OCLC Resource Sharing Liaison Report to ALA RUSA STARS Committee

Annual Conference 2006

WorldCat Resource SharingEnhancements:

  1. Deflection based on profiles set in the Policies Directory
  2. Link to Local Holdings Record in Connexion for editing
  3. Deflection based on setting in the Local Holdings Record (LHR)
  4. New category of review-in-process
  5. Ability to print without updating
  6. Ability to update without printing
  7. Processing improvements: faster request processing

Deflection based on profiles set in the Policies Directory

WorldCat Resource Sharing will now deflect resource sharing requests based on policies defined by lenders in the Policies Directory. This speeds up processing by allowing libraries to not see requests they cannot fill, and makes the response time and the delivery quicker to the end user. Instead of an unfilled request remaining in the pending status waiting for potential lenders to manually deny the request, the Request Manager skips lenders based on deflection policies and automatically moves the request to the next lender. This deflection may be based on service type, material format and OCLC profiled groups (GAC, GAC-UL, UL-only). Additional elements for deflection will be implemented in the future, including MAXCOST, custom holdings groups, etc.).

Link to Local Holdings Record in Connexion for editing

The link to the Local Holdings Record (LHR) in Connexion allows user of WorldCat Resource Sharing to edit local holdings. Resource sharing staff may set local holdings to reflect their reproduction and lending policies on an item-by-item basis at the point of need. Seamless logon is provided for those institutions that use the same authorization and the same password for both resource sharing and cataloging.

Local Holdings Data Deflection: Deflection on individual items
In February OCLC installed item-level Request Deflection for WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad. The defaults for the Lending and Reproduction policy bytes in the local holding record (Field 008 bytes 20 & 21) were set to 'u' for undefined. Only requests that the library has set the bytes on will be deflected when that functionality is made available. At the same time, Local Holdings maintenance functionality was added to the Connexion browser.

New category of review-in-process

New category of review-in-process is added to WorldCat Resource Sharing. This allows users to return to a workflow that was available to them pre-migration.

Ability to print without updating

A new button has been added on the batch printing page that allows users to print pending and review requests without updating requests to in-process or review in-process.

Ability to update without printing

This enhancement allows users to hit a button and automatically populate the batch update information, which saves the users time and waste less paper printing. This functionality is only available when moving requests from pending to in-process and review to review in-process. If there is a demand for this in other categories, we will consider adding those categories as well.

One request-per page printing

Users are now able to print the information in a resource sharing request on a single page, saving paper resources for libraries.

Processing improvements

OCLC has developed new background processes that allow faster processing of requests.

Future Plans:

  1. Constant Data Persistence Optional: individual libraries will be able to determine if their constant data will be applied persistently or if they would like no constant data applied until they choose a specific constant data record for each request.
  2. Link to FirstSearch administrative module from within WorldCat Resource Sharing A direct link to the administrative functions of WorldCat Resource Sharing will help users of the system update and make changes to constant data, saved notes, custom holdings groups and paths without having to manually log into another system.
  3. Addition of OCLC # in the holdings screen

ILLiad 7.2: targeting October

  • An overhauled, re-architected patron web interface
  • Ability to filter lenders based on Custom Holdings Path and year/volume for serials
  • A redesigned authentication model to provide flexibility for additional methods and continuance of current practices
  • Integration of new WCRS Web services (version 1.2) to provide more timely request handling and additional flexibility of request processing

Please join OCLC at ALA in New Orleans:

Saturday, June 24

OCLC ILLiad for Prospective Users

1:30 – 3:00 pm, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, OCLC Green Suite*
Join Tony Melvyn for a 90-minute live demonstration of OCLC ILLiad, version 7.2. See its revamped Web interface (including new authentication options and lending Web pages), enhancements to Odyssey Electronic Delivery and NCIP functionality.
*Ask hotel concierge for OCLC Green Suite location.

Sunday, June 25

Global Resource Sharing: Cooperation across Borders

10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Sheraton New Orleans, Napoleon Ballroom A2 & A3
Learn about sharing across international borders and what “access to information” means for libraries outside the U.S. in this OCLC-hosted panel discussion.

OCLC ILLiad for Prospective Users (Repeat of Saturday Session)

1:30 – 3:00 pm, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, OCLC Green Suite*
Join Tony Melvyn for a 90-minute live demonstration of OCLC ILLiad, version 7.2. See its revamped Web interface (including new authentication options and lending Web pages), enhancements to Odyssey Electronic Delivery and NCIP functionality.
*Ask hotel concierge for OCLC Green Suite location.

Union List Users Group Meeting
1:30 – 3:00 pm, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Belle Chasse Room
Find out more about the new Local Holdings Maintenance functionality that was introduced in the Connexion browser this past February. Join us for a lively session and come prepared to share your own experiences and questions.

Liberate Your eSerials Collection through WorldCat

1:30 – 3:30 pm, Hampton Inn and Suites at the Convention Center, Riverside II
OCLC, pilot librarians and partners will discuss the eSerials Holdings service—learn about automatically setting, maintaining and exposing your eSerials holdings in WorldCat without increasing your cataloging workload.

ILLiad and WorldCat Resource Sharing Users Group Meeting

4:00 – 5:30 pm, Morial Convention Center, Rooms 244-245
Join OCLC and fellow ILLiad and WorldCat Resource Sharing users to share successes and learn about future plans for these resource sharing services.

Christa Starck

Product Manager, WorldCat Resource Sharing

June 15, 2006