Tiptoeing Forward: Implementing and Integrating WorldCat Local as a Discovery Tool

Tiptoeing Forward: Implementing and Integrating WorldCat Local as a Discovery Tool

Tyler Goldberg, Anna Marie Johnson, Randy Kuehn
Copyright: © 2012 |Pages: 12
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1821-3.ch037
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Abstract

This chapter describes the implementation of the WorldCat®1 Local discovery tool in a multiple-library system at a mid-sized university. The catalog data preparation required for implementation is a key focus, including discussion of the use of the OCLC holdings reclamation process. Special circumstances and limitations regarding government documents records are described. The challenge that WorldCat® Local’s architecture presents for a library system with multiple processing units is explained. Additional concepts discussed are the decisions regarding configuration and presentation on the Library’s Web interface, the challenges faced by librarians and staff, and the impact on instruction and reference. Comparisons between the number of searches in the traditional library catalog and WorldCat® Local are presented as well as interlibrary loan requests statistics pre and post implementation. Various difficulties encountered and the applied solutions are explained and discussed as well as ongoing challenges and issues.
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Preparation Of Cataloging Records And Configuration

WorldCat® Local gives users the ability to discover from a single search box all items from the Libraries’ catalog and the collections made available through OCLC, including books, databases, articles, and digital materials. A library generally configures WorldCat® Local so that users retrieve search results that display items from the library’s local collection first. In its implementation of FRBR, WorldCat® Local uses the record with the library’s OCLC holdings symbol to tie the records for similar works together. Items are identified as belonging to a library because a library’s holdings symbol has been attached to a specific OCLC record (see figure 1).

Figure 1.

WorldCat® Local: Sample search. (© 2011 OCLC. Used with permission. WorldCat® and the WorldCat® logo are registered trademarks/service marks of OCLC.).

978-1-4666-1821-3.ch037.f01

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