From=20your 1998-99 OCLC Users' Council Delegates:
Arlene Luster Marcia Talley
[log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]
ph: 808-449-2209 ph: 410-293-6905
Marda Johnson, Director
Product Management & Implementation Division
December 21, 1998
Here are updates on recent activities in Product Management and
Implementation Division. This update covers the cataloging-related project=
s
that were previously covered in the quarterly Collections & Technical
Services Updates. Also included are updates from our new colleagues in the
TechPro/AsiaLink Department and from Conversion Services Division.
CATALOGING
British National Bibliography (UKM)
Changes to Batchload processing for the British National Bibliography will
be implemented prior to the end of 1998. The changes will allow OCLC to
resume loading CIP records distributed by the British Library. As part of
the changes, OCLC will receive records directly from the British Library an=
d
convert them from UKMARC to USMARC. We expect to reduce the lag time
between issuance of the records and loading into WorldCat to 1-2 days
instead of about 1 week. In order to load the CIP records, British Library
control numbers will no longer be added to field 010 and will not be
indexed. All existing "gb" numbers in field 010 will be removed.
Cataloging Express Service
OCLC will release a web-based copy-cataloging product as the first in a
series of offerings designed to appeal to small public libraries and the
K-12 market. Pilot testing of a prototype of the cataloging system with a
group of Ohio schools has been extended. Usability testing was conducted
over the summer. Implementation testing of a pre-production version of the
system will be done with a group of small public libraries in Missouri, and
a multi-type library group in Nebraska beginning in the Fall, 1998.
Reaction from initial users and testers of the system has been universally
positive. Improvements and enhancements are currently being built, and the
"rollout" tests in MO and NE will provide OCLC and the respective networks,
MLNC and NEBASE, an opportunity to assess and refine implementation-related
issues including profiling, training, and support. Discussions to resolve
remaining questions about membership and pricing issues continue.
CatCD for Windows
We are currently working on Version 1.11 of the CatCD for Windows software.
This new version will resolve a problem with workform dates in the year
2000. OCLC expects to release this new version with either the May 1999
regularly scheduled quarterly compact disc distribution.
CatME for Windows
An enhancement version of the CatME for Windows software (version 1.10) wil=
l
be released in early 1999. OCLC will release the electronic version for
download from the Web in January 1999, and the compact disc version will be
released with the OCLC Access Suite later during the first quarter of 1999.
This new version of software includes fixes to reported problems,
enhancements to label printing, and the capability to import a file of
original records created in the local system into CatME for processing to
WorldCat. For more information on this new version of software, see the
CatME home page at http://www.purl.org/oclc/catme.
OCLC discontinued support for CAT ME Plus with Internet access on October 1=
,
1998. The next step will be the end of support for the product on May 1,
1999. Migration from the DOS product to the Windows version continues at a
swift pace. We expect to release the "end of life" date very soon; we
anticipate this to be mid-1999.
CatME for Windows does not support NACO activity or access to the
Name-Address Directory. Previously we informed you that we hoped to add
this functionality to CatME soon. With the many priorities that OCLC is no=
w
undertaking, we've had to put this one on hold for awhile. We will
re-evaluate the priority of this project in a year or so, but we don't
expect any changes to CatME within the next year.
CJK Software
The OCLC CJK 3.0 Software Field Test began on November 3, 1998 at eight
institutions. After the successful completion of the Field Test, OCLC will
release the electronic version for download from the Web in January 1999,
and the compact disc version will be released with the OCLC Access Suite
later during the first quarter of 1999. Promotion activities include
demonstrations at January 1999 ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia and at the
March 1999 CEAL Conference/OCLC CJK Users Group Meeting in Boston. A
revised Product Information Sheet is under development and will be
distributed by January.
OCLC will end the support of the current CJK 2.11/2.11a versions six months
after the release of the Access Suite 2.0 including CJK 3.0. Users may
continue to use these versions after the end of support but, in case of
problems, they will be asked to upgrade to version 3.0.
