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Action for Libraries

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper
Resources for Local Holdings Maintenance
On February 19, OCLC retired its Union List subsystem and provided access to Local Holdings Maintenance through the Connexion Browser system (www.oclc.org/connexion/default.htm). As part of the move, OCLC converted the format of its Local Data Records (LDRs) to the MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data. The following resources have been made available to help library staff make the transition to the new Local Holdings service.

  • Product Page on OCLC Web site: The product page for Local Holdings Maintenance (www.oclc.org/localholdings/default.htm) contains the essential information about OCLC's implementation of the MARC 21 Format for Local Holdings. Links are provided to the OCLC Statistics Web site, the Regional Service Providers Web page and other relevant Web pages.
  • Documentation: The documentation for Local Holdings Maintenance is found online at www.oclc.org/support/documentation/localholdings/default.htm.
  • Frequently Asked Questions: An FAQ covering all aspects of the migration from OCLC's Union List service to the Local Holdings Maintenance service are available at www.oclc.org/unionlist/migration/faq.htm.
  • Online Tutorials: Several tutorials demonstrating the features and functions of Local Holdings Maintenance are available at: www.oclc.org/support/training/localholdings/default.htm. Tutorials include an "Overview," "Search WorldCat for local holdings records," "Maintain local holdings records," "Create local holdings records" and "Agent activity."

Known Issues with Local Holdings Maintenance Now that the Local Holdings Maintenance functionality is available in the Connexion Browser, OCLC will be posting information about problems with the functionality as part of the Known Issues page for the Connexion Browser at www.oclc.org/connexion/support/browser_known_problems.htm.

Items currently on the list are:

  • Default Loan/Reproduction bytes (008 bytes 20 & 21) being set differently on Local Holdings workforms for serial and non-serial material.
  • 008 Bytes 20 (Lending Policy) & 21 (Reproduction Policy) not transferring correctly on a derive Local Holdings command.
  • Cannot print local holdings constant data records from the Actions drop-down list.
  • Changes to My Status on existing LH Constant Data Records not being retained.

Change in Holdings Display in FirstSearch Library staff and patrons began seeing minor changes to the Local Holdings Information screens on January 29, making it easier to locate information on the screen. The main visual differences in the displays are:

  • The use of the format data as specified in the local holdings record rather than the bibliographic record. Many libraries have opted to attach all of their holdings to a single-print version of the bibliographic record. Using the format as specified by the library in the local holdings record will allow library staff and patrons to quickly determine whether the holdings described are for a format different than the bibliographic record.
  • The inclusion of the OCLC record number within the holdings statement.
  • The elimination of text derived from coded data that duplicated what is shown by the format of the holdings statements. Elimination of this data makes for a cleaner display of the holdings without eliminating useful information since the holdings statements themselves indicate what volumes are retained and whether the library is continuing to receive the material.

CONTENTdm 4.1 Coming Soon
DiMeMa released CONTENTdm 4.1 in late February. It is free to all users with a current Annual Maintenance Agreement. Update kits are available for download from the User Support Center. CD copies will also be available by request for organizations that wish to do a clean install.

CONTENTdm 4.1 has several new features, a few of which are highlighted below.

  • An upgraded image library in the Acquisition Station provides improved performance and reliability on imaging operations. Import of additional TIFF formats (JPEG, 4-bit and 16-bit) are supported.
  • Custom thumbnails can be imported in batch when importing multiple files in the Acquisition Station, speeding the application of custom thumbnails for non-image collections containing audio, video or PDF files.
    Projects in the Acquisition Station now support HTTPS, so users can run CONTENTdm in a secure environment.
  • IP ranges are supported when restricting access to collections or items, making assigning permissions more efficient.
  • An option to suppress individual pages that comprise compound objects from search results is available. When this option is enabled, a search identifying matches within pages of compound objects displays only the compound objects rather than individual pages in the results list.
  • PHP 5.0 is supported. Users can choose to run CONTENTdm with PHP 4.3 or 5.0.

See a complete feature list on the User Support Center at the DiMeMa site.

OCLC Launches New Magazine
OCLC has launched a new serial entitled NextSpace, replacing the OCLC Newsletter. NextSpace is about the "next idea or the next trend affecting libraries. It is also about the next step that will help libraries create value and shape their future." The first issue, available at www.oclc.org/nextspace/default.htm, focuses on library rebranding.

If you are subscribed to the OCLC Newsletter, you will automatically receive NextSpace. If not, subscribe online at www3.oclc.org/app/newslet/.