The recording of that session is now available on the OCLC Web site

Topics covered in the presentation included:

• searching for your Library profile,
• creating a personal account and associating this with the Registry Profile
• updating your details, deep linking and how the results looks in WorldCat.org
• non-OCLC services linking to WorldCat Registry data

What is the WorldCat Registry?

OCLC has been long known for centralization of metadata about the world’s collections in the WorldCat catalog. But libraries are defined by much more than its collections. There is also metadata about the institution itself: its identity, electronic services, relationships, staff contacts and other pertinent data. This metadata informs the processes and systems driving entire enterprise; however, maintenance of it can become a random, unstructured and time-consuming workflow.

Patron or library staff can eventually find appropriate information about libraries by performing enough searches. But that is not always possible or feasible for machine interactions. OCLC hopes that a better solution lies in centralization of essential metadata about the libraries and consortia in the free WorldCat Registry.

WorldCat Registry was introduced as a free machine-accessible service to libraries around the world in early 2007. Our main goals for the directory include being: trusted, comprehensive, and web accessible.

Learn about the WorldCat Registry data and services that utilize it, as well as how to manage your library’s online profile information.

By combining data from WorldCat, and querying OCLC and third-party knowledgebases and electronic rights management data to determine lenders, OCLC delivery services will offer automated processing for fulfillment of non-returnable materials. This makes it possible to streamline resource sharing workflow for copy requests with a particular emphasis on requests for electronic resources. At the present time, this process is labor-intensive.

The OCLC network-level delivery solution is intended to significantly improve the effective use of journal articles in libraries.

This solution is an effort to transform the IDS Project's Article Licensing Information Availability Service (ALIAS) from a local, unmediated article service to a network-level solution serving more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. OCLC development staff will build the network-level service based on requirements gathered by OCLC product staff in concert with partner consortia, IDS Project and Atlas Systems staff. OCLC will provide WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad libraries with the use of this network-level service at no additional charge.

"As libraries continue to face tightening budgets, resource sharing becomes an increasingly important service," said Ed Rivenburgh, Director, Milne Library, SUNY Geneseo and IDS Project Director. "The IDS Project is committed to providing improvements to the entire resource sharing community through the ongoing development of innovative tools and promotion of best practices. The effort we're undertaking with OCLC, Atlas Systems and other partners is designed to pull together the tools we are already using for other tasks, and combine them to develop unmediated resource sharing workflows, and increase the use of e-serials in libraries."

A 2008 recipient of the Rethinking Resource Sharing Innovation Award, the IDS Project is a mutually supportive resource-sharing cooperative within New York State whose members include public and private academic libraries, the New York Public Library, and the New York State Library <view a list of current members>. The goal of the Project is to continually implement and objectively evaluate innovative resource-sharing strategies, policies and procedures that will optimize mutual access to the information resources of all IDS Project libraries. More information about the IDS Project can be found at: http://idsproject.org.

"We're excited to be working with the team at SUNY Geneseo on this innovative project that will bring together knowledgebase data as well as license management information into a streamlined workflow,” said Katie Birch, Portfolio Manager, OCLC Delivery Services. "Our goal is to offer significant efficiency gains for staff using OCLC delivery services request management tools such as WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad."

For more information on this particular project, contact staff via e-mail at OCLCIDSProject@oclc.org.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 71,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world's richest online resource for finding library materials. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

About Atlas Systems, Inc.
Atlas Systems, Inc. is a software development company headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia dedicated to serving libraries. Founded in July 1995 with the mission of "promoting library excellence through efficiency," Atlas is best known for creating the ILLiad interlibrary loan management system now exclusively distributed by OCLC and used by more than 1,000 libraries worldwide. Focused on bringing the benefits of automation to library processes that have not been addressed by other software services, Atlas has introduced Ares, an electronic reserves solution, and Aeon, an online request and workflow management system specifically designed for special collections libraries and archives.

This new report summarizes the findings of research conducted by OCLC on what constitutes quality in library online catalogs from both end users’ and librarians’ points of view.

Key findings:

• The end user’s experience of the delivery of wanted items is as important, if not more important, than his or her discovery experience.
• End users rely on and expect enhanced content including summaries/abstracts and tables of contents.
• An advanced search option (supporting fielded searching) and facets help end users refine searches, navigate, browse and manage large result sets.
• Important differences exist between the catalog data quality priorities of end users and those who work in libraries.
• Librarians and library staff, like end users, approach catalogs and catalog data purposefully. End users generally want to find and obtain needed information; librarians and library staff generally have work responsibilities to carry out. The work roles of librarians and staff influence their data quality preferences.
• Librarians’ choice of data quality enhancements reflects their understanding of the importance of accurate, structured data in the catalog.

