November/December 2006 Page 2 

OCLC PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: WORLDCAT ON THE WEB

WORLDCAT.ORG AND OPEN WORLDCAT

It's a Web world, and WorldCat lets your library be in the information mix by opening library records to the sites people really use-and to the technology that lets them make the information their own.

With your library's holdings and other metadata contributed to WorldCat, your resources are made visible to more people on the Web. Information seekers are able to find physical items and electronic content in your library using a core interface reached through one of two channels:

WorldCat.org
Our destination site for public searching of the entire WorldCat database.

Open WorldCat
A program that lets major search engines and other partner Web sites integrate subsets of WorldCat data with their own services.

Both services permit a searcher to identify and evaluate a particular resource, input their geographic location to learn which nearby libraries own it, and link directly to a local library's online catalog record for the item. Depending on your library's OPAC capabilities, a user may be able to view the item's availability and, after authenticating as a library member, perform any number of circulation activities, including remote checkout, placing a hold or direct viewing of electronic content.

WorldCat.org

WorldCat.org provides a permanent destination page and search box that lets a broader range of people discover the riches of library-held materials cataloged in the WorldCat database. From WorldCat.org, any Web user or organization can easily install a free modularized version of the WorldCat.org search box on their personal or commercial Web page, allowing even more people to discover WorldCat library content. Libraries inside and outside the OCLC cooperative are encouraged to add the box to their sites so information seekers can optionally expand their search beyond locally-held items to all of WorldCat.

Open WorldCat

The Open WorldCat program makes records of library-owned materials in OCLC's WorldCat database available to Web users on popular Internet search, bibliographic and bookselling sites, including Google, Yahoo! Search and Windows Live Academic. Links to content in library collections - books, videos, serials, digital images and many other formats - appear alongside links to traditional Web content.

The result: WorldCat-participating libraries are more visible on the Web, and their collections are more accessible from the sites where many people start their search for information. Libraries get greater exposure to information-seekers and increased use of their online catalog, electronic content and other Web-based services.

Promoting the value of libraries

"Opening" WorldCat records to the Web helps libraries provide a fast, convenient service to current and potential users through familiar Web channels. Open WorldCat points more people - even those who don't typically visit libraries - to library collections as a first source of information. It promotes the value of libraries on a scale greater than any library or group could achieve alone.

Learn more about how your library and your patrons benefit from WorldCat on the web at: http://www.oclc.org/worldcat/web/default.htm.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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INTRODUCING THE NEBASE HOUR!

NEBASE is proud to introduce the NEBASE Hour!

The NEBASE Hour is a FREE, monthly, online information session on OCLC products and services. The NEBASE Hour will be held on the first Wednesday of the month, from 11:00 am-12:00 noon (Central Time) unless otherwise noted.

This NEBASE Hour will include a live presentation, available at no cost, that you will access from your own computer via the Web. Audio is available via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). You may ask any questions you have during the session. Each NEBASE Hour will be recorded for anyone who may want to see it again or who cannot attend it at the scheduled time.

The NEBASE Hour will be conducted by Christa Burns, OCLC Member Services Coordinator for NEBASE. Participants will receive 1 hour of CE credit. There is no cost to participate in the NEBASE Hour.

For more information and to register to attend a NEBASE Hour, please go to our Training Portal at: /netserv/nebase/training.html.

If you have any questions, please contact Christa Burns, 800-307-2665, or 402-471-3107.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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WEBJUNCTION RELEASES "TRENDS IN E-LEARNING FOR LIBRARY STAFF: A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS"

Are you interested in learning how library organizations are pursuing e-learning? Do you want to know about the benefits and challenges? Would you like to know who your peers are turning to as they develop e-learning programs for staff training?

WebJunction announces the release of a new report: "Trends in E-Learning for Library Staff: A Summary of Research Findings." This report summarizes the information gathered in a 2005 survey of training and education in library organizations.

WebJunction began offering online courses to the library community in 2003. Recognizing that little data exists about the use of e-learning for staff training and education in library organizations, WebJunction commissioned an independent consultant to investigate this topic. This report is a compilation of key findings from the survey of 651 respondents across the United States.

