Entry Filed under: OCLC News, Reference
QuestionPoint’s latest enhancements provide more opportunities for libraries to reach out to their users. The Qwidget (QuestionPoint’s chat widget) is now accessible on selected mobile devices and on Facebook. Join us today for a no-cost, live Web information session to find out more about QuestoinPoint’s Mobile Webkit, expanded Qwidget customization options, and our new knowledge base Web service. We will also discuss our collaboration with Text a Librarian and plans for incorporating SMS texting into QuestionPoint.
QuestionPoint provides a complete reference management system incorporating chat, e-mail, knowledge base and administrative tools. Libraries may also participate in the 24/7 Reference Cooperative to provide live 24-hour service to their users.
DATE / TIME
Wednesday, February 24, 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
Register today >>
February 3rd, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: Cataloging, Collections, OCLC News, Resource Sharing
As part of a multi-phase effort to make Batch Processing easier to use and more efficient, additional enhancements have been made to the service. Previous enhancements initiated ordering through the Online Service Center (OSC) and introduced automated processing of files as they are received. January 2010 enhancements include expanding automated processing capabilities and OSC ordering.
January 2010 enhancements
The most recent enhancements are highlighted by the following:
- In addition to WorldCat Local, automated processing and OSC ordering have been expanded to include projects that support Group catalog, WorldCat Navigator, and WorldCat Collection Analysis
- Automated processing and OSC ordering are now available for the following standard single institution projects:
- One-time reclamation projects
- One-time retrospective projects
- Cancel holdings projects
- Ongoing projects
- Local Holdings Record Updating service (LHRUS) projects are now ordered via the OSC
- OSC ordering for Batch Processing services projects is now globally available
A convenient, efficient way to maintain current and complete holdings
Now it’s easier than ever for libraries to maintain current and complete holdings in WorldCat. Accurate, up-to-date holdings information enhances the use of many OCLC products and services including:
- WorldCat Local—Use local holdings data to qualify local searching by branch or collection and enrich record displays for serials with item-specific data
- WorldCat.org—Web access to items available in libraries
- WorldCat Resource Sharing—Better visibility and accuracy of shared resources to lending libraries and library users
- WorldCat cataloging—Your library participates more fully in the worldwide library community
- WorldCat Collection Analysis—A more complete view of the collection aids collection development decisions
Additional enhancements to the service are planned and will be announced as they become available.
OCLC Batch Processing service uses advanced technology and expert analysis to build OCLC’s WorldCat database, the world’s largest online database for discovery of library resources. In 2009, 49 million new records were added to WorldCat by the Batch Processing service. Batch Processing takes catalog records from library local systems and integrates the information into WorldCat. WorldCat connects local library catalogs, giving library users all over the world a portal to local, regional, national, and global library resources.
More information
For more information, visit Batch Processing on the Web.
February 2nd, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News, Reference
OCLC is pleased to announce that a freely-accessible site for searching only OAIster records is now available. With this OAIster site (http://oaister.worldcat.org/), you are able to search only OAIster and its millions of metadata records.
OAIster records will continue to be indexed in WorldCat.org, and will be integrated in WorldCat.org search results along with records from thousands of libraries worldwide. They will also be included in WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start” search results. Additionally, they will continue to be available on the OCLC FirstSearch service to Base Package subscribers, providing another valuable access point for this rich database and a complement to other FirstSearch databases.
More about OAIster
OAIster is a union catalog of digital resources hosted at the University of Michigan since 2002. Launched with grant support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, OAIster was developed to test the feasibility of building a portal to open archive collections using the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). In 2009, OCLC formed a partnership with the University of Michigan in order to provide continued access to open-archive collections through the OAIster database.
OAIster has grown to become one of the world’s largest aggregations of records pointing to open archive collections with more than 23 million records contributed by over 1,100 organizations worldwide.
February 1st, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News, Resource Sharing
WorldCat Direct is a delivery service that integrates interlibrary loan and direct delivery to library users. Through a partnership with Better World Books, a social enterprise book supplier that supports literacy initiatives worldwide, WorldCat Direct is now available as a beta feature to users of WorldCat Resource Sharing in the U.S. Libraries that offer WorldCat Direct to their users pay delivery fees using the Interlibrary Fee Management (IFM) capability in WorldCat Resource Sharing.
WorldCat Direct is scheduled to launch February 21, 2010.
January 27th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News, Reference
On January 27th, NetLibrary will release a new holds feature that will allow users to place popular eBooks and eAudiobooks on reserve. With this enhancement, users will be able to place holds request for titles in use by other users, view their place in line for each item, and receive e-mail notification when the content is available for check-out.
