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WorldCat Local holdings-related FAQs
- How many tiers of holdings can be configured within a WorldCat Local implementation?
At present, a purchasing library can have three tiers of holdings as part of its relevancy ranking. The first three tiers are configurable by the library, and the fourth tier is always the global view of resources in all WorldCat libraries.
A WorldCat Local implementation could, for example, have local holdings in the first tier, group/consortial holdings in the second, a state library system’s holdings in the third, and then WorldCat libraries.
- Can WorldCat Local be set up for multiple group/regional levels of results?
Each WorldCat Local site can be set up to feature three levels of collections:
- An individual library's collection
- A group to which the library belongs
- A second-tier group to which the library belongs
- All libraries in WorldCat.
Another way a library group could set up WorldCat Local would be to feature:
- Collections of a library group
- Collections of another group
- Collections of a third group
- All of WorldCat.
Regardless of decisions about the collections that are featured in the first, second and third tiers of search results, the holdings of all libraries in WorldCat will be visible in the fourth tier.
- My library is not part of a consortium. Can I choose a consortium I know is familiar to my users as the second tier of holdings displayed in my WorldCat Local implementation?
Yes, even though your library is not in a formal consortial agreement with other libraries, you may still select a group of libraries with which you are most interested in sharing as one of your tiers.
- How does the FRBR algorithm used in WorldCat.org affect a library's local holdings display in WorldCat Local?
Items derived from a source work are combined into work sets using the FRBR algorithm developed by OCLC Research. Multiple-language items are placed into their own work sets so that they may be represented separately within the search results.
On WorldCat.org, the representative records for the work sets are those items that are the most widely held; in WorldCat Local, the representative records for the work sets are those items that are the most widely held or the most widely held that are also held by the institution/group.
All items in a work set may be discovered under the Editions tab in the detailed WorldCat record.
- Can my library configure its own relevancy algorithm for a WorldCat Local installation?
The relevancy of your library's WorldCat Local implementation is configured primarily by the placing of your library's holdings in WorldCat, which elevates the resources you own to the top of search results.
Relevancy is also affected by the WorldCat-based holdings of the institutions or consortium you select as your second tier. Relevancy cannot be configured further; however, OCLC regularly evaluates and adjusts its algorithm to ensure your users receive the best possible result sets.
- Does the relevancy ranking in WorldCat Local require users to scroll further in results sets to find relevant information?
No. Relevancy is determined by a combination of terms that match search terms and locations that own items. This means that those records most relevant to a search will display at the top of the results list.
- How can a library make sure its serial holdings information is present in its WorldCat Local implementation?
OCLC stores and displays detailed and summary holdings data in local holdings records (LHRs). While WorldCat Local does not currently display LHRs, OCLC recommends that libraries prepare for planned enhancement that will display this information.
A library’s LHRs are linked to bibliographic records in WorldCat to which it has attached its OCLC symbol. A library must have its OCLC symbol on the serial bibliographic record in order for the LHR information to display with that serial record.
Libraries can save time in adding their holdings symbol to WorldCat records with the eSerials holdings service. eSerials holdings automates the process of setting and maintaining holdings, working with partners that includes WorldCat Link Manager, EBSCO Link Source, Serials Solutions 360Link and the TDNet e-Resource manager.
- When my library batchloads records in preparation for WorldCat Local, how does this process interact with LHRs when new information is added or updated?
OCLC plans to add the display of LHRs to WorldCat.org as the service develops. The batchload process to update LHRs replaces existing LHRs with new ones. A library must submit all holdings records associated with a specific bibliographic record each time a change is needed even if the change effects only one of the holdings records. Batch processing deletes all the LHRs associated with a particular bibliographic record and replaces then with records sent.
This does not mean that a library must send their entire database each time they submit a batchload order. The library only needs to send sets of records (one or more) that require updating.
- Do libraries have to have their OCLC holdings symbol on e-resources in order for WorldCat local to recognize that our library owns the e-resource?
Yes. All searching is done against records in the WorldCat database, so a library must have its OCLC symbol attached to records in WorldCat that represent items in its eBook collection.
- We are one of several libraries in a large research library system. What does "local library" mean in this context? Are settings at the campus or system level rather than our library level?
If your library has its own unique OCLC symbol in WorldCat, you may determine that WorldCat Local will display your library's resources first in results, followed by those of the other libraries in your system. If your users are familiar with searching across all system libraries, you may prefer to rank system holdings first in results lists.
- Records that do not have OCLC numbers would not be included in search results?
That is correct. The OCLC number is a unique identifier that connects records in WorldCat with records in your local system that contain location and availability information. The OCLC number must be indexed in all records in your local system in order for WorldCat Local to work.
- Does the use of WorldCat Local require that all records in our catalog be in WorldCat? We're thinking of EEBO records or ECCO items.
WorldCat Local searching is currently based on records in the WorldCat database. Consider adding records for other local collections to WorldCat for the most effective WorldCat Local experience for your users. In the future, OCLC plans to implement searching options that will also reach collections that do not reside within WorldCat.
- Are there OCLC master records which will interface with an individual library's local URL's?
OCLC is developing the ability to use fields from local holdings records, such as local notes, local URLs, serials coverage, call number and location.
- Do former RLG libraries' institution records display in WorldCat Local?
Institution records for former RLG libraries do not currently display in WorldCat Local search results; however, OCLC plans to add this content in the future.
- Will there be a way for OCLC to customize mapping of IP addresses to ZIP codes? For example, our IP looks like it is coming from Fairbanks, Alaska, but it is really in Anchorage some 500 miles away.
No. This mapping occurs automatically based on information WorldCat Local can perceive about the IP of the incoming machine. In the case where an IP is provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is not located near the user, location information may not match that of a user. Users always have the option to change the location to the correct ZIP, state, city, or country. Once a user makes this change, a cookie is written to that machine with that information and subsequent visits to WorldCat.org will reflect that change.
- Our library catalog contains records for five different libraries. Is it possible to limit search results to just our library?
Yes, if your library has its own OCLC symbol in WorldCat, you can define the relevancy for brief results to present your library's holdings first in the search results.
- Is the information about print and digital access to a periodical driven by a single record approach? How would that work for the libraries with a separate record approach?
WorldCat Local uses the WorldCat database for discovery. The WorldCat database does not use a single-record approach. OCLC will work with libraries to ensure holdings are on all applicable record formats in WorldCat through a reclamation project.
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