Nearly 50 percent of library organizations surveyed are already implementing e-learning in some form. The report reveals their views on:

• Why library organizations purchase or develop e-learning opportunities for their staff members
  
• Where library organizations go for advice on e-learning
  
• Situations in which e-learning is most effective
  
• Course topics of interest
  
• How library organizations choose software providers

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WEBJUNCTION UPDATE

Check out these new additions to WebJunction (http://www.webjunction.org/), the online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems and take online courses.

Introducing: WebJunction Weekly Tips

WebJunction's Weekly Tips provide practical advice each week, delivered to your email inbox or RSS reader. Click the link below to read this week's tip, sign up, and get weekly with WJ!

Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=325.

Rural in Focus Webinars

Each month the Rural Library Sustainability Project is presenting an "In Focus" webinar on a particular topic of importance to the work of sustaining Rural and Small libraries. Here you can access information on joining the webinar, view archived sessions, and find out more about resources discussed.

Go to: http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=13496.

Course of the Month

Each month, WebJunction offers one of their online courses for only $10 (that's less than half price!).

Go to: http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=372.
 

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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OCLC WORLDCAT RESOURCE SHARING TIP: FINDING A LOST REQUEST IN THE REQUEST MANAGER

Do you need to find a specific ILL request, but you don't know the ILL Request Identifier? Did you navigate away from a request before making a printout of it?

Don't panic! You can still find your request using the Search box in your Request Manager.

Open the pull-down menu to the right of "Search all requests for:".

If you are looking for a request that you placed, choose "Borrowing library (bl:)". Then enter your own library's OCLC symbol in the search box. Click the Search button. This will bring up a list of all requests that you have placed, regardless of what stage they are at in the ILL process.

If you are looking for a request for an item that you have lent, choose "Lending library (ll:)". Then enter your own library's OCLC symbol in the search box. Click the Search button. This will bring up a list of all items that you have lent to other libraries, regardless of what stage they are at in the ILL process.

You can search for any library's OCLC symbol using these choices.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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OCLC CONNEXION TIP: ACCESSING MARC FIELD HELP

Connexion includes links to specific descriptions of MARC fields in OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards (http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/default.htm). You can easily jump to the page describing a specific fixed field element or variable field tag right from your record in Connexion.

Connexion client:

Fixed field elements-Click the hotlinked fixed field element name, or press <Tab> till you get to the fixed field element name and the press <Enter>. As an alternative, with the cursor in the fixed field element, use the menu item Help, MARC Field Help, the keystroke <Shift><F1>, or the right-click mouse menu.

Variable fields-With the cursor in the variable field, use the menu item Help, MARC Field Help, the keystroke <Shift><F1>, or the right-click mouse menu.

Connexion browser:

Fixed or variable field elements-Enter fixed field element or variable field number in the MARC Help box and press <Enter>.

Fixed field elements-Click the fixed field element name or press <Tab> till you get to the fixed field element name and the press <Enter>.

Variable fields in MARC Template view-In the Functions list next to the variable field, select Help.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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OCLC RESOURCE SHARING ENHANCEMENTS

OCLC is happy to announce that the following enhancements to WorldCat Resource Sharing were successfully installed on Sunday, October 1.

Direct Request Formats now match formats available in Deflection Policies

The list of formats on which direct requests can be profiled has been expanded to include all the formats that are available in the Policies Directory for deflection. This allows libraries to create direct request profiles at a more granular level and have deflection applied on incoming requests that better reflect their policies. This list will now include the following formats:

Archival/Mixed Material
Book
Computer File
E-Serial
E-Text
Government Document
Integrated Resource
Internet Resource
Kit
Manuscript
Map
Microform
Musical Score
Newspaper
Serial
Sound Recording
Sound Recording - Cassette
Sound Recording - CD
Sound Recording - LP
Visual Material
Visual Material - DVD
Visual Material - VHS

Special messages appear on printed requests

Under the due date in the upper right side of printed requests from WorldCat Resource Sharing, a new field titled SPCL MES now appears. This will help libraries that print out requests by providing more complete information on their printouts.

