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

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper

Print Copies of Technical Bulletins Halted
To reduce printing and shipping costs, OCLC has stopped distributing print copies of technical bulletins. Free copies continue to be available on the OCLC Web site in PDF and HTML formats. For a list of current technical bulletins, see www.oclc.org/technicalbulletins/.

OCLC will announce new technical bulletins via listservs: OCLC-Cat, DOCUpdate-l and Techbul-l. To subscribe, use the OCLC Internet List Subscription Request at www.oclc.org/oclc/forms/listserv.htm.

Connexion Client Preview Updated
The client interface to OCLC Connexion is coming in June 2003. OCLC has updated the client preview document on the Connexion Web site (www.oclc.org/connexion/) to include additional information and new screen shots. Please continue to watch the Web site for more information about the Connexion client.

Setup Worksheet for Connexion Available
To help you migrate from OCLC Passport or Cataloging Micro Enhancer software to the browser interface of the Connexion service, OCLC has developed a setup worksheet. It contains a list of basic settings to check, select or enter before you use the Connexion browser for cataloging. Required settings are noted. The worksheet is available in the Getting Started section from the OCLC Connexion documentation page (www2.oclc.org/connexion/documentation/).

CatExpress Tutorial Revised
The revised OCLC Cataloging Express Tutorial is now available and reflects the new functions in the latest update of the service. Screen shots in the tutorial incorporate CatExpress' new look. The tutorial covers new features including creating labels and exporting bibliographic records. It also describes the session timer options, show or hide quick tips, tab size options and improved navigation in large search result sets. The CatExpress Tutorial can be viewed at www.oclc.org/oclc/cataloging/catexpress/.

ISBN Standard Under Revision
The ISO standard that defines the ISBN (ISO 2108) is currently undergoing revision. The proposed new version of the ISBN, to be implemented in January 2007, represents a complete integration of the ISBN into the structure that is used for the UPC/EAN. The structure of the new 13-digit ISBN will match exactly the bar coded UPC/EAN form of the current 10-digit ISBN.

More information about the proposal is available on the NISO Web site (www.niso.org/standards/resources/isbn.html) and the ISO TC46 Web site (www.nlc-bnc.ca/iso/tc46sc9/isbn.htm). Much of the information on the two Web sites is aimed at publishers and others in the book trade. Similar information is being made available to library automation vendors, who will also be affected. OCLC staff are involved in the revision process and are already considering what system changes will be needed to support the new form of the ISBN.

Critical: Correct Coding of E-resource Records
OCLC recently scanned WorldCat to identify records for electronic resources incorrectly coded in the fixed field element FORM as nonelectronic. Most of the errors resulted from online input, not batch processing.

Accurate coding of this data in fixed field element 'FORM (Form of Item)' is critical. OCLC software uses the code in two essential ways:

For indexing in FirstSearch. In the future it will also be used for indexing through cataloging interfaces.
For duplicate detection, both when records are imported in a batch into the OCLC system and when software that eliminates duplicates in WorldCat is run. If code s is not present, the record is not indexed correctly. Lack of coding is likely to cause duplicates to be ignored and some records to be merged when they should not be.

Reminder: In the fixed field element FORM, use code letter s electronic resources when the item is intended for manipulation by a computer. The item may reside in a carrier accessed either directly or remotely. It may also require the use of peripheral devices attached to the computer (e.g., a CD-ROM player). Do not use code s for items that do not require the use of a computer (e.g., music compact discs and videodiscs).

Please review your practices and policies to incorporate code s for electronic resources in FORM as described in Bibliographic Formats and Standards.

PromptCat Delivers More DLC Records
OCLC has installed changes in the PromptCat service that allow PromptCat to deliver more Library of Congress (DLC) records and fewer British Library (UKM) records. PromptCat now delivers the record it considers the best match to the vendor's record. Previously, when a DLC and a UKM record existed in WorldCat, PromptCat often delivered the UKM record.

PromptCat now looks at the cataloging source of the record chosen by the matching algorithms. If the cataloging source is anything but DLC, PromptCat searches WorldCat again. If a DLC record is found, that record is delivered instead.

More information about PromptCat can be found on the OCLC Web site.

WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey Updated
The latest quarterly updates (March 2003) of Web- Dewey and Abridged WebDewey contain the latest version of the schedules, tables, manual and relative index entries (print and electronic) from their respective enhanced DDC databases. The hierarchical displays in WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey feature updated main class and division captions (e.g., 700 Arts & recreation; 790 Sports, games & entertainment).

The latest releases of WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey include:

Updates through March 2003 of Dewey Decimal Classification, Edition 21, for WebDewey and of Abridged Edition 13 for Abridged WebDewey (corrections, new developments, new built numbers and additional electronic index terms). The database also includes new relative index terms and mapped LCSH for holidays around the world.
All editorially mapped LCSH/DDC from LCSH Weekly Lists through No. 32, 2002.
Fixes for browse paging so that entries are not repeated unnecessarily when paging up or down and for inconsistent capitalization in the browse view. Improved diacritics have been implemented in the browse view.

The July release of WebDewey will be based on the enhanced DDC 22 database.

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