By Mike Wright
The chances are pretty good that BCR members have been hearing a lot about OCLC's
CORC service. Chances are also pretty good that many members aren't sure what CORC
is all about.
CORC (Cooperative Online Resource Cataloging) is a Web-based service being
developed by OCLC and member libraries around the globe. It's a cooperative effort to
create a high-quality, well-organized database of Web resource descriptions. The aim of
CORC is to enhance library users' access to the vast intellectual content of the World
Wide Web. The key to this goal is the fact that the contents of the database are library-selected
CORC weeds out the junk for library users, providing access to organized,
relevant electronic resources. In a parallel comparison between CORC and commercial
search engines done at Pennsylvania State University, the CORC database consistently
gave more useful results.
The creation of CORC records is simple. The system can automatically generate records
in either basic MARC or Dublin Core Metadata formats by just clicking a mouse button.
New or existing records can be exported in MARC format into local library systems
while Dublin Core records can be exported into other local databases. In addition, CORC
users can create pathfinders for subject-based retrieval of multiple resources on a given
topic.
Any OCLC member library can join CORC. OCLC has made it clear that participation
from any type of library is welcome without restriction. OCLC will provide training via
a Web teleconference. Libraries can join until July 1 with no charges being assessed.
BCR will be providing a series of articles in Action for Libraries on OCLC's CORC
service over the next few months. Each article will focus on a particular aspect of
CORC, as well as implications for all segments of the library, from reference to
acquisitions to cataloging. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about CORC, visit
the CORC home page on the World Wide Web at www.oclc.org/oclc/corc.