The messages read:

SPCL MES: Lender: COMPLETE?
SPCL MES: Borrower: RECEIVED?
SPCL MES: Borrower LOST?
SPCL MES: Lender LOST?
SPCL MES: Not Rec'd?
SPCL MES: Overdue?

For additional information about these enhancements, please contact NEBASE or OCLC's Customer Support Department at support@oclc.org.

Christa Starck Weiker
Product Manger, WorldCat Resource Sharing
OCLC

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JOIN THE NEBASE DEWEY GROUP PURCHASE

Join the NEBASE Dewey Group - save money on the print and web versions of the DDC!

NOTE: Libraries who wish to order any Dewey product DO NOT have to be members of OCLC. Any library can subscribe - Dewey products are available to both OCLC member and non-member libraries.

Dewey in Print

The NEBASE Dewey Group has been expanded to include the print versions of the Abridged Edition 14 of the Dewey Decimal Classification and the 22nd edition of the unabridged Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC 22).

OCLC is offering 10% off of the original price on the DDC 22 and Abridged Edition 14 in print.

If your library is interested in ordering the DDC 22 or Abridged Edition 14 in print, you will find pricing information and the online Order Form at /netserv/nebase/deweyorderbooks.html.

For more information about the DDC, please visit http://www.oclc.org/dewey/.

Dewey on the Web

Now your library can benefit from web-based access to an enhanced version of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) database through WebDewey or Abridged WebDewey. OCLC is offering a discounted price to users who join the NEBASE Dewey Group.

WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey, which correspond to the unabridged and abridged print editions, are updated on a quarterly basis, bringing you ongoing updates implemented by the Dewey editorial team almost as soon as they occur. The Web versions also offer additional electronic functionality not available in the print editions to make your classification work more efficient.

To see a hands-on demo of WebDewey, you can watch the NEBASE "Introduction to WebDewey" online session which was recorded and is available online for you to view at your leisure. The recorded session is viewable from a web browser. You will need a sound card and either earphones or speakers. There is no cost to view this recorded session. To view the WebDewey session, go to the Online Sessions Archive web site at:
/netserv/training/onlinesessions/
archives.html#webdewey.

The current WebDewey & Abridged WebDewey Group subscription year runs from January 1 - December 31. Libraries may join the WebDewey & Abridged WebDewey Group at any time. Midyear subscriptions will be prorated. Orders must be received by the 15th of the month for a start date of the 1st of the following month.

If your library is interested in subscribing to WebDewey or Abridged WebDewey, you will find pricing information and the online Order Form at /netserv/nebase/deweyorder.html.

For more information about web access to the DDC, go to http://www.oclc.org/dewey/versions/default.htm.

If you have any questions about DDC 22, Abridged Edition 14, WebDewey, Abridged WebDewey or the NEBASE Group, please contact Christa Burns, 402-471-3107, or 800-307-2665.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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CATEXPRESS USERS: CHECK YOUR CATEXPRESS MONTHLY TRANSACTION REPORTS!

Are you wondering how many titles you have left in your CatExpress subscription? Do you need accurate statistics on your cataloging activity?

The OCLC CatExpress Monthly Transaction Reports have what you need.

Every month OCLC mounts Monthly Transaction Reports detailing your library's CatExpress cataloging activity on the Product Services Web. The Reports list transactions for the Current Month's activity and Year to Date activity. Year to Date activity is for the current subscription year - July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007. Reports remain available for 90 days. There is no extra cost to access the Reports. They are included as part of your CatExpress subscription.

Why do you need to know how much of your CatExpress subscription you have used?

Libraries who exceed their subscription limit may be charged $.91 for each record over the limit. If you monitor your usage and don't go over your subscription limit, you can avoid having to pay any extra charges at the end of the subscription year.

