|
|
WorldCat Local library holdings- and cataloging-related FAQs
- If I catalog a record today, when will it be visible through WorldCat Local?
New cataloging additions to your collection will be visible in WorldCat Local in real time.
- What are the plans for making data from our local catalog available in WorldCat Local?
OCLC is developing the ability to use fields from local holdings records, such as local notes, local URLs, serials coverage, call number and location.
- How many tiers of holdings can be configured within a WorldCat Local implementation?
At present, a purchasing library can have three tiers of holdings plus a fourth WorldCat tier 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 my users limit search results to resources located at a specific branch?
Yes, branch scoping is available. You will include branch configuration as you plan your library's WorldCat Local. Consider the branches you want to scope to as you determine your batchloading or reclamation needs. To allow branch scoping you need to provide Local Holdings Records (LHRs) for all of your materials.
- Does branch scoping change the relevancy ranking of the results?
No. Relevancy ranking is based on a library's OCLC symbol, among other things. The relevancy-based order of a result set doesn't change when branch scoping is applied. Branch scoping supports scoping of the result set to the items located at a branch.
- 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.
Libraries also have the option to display their default search results by relevance and location (current default) or by relevance only.
- How can my library make sure its serial holdings information is present in its WorldCat Local implementation?
Make sure that your holdings are set on all your serial records. Staff can save time by using the eSerials Holdings service to add their holdings symbol to WorldCat records. eSerials Holdings automates the process of setting and maintaining holdings, working with partners that include WorldCat Link Manager™, EBSCO LinkSource, Serials Solutions 360Link and theTDNet e-Resource manager.
Adding LHRs for serials will allow you to provide summary and detailed information about your serial holdings. OCLC is working to make use of LHR data in WorldCat Local. You can prepare for these future enhancements by creating LHRs now.
- When my library batchloads records in preparation for WorldCat Local, how does this process interact with existing Local Holdings Records?
There are two ways LHRs can be added through batchload. When you send MARC Format for Holdings Data to be loaded as LHRs, the process deletes all of your existing LHRs and replaces them. If you choose to create LHRs from bibliographic records, existing LHRs are not deleted and only new LHRs are added. A library does not need to send its entire database each time it submits a batchload order. The library only needs to send sets of records (one or more) that require updating.
OCLC now supports nightly updates of LHRs.
- Are records in the local catalog without OCLC numbers included in search results?
No. The OCLC number must be indexed in all records in your local system in order for WorldCat Local to work. The OCLC number is a unique identifier that connects records in WorldCat with records in your local system that contain location and availability information.
OCLC plans to add local system number as another way for WorldCat Local to communicate with your local system.
- Does the use of WorldCat Local require that all records in our catalog be in WorldCat? Does this include our records for licensed content?
WorldCat Local searches records in WorldCat and does not search local systems. This means all records currently in a library's local system must be in WorldCat.
OCLC recognizes that libraries often obtain bibliographic records from record providers that prohibit loading of those records into WorldCat. To resolve this issue, OCLC has an ongoing program to identify these record sets and their providers and negotiate directly with the record providers on behalf of all our members for permission to load the records into WorldCat. See the list of vendors that currently partner with OCLC to provide records of their content.
- Can OCLC 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 and subsequent visits to WorldCat.org or WorldCat Local will reflect that change.
- 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?
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.
|
Librarians' Toolbox:
