From your 1999-2000 OCLC Users' Council Delegates:
Arlene Luster Marcia Talley
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ph: 808-449-2209 ph: 410-293-6905
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nita Dean +1-614-761-5002
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OCLC ILL INTEROPERABILITY TASK FORCE ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS
DUBLIN, Ohio, Sept. 28, 1999--The OCLC Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Interoperability Task Force has issued its report and recommendations
regarding OCLC's implementation of the ISO ILL Protocol.
OCLC formed the task force on July 28, 1999 as a result of a controversy
over OCLC's plan to require ILL management system vendors to implement
extensions to the ISO ILL Protocol in order to synchronize ILL requests
between the OCLC system and other ILL management systems. OCLC believed
that most libraries would be using multiple ILL systems and that they would
want these systems to be synchronized. The task force was asked to
investigate the needs of OCLC member libraries for interlibrary loan system
interoperability and to advise OCLC on which methods should be implemented.
The task force concluded that while some users might want to use multiple
systems, it is not in the best interest of OCLC and its membership to
support that functionality. The task force stated that requiring
interlibrary loan management system vendors to implement the OCLC extensions
to the ILL protocols "was not the best choice for OCLC and its member
libraries" and recommended the following actions:
1. Do not implement the proposed ILL protocol extensions that provide for
the
synchronization of requests between systems, and
2. Immediately begin development of a protocol-based link that would channel
FirstSearch requests to local ILL management systems, thus avoiding the
problem of dual systems and the need to "backflow" messages to guarantee
synchronicity.
Shirley Baker, chair of the task force and vice chancellor for Information
Technology and Dean of University Libraries, Washington University
<http://www.wustl.edu> stated: "The task force recognizes that implementing
changes is a difficult and shared responsibility. Member libraries,
regional networks and OCLC should work together in effecting such changes,
encouraging libraries to incorporate new services."
"OCLC has accepted these recommendations and is moving forward on their
implementation," said Connie Zuga, vice president, Marketing-Reference and
Resource Sharing. "We were fortunate to be able to call on the expertise
and counsel of these distinguished ILL experts on this important matter.
Their work exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and the shared commitment
to librarianship that exists in the relationship that OCLC has with its
member libraries."
Ms. Baker presented the findings of the task force to the OCLC Board of
Trustees on
Sept. 27 and will present them again to the OCLC Users Council on Oct. 4.
OCLC will mount the complete report from the task force on the OCLC Web site
and will work to educate member libraries about how these recommendations
will impact their ILL operations.
The following persons served on the task force: Shirley Baker, vice
chancellor for Information Technology and Dean of University Libraries,
Washington University <http://www.wustl.edu> (chair); Tammy Nickelson
Dearie, director, Access and Delivery Services, University of California;
Bettina Meyer, assistant dean, Resources, Western Michigan University; Harry
E. Samuels, assistant university librarian, Information Technology,
Northwestern University Library;
Sarah Simpson, interlibrary loan supervisor, Tulsa City-County Library
System; Carol Smale, director, Resource-Sharing Services, National Library
of Canada; and Chris Wright, chief, Loan Division, Library of Congress.
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a
nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization
whose computer network and services link more than 34,000 libraries in 67
countries and territories. OCLC is dedicated to the public purposes of
furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.
In the United States, more information is available (via telephone:
+1-614-764-6000 or
1-800-848-5878; fax: +1-614-764-6096; or e-mail: [log in to unmask]). In
Europe, the Middle East and Africa, contact the OCLC Europe office, located
in Birmingham, United Kingdom (phone: +44 121 456 4656; fax: +44 121 456
4680; or e-mail: [log in to unmask]). In Asia and the Pacific region, contact
the OCLC Asia Pacific office in Dublin, Ohio (phone: +1-614-764-6189; fax:
+1-614-764-4331; or e-mail: [log in to unmask]).). In Canada, contact
the OCLC Canada office in Montreal, Quebec (phone: +1-450-658-6583 or
1-888-658-6583; fax: +1-450-658-6231; or e-mail: [log in to unmask]). In
Latin America and the Caribbean, contact the OCLC Latin America and the
Caribbean office in Dublin, Ohio (phone: +1-614-761-5196; fax:
+1-614-718-1026; or e-mail: [log in to unmask]).
More information about OCLC, its affiliated U.S. regional networks, service
centers, international divisions and distributors is available at
<http://www.oclc.org/>. (PS)
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Carla Krass
OCLC Users Council Coordinator
6565 Frantz Road, MC 705
Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614/764-6163
Fax: 614/798-5732
EMail: [log in to unmask]
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