NEWS FROM OCLC
Compiled by Jay Weitz
OCLC to Pilot WorldCat Local
OCLC is piloting a new service that will allow libraries to combine the cooperative power of OCLC member libraries worldwide with the ability to customize WorldCat.org as a solution for local discovery and delivery services. The WorldCat Local pilot builds on WorldCat.org, which allows Web access to the world’s richest database for discovery of materials held in libraries. Through a locally-branded interface, the service will provide libraries the ability to search the entire WorldCat database and present results beginning with items most accessible to the patron. These might include collections from the home library, collections shared in a consortium, and open access collections. WorldCat Local will offer the same feature set as WorldCat.org, such as a single search box, relevancy ranking of search results, result sets that bring multiple versions of a work together under one record, faceted browse capability, citation formatting options, cover art, and additional evaluative content. The WorldCat Local service interoperates with locally maintained services like circulation, resource sharing and resolution to full text to create a seamless experience for the end user. WorldCat Local will also include future enhancements to WorldCat.org including more than 30 million article citations, and social networking services. The WorldCat Local pilot will test new functionality that allows users to place requests, gain online access, or request an interlibrary loan within WorldCat.org. OCLC will test interoperability with systems used by participating pilot libraries, including Innovative Interfaces, SirsiDynix, and ExLibris Voyager.
NetLibrary Launches Collection of eAudiobook Subject Sets
OCLC’s NetLibrary has launched its first collection of eAudiobook Subject Sets for the United States library market. eAudiobook Subject Sets are bundled sets of high demand titles, each set offered at a fixed price. This new collection of Subject Sets is available to all library types through NetLibrary’s eAudiobook purchase program. Developed by NetLibrary collection development librarians, eAudiobook Subject Sets provide a quick and easy way for libraries to offer the most popular downloadable eAudiobook titles to their users. NetLibrary is currently introducing nine eAudiobook Subject Sets: Biography, Business, Children’s Fiction, Classics, Learning Guides, Mystery & Suspense, Popular Nonfiction, Self-Help, and Young Adult Fiction. NetLibrary’s eAudiobook Subject Sets feature titles from the audiobook industry’s leading publishers: Books on Tape, Listening Library, Living Language, and Blackstone Audio. Titles are never duplicated from set to set, allowing libraries to own more than one Subject Set without overlapping their collections. Delivery of OCLC MARC records is provided at no extra charge. … eAudiobooks can be downloaded or played on desktop, laptop, or portable devices that support Windows Media Player version 9 and above. Users can also transfer favorite titles to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, and more. To learn more about NetLibrary eAudiobook Subject Sets and to view titles, visit <http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/purchase/default.htm>.
WorldCat.org Offers New Web Site and Search Box Features
WorldCat.org, the Website and search box that offers public access to the catalogs of libraries worldwide, has added new features and functionality that enhance the discovery experience and make it possible to customize the downloadable search box, search and find materials in Chinese, and link to libraries nearby via IP address location. New features and functionality on the WorldCat.org site will be added continuously as the service continues to progress. WorldCat.org allows Web users to search the catalogs of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. The WorldCat.org site offers a downloadable search box to allow access to the world’s largest resource for discovery of materials held in libraries. Among the most recent enhancements to WorldCat.org are:
- more visibility for evaluative content and Web resource links
- faceted browse to allow the user to expand search category options
- new options for downloading the WorldCat.org search box
- Chinese language added to the "Find" in a Library interface
- automatic geographic location code by IP address
Try WorldCat.org from the site: <http://www.worldcat.org/>. To find out more about the free downloadable search box, visit: <http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/servlet/org.oclc.lac.affiliate.GetSearchBox>.
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Last updated: June 16, 2007
http://www.olacinc.org/newsletters/june07/.html
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