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WorldCat Local library holdings- and cataloguing-related FAQs
- Not all of my holdings are in WorldCat—how do I update them?
If your library has not initiated a batchload reclamation project since July 1, 2005, you may request a no-charge, one-time retrospective batchload of your entire collection in your library catalog into WorldCat. You may use this retrospective batchload to add holdings, original records and local data such as local subject headings, uniform titles and notes.
For additional information, see Batchload.
- If I catalogue a record today, when will it be visible through WorldCat Local?
New cataloguing additions to your collection will be visible in WorldCat Local in real time.
- What are the plans for making data from our local catalogue available in WorldCat Local?
OCLC is developing the ability to load, search and display local data, including but not limited to local subject headings, uniform titles, notes, etc.
- Can my users limit search results to resources located at a specific branch?
WorldCat Local can show which location of your library holds copies, provided individual branch holdings are clearly represented in WorldCat. At a minimum, your library should have a unique symbol in WorldCat, and that symbol should be attached to all records for items in your collections. If your library currently indicates branch library holdings in the local holdings field of your catalogue records (MARC field 049), you will need to work with OCLC to create records that represent branch level collections at the OCLC symbol level.
If your branches are represented separately by three or five character OCLC institution symbols, you may configure scoping in the Search Results and Relevancy Ranking module of OCLC Service Configuration.
For additional information, see Local Holdings Record Batchload for Branch Level Scoping.
- Are records in our local catalogue that do not contain OCLC numbers included in search results?
If your OCLC symbol is set on the record in WorldCat it will be included in the search result. However, in order for WorldCat Local to display real time item availability for your local catalogue the OCLC number must be indexed in all records in your local system 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 catalogue be in WorldCat? Does this include our records for licensed content?
WorldCat Local searches records in WorldCat and does not search your local system. This means all records currently in your 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 customise mapping of IP addresses to postal codes?
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 postal code, county, 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.
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