For detailed information about the Monthly Transaction Reports and instructions on how to use them, see the NEBASE CatExpress web site at: /netserv/nebase/catxreports.html.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission
 

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OCLC"S RESPONSE TO LC DECISION ON SERIES ACCESS: AN UPDATE

On July 9, OCLC installed the last of the software changes previously announced to assist with the implementation of LC's decision on series. Specific changes OCLC has implemented are:

1. Changes were made to the software used to load Library of Congress records into WorldCat so, if the existing WorldCat record contains controlled series access (either field 440 and fields 490, first indicator "1", and an 8XX field) and the incoming LC record contains only a series statement (Field 490, first indicator "0"), the controlled series access will be retained.
   
2. Since, as part of the change in series practice, the Library of Congress has ceased to use the 042 code "pcc' in records for monographs and integrating resources, OCLC has adjusted the hierarchy that governs which record takes precedence when incoming records are compared with existing WorldCat records to insure that a PCC record is not bumped by a record not meeting PCC standards.
   
3. OCLC has changed existing Database Enrichment capabilities so fields 440, 490, and 8XX can be added, changed or deleted by any user with a full-level cataloging authorization. This allows cataloging users to, for example, change series treatment in LC records to match existing authority records. Users will receive a Database enrichment credit for such changes. See the Web page on how to earn database enrichment credits here: http://www.oclc.org/support/tips/worldcat/tip7.htm.

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OCLC MARC 21 FORMAT FOR HOLDINGS DATA: UPDATED DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE

An updated edition of the MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data Primer is now available. This 22-page manual provides all the information you need to implement the MARC 21 Format for your library's holdings records. Sections include:

• Z39.71
  
• 9 Principles (that holdings records must adhere to)
  
• Levels of Specificity
  
• Two Descriptive Dimensions for Holdings
  
• Glossary

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NEW CATALOGING DOCUMENTATION: OCLC AUTHORITIES FORMAT TAG CHART

A new quick reference is now available: the OCLC Authorities Format Tag Chart.

This document provides a quick reference guide for catalogers. It is a guide to the fields that can be used in authorities records and the sub-fields that are valid for each field.

A PDF version is available at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/
worldcat/authorities/authoritiestagchart.pdf

Printed copies are available at no charge by sending an e-mail request to orders@oclc.org. To request a printed copy, please ask for product code REF 1115 and provide your OCLC symbol, if you are an OCLC member.

Peter Insabella
Manager, Product Documentation Content
OCLC

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AMAZON IS A NEW PROMPTCAT VENDOR

We are excited to share this news with our member libraries! Amazon is now a PromptCat participant. Please see the OCLC news release regarding this at: http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200637.htm.

If you are an OCLC member with an OCLC cataloging subscription, you may get OCLC MARC records delivered to you for titles you order from Amazon at no additional charge.

To check out the Amazon library specific data, go to: http://www.amazon.com/libraries.

To sign up for library processing with Amazon and PromptCat with OCLC, click on their "Library Processing" and scroll down to the bottom of that page to sign up with OCLC PromptCat and Amazon.. Current PromptCat users with other vendors need to sign up through the Amazon website, not through the OCLC website.

PromptCat is OCLC's automated copy cataloging service. You can read more about it at: http://www.oclc.org/promptcat/.

Cynthia M. Whitacre
Manager, WorldCat Quality & Partner Content Dept.
OCLC

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OCLC LANGUAGE SETS: PREPARE YOUR LIBRARY FOR THE MULTILINGUAL WORLD

OCLC Language Sets can help you build collections in 13 non-English languages. Altoona (Iowa) Public Library and Seattle (Washington) Public Library use the service to help meet the demands of their culturally changing communities.

An analysis of Census Bureau data shows that the U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 35 million in March 2005. The data also indicates that the first half of this decade has been the highest five-year period of immigration in American history.

To serve these rapidly growing communities of diverse ethnic groups, libraries need to offer non-English materials but often lack the expertise to select and catalog non-English titles for their collections. OCLC Language Sets can help.

