Using Institution Records in FirstSearch

A new quick reference is now available, describing the use of Institution Records in FirstSearch.

Institution Records were added to WorldCat this year as part of the merger of the Research Library Group (RLG) with OCLC.  It provides a similar experience to the RLIN21 services’ use of cluster records, which grouped individual libraries’ cataloged records for the same item together. In RLIN21 one of these local cataloged records was used as the Primary Record, to be displayed first for a cluster, with a list of additional records also provided.  In a similar fashion, OCLC is using the WorldCat record as the Primary Record, and providing a link to additional institution records.

 The Institution Records function provides the bibliographic records of specific libraries as they entered the records, including local library notes and location information.  This information can be valuable to researchers, especially in when dealing with rare items.

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(2007 07 02)