Holds will be available to all libraries that purchase content from NetLibrary. Users will be able to request a hold for up to 40 titles, with 2 days to check out titles once they become available. When the holds feature is initially released, functionality will be activated for eAudiobook content only. To activate holds for eBooks, e-mail OCLC’s Customer Service Department at support@oclc.org. Holds management, including the ability to turn holds on and off for each content type, modify the number of hold per patron, and view reports on popular titles held each month, will be available through the Library Resource Center in summer 2010.
With over 200,000 eBooks and 10,000 eAudiobooks available in the NetLibrary catalog and a growing number compatible with portable devices including mobile phones, laptops, iPods and iPhones, this new feature will enhance the user experience and increase circulation and management of NetLibrary content.
PLEASE NOTE: The addition of this feature will require that NetLibrary will be unavailable for approximately 1 hour, from 7am-8am EST Wednesday, January 27.
January 27th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News
Message from Chrystie Hill, OCLC
Community Services Director
WebJunction.org hillc@oclc.org | 206-336-9204 | 1-800-848-5878 ext 1304
WebJunction maps competencies to courses that help library staff build their skills.
~~~~~~Message~~~~~~
OCLC needs your help to understand the types of assistance public libraries provide to users today. Please share your library’s role in supporting patrons with such activities as job seeking, small business support, technology training and in providing meeting room facilities by taking this quick six- question OCLC survey available at http://www.oclc.org/info/ValueOfLibrariesSurvey/.
In 2003, OCLC produced the report Libraries: How They Stack Up that provided a snapshot of the economic impact of libraries. The report included facts and figures to compare the value of libraries as a destination, logistics, technology, and information provider. To support public librarians in budget planning and funding requests, OCLC will soon release a similar report as a tool to help you illustrate the value public libraries play today, based in part on your responses to this survey.
You can sign up to receive this and other OCLC membership reports at http://www.oclc.org/us/en/email/subscribe.htm
January 26th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News
Join us February 9–10 for WebJunction’s free online conference on technology
| WebJunction has provided online programming for the past several years in the form of monthly webinars. Now, we are expanding our programming to include our first-ever online conference, Technology Essentials 2010. With presenters from our partner communities and beyond, this free conference will take place February 9–10. The conference will focus on practical and timely strategies for using technology in your library. Presenters include: |
|
- Sandra Nelson with The Planning Puzzle: Integrating your Strategic Plan and your Technology Plan
- Stephanie Gerding with Library Grants 101
- Joshua Dodson and Laura Slavin with WordPress for Library 2.0 and Beyond
- Pat Carterette with Learning When There’s No Time (or Money) to Learn
- Karen McCoy with Implementing Reliable Instant Messaging at Your Library.
You won’t want to miss this valuable learning opportunity for you and your staff. View the full program and speaker information and register (for free) today!
January 20th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News
Now find library listings from WorldCat through RedLaser iPhone app
Scan a book barcode with the RedLaser app on your iPhone, find it in your local library
A popular app for iPhone users, RedLaser now includes library listings when a user scans a book barcode with their iPhone. The app uses the WorldCat Search API and WorldCat Registry APIs to deliver results for libraries nearby who hold the item in WorldCat, the world’s largest library catalog. Location and mapping information is also available.
RedLaser, developed by Occipital, of Boulder, Colorado, is a barcode scanning application for the iPhone, available through the Apple iTunes App Store. The app puts information from thousands of libraries at a user’s fingertips.
The RedLaser iPhone app, currently available in the U.S. for books only, is one of several mobile applications designed for users to access library information from WorldCat. The WorldCat Mobile pilot app is available for download on all Web-enabled phones in the UK, U.S., Netherlands, Germany, France and Canada at www.worldcat.org/mobile.
WorldCat-related APIs are available to anyone interested in creating noncommercial mash-ups or mobile apps that include library data. Commercial apps like RedLaser use the WorldCat Search API through partnership agreements.
iPhone users can download the RedLaser app for US$ 1.99 through Apple’s iTunes app store.
January 13th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
Entry Filed under: OCLC News, Resource Sharing
The OCLC Policies Directory is the repository of interlibrary loan policies for OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing libraries. A new, completely redesigned Policies Directory was released on January 10, 2010. The changes include a new user interface, hardware platform and underlying database. All existing policies, deflections, and contact data remain the same. The new interface is based on feedback received during usability testing with existing Policies Directory users. In addition, WorldCat Registry data is now incorporated into Policies Directory interface.
See a complete list of changes and enhancements: http://www.oclc.org/info/policies/
January 11th, 2010
Kelly Bayee
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