If your server is OCLC-hosted, please contact OCLC to coordinate a time to update.

ILLiad 7.4 consists mostly of improvements and enhancements to how the system works, and is the precursor to ILLiad 8.0. If you plan to take part in the ILLiad 8.0 preview, we recommend you upgrade to ILLiad 7.4 as soon as possible.

ILLiad 7.4 highlights:

• Now compatible with WorldCat Resource Sharing Web service version 1.3
• Enhanced Web DLL capabilities
• Updates and enhancements to improve workflow

See more in the ILLiad 7.4 Release Notes.

Hosted sites

OCLC-hosted ILLiad sites can choose the day and time for the upgrade by accessing the online scheduler. Each site uses a unique, institution-based URL to access the calendar-based online scheduler system.

Self-hosted sites

If your site is self-hosted, you can upgrade by following the instructions included in the ILLiad 7.4 Release Notes at the Atlas documentation site (https://prometheus.atlas-sys.com/dashboard.action), and run the ILLiad Updater to download the new software.

Related reference
 
Find release notes:
http://resourcesharing.webjunction.org/illiad/resources/discussion/51633510
 
Check out the discussions in the new Resource Sharing Community:
http://resourcesharing.webjunction.org/illiad/resources/discussion

View photos from the ILLiad International User Group Conference:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atlas-sys/sets/72157615861318166/

The pilot libraries had the option of sending items directly to requesting users instead of the borrowing libraries; and users were able to send the borrowed items back to the libraries in easy-to-use mailers. We have learned a lot from this pilot about the key components of home delivery. Future OCLC services may incorporate such components as part of a broader end-user delivery solution. Read the Montana NCIP Home Delivery Report for details about the pilot project's process, results, successes and challenges.

ILLiad and its document delivery component, Odyssey, provide a faster, more functional alternative to traditional interlibrary loan workflow. The software improves interlibrary loan functions by consolidating all borrowing, lending and tracking capabilities into a single, customizable interface. ILLiad also smoothly integrates with a library's core services, such as WorldCat Resource Sharing, providing the user with access to the world's largest collection of shared resources. More than 1,000 libraries currently use ILLiad software for interlibrary loan management.

Atlas Systems will continue development, training, and installation support of ILLiad software under the new agreement.

"This new agreement ensures tighter integration of ILLiad and Odyssey into current and future resource sharing management services offered by OCLC," said Jason Glover, President, Atlas Systems, Inc. "This will benefit the ILLiad user community for years to come."

OCLC has been the exclusive distributor of ILLiad software since 2000.

"OCLC and Atlas Systems have worked together closely for many years to enhance and improve libraries' resource sharing experiences," said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development. "This agreement will ensure even closer collaboration in the future between OCLC and Atlas to provide the most effective solutions to libraries that depend on OCLC ILL and ILLiad."

ILLiad was first developed by the interlibrary loan staff at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and has been expanded and further enhanced by Atlas Systems, Inc., the primary developer for ILLiad.

About Atlas Systems
Atlas Systems is a software development company founded in July 1995 with the mission of developing library automation to “Promote library excellence through efficiency.” Atlas is a process driven software development company. This means working with librarians to first understand the underlying environment to be automated and then designing the software to automate the process. Atlas Systems is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. More information can be found at www.atlas-sys.com/.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 69,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories.  OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials.  For more information, visit www.oclc.org

UnityUK delivers leading edge functionality for union catalogue management, cross database searching, holdings and item location, integrated interlibrary loans and resource sharing. It enables complete searching and request management from one interface and to date has fulfilled over 112,000 requests from member libraries.

Katie Birch, Portfolio Manager, OCLC commented "We are delighted to have reached this point and will continue to develop the service to suit the needs of its users."

Rob Froud, TCR Chair, commented "This is a landmark development in Interlibrary loan services in the UK. The Combined Regions is delighted to be working with OCLC and the former LinkUK library community to establish this coherent, strategic and national approach to service delivery."

The UnityUK user community continues to grow with Middlesborough, Redcar and Cleveland and South Tyneside Public Libraries recently subscribing to the service. 

For more information on UnityUK visit www.oclc.org or email UK@oclc.org.

