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Worldwide (English) Change

The user experience—highlights by service

Users and library staff who manage OCLC electronic resource services benefit from features not available in the current service interfaces. Ongoing enhancements will expand functionality on a regular basis.

FirstSearch

Some features that significantly enhance access to FirstSearch content are:

For library staff:

  • Manage which databases display to users in the interface through a new Service Configuration module.
  • Build database groups (“virtual databases”) by combining an unlimited number of databases into a library-named resource designed to meet the specific needs of users. For example, a virtual database called “Art Information” could combine access to WorldCat, Art Index, Art Abstracts, Arts & Humanities Search and the Bibliography of the History of Art.

For FirstSearch users:

  • Simultaneous search of an unlimited number of databases.
  • Integration of database search results with results from WorldCat, NetLibrary, CAMIO and ArchiveGrid.
  • Easy identification of locally-available items because they are listed first in search results when holdings are present in WorldCat.

A note about statistics

With the enhanced interface, database usage statistics for activity on the current FirstSearch interface will continue to be available through the existing statistics Web site.

OCLC plans to provide consolidated reports of database activity through the existing interface and enhanced WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local within a few months. Register for email updates about enhancements to statistics and other functionality.

NetLibrary

In the initial release of the enhanced interface, NetLibrary is searchable as a discrete database on WorldCat.org, WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start.” This lets users search NetLibrary content alone, as part of the OCLC Electronic Books database on the FirstSearch service, as part of the WorldCat database or as part of a search across multiple databases, resulting in easier access to NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks. Users can search metadata in WorldCat that describes NetLibrary content, and IP-authenticated users can link from search results to the existing NetLibrary interface to view or download eBooks and/or eAudiobooks.

NetLibrary users also benefit from social tools in WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local. They can view user-contributed reviews and ratings, enter reviews and ratings for NetLibrary resources and add NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks to the lists they create within WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local.

In future releases, OCLC will more tightly integrate NetLibrary functionality as part of planned ongoing enhancements. This integration will include features to improve access to NetLibrary content, such as format-specific searching for eBooks and eAudiobooks, full-text searching of eBook content, subject browsing, Media Center support for eAudiobooks, direct links to NetLibrary content from brief record displays and expanded authentication options for remote access.

CAMIO The Catalog of Art Museum Images Online

CAMIO displays as a discrete searchable database on the WorldCat.org and WorldCat Local interfaces. Authorized users can search metadata for art images that reside in the database and link to the related images. The CAMIO database is searchable alone or in combination with other databases such as Art Abstracts, Arts and Humanities Search and WorldCat.

ArchiveGrid

ArchiveGrid is visible to authorized users on WorldCat.org as a discrete searchable database. The ArchiveGrid database is searchable alone or in combination with other databases such as WorldCat or OAIster.