OCLC Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC) Research Project
The OCLC Office of Research is coordinating a new research project designed
to explore the cooperative creation of a catalog of Internet resources. A
group of volunteers from 100 OCLC institutions will participate in using an=
d
evaluating a combination of various Office of Research technologies to: 1.
harvest web resources, 2. process/create metadata (including extraction,
manual and automated description, subject heading assignment,
classification, authority control), and 3. support automation of dynamic,
low-maintenance web page builds based on local criteria (e.g., automaticall=
y
creating University X's "Women's Studies" resources web page from selected
web resources generated from records from the CORC database). CORC will
offer web-based interfaces for all of these processes, and a CORC database
(initially seeded with records from NetFirst and InterCat) will be created
from CORC records. Both Dublin Core and MARC record creation will be
supported. Ultimately CORC is intended to help OCLC develop the means and
the knowledge of how cooperative cataloging of Internet resources should be
accomplished and tools for libraries to deliver web resources to users
through an OPAC-centered model, a web-page-centered approach, or a hybrid.
Networks are encouraged to identify libraries that could contribute to and
benefit from participation in CORC. A call for volunteers has been issued.
The Office of Research will host a CORC information session on January 29,
1999, at ALA Midwinter. Thom Hickey, Office of Research, is heading up the
CORC project. Eric Childress, CPD Cataloging Services Section, has been
assigned to work as a member of the CORC project team. More information is
available at <http://purl.oclc.org/corc>.
Label Program
We expect to release version 1.20 of the Label Program in mid-1999. This
version will incorporate the label printing enhancements that are included
in CatME 1.10: the ability to specify which column and row to start printin=
g
for laser printing, and the ability to change the font size.
Library of Congress Endeavor Implementation
Although there is little concrete to report at this time, OCLC is working
with Library of Congress staff on their implementation of Endeavor. OCLC
has compiled a list of issues, questions, etc., which will be discussed wit=
h
LC staff. LC is working with many partners to identify issues early in the
implementation process. OCLC's goal is to minimize the impact of LC's
changes and to continue exchanging bibliographic and authority records with
the least amount of interruption and delay. OCLC will be working with LC o=
n
many cooperative fronts.
MARC Update Projects
On October 25, OCLC implemented MARC format changes announced in Technical
Bulletin 227. The changes update OCLC-MARC, added USMARC holdings fields
(84X-87X) for loading to local systems, and changed export and MARC output
to conform more closely to USMARC.
A set of changes to OCLC's implementation of the Authorities Format is
scheduled for early 1999. Changes will allow for coding of data for topical=
,
form, and geographic subdivisions and genre/form headings in the subject
authority area. These changes are in support of LC's upcoming distribution
of subject subdivision and form/genre authority records. For name authorit=
y
records, additional call number fields will be implemented along with
simplified coding of the second indicator position for headings and
references. For both subjects and names, a number of new values are being
added to the Fixed Field. Distribution of Technical Bulletin 228 to
cataloging libraries will be completed by early January 1999.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
NLM will not be distributing records to OCLC while in the process of
implementing Endeavor. Therefore, no CATLINE, AVLINE, or NLM serials
records will be added to WorldCat from mid-October until sometime after
January 1, 1999. We will announce resumption of loading after NLM has
resumed service and we revise our software to accommodate the new records.
Meanwhile, OCLC and NLM continue discussions on issues related to loading
records that come out of a new system. NLM will be providing OCLC will a
test file as soon as possible. Although no new records will be distributed
immediately, NLM distributed the year-end processing in early December; the
file consisted of 2500 corrected records with updated headings. It was
processed December 15.
Project Quest
OCLC is embarking on a pilot project to investigate a new Web-based
interface to OCLC Cataloging and support for Arabic cataloging. "Project
Quest" is being used as the internal project name. We expect this project
to provide full cataloging functionality via a Web browser. David Whitehai=
r
is serving as the product manager for this pilot effort. We are currently
working to acquire MARC records with vernacular Arabic data. Doug Perkins
is coordinating the effort to obtain records. More information on this new
pilot is forthcoming.
PromptCat
PromptCat currently has 75 active libraries. Label files are created for 27
libraries.
PromptCat now has eleven active vendors: Academic Book Center, Ambassador
Book Service, Inc., Baker & Taylor, Inc., Blackwell's Book Services, Book
Clearing House, the Book House, Inc., Casalini Libri, DA Information
Services, Pty. Ltd., Majors Scientific Books, Inc., Rittenhouse Book
Distributors, and Yankee Book Peddler.
