A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper
Connexion Browser Support Ends for IE 5.0/5.01
OCLC plans to end Connexion browser support for Internet Explorer versions 5.0 and 5.01 on February 19, 2006. At that time, Connexion browser users, including CatExpress and WebDewey users, will no longer be able to log on using IE 5.0 and IE 5.01. In preparation for this, after the November 13 Connexion browser enhancement install, all users accessing OCLC Connexion browser with IE 5.0 or IE 5.01 will receive a message as part of the logon screen, reminding them to upgrade before February 19.

Connexion Changes Installed
A problem in Connexion Client 1.40 that resulted in "an error has occurred" message has been resolved. This affected users who executed a search in the LC Names and Subject Authority File, then selected a single record, locked and replaced, and upon replacing the record, tried to navigate forward or backward through the set of records.

With this installation, the ability to control headings in the browser from the Dublin Core template has been disabled. In the Dublin Core template, Control heading from the functions dropdown list in DC template view and Control all from the actions menu in DC template view are no longer available. However, the ability to "uncontrol" a heading in the browser on the functions dropdown list in DC template view is a viable function. All controlled headings will be presented to users in the browser in DC template view, and users can continue to click on links to view the authority record.

For more details, see the Connexion client problems Web site (www.oclc.org/connexion/support/client_known_problems.htm) or the Connexion browser problems Web site (www.oclc.org/connexion/support/browser_known_problems.htm).

Label Printing in WorldCat Resource Sharing
Instructions for printing Ship To or Return To labels using mail merge in Microsoft Word 2003 using the Request Manager file in OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing are now available at www.oclc.org/support/documentation/resourcesharing/using/print_labels/default.htm.

For additional assistance or answers to your questions, contact BCR's Heather Clark (hclark@bcr.org).

Open WorldCat Wiki Available
OCLC now offers Open WorldCat users the opportunity to add content to WorldCat records. A recently implemented pilot gives users the ability to add reviews, notes and table of contents information to WorldCat records. The pilot will continue into early 2006.

The table of contents and notes information will be displayed under the Details tab in Open WorldCat. The table of contents and notes can be edited by any user, who can then add or correct information in those fields. The reviews will have their own Reviews tab. Users will be able to read reviews written by other users as well as add or edit their own reviews. Patrons must register to add or edit content. User names are listed for reviews and for the last user who edited content. OCLC will monitor the content and will provide guidelines for adding content.

OCLC plans to later expand this service to the WorldCat database in FirstSearch and perhaps to such services as resource sharing and collection analysis to give information professionals a direct way to affect the content of local or WorldCat cataloging records.

This is a way to extend the OCLC cataloging cooperative to include noncataloging library professionals and patrons. This service will help you encourage and solicit input from your local patron community, creating interest in your library's content.

WorldCat Resource Sharing Enhancements Restored
The enhancements to WorldCat Resource Sharing allowing for improved searching techniques in the Request Manager (keyword, phrase, truncation, exact match) that were installed on October 9, have been restored. A description of how you may now search all fields is outlined at www.oclc.org/support/documentation/resourcesharing/using/searchrequests/default.htm.

For more information, contact Heather Clark (hclark@bcr.org) at BCR.

Bound To Stay Bound Books New PromptCat Vendor
Bound To Stay Bound Books, Inc. (BTSB), a library prebinder, is now an OCLC PromptCat vendor. BTSB provides high quality children's and young adult books bound to the strict standards of the Library Binding Institute in order to withstand the hard use they receive in schools and public libraries.

For more information, visit www.btsb.com/ or call (800) 637-6586. For a complete list of current PromptCat vendors see www.oclc.org/promptcat/about/vendors/. Libraries may now sign up for PromptCat with Bound To Stay Bound as a vendor.

For more information, contact Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) at BCR.

New OCLC Documentation Available
A new quick reference from OCLC's Documentation Department provides the information you need to use the Connexion Browser interface. The Connexion Browser Cataloging Quick Reference provides essential information about editing records, using constant data and the save file, authority control, creating labels, exporting records, taking final actions and frequently used keystrokes.

To request a free copy of this eight-page quick reference, send an e-mail request to orders@oclc.org. When requesting print copies, please specify product code REF1109. This quick reference is also available online on OCLC's Web site. The HTML version is at: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/ browser/cataloging/cnx_br_cat_quick_ref/. The PDF version is available at: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/browser/cataloging/cnx_br_cat_quick_ref/cnx_br_ref_card_05.pdf.

A new online user guide, OCLC Catalog Cards, is also now available at no cost. This guide provides the information about OCLC catalog cards and contains guidelines and examples for card production. The information in this user guide was formerly found in Chapter 7 of the Cataloging User Guide. OCLC Catalog Cards is available from three locations on the OCLC Web site:

The WorldCat Documentation area: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/default.htm
The Connexion Browser Documentation area: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/browser/default.htm
The Connexion Client Documentation area: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/default.htm

Amazon.com New Open WorldCat Partner
Amazon.com has joined Baker & Taylor as a fulfillment partner in the OCLC Open WorldCat program to facilitate the online purchase of books identified through WorldCat. Now, Web searchers who reach WorldCat from popular search engines or other Web resources may use a book buying link to purchase books through Amazon.com, in addition to the initial pilot partner, Baker & Taylor. Each time a Web searcher purchases a book through Open WorldCat, a portion of the proceeds supports the ongoing development of Open WorldCat.

For more information about the Open WorldCat program, visit www.oclc.org/worldcat/open/.

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