CAT ME Plus (DOS) Is Dying
Last May OCLC announced a phased approach for discontinuing the DOS product, Cataloging Micro Enhancer Plus. For the first phase, OCLC stopped supporting Internet access from CAT ME Plus on October 1, 1998. The second phase brings the end of support for the product itself on May 1, although the software will continue to work with OCLC Cataloging for two more months. As of July 1, the DOS product will no longer work with the OCLC Cataloging service; CAT ME Plus users will not be able to log onto the online system on July 1.Users are migrating to the Cataloging Micro Enhancer for Windows at a swift pace. The software is available at no charge from OCLC. If you still use the DOS version, we strongly encourage you to plan now for the end of this product. CAT ME Plus data files cannot be used with the Windows version of the Micro Enhancer. If you have questions, please contact Regan Harper, Rosario Garza or Jan Campau at BCR.
Selection FirstSearch Interface to Be Discontinued
OCLC will not re-implement OCLC Selection in the first phase of the FirstSearch redesign, currently called New FirstSearch. As a result, the OCLC selection FirstSearch interface and its links with the OCLC Selection technical service interface (i.e., PRISM) will be discontinued at the point that the FirstSearch TTY interface is no longer supported. This is estimated to occur in late 1999, although no exact date has been set.OCLC will continue to support the technical service interface for OCLC Selection. Current technical service interface users will be able to search both WorldCat and Books in Print, as well as use the Request file for saving and reviewing requests. However, users will not be able to save requests from FirstSearch into the OCLC Selection Request file. If you have questions, please contact Rosario Garza.
FirstSearch System Problems and Z39.50 Cataloging
If you use OCLC's Z39.50 Cataloging service to acquire your library's bibliographic records, be aware that any system problems that affect OCLC's FirstSearch service also affect the Z39.50 Cataloging service. The Z39.50 Cataloging service brings cataloging users into the FirstSearch version of OCLC's WorldCat. Any problems that impact FirstSearch indexing and/or searching need to be taken into account by Z39.50 Cataloging users.Infotrieve New OCLC ILL Document Supplier
Effective immediately, the OCLC ILL Document Supplier Program has a new participant -- Infotrieve (OCLC symbol IN#). By utilizing libraries, publishers, vendors and online resources, IN# offers access to almost any published document. Sources of information include prominent academic library collections on the west coast and government and academic libraries in North America and Europe. Infotrieve also has access to foreign library collections, online databases, archives, publishers and vendors. For more information, see www.oclc.org/oclc/ill/supplier/toc.htm or the Name-Address Directory record NACN :104516. You can also access Infotrieve's home page at www.infotrieve.com, call (310) 208-1903 or (800) 422-4633, fax to (310) 208-5971 or e-mail to orders @infotrieve.com.British National Bibliography Record Processing Changes
Since mid-December, OCLC has been processing British National Bibliography (BNB) records differently than in the past. The records will continue to be loaded under the symbol UKM, but users will notice significant changes.In the past, the Library of Congress converted BNB records from UKMARC format to USMARC format and redistributed the records to OCLC. OCLC has now developed its own UKMARC to USMARC conversion software and is converting the records itself. In addition, OCLC is picking up the records via FTP from the British Library instead of the Library of Congress. Users will see the records in WorldCat a few days earlier. Changes have also been made in the way records are added to WorldCat. More BNB records will be matched to existing WorldCat records, which means fewer duplicate records will be added.
In 1993, the British Library changed the format for the control numbers in CIP records. Neither the Library of Congress software for processing control numbers nor OCLC's software could process the new format. Therefore, LC did not redistribute the records and OCLC was unable to load them. Beginning in December 1998, OCLC resumed loading Cataloging-in-Publication (CIP) records and their upgrades. BNB control numbers will be different on CIP records.
Examples:
- Non-CIP record: GB98-3134
CIP record: GB98-W0754
BNB control numbers are no longer present in field 010 (Library of Congress Control Number) in new records. BNB numbers begin with the prefix gb. The number will continue to be present in field 015 and field 029; field 029 is displayed only when a record is locked. Because the number is no longer in field 010, it is no longer indexed and searchable.
In 1999, all existing control numbers with a gb prefix will be removed from field 010. OCLC and BCR anticipate using the LCCN index will be more efficient with fewer false hits once the BNB numbers are removed.
Users will notice OCLC's changes to loading the BNB records over time because the
implementation is being done in several steps.
The new version includes enhancements to label printing, incorporates the OCLC
Dewey Cutter Macro, supports downloading up to 100 matches for each batch search
and allows you to import original records created in your local system for processing
to WorldCat.
Please see www.oclc.org/oclc/menu/catme.htm for more information about Cataloging
Micro Enhancer 1.10 and to download the software. If you have any questions, contact
Regan Harper at BCR.
To learn more about Full Text Option see Technical Bulletin 229 available on the
Internet at www.oclc.org/oclc/tb/tb229/frames_man.htm.
Or, if you prefer, contact Bonnie Robinson at BCR.
A big thank you to all of you who participated in the Q&D Survey and in User
meetings -- you helped design this service.
New Cataloging Micro Enhancer Version Available
OCLC has released a new version of the Cataloging Micro Enhancer for Windows
software. Version 1.10 is now available for electronic download at no extra charge to
OCLC members. At this time, only the electronic version is available; the compact
disc version will be available later this quarter with the new version of the OCLC
Access Suite.
OCLC Adds Full Text Option to ILL Service
Based on responses from OCLC ILL services users, OCLC has implemented a full-text
option to its ILL service. OCLC ILL Full Text Option extends the document supply
choices available to ILL staff to include electronic delivery. This new service allows
you to order documents from electronic suppliers as a seamless part of the OCLC ILL
work flow. You'll search for bibliographic records, display holdings and create ILL
requests just as you do now. OCLC has set holdings information for full-text suppliers
and has created local data records that will appear in union list displays. Electronic
document suppliers are identified in the holdings display with a location code of $$.
When you include an electronic supplier symbol in the lender string the system will
check your request for:
If all the elements are there, the system will search the document supplier for you,
retrieve the article and mail it to the address in :E-MAIL:. The request will be
updated to SHIPPED and :LENDING CHARGES: will be updated for the cost of the
article and ILL Fee Management. If you don't have all the elements or if the article
is not available, the system will advance the request to the next symbol in the string.
It is normal ILL and normal ILL Fee Management. Like Custom Holdings and ILL
Fee Management, Full Text Option is a feature within the OCLC ILL system available
to you whenever you want to use it; there is nothing to sign up for or fill out. The
only requirements are that all billing must go through OCLC's ILL Fee Management
service, and you must include an electronic address for delivery of the article.
