What's New | CAPC | Conferences | Newsletters | Useful Websites | Search | Home

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Barbara Vaughan, Column Editor


OCLC NUMBER EXPANSION PROJECT

The following message was distributed by OCLC to local system vendors in mid-April, 2006.

To accommodate the ongoing growth of the WorldCat database, a project has been launched that will expand the OCLC Control Number (e.g., the number assigned by OCLC and stored in the 001 field of the MARC Bibliographic Format in OCLC exported records). Currently, the highest number that can be assigned to incoming bibliographic records is 99999999.

For bibliographic records up to and including OCLC number 99999999, the correct format of the OCLC number will remain as a three character prefix ("ocm"), followed by an eight digit number and a trailing space (e.g., ocm99999999 ). Starting with record number 100000000, the prefix will be "ocn", the number will be 9 digits in length and have no trailing space (e.g., ocn100000000).

All OCLC systems that output OCLC MARC21 Bibliographic records will be modified to output different OCLC number formats depending on the number itself (e.g., ocm99999999[blank] or ocn100000000).

The target date for all OCLC systems, products, and services to handle the new nine digit number format is November 1, 2006. OCLC expects to reach the 99999999 in number of total bibliographic records within WorldCat sometime shortly after November 1, 2006. OCLC programming should be in place by that date in order to be prepared on the day that number is reached. Systems will need to be ready to receive and process this new format of OCLC control number by that same date.

Please feel free to contact me with questions regarding this project.

Originally posted by:
Becky Dean
OCLC, Inc.
e-mail: <deanr@oclc.org>
phone: (800) 848-5878 x5144


OCLC SUPPORT FOR LARGER LENGTH RECORDS

The long-awaited enhancement planned for MARC Subscription to support larger length records has been installed. The new software was installed on April 26, 2006 and started creating files with the activity produced the day before.

The feature that will provide the ability to select the type(s) of transactions libraries wish to receive in their MARC Subscription file is scheduled to be implemented by mid-May 2006. Transaction types include update, produce & update, delete holdings and replace & update.

The "OCLC MARC Subscription Service Request" order form has been revised and re-named, "MARC Subscription Service Request". The form will be available in both "pdf" and "html" formats. Once the feature to select type(s) of transactions has been implemented, a library can complete the newly revised "MARC Subscri ption 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.

Thank you,
Cheryl Baugess

Originally posted on behalf of Cheryl Baugess by:
Chris Grabenstatter, OCLC
OCLC, Inc.
e-mail: <grabenst@oclc.org>
phone: (800) 848-5878


IMPLEMENTATION OF ISBN-13 IN OCLC

OCLC’s plans for implementing 13-digit ISBN are being finalized. Once the implementation date is determined, details will be announced a few months in advance. Meanwhile, the following will be added to the announcement about OCLC’s interim support for ISBN-13 <http://www.oclc.org/news/announcements/announcement96.htm>.

After OCLC completes the implementation of its new system/database platform, support for the ISBN-13 numbers will be added in the 020 field for Batchload, online input and searching.

In the future -- Originally posted by:
Richard Greene
OCLC, Inc.
e-mail: <richard_greene@oclc.org>
phone: (800) 848-5878
           (614) 764-6000 x6154


CONNEXION CLIENT ENHANCEMENTS

On Sunday, May 21, 2006, the following functionality was added to the Connexion Client.

OCLC-MARC Format Update 2006
With the May installation, OCLC begins implementation of changes in preparation for the OCLC-MARC Format Update 2006 that affect both the Connexion Browser and Client interfaces. Complete information regarding this update is found in Technical Bulletin 252: <http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/tb/252/>.

Except for specific changes detailed in Section 8 "Summary of Connexion Changes" in Technical Bulletin 252, OCLC strongly recommends that Connexion Browser and Client users not begin to use new capabilities, new fields and subfields, new indicators, new practices, new codes, and new characters until OCLC announces that they may be used. Note that, as OCLC converts data, users may encounter instances of these new data.

Error Fixes
Offline validation status changes to incorrect "failed" status. Immediately after validation completes, records that pass validation offline in Connexion Client 1.50 show Validate-C for "completed" in the status bar or save file list, as they should. When the local save file list or record is redisplayed, the validation status incorrectly shows Validate-F for "failed". This is an incorrect system response. The records actually have passed validation. Users can continue to update, replace and add records as usual. This problem will be resolved in this install.

