8 OCLC FirstSearch/ILL Direct Request Link
Chapter overview
This chapter describes the optional link between the OCLC FirstSearch service and Direct Request. The OCLC FirstSearch/ILL Direct Request Link Reference Card describes the process in more detail.
Introduction
An optional link between the OCLC FirstSearch ® service and Direct Request allows patrons to generate requests for materials cited in FirstSearch databases.
This link is only possible if:
- Your library uses both FirstSearch and WorldCat Resource Sharing.
- Your FirstSearch administrator turns ILL Access On in the WorldCat Services Administrative Module.
If your library has created Direct Request Profiles, patron-generated workforms transferred to WorldCat Resource Sharing are processed and automatically sent to the first Lender according to the conditions of the profile.
If you use Direct Request but do not create profiles, the workforms appear in the Review category on the WCRS Request Manager screen. You review the request and determine whether it should be submitted.
back to top8.2 Creating the Direct Request Link
To create the Direct Request Link:
| Step | Use this system | To take this action |
|---|---|---|
1 | WorldCat Services Administrative Module | Create Constant Data. Your institution probably has at least 1 constant data record that contains Ship To and Maximum Cost. If your system completes these fields when you create a workform, go to step 2. |
2 | WorldCat Services Administrative Module | Create Custom Holdings. The Direct Request link requires Custom Holdings information for processing the patron request. If you skip this step, all patron-generated requests from FirstSearch go to Request Manager. If you have already created Custom Holdings, go to step 3. |
3 | WorldCat Services Administrative Module | Create Direct Request Profiles. If you skip this step, all patron-generated requests from FirstSearch go to Request Manager. |
4 | WorldCat Services Administrative Module | Set Patron ILL Settings
|
5 | WorldCat Resource Sharing | Review results. |
Constant Data
Create constant data to provide information the Lender needs to process your patron's request.
For detailed information about Constant Data, see section 5.2, "Staff ILL Settings".
Note: Any data transferred from FirstSearch takes precedence over data from the constant data record.
Constant Data for Copy Requests The Copyright Compliance option indicates your compliance for photocopy requests.
- CCG (Conforms to CONTU Guidelines)
- CCL (Conforms to U.S. Copyright law)
Custom Holdings
Custom Holdings automatically selects Lenders for those requests that match your Direct Request Profiles. You must define Custom Holdings in order to use the profiles.
For detailed information about Custom Holdings, see section 5.2, "Staff ILL Settings".
Direct Request Profiles
Direct Request Profiles act as filters for requests sent by your patrons using FirstSearch. Profiles check for data in the patron requests that your library considers mandatory. If data is missing, the patron request goes to Request Manager.
If the data matches a profile you created, then Direct Request selects Lenders (see Custom Holdings), supplies critical borrowing information (see Constant Data) and submits the request, which sends it to the first Lender.
Note: Options you specify in your profiles must exactly match the FirstSearch workform settings you define. For example, if a profile specifies a Patron Department called "Chemistry," the FirstSearch workform must present that option as "Chemistry," not "Chem," or any other variation.
For detailed information about the Direct Request Profile procedure, see section 5.2, "Staff ILL Settings".
Loan Profile for Books in English Consider the limits you place on patrons' resource sharing requests. Here is a sample profile that allows patrons to request books in English.
| For this Profile Element | Type this data |
|---|---|
| Profile Name | ILLDIR |
| Description | This profile limits requests for English books |
| Patron Statuses | Undergrad |
| Patron Departments | <blank> |
| Bibliographic Formats | Books |
| Language | English |
| Route to Review File Options If Held by Your Institution | Yes |
| Constant Data Record | BOOKS |
| Minimum Number in Lender String | 1 |
| Custom Holdings Path | BOOKS |
| Produce the Request | Yes |
For this sample, all the other elements in the profile are blank. When creating a profile, leave the field blank if you do not require the information from your patron.
Simple Loan Profile Most Direct Request users create simple profiles. Here is a sample of an easy profile.
| For this Profile Element | Type this data |
|---|---|
| Profile Name | ILLDIR |
| Description | This profile limits requests for recent imprints |
| Patron Statuses | Resident |
| Patron Departments | South branch |
| Age of Material | 100 |
| Route to Review File Options If Held by Your Institution | Yes |
| Constant Data Record | BOOKS |
| Minimum Number in Lender String | 1 |
| Custom Holdings Path | BOOKS |
| Produce the Request | Yes |
Profiles for Copies If a record contains an Article Title and/or an Article Author, FirstSearch forwards a COPY request. If the record does not contain these specific Article elements, FirstSearch forwards a LOAN request.
Profile for CCG Copy Requests CCG is a code provided by the Borrower that indicates the request conforms to CONTU Guidelines. Here is a sample profile for CCG requests:
| For this Profile Element | Type this data |
|---|---|
| Profile Name | CCG |
| Description | This profile applies to copy requests within CCG requirements |
| Request Types | Copy |
| Patron Statuses | Manager |
| Patron Departments | Marketing |
| Age of Material | 5 |
| Route to Review File Options If Held by Your Institution | Yes |
| Constant Data Record | CCG |
| Minimum Number in Lender String | 1 |
| Custom Holdings Path | FASTCOPY |
| Produce the Request | Yes |
Profile for CCL Copy Requests CCL is a code supplied by the Borrower that indicates the request conforms to U.S. Copyright Law. Here is a sample profile for CCL requests:
| For this Profile Element | Type this data |
|---|---|
| Profile Name | CCL |
| Description | This profile applies to copy requests within CCL requirements |
| Request Types | Copy |
| Patron Statuses | Faculty |
| Patron Departments | Computer Science |
| Age of Material | 5 |
| But No Older Than | 100 |
| Route to Review File Options If Held by Your Institution | Yes |
| Constant Data Record | CCL |
| Minimum Number in Lender String | 1 |
| Custom Holdings Path | FASTCOPY |
| Produce the Request | Yes |
Patron ILL Settings
Patron ILL Settings, under the Resource Sharing tab in the WorldCat Services Administrative Module at http://firstsearch.oclc.org/admin, can be used to:
- Turn ILL Access On
- Set the ILL Settings for Databases option to OCLC ILL Direct Request Profile for each database for which you will allow patron-generated requests
- Select the specific formats for WorldCat ILL Access
- Customize the Patron ILL Request Form
Once these tasks are completed, patron-generated workforms from FirstSearch are immediately processed through Direct Request.
For detailed information about Patron ILL Settings, see section 5.1, "Patron ILL Settings".
back to topIntroduction
Requests that your patrons generate using the FirstSearch/Direct Request link are processed against the Direct Request Profiles that you create.
Successful: Requests that match one of your profiles are forwarded to the first potential Lender, and appear in the Direct Produced category on the WCRS Request Manager screen.
Unsuccessful: Requests that do not match any profile appear in the Review category on the WCRS Request Manager screen. The Direct Notes and Borrowing Notes fields provide information about why a request was unsuccessful.
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