Skip to page content

亞洲太平洋地區 (Chinese Traditional) 變更

About this Guide

Chapter overview

This chapter contains information about how to use this Guide.

Overview

Scope

The Authorities User Guide is a guide to locating, saving, modifying and creating authority records in the OCLC® Authority File. It provides information on search strategies, authority record interpretation, text and field editing techniques, use of save files, and record export. For libraries having NACO authorization, it contains the procedures to update existing records or to add new records.

Note: The Guide is intended to support interaction with the OCLC Authority File using any of the three OCLC interfaces [OCLC ConnexionTM (browser and client), CatMETM, Passport]. The Guide is not intended to provide basic instruction in the principles of authority work.

Audience

The Authorities User Guide is designed to assist various library staff with authority-related tasks:

  • Fully authorized NACO users (lock and edit existing records, add new records, replace existing records)

  • Cataloging users at NACO institutions (lock and edit existing records prior to verification by authorized NACO users at their institution)

  • Cataloging users at non-NACO institutions (edit and save records locally, verify names and titles when updating and/or enhancing WorldCatTM bibliographic records)

  • Public services, reference and resource sharing, and acquisitions staff (verify names and titles for local use, interlibrary loan)

Authority File interfaces

You can use the following interfaces to access the Authority File:

  • OCLC Connexion browser
  • OCLC Connexion client
  • OCLC Cataloging Micro Enhancer® (CatME)
  • OCLC Passport software

Level of detail in this Guide

OCLC Connexion interfaces (high-level detail). The OCLC Connexion interface via browser was introduced in July 2002, and its client version in October, 2003. Since the system is still evolving, this Guide does not give detailed procedures for using Connexion browser or Connexion client. Instead, it refers you to Connexion Help and other documentation available at <  http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/browser/ > and at <  http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/ >.

OCLC CatME interface (mid-level detail). OCLC is no longer implementing enhancements to CatME. All CatME functionality will be included in the Connexion client, which will be released in phases beginning October 2003. After all CatME functionality has been implemented in the Connexion client, OCLC will announce an end-of-life date for CatME.

This Guide does not replicate detailed procedures documented in CatME Help and the Quick Reference booklet available at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/catme/. Instead, this Guide refers you to these sources for detailed instructions.

OCLC Passport Software Interface (detailed description). This Guide retains the detailed instructions that appeared in the second edition of the Guide.

Superseded documents

This edition supersedes the second edition of this Guide and the authorities information in these technical bulletins:

  • TB249        OCLC-MARC Format Update 2003
  • TB244        OCLC-MARC Format Update 2001
  • TB241        National Library Control Number Changes
  • TB240        Pinyin Conversion Project
  • TB237        Multiple-surname Coding Change
  • TB231        OCLC-MARC Authority Update 1999
  • TB228        OCLC-MARC Authority Update 1998
  • TB209        PRISM 1995 Enhancements Release

Examples

The examples provided are illustrative, not prescriptive. Do not take the examples or the form in which they are presented as instructions. Because of the dynamic nature of WorldCat®, some examples may retrieve no records or too many records.

Additional examples

When you find a record that illustrates an aspect of authority practice particularly well, please share it with us. Please send an e-mail message giving the OCLC record number and comments to: insabelp@oclc.org.

Quick reference

Authorities Quick Reference: OCLC Passport and Authorities Quick Reference: OCLC CatME for Windows, accompany this Guide. A quick reference for Connexion browser is planned.

Typographic Conventions

Characters

Throughout this Guide, the character 1 represents the digit one, and the character l represents the lowercase letter el. If you require a digit 1, enter 1. If you require a letter l, enter the letter l. The digit 0 (zero) and the uppercase letter O are also distinct characters. If you require a digit 0, enter 0. If you require a letter O, enter O.

Fixed field element characters. Each of the following is a distinct character that may represent a fixed field element value.

Character Name
blank character  Blank
fill character  Fill

Note: These characters are not interchangeable.

Keyboard keys

Keys that you press are enclosed in angle brackets < >. The keys in this Guide are those found on the typical PC keyboard.

Data you enter

In procedures, data that you must enter exactly as shown appears in boldface type, for example =luna,sci,c. Data you need to supply is described in brackets in italic typeface, for example, au[keyword]. Do not type the brackets.

Distribution

Available formats

The Authorities User Guide is available on the OCLC Web site at:   http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/authorities/userguide/ .

The Revision History, which gives the date and scope of changes made for each revision, is also accessible from:  www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/authorities/userguide/.

Updates

To learn of new and revised documentation added to the OCLC Web site, subscribe to DOCupdate-L.

Send an e-mail message to listserv@oclc.org with "subscribe DOCupdate-L [your name]" in the body of the message. Do not enter the brackets around your name.

This list is for announcements only; it is not a discussion list.

Acknowledgments

OCLC acknowledges the efforts of all the people who participated in producing the Authorities User Guide.

OCLC reviewers

Judy Barnes, Robert Bremer, Ellen Caplan, Becky Dean, Luanne Goodson, Richard Greene, Stuart Hunt, Debbie Hysell, Margi Mann, Joanne Murphy, Laura Ramsey, Susan Westberg, David Whitehair, and Lois Yoakam.

Network reviewers

William Caine (SOLINET), Robert Cunningham (NELINET), Linda Gonzales (BCR), Susan Lewis (MLNC), Donna Schroeder (OHIONET), and Saralee Turner (SILAS), Noelle Van Pulis (The Ohio State University).

Writer

Compiler/Editor: Lydia Pratt

Subject matter experts

Susan Westberg, Robert Bremer

Production and technical development

Lorna Williamson, Travis Fister