BCR - BCReview: OCLC Policies Directory and WorldCat Resource Sharing Enhancements newsletter

November 16, 2007

OCLC Policies Directory and WorldCat Resource Sharing Enhancements

Enhancements to the OCLC Policies Directory and to WorldCat Resource Sharing were recently completed by OCLC. Improved advanced searching and deflection capabilities and additional quick tips are now available in the OCLC Policies Directory. WorldCat Resource Sharing updates include the ability to retain the first renewal date and to print more than one shipping label at a time.

Improved Advanced Searching
This enhancement will return more accurate results for the advanced search in the Policies Directory. Advanced Search now eliminates formats listed as exceptions, noncirculating or items in notes fields. Additionally, OCLC testing and training symbols will be eliminated from the search results. The Advanced Search for Group Affiliation has also been fixed.

Additional Quick Tips
Additional Quick Tips will be added to the Change OCLC ILL Supplier Status page. This will clarify date entry for libraries wanting to set themselves as nonsuppliers.

Additional Deflection Capabilities

Cost — Lenders will be able to set a pricing threshold that says: If the borrower's maximum cost is less than my charges, deflect it.

Age of Material — Libraries will be able to state that they will not lend materials that are of a certain age. Libraries can state if they wish to deflect requests for materials that are less than XX years old or greater than XX years old. This is based on publication date, not when the holding was set, to indicate how long an item has been in a library's collection.

Last Lender in Lender String — Lenders will be able to state that requests be deflected unless they are the last lender in the lender string (not the only lender with a holding). In effect, this is a deflection override: Deflect all requests unless I'm last in the lender string.

The OCLC Policies Directory Quick Reference has been updated to reflect these changes.

Renewal Date
WorldCat Resource Sharing users will now have a record of the due date in the Due Date field if a second renewal request is denied. Previously, the due date of the first renewal was lost.

More Detail Descriptions on Label Format
WorldCat Resource Sharing users will now have a more descriptive definition for the label sizes including additional label formats and the number of labels on a sheet. Users will also now have the ability to print more than one shipping label at a time.

Questions? Please contact Beth Levrault (blevraul@bcr.org) at BCR.

posted by: Bethany Levrault