By Regan W. Harper
Since OCLC introduced Flat Fee Internet pricing in July 1998, many libraries have
converted to this access and billing method to connect to OCLC Cataloging and Resource
Sharing services. Flat Fee Internet pricing allows libraries to use their own Internet
facilities to connect to OCLC services, just as standard Internet access does. The
difference is in the billing.
Flat Fee Internet pricing is based on a system of simultaneous connections. A library can
choose the number of simultaneous connections required to meet its needs and pay $157
per month per simultaneous subscription. This amount is charged regardless of a
library's actual usage. Libraries also can decide whether additional logins are blocked
from access or are connected at the connect-time charge of $.08 per minute.
Library staff can enroll in Flat Fee Internet pricing two different ways: the paper order
form available from BCR or the online order form on the OCLC Web site at
www.oclc.org/oclc/forms/flafee.htm. All forms, whether paper or electronic, require 15
days to process. The online form is faster because it goes immediately to OCLC the day
it's created, rather than having to be routed through the mail.
Library staff ordering Flat Fee Internet pricing via the online form need to take care to
ensure they have fully completed the form and that they receive a confirmation message
from OCLC. If the form is not fully completed, the order will not be submitted to OCLC
and will not result in a switch to Flat Fee Internet pricing. Common causes of
unsuccessful orders are:
- Inserting an invalid requested install date. The date to begin service must be at
least 15 calendar days from the date the online form is submitted.
- Not including any institution symbols (OCLC three-character symbols) in the
"list of OCLC symbols participating" field. Even if the requesting library is the
only institution participating in Flat Fee Internet pricing, that institution's symbol
is required in the form.
- Not clicking on the Submit button at the bottom of the form to send the request to
OCLC for processing.
OCLC will automatically send a confirmation notice to the e-mail address included in the
online form, as well as to Regan Harper at BCR's Aurora office. If you do not receive
this electronic confirmation, or you want to double check that your order went through,
contact Regan Harper.
For more information about Flat Fee Internet pricing or to request a paper order form,
contact Harper.