Ability to Control Subdivisions Correctly ($x/$v)
Recently, the Library of Congress launched a project to modify values of bytes 008/15 (Subj use) in subdivision authority records. The new values in the records are 008/15 = b and replace the previously coded values of 008/15 = a. Changes have been made to ignore the value of the 008/15 value in all subdivision records that and allow users to control to the correct subdivision record.

Documentation
OCLC Connexion Client Help documentation will be updated as part of Client version 1.60, planned for release in June 2006.

Originally posted by:
Becky Dean
OCLC, Inc.
e-mail: <deanr@oclc.org>
phone: (800) 848-5878, x5144


CONNEXION BROWSER ENHANCEMENTS

On Sunday, May 21, 2006, the following functionality was added to the Connexion Browser. For more information, search Connexion News under the category "System Updates".

Metadata Extraction and Creation
Reimplementation of Metadata Extraction: The "Metadata Extraction" functionality in the Connexion Browser has been revised and expanded. In addition to creating records for Websites, users may now extract metadata and create records for locally stored files in the following formats: .htm, .html, pdf, and .doc. The creation dialogs for metadata extraction have been revised to place all extract functionality on the same screen rather than splitting between "Create/Single Record" and "Create/Multiple Records".

Note: "Metadata Extraction" functionality will also be included in the Connexion Client version 1.60, planned for release in June 2006.

OCLC-MARC Format Update 2006
With this May installation, OCLC begins implementation of changes in preparation for the OCLC-MARC Format Update 2006 that affect both the Connexion Browser and Client interfaces.

Except for specific changes detailed in Section 8 "Summary of Connexion Changes" in Technical Bulletin 252, OCLC strongly recommends that Connexion Browser and Client users not begin to use new capabilities, new fields and subfields, new indicators, new practices, new codes, and new characters until OCLC announces that they may be used. Note that, as OCLC converts data, users may encounter instances of this new data. Complete information regarding this update is found in Technical Bulletin 252 <http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/tb/252/>.

WebDewey / Abridged WebDewey May Quarterly Release
This May release consists of updating the DDC 22 and Abridged 14 databases in WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey, respectively. These database updates contain the latest changes to the DDC, including new editorially mapped LCSH up to Weekly List no. 27 & 28 (2005) and monthly postings.

Material Types in Search Dialog
In the Connexion browser, the Material Type ("Mat. Type") list has been added to the Keyword/Numeric Search area in the Connexion Browser to join the existing limiters of Language, Source, Format, Years, Microform, Internet and Holdings.

Connexion Browser Logoff Warning Screen
The wording of the Active Records message on the Connexion Browser logoff warning screen and the format of the screen has been changed to clarify the meaning of the active records message and to provide libraries with the information to hide the logoff warning for those who prefer not to see the message.

Error Fixes - Ability to Control Subdivisions Correctly ($x/$v)
Recently, the Library of Congress launched a project to modify the value of byte 008/15 ("Subj use") in subdivision authority records. The new value in the records is 008/15 = b and replaces the previously coded value of 008/15 = a. Changes have been made to ignore the 008/15 value in all subdivision records and allow users to control to the correct subdivision record.

Documentation
OCLC Connexion Browser Help documentation has been updated to include information on the MARC Format Updates. OCLC Connexion Browser documentation has also been updated to include the user apparent changes related to "Metadata Extraction and Capture" for this installation.

Originally posted by:
Becky Dean
OCLC, Inc.
e-mail: <deanr@oclc.org>
phone: (800) 848-5878, x5144


LC ANNOUNCEMENT ON SERIES AUTHORITIES

Editor’s note: Although much has happened since the announcement of April 20, 2006 from the Library of Congress on ceasing to maintain series authorities as of May 1, 2006, we are providing a link to it here <http://www.loc.gov/catdir/series.html>, because we believe that the future will prove this decision to have been a critical event for the practice of cataloging. Much of the subsequent discussion (mostly from the cataloger’s perspective) can be found on OCLC-CAT; if OLAC members have missed it, consider subscribing to OCLC-CAT and taking a look at the archives of the discussion.

Return to Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section

Last updated: June 16, 2006
http://www.olacinc.org/newsletters/june06/news.html
neumeist@buffalo.edu