A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — A u g u s t 2 0 0 0

Customizing OCLC's New FirstSearch

By Michael Sauers

(Part I)

The new OCLC FirstSearch service administration module has several features that can help you increase the level of integration between FirstSearch and your local library system.

After logging into the FirstSearch administration module, you have the option of customizing four areas:

Your library's logo: Click on Your Library in the System Settings section of the main menu.

In the Your library's logo field enter the URL for a .gif or .jpg file of your library's logo. For best results, the file should be no larger than 120 pixels wide by 60-to-100 pixels high. If your image file is larger than these dimensions, it will be shrunk to fit, which may significantly distort the image.

Throughout each FirstSearch session, your library's logo will be displayed in the blue menu on the right below the menu text. More details can be found at www.oclc.org/oclc/fs_new/adminref/admin_ref_yourlib.htm#CHDBEEJF.

Links to your library's Web-based OPAC: Use the Links to your library's catalog feature to enter the URL of your library's OPAC. The OPAC must be accessible through a Web browser to work. This will display a link to your catalog near the top of all records whether or not FirstSearch indicates that your library owns the item.

When the user accesses this link and goes to your catalog, a Return button is placed on the screen above your OPAC's screen so the user may easily return to FirstSearch. While in the OPAC, the user is still logged into FirstSearch until such time as he or she returns to FirstSearch and properly exits or the timeout limit is reached.

More details can be found at www.oclc.org/oclc/fs_new/adminref/admin_ref_yourlib.htm#BABGGHCD.
Local ISBN and ISSN Searching: You can provide automatic links to your OPAC that will search on the ISBN or ISSN of the record being displayed. To find the proper URL, do an ISBN or ISSN search on your OPAC and copy the URL from the browser's results screen into this field, removing the ISBN or ISSN number.

More details are found at www.oclc.org/oclc/fs_new/adminref/admin_ref_yourlib.htm#BABCGHAD.
Customized Database Categories: The database categories offered by default in the new FirstSearch are generic and may not have a lot of meaning to your users. The new FirstSearch service allows you to create custom groups. Name the new group, add the databases you wish to appear in that group and then specify that the new group appear in the category listing. (You cannot delete the default groups, but you can instruct them not to display in the category listing.)

Suggestions for categories are newspapers, book reviews, abstracts and full-text records. Another interesting suggestion is to create groups based on students' majors available on your college campus (biology, history, computer science, etc.). More details can be found at www.oclc.org/oclc/fs_new/adminref/admin_ref_db.htm#4.

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