Status Line

• Reference Services
• Dec 06- Jan 07
• Issue: 208

FirstSearch Admin Module Tip of the Month: OCLC Number Alert

If your library's OCLC numbers are indexed in your OPAC with the "ocm" prefix and if your library has entered the OCLC-number search syntax in your FirstSearch Admin Module, your library may need to change its FirstSearch OCLC-number search syntax when the number of records in WorldCat hits the 100 million mark. Although this will not happen immediately - WorldCat currently contains 76 million bibliographic records (see above) - it may happen sooner than we think so be forewarned.

OCLC numbers will soon reach 9 digits. Currently, the OCLC number is a fixed-length, eight-digit number. The 100 millionth WorldCat record will be the first to contain a ninedigit OCLC number. Once the 100 millionth record is entered in WorldCat, OCLC will start exporting records with a prefix that changes, depending on OCLC number size. A 1-8 digit OCLC number will have a prefix of "ocm" and a nine-digit OCLC number will have a prefix of "ocn."

Once this milestone is reached, you will need to adjust the settings in the "Web Library Catalogs" section of your FirstSearch Admin Module by choosing one of the following options:

• Do not add prefix to the OCLC Number - your library catalogs the OCLC number with no prefix. Note: This is the default value.
• Add ocn/ocm prefix based on OCLC Number - your library includes the prefix OCLC exports with the OCLC number in the indexing of the OCLC number. For all OCLC numbers 1 to 99,999,999, the prefix exported is "ocm". For OCLC numbers from 100,000,000 or greater, the prefix exported is "ocn." Selecting this radio button instructs FirstSearch to add the correct prefix to the OCLC number based on the size of the OCLC number. Note: The URL may already have "ocm" attached to the end of the URL. This would need to be removed.
• Add the following custom prefix to all OCLC Numbers - your library adds the same consistent prefix in front of the OCLC number. For constant custom prefixes, supply the appropriate prefix in the text box. Note: If the library cataloged this way before this option existed, the prefix may be at the end of the URL. This will continue to work as it does now.

The FirstSearch Administrative Module ("Admin Module") is a free web-based service that allows libraries to manage and customize their FirstSearch end-user accounts. It allows libraries to enter/change IP addresses, effective immediately, turn Per Search databases on and off as needed, including some that contain full-text, add a library's logo to the FirstSearch search screen, and more.

[OCLC - edited by Joyce Rambo, Reference & Digital Collections Librarian, Nylink]

OCLC FirstSearch Contact Information
For more information about OCLC's FirstSearch service, please contact Nylink's Joyce Rambo (ramboj@nylink.org) or Donna Dixon (dixond@nylink.org). They are available via email or phone (800-342-3353/518-443-5444).