Note to editors

About OCLC

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organisation that has provided computer-based cataloguing, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories.  OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials.  For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

About UnityUK

UnityUK is the upgraded web-based resource sharing and interlibrary loan service provided by The Combined Regions (TCR).  UnityUK, launched in May 2006, delivers leading edge functionality for union catalogue, cross database searching, holdings and item location, interlibrary loan and resource sharing services.  UnityUK uses the latest international resource sharing standards and integrates with all major library management systems in use in the UK today. UnityUK also links together the union catalogues of the TCR member libraries and LinkUK library resources, to provide the first national resource sharing service for the UK. www.unity-uk.com.

About The Combined Regions (TCR)

The Combined Regions (TCR) is the organisation behind the Unity resource sharing service. For more than 10 years, TCR has provided interlending services to its 140 member library organisations across the South West, North East, East Midlands, North East and Scotland.  Under the Unity name, TCR’s resource sharing services began with a CD union catalogue, and in 2001 moved to become web-based.  In February 2006, The Combined Regions announced the launch of a new and upgraded Unity service to be provided by OCLC PICA. www.combinedregions.com.

The IDS Project was recognized for designing rapid access to more than 7 million volumes for 140,000 students and 10,000 faculty members. The project was developed by a team at SUNY Geneseo's Milne Library and currently serves 27 academic libraries in New York, both public and private, based on systems including the OCLC WorldCat Resouce Sharing, ILLiad  and a statewide delivery system. SUNY staff put extensive proprietary work and services into place around Policy Directories from OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad to make this happen.

Find out more about this award…

Find out more about the IDS Project…

The Orbis Cascade Alliance will implement a WorldCat Group Catalog with an interface based on WorldCat.org. This union catalog will present the 28-million-volume collections of the 35 Alliance member institutions at the top of results sets, followed by results from the rest of WorldCat, the world's largest online database for discovery of items in libraries.

"We are excited to be working with OCLC to develop a next generation technical platform for Summit," said John F. Helmer, Executive Director, Orbis Cascade Alliance. "OCLC's vision for the future is an ideal fit with the Orbis Cascade Alliance's strategic agenda, which calls for implementation of a next generation discovery and delivery platform and a commitment to standards-based cross-platform functionality. Alliance libraries are very clear in their user-centered approach to service and we view OCLC as an ideal partner for the long haul—a partner that shares our values and excitement about the development of first-rate services to students and faculty."

The migration of Summit to OCLC's consortial borrowing solution will include an immediate initiative to increase the accuracy and comprehensiveness of member library holdings in WorldCat and the implementation of a resource sharing system that combines the best of ILL and circulation capabilities and workflows.

Alliance member libraries also will have the option to implement WorldCat Local, a new service that combines the cooperative power of OCLC member libraries worldwide with the ability to customize WorldCat.org as a solution for local discovery and delivery services.

"OCLC and the Orbis Cascade Alliance share a commitment to move library services to the network level," said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. "This new consortial borrowing solution will offer proven services to facilitate resource sharing on a platform based on WorldCat.org, the most dynamic library discovery resource in the world. We look forward to continuing our work with the Orbis Cascade Alliance in developing a consortial borrowing solution that will serve as a model for library groups worldwide."

"This initiative will offer our users a better discovery experience and allow them to move seamlessly from our collections to the even larger collections available in WorldCat through interlibrary loan services,” said Lee Lyttle, Chair, Orbis Cascade Alliance. "We also look forward to a better discovery experience with enhanced searching and social networking functionality. All of this is an important strategic direction of the Alliance moving our members closer towards becoming part of a more global library. These are exciting developments that we know will benefit all faculty, students and staff of our member institutions."

"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to help write the next chapter in the evolution of OCLC and its collaborative efforts to assist individual libraries and library consortia in exciting new ways,” said Deborah Dancik, Alliance Chair-elect. "Together we will improve the efficiency and productivity of our students and faculty through their more effective use of the universe of information resources."

About the Orbis Cascade Alliance
The Orbis Cascade Alliance is a consortium of academic libraries in Oregon and Washington. The Alliance supports the popular Summit union catalog that allows students, faculty, and staff to easily search and request library materials owned by member libraries. Through its resource sharing, courier, electronic resource, and archives programs the Alliance serves approximately 250 libraries in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii. For more information, visit www.orbiscascade.org.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. WorldCat.org is a Web destination with search and social networking features that allow information seekers to discover, localize and personalize content from a library’s collections and those of 10,000-plus WorldCat libraries globally. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.