Expert Community

In response to requests from the cataloging community, OCLC introduced the Expert Community Experiment, which ran from February-August 2009. Members with full-level cataloging authorizations were given the ability to improve, upgrade, and make more changes than previously to WorldCat master records. The Experiment was a success, and all functionality will continue as part of the Expert Community.

See the August Status Report.

Benefits of the Expert Community

• Expanded use of Expert Community catalogers
• Increased capabilities—changes can be made to full-level cataloging records and to more fields in the master record
• Improved sharing—more libraries making upgrades to master records
• Timeliness—record edits are made in real time so there’s no waiting for updates to appear in the database
• Extended portability—network level cataloging for use in the local catalog
• Increased flexibility—maintenance of WorldCat records can be shared more equally among OCLC staff and member libraries

Participation

We welcome all member libraries with full-level cataloging authorizations to participate in the Expert Community.

Participants are be able to correct, improve and upgrade all WorldCat master records, with the exception of PCC records (BIBCO and CONSER records). Library of Congress records that are not PCC records are included.

Credits

Participants will receive credits for those activities for which they received credits prior to the Experiment. At this time, OCLC will not give credits for the new activity.

How to participate

Watch this area for upcoming Web information sessions.

Questions?

If you have questions or need more information, please contact us at ASKQC@oclc.org.