A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — J u n e 2 0 0 3

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper

WebDewey Based on Enhanced DDC 22 Database
The July quarterly release of WebDewey, scheduled for June 15, is based on the new Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) 22 database. The initial electronic release and the print version are the same in terms of the content of schedules and tables, but WebDewey contains many more built numbers and index entries, plus mappings to selected Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The Library of Congress plans to start assigning DDC 22 numbers on July 1. For more information, contact BCR's Rosario Garza (rgarza@bcr.org).

Reporting Record Changes/Errors via Connexion
The logon screen for the OCLC Connexion browser links to Web forms for reporting changes/corrections or duplicate records that do not require photocopies or proof for the items. If this is not convenient, librarians can always send an e-mail message for these types of changes/corrections. For more information, contact Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) at BCR.

ILL Policies Directory News
The ILL Policies Directory was released on February 16 and has already been used by 700 libraries to create more than 1,600 policies. The directory continues to grow daily as OCLC migrates away from the NAD for ILL policies and can be accessed directly at illpolicies.oclc.org. There is no charge to view, create or edit policies.

OCLC is currently working on the following Policies Directory enhancements:

Symbol-only search for OCLC institution symbols.
Symbol-only display option for easy copying into Custom Holdings groups.
New group options including the ability for a group administrator to create intra- group records containing policies, contacts and group information. Currently, only OCLC profiled groups, such as a GAC, GAC/UL or UL, are searchable in the directory.

Please note: Many ILL groups have not been profiled in OCLC. The BCR ILL Code signers and Amigos/ BCR ILL Code signers are currently being profiled and will be available soon. If you know of other groups (state, consortia, regional, special interest) that should also be included, please contact Ann Schwab at BCR (aschwab@bcr.org). There is no charge to profile new groups.

BCR encourages all libraries to enter their information in the OCLC Policies Directory by August. For assistance, view OCLC Technical Bulletin 248 available at www.oclc.org/technicalbulletins/248/ or contact BCR's Ann Schwab (aschwab@bcr.org).

OCLC Connexion TCP/IP Export Upgrade
OCLC has added two more servers to handle the increasing volume of exports from OCLC Connexion. When you export from the Connexion browser to your local system via TCP/IP export, the exported record comes directly from the OCLC server, not through your local workstation. If your institution uses a firewall for security, you are required to open your firewall to accept records from OCLC.

Previously, this data came from IP address 132.174.2.67. OCLC records will now come from the following IP addresses:132.174.2.5, 132.174.2.21 and 132.174.2.67. The port ranges for all three IP addresses are 30000-30499. If you previously opened your firewall to only 132.174.2.67, you will now need to open it for all three IP addresses listed above for TCP/IP export to work properly.

This impacts TCP/IP export in the Connexion browser only. It does not impact export to a file from the Connexion browser or from other interfaces such as Passport, Cataloging Micro Enhancer or the forthcoming Connexion client.

For more information, contact Regan Harper (rharper@bcr.org) at BCR.

Interlibrary Loan Enhanced with Custom Holdings
You can now add your own library's symbol to any of your custom holdings groups. If you choose to add it, your library's holdings symbol will appear in your custom holding displays, but will not be included in system-suggested lender strings.

Adding your symbol to a custom holdings group can be helpful when displaying custom holdings union list displays since this allows you to review your own LDR information at the same time as you view holdings information for other libraries in their custom holdings path.

This enhancement is available in both the ILL Web and Passport. Libraries using the ILL Web will be able to display their currently active custom holdings paths. A button labeled "Current Holdings Path" is being added to the interface that will enable libraries to view the name of the currently active holdings path and the names of custom holdings groups within the active path. Libraries using Passport have had access to this type of functionality through the sho hp command.

For more information, contact Ann Schwab at BCR (aschwab@bcr.org).

CatExpress and Export
OCLC is moving the CatExpress Export function to the Oracle platform. This move should be totally transparent to users. While any records awaiting download should not be affected, CatExpress Export users should download their files every day. Users should not try to build files with more than one day's or one session's worth of data. If libraries cannot download their records immediately, then OCLC MARC Subscription may be a better option.

For more information about export in CatExpress, contact Linda Gonzalez (lgonzalez@bcr.org) at BCR.

Next Article | Previous Article | Table of Contents | BCR Publications