Action for Libraries
OCLC Update
By Regan W. Harper
Is CONTENTdm Right for You?
The unique collections created by current CONTENTdm users best demonstrate the power of CONTENTdm. To help connect your CONTENTdm prospects with current collection sites,
DiMeMa has announced the CONTENTdm Collection of Collections. The collection contains cataloged records of public CONTENTdm collections created by CONTENTdm users.
Two collections will be featured monthly on the DiMeMa Web site. To see the featured collections and access the new Collection of Collections go to www.contentdm.com/customers/. The
Collection of Collections is linked from the OCLC Web site at:
www.oclc.org/contentdm/success/.
In the Collection, you will find records representing a sampling of the thousands of collections created by CONTENTdm users. Some records represent individual collections; some connect you to entire digital libraries. Each record attempts to describe the breadth and depth of the resources you will find when you access the actual site using the URL listed in each record.
Predefined Groups for Use in WCA
OCLC has created 14 new Predefined Groups against which individual subscribers can compare their collections for WorldCat Collection Analysis.
The new groups are listed in the Admin module on the Predefined Groups screen. All but Google 5 are based on institutions listed in the U.S. News and World Report's "2005 America's Best Colleges" and "2006 America's Best Graduate Schools."
To make it easier for users to locate a specific type of Predefined Group, OCLC has set up Categories and Subcategories with dropdown menus and assigned each Predefined Group to one or more. When a comparison with one of the subject-based groups is requested, the resulting analysis will be scoped to appropriate divisions. For instance when a comparison with the "Top 10 Law Schools" is requested, the resulting analysis will show only results for the Law Division.
Over time OCLC will add more groups in different subject areas, as well as groups for different sizes and types of libraries. To view the various groups and their members, see www.oclc.org/support/documentation/collectionanalysis/predefinedgroups.html.
For more information, contact Heather Clark (hclark@bcr.org) at BCR.
Select MARC Subscription Transactions
A new feature gives MARC Subscription subscribers the option to select the types of transactions they wish to receive in their MARC Subscription file. Transaction types include update, produce and update, delete holdings and replace and update. The OCLC MARC Subscription Service Request order form has been revised and renamed to MARC Subscription Service Request and is available in HTML format at www3.oclc.org/app/subser/ and in PDF format at www.oclc.org/support/forms/pdf/subser.pdf.
A library can complete the newly revised MARC Subscription Service Request form to create a new setup, update an existing setup or cancel a setup. The Product Status Change form is no longer needed to cancel a subscription.
Contact BCR's Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) for more information.
Resource Sharing Enhanced in WorldCat
June enhancements brought new functionality to OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing and the Policies Directory.
- A new link to Local Holdings Records (LHR) from WorldCat Resource Sharing to Connexion Browser allows you to edit, update and create a new Local Holding Record from WorldCat Resource Sharing. A new LHR Update button links you directly to the LHR in Connexion Browser to edit LHRs or to link you to a blank work form to create a new one. The button is available on the Search Results screen as well as on Pending and Review request screens. This link provides an improved workflow by allowing direct access to your LHRs.
- WorldCat Resource Sharing now auto-deflects resource sharing requests based on policies defined in the Policies Directory. Users will need to update the Policies Directory with deflection criteria for borrowing requests. Requests that meet the criteria will bypass the library's request manager file and move to the next lender in the string. This process decreases response time and speeds delivery to the end user. Deflection is based on the request service type, group membership and format type. The request history will record deflection as a reason for no.
BCR will sponsor a Free Friday Forum on July 7, from 10-11a.m., Mountain Time, that will demonstrate how to build a deflection policy and how a request will move through a lending string with the deflection service. See a description of the seminar at www.bcr.org/training/online/fff/.
Please feel free to contact Heather Clark (hclark@bcr.org) with any questions.