Uniform Title Correction Project
A joint project with the Library of Congress and OCLC, the scope of the
project is the development of software for the correction of uniform title
headings in bibliographic records from the LC MUMS Music File and from
WorldCat the Online Union Catalog. As a part of the project, software was
developed to create machine-derived authority records for headings in the L=
C
MUMS Music File lacking authority records. The second part of the project
was the correction of name, series, subject, and uniform title headings on
bibliographic records derived (copy cataloged) from WorldCat by OCLC staff
for LC. The project was completed in December 1998.
WorldCat
This fall, Ingram Book Services began participation in the OCLC CIP Upgrade
Program. Files of CIP records upgraded by Ingram staff are matched against
WorldCat on a regular basis. For more information about the CIP Upgrade
Program, see the OCLC web site at
http://www.oclc.org/oclc/man/cip/cipspec.htm.
During November 1998, records from Otto Harrassowitz were added to WorldCat=
=2E
They join records from Casalini Libri, Iberbook International, Puvill Libro=
s
and Jean Touzot Librarie Editeur as resources for selection and for
cataloging.
WorldCat Collections Sets
The electronic sets enhancement to OCLC WorldCat Collection Sets has
recently become active. No schedule has been set, therefore no completion
date is available. This enhancement will include an online order form,
automated updates of open sets, and availability of automated EDX for all
sets. We currently have catalogers working on Project Muse and Wilson
Select. ECO, JSTOR, and Academic Press Ideal records will be included. We
are seeking additional volunteers to catalog electronic sets.
Z39.50 Cataloging Service
Interest in OCLC Z39.50 Cataloging continues to increase. Libraries using
the most recent versions of Sirsi, GEAC and TLC Z39.50 clients, which allow
users to set holdings directly online via Z39.50, are very satisfied with
this feature. Other vendors, including Innovative, Endeavor, DRA and
Ameritech have all contacted OCLC for information on implementing this
feature with their local Z39.50 clients.
The official OCLC Z39.50 Cataloging web site has been upgraded to include
information on returning holdings information on OCLC Z39.50-derived record=
s
back to OCLC via batchloading or EDX. This allows libraries which do not
have the functionality to send holdings information back to OCLC directly
via Z39.50 to fulfill their OCLC membership obligations through either of
these two options. Development of the original input feature of this produc=
t
remains on hold due to limited Development resources and other projects suc=
h
as Y2K. No definitive date is available for completion of this enhancement
at this time.
QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM
In September 1998, a new Quality Control Section was created. In last
fiscal year ending June 1998, more than 45,000 change requests were receive=
d
reporting needed changes to records in the WorldCat database. OCLC staff
manually changed/corrected over 181,000, over 150,000 records were correcte=
d
using macros, and 1,629,987 records were corrected via scans.
Contents Note Editing Capability
OCLC has long encouraged users to enrich bibliographic records by adding
contents notes to records without them. The addition of a contents note
results in a Database Enrichment credit. Because contents notes are often
lengthy and involved, typographical errors are common. These errors are
easy to overlook and, with the advent of keyword searching of notes, may
hinder access. Until now, Full mode users have been prevented from
correcting contents notes and must instead report any errors to OCLC.
OCLC users with any authorization level Full and above are now able to lock
and replace records to edit contents notes (USMARC field 505). This allows
the correction of typographical errors in contents notes, as well as the
filling in of incomplete contents notes, without reporting those records to
OCLC. Such replaces will result in a Database Enrichment credit when the
institution's symbol does not already appear in the 040 field. Users will
continue to be able to add contents notes to records that lack them, but
will not be able to add additional 505 fields. All other Database
Enrichment edits will continue to be allowed in conjunction with this
change. Please see "Cataloging User Guide," 2nd edition, Chapter 6 for
details on locking and replacing records and on Database Enrichment.
This new capability is now automatically available to users of OCLC CatME
for Windows, OCLC CJK software, and OCLC Passport software users without
workstation software changes.
CONVERSION SERVICES
RetroCon Batch
OCLC's DOS-based MicroCon Service Program software has been used by hundred=
s
of libraries for retrospective conversion of over 30 million titles. Using
DOS-based software in today's library is quickly becoming a thing of the
past. With new operating systems such as Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98, th=
e
use of a DOS-based program is no longer possible. Because of this, OCLC
will discontinue the loan of the MicroCon Service Program software effectiv=
e
December 31, 1998.