Language Sets allow English-speaking librarians to build multilingual collections. Books are cataloged in full MARC format and arrive ready to shelve, with holdings already set in WorldCat. Languages available are: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Panjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese.

Read how two public libraries use Language Sets for their needs at: http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/design/abstracts/
10092006/languagesets.htm.

Learn more about Language Sets at: http://www.oclc.org/languagesets/.

Christa Burns
OCLC Member Services Coordinator
Nebraska Library Commission

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CONTENTdm FEATURED COLLECTIONS

Two collections from the CONTENTdm Collection of Collections are featured every month on the CONTENTdm Web site. The featured collections for September were Vivarium and the World War II Historical Film Collection and for October were Tobacco Bag Stringing and Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage.

Vivarium - Saint John's University and College of Saint Benedict

Vivarium is the home of digitized manuscripts, art, rare books, photographs, audio, video, and other resources from two Benedictine monastic and educational communities in central Minnesota. It is a searchable database delivering a variety of digital objects, including pictures, audio, video, etc. Vivarium was created and is maintained by the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library.

World War II Historical Film Collection - Ball State University

This collection consists of short films and news clips, primarily in black and white, documenting Allied operations and activities during WWII. In addition to footage of campaigns in Europe and in the Pacific, the films document activities on the home front, including the efforts of African American colleges and farmers, the relocation and internment of Japanese civilians, and the victory garden program sponsored by the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense.

Tobacco Bag Stringing - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Throughout the tobacco-growing regions of the American South during the Great Depression, individuals and families earned much-needed income by sewing drawstrings into small cotton tobacco bags. This website presents images and text from a report in the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill documenting tobacco bag stringing work in North Carolina and Virginia in 1939.

Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage - Enoch Pratt Free Library

The Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Program is a statewide, collaborative digitization program headquartered at the Central Library, Enoch Pratt Free Library / State Library Resource Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Maryland libraries, museums, historical societies, and similar cultural heritage institutions or organizations can contribute materials related to the history of Maryland to the Program. Participation is not limited to institutions. In some cases, materials have been contributed by private donors.

These are just a few of the many outstanding digital collections created by CONTENTdm users. To access the entire Collection of Collections go to: http://www.contentdm.com/customers/index.html.

If you would like to add your collections to the Collection of Collections go to http://www.contentdm.com/USC/collections.asp.  Note that you will need to log into the User Support Center before accessing this page.

Claire Cocco
Product Manager
DiMeMa, Inc.

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OCLC TECHNICAL BULLETIN 253 (ISBN AND OCLC NUMBER CHANGES) NOW AVAILABLE

Technical Bulletin 253: ISBN and OCLC Number Changes is now available in both HTML and PDF formats.

It covers these topics:

• The OCLC implementation of thirteen-digit ISBNs. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is currently ten digits. Starting on January 1, 2007, the ISBN will be thirteen digits. Some publishers have already switched to the new, longer numbers. After January 1, 2007, they all must use them.
  
  
• The expansion of the OCLC number from eight to nine digits. Currently, the OCLC control number is a fixed-length, eight-digit number. However, OCLC will soon reach the last eight-digit number. On November 12, 2006, WorldCat records will be able to have nine-digit OCLC numbers. The 100 millionth WorldCat record will be the first nine-digit number.

This technical bulletin describes the implications of these major changes and what you need to do to prepare for the changes. It is available at: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/tb/253/default.htm.

Peter Insabella
Manager, Product Documentation Content
OCLC

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N³ (Ncubed) Newsletter is published bimonthly by the Nebraska Library Commission Network Services team. It is the intent of Network Services to promote and support libraries in their cooperative efforts to share resources and information. Circulation: 600. Published on PC software. Editor: Shannon Behrhorst. Word Processing: Jeannette Powell. ISSN 1082-4383 Send mail to: N³ Editor Nebraska Library Commission, The Atrium, 1200 N St., Suite 120, Lincoln, NE, 68508 Phone: 402-471-4031 or 800-307-2665 Fax: 402-471-2083 E-mail: Shannon Behrhorst Home Page: /netserv/netserv.html.