import for Digital Collections

The new OCLC Connexion digital import feature allows catalogers using the Connexion client (version 2.0 and higher) to add digital items to CONTENTdm collections during the Connexion cataloging process. This new feature streamlines digital collection creation by integrating it with standard cataloging workflows.

The latest release of the CONTENTdm® Digital Collection Management Software (version 4.3) supports the Connexion digital import and makes it even easier for libraries to integrate digital collection growth into their current cataloging workflows.
Connexion catalogers can attach a digital file (or files, if more than one digital file is associated with the same record) to their WorldCat record by using the Connexion client. The digital file is then added to the designated CONTENTdm collection along with its associated metadata record. Metadata records are mapped to Qualified Dublin Core when added to the CONTENTdm collection, TIFF images are converted to JPEG2000, and OCR is performed for TIFF images comprising compound objects. PDF processing occurs if enabled in the CONTENTdm collection. Additionally, the OCLC number from the WorldCat record is added to the new OCLC number administrative field in CONTENTdm.

Digital items added to CONTENTdm using the Connexion client are discoverable from OCLC FirstSearch, WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local. Each digital item added to CONTENTdm using the Connexion client is associated with its WorldCat record via a persistent URL based on the OCLC number (WorldCat accession number) of the WorldCat record. The persistent URL of the form

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/<oclc#>/viewonline

provides one-click access to the digital content. By integrating digital collection creation with standard cataloging workflows, Connexion digital import provides an additional option for organizations looking to expand participation in growing and maintaining their digital collections.
The Connexion digital import requires both an OCLC Cataloging subscription and the use of CONTENTdm Hosting Services.

CONTENTdm offers a complete set of tools to store, manage and deliver digital collections such as documents, photographs, newspapers, audio and video on the Web.

More information about Connexion digital import is available here.

Further questions may be directed to OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975 or memserv@ohionet.org.

Checking your OCLC WorldCat Registry Profile

Have you checked your WorldCat Registry profile?

OCLC’s WorldCat Registry is a Web-based directory for libraries and library consortia. The Registry is designed to save you time by serving as a single distribution point of information that defines your institutional identity, including services, relationships and contacts.

You no longer have to use different interfaces and methods to communicate this key data to other libraries, vendors, funding agencies and additional third parties. Instead of a tangle of faxed paper forms, phone calls and Web sites, you maintain one profile in one placeand share it with the people who need access to its information.

You may have a profile already—check for it now!

The Registry is open to all libraries and consortia inside and outside the OCLC cooperative. OCLC has automatically created WorldCat Registry profiles for many institutions, including its member libraries, and pre-populated those profiles with existing data.

OCLC recommends that you visit the WorldCat Registry home page and search the Registry for an auto-generated profile for your library. You can create a user account online or log in with your user account for the OCLC Online Service Center or WorldCat Services (FirstSearch) and begin updating and adding information to your registry’s profile.

Why it's Important

OCLC member libraries' WorldCat Registry profiles will be relied upon more and more as OCLC consolidates the collection of many types of data in the Registry. OCLC will also automatically transfer applicable profile information such as OPAC URL, OpenURL Server location or your library's Web site address into WorldCat.org. All libraries will benefit as profile information is syndicated across the Web sites where information seekers start to search, including WorldCat.org. So make a note to keep your profile current!

You can learn more about the Registry at:
http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/registry/xsl/about

 

OCLC MEMBERS: A note about maintaining IP address data

If you currently maintain an IP address setting for your institution in the FirstSearch Administrative Module and/or other OCLC applications, for the moment you should continue to maintain the setting in those interfaces. IP address information stored in a WorldCat Registry profile is, temporarily, provided only for the informational purposes of parties with whom you share your profile. OCLC will be applying data from the IP address portion of your Registry profile to other OCLC applications at a later date.

If you have further questions, please contact OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975, or memserv@ohionet.org.

Blackwell Book Services becomes an active WorldCat Selection service partner

WorldCat Selection subscribers can now receive notification records for Blackwell Book Services materials within the WorldCat Selection interface. WorldCat Selection, based on ITSO CUL (Integrated Tool for Selection and Ordering at Cornell University Library), allows selectors of library materials to view new title data from multiple materials vendors in one central, comprehensive system.  Libraries are able to get WorldCat records for newly selected materials into their integrated library systems early in the technical services process, as well as share selection decisions with others in their institutions.
For 128 years, Blackwell has supplied academic and research libraries with books and bibliographic support.  Blackwell aims to help its customers keep the costs of identifying and acquiring materials, both print and electronic, as low as possible.  Blackwell's services, tools, and partnerships reflect their commitment to creating efficient library workflow solutions.  Blackwell has offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia. It is their mission to be the partner of choice in building library collections. Blackwell accomplishes this by providing innovative responses and solutions to the rapidly changing ways in which information is published, distributed, and accessed. 

You can find out more about Blackwell at http://www.blackwell.com. Information about OCLC’s WorldCat Selection can be found at http://www.oclc.org/selection/default.htm. If you have specific questions, please contact OHIONET at 1-800-686-8975 or memserv@ohionet.org.