Current users of the software may switch to the replacement service,
RetroCon Batch, or continue to use the MicroCon Service Program software
through June 30, 1999. Data diskettes may continue to be sent to OCLC User
Support Division for processing. On June 30, 1999, all support for the
MicroCon Service will end.
To adhere to the new OCLC naming conventions as well as reduce confusion in
the marketplace about the various batch retrospective conversion products,
the service name RetroCon Batch will replace the service names MicroCon,
MicroCon Select, MicroCon*Pro, MicroCon Delete, TapeCon, TapeCon Delete, an=
d
FullMarc effective December 31, 1998.
The general scope of RetroCon Batch will remain the same as the current
retrospective batch services listed above. Users will continue to submit
data to OCLC on an agreed upon media in a usable format for batch
processing. The result of the batch processing will be setting or deleting
holdings in WorldCat. Where applicable, copies of WorldCat record matches
will be returned to the user on an agreed upon media. Reports generated in
the past by specific machine processes will continue to be delivered to the
user.
Libraries will order the RetroCon Batch service in the same manner they hav=
e
ordered MicroCon, TapeCon, and FullMarc. The Networks will send a RetroCon
Batch order form to the library. The library or the network will complete
the information and send the form to OCLC. Network commissions will apply
for all sales. Network mark up on the service will apply. Libraries who
are not members or users of a regional network will order the RetroCon Batc=
h
service through OCLC Cataloging and Conversion Services Division.
The new RetroCon Batch order form and the Product Information Sheet will be
available December 31, 1998. The RetroCon Batch User Guide will be
completed by June of 1999.
TECHPRO/ASIALINK
AsiaLink: AsiaLink is a selection, acquisition and cataloging service for
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese language titles. The AsiaLink
service moved to Dublin, Ohio in December 1997. As of June 1998, the
service is fully staff with a language specialist for each language.
AsiaLink provides both preselected sets of adult and juvenile titles and a
customized collection development service. Public libraries are the main
market for AsiaLink Services. New libraries using AsiaLink services in 199=
8
include:
University of California, San Diego
Vernon Area Public Library
Beaverton City Library
Kansas City Public Library
New Haven Free Public Library
Pierce County Library System
Atlantic City Public Library
AsiaLink can provide shelf-ready titles (physical processing) if desired.
We are excited about providing this service for libraries who may not have
staff expertise in these languages but who wish to serve patron populations
who read in these languages.
In 1998, we have been expanding our offerings by exploring and assessing ne=
w
book vendors and distributors (especially vendors and distributors and
distributors who are dealing with materials published in Mainland China and
Vietnam) to provide us more varieties and availability of materials to meet
library's diverse needs. To date AsiaLink has established relationships
with 30 CJKV book vendors and distributors.
TechPro: The TechPro Service began its largest one-time (as opposed to
ongoing) project to date in September 1998 for the Link=F6ping Stadsbibliot=
ek
of Link=F6ping, Sweden. Over 60,000 titles, including books, scores, and
serials will be processed in 18 months. Their foreign language rare book
collection (foreign in this case meaning non-Swedish) needs cataloging
following a fire in which the books were saved, but the catalog was lost.
An article about this project will appear in the next issue of the OCLC
Newsletter.
The OCLC TechPro service continues to add language expertise and to catalog
for over 100 libraries in any given month. TechPro is cataloging in all
formats and many languages. We continue to provide an option for libraries
to receive cataloging for materials they cannot do in-house.
NACO participation for TechPro and CIP Upgrade Unit: Both TechPro in Dublin
and OCLC's CIP Upgrade Unit in Portland received NACO training this year.
Both units have now been declared independent in personal names. The CIP
Unit is correcting existing authority records and creating new ones based o=
n
the upgrading work they are doing with piece in hand. TechPro is creating
new headings for selected headings as time permits. We also offer heading
creation for any library wishing to contract for this service. The Nationa=
l
Library of Medicine currently contracts with TechPro to create name
authority records for headings associated with the Slavic language project
being cataloged in TechPro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jessica L. Smith
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]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
