Increased Number of Controlled Headings in OCLC WorldCat

Automated processing is now being used to identify, modify, and control
specific types of personal name headings in WorldCat bibliographic
records. This processing, based on data used to build WorldCat
Identities (http://orlabs.oclc.org/Identities/) and developed by Thom
Hickey, Chief Scientist in the OCLC Office of Programs and Research, is
projected to control more than 26,000,000 headings over the next few
weeks.

In this phase of processing, personal name headings that consist of more
than a single subfield and that match the established form or a
reference in the authority record are being updated (if necessary); the
heading is then controlled and the record is replaced. Records affected
by this processing can be identified by the symbol "OCLCG" in field 040
$d. When a problem is encountered, the record is skipped and reported
for manual intervention.

Dr. Hickey has posted a description of the project on his blog,
Outgoing, at

http://outgoing.typepad.com/outgoing/2008/04/controlling-nam.html

(OBS-OCLC e-list)

LCSH Suggestion Blog-a-Thon

From Radical Reference website:

"Do subject headings still matter? We say they do.

Does the Library of Congress always identify accessible and appropriately named headings and implement them in a timely manner? We say not always. All you have to do is spend one day behind a reference desk to see examples of biased, non-inclusive, and counterintuitive classifications that slow down, misdirect, or even obscure information from library users. As librarians and library workers, providing access to information is important-and classifying it in ways that are inclusive and intuitive strengthens our egalitarian mission.

Between now and Sunday, April 27, Radical Reference invites you to suggest subject headings and/or cross-references which will then be compiled and sent to the Library of Congress. You can either choose one previously suggested by Sandy Berman ... or propose your own.

This is a chance to positively impact the catalog of the de facto national library of the United States, which also impacts cataloging all over the world!"

http://radicalreference.info/lcsh/2008/blog-a-thon

(Catalogablog)

Next Generation Academic Library System Symposium

Video streaming, audio podcasts and PowerPoint presentations from the VALE's Next Generation Academic Library System Symposium OLS (Open Library System) held March 12, 2008 at the College of New Jersey are now available at:

http://www.valenj.org/newvale/ols/symposium2008/program-schedule.shtml

(Catalogablog)

Definition of Digital Preservation Announced

The Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS) of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) is pleased to announce the publication of a definition of digital preservation. The definition is available on the ALCTS Web site at

http://www.ala.org/ala/alcts/newslinks/digipres/index.cfm

Read the full announcement at

http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/april2008/digitalpreserve.cfm

(AUTOCAT e-list)

OCLC's PARcasts

"Welcome to the OCLC Programs and Research PARcast page. Here you'll find links to our podcasts—the latest recorded interviews with industry thought leaders and up-and-comers—as well as recorded webinars, or online presentations, from Programs and Research staff."

http://www.oclc.org/programsandresearch/parcasts/

(Lorcan Dempsey's weblog)

OCLC Validation Changes in Batch Processing

Relaxed Validation in Batch Processing

Beginning the week of April 13, OCLC will implement new validation rules for records added to WorldCat via batch processing. Until then, any validation error prevents a record from being added to WorldCat. After April 13, only severe errors will prevent records from being added to WorldCat via batch. Records with minor errors will be added. Online inputting rules will remain the same when records are entered through Connexion.

Most of the records entered into WorldCat through batch processing have an Encoding Level value of "3" or "M" or "4" that any full cataloging user in Connexion may correct and upgrade. A few records may have other values. Records with minor errors will no longer have Encoding Level 'E' in order to enable easier correction.

In addition to these changes, some records added via batch after April 13 may contain fill characters in the OCLC fixed field or in fields 006 or 007. Prior to April 13, a fill character prevents the record from being added to WorldCat. OCLC is adopting the MARC21 definition of the fill character to mean "no attempt to supply a value" for batch processing.

Presence of a fill character in a variable control field indicates that the creator of the record has not attempted to supply a value. ... The fill character may be used in undefined character positions and in character positions for which the MARC 21 format defines one or more values. Use of the fill character in variable control fields is usually regulated by the policy of the inputting agency.

The fill character will only be present in a record if the user has distributed a fill character to OCLC in a file sent for loading. The fill character is not yet valid in Connexion; if full validation is invoked in Connexion, the fill character will generate an error message. Validating use of the fill character within Connexion is under consideration.

Prior to loading records to WorldCat, OCLC processes all files through many clean-up routines, correcting millions of records each year. However, some problems require manual review of the item described by the record or more analysis of the record than can be accomplished by software.

The benefits of the changes to batch validation are many:
1. increased volume of records that can be loaded into WorldCat so libraries may participate in more OCLC services, such as WorldCat.local
2. increased number of new, unique records in WorldCat
3. batch projects will be completed more quickly than in the past
4. fewer records requiring manual review by OCLC staff or by owning library and fewer records rejected for loading

Rich Greene
OCLC, Inc.

(OBS-OCLC e-list)

New Issue of OCLC's NextSpace

See issue no. 8 (Feb. 2008) of NextSpace: the OCLC Newsletter at:

http://www.oclc.org/us/en/nextspace/008/

It includes a piece entitled "Next-Gen Cataloging" at:

http://www.oclc.org/us/en/nextspace/008/labs.htm

(print version)