OCLC invites interested libraries to a special webinar entitled, “QuestionPoint: Take a Second Look.” This webinar will be held on January 21 from noon to 1 pm, Eastern Standard Time.

QuestionPoint is a unique virtual reference management service that provides tools for libraries to
interact with their users via chat and/or e-mail, in cooperation with a global network of QuestionPoint libraries worldwide. Participation in the 24/7 Reference Cooperative is an additional option, and provides libraries with the ability to provide live chat reference services to their users, around the clock.

OCLC staff will also demonstrate some of the major QuestionPoint improvements, including the chat interface’s new look and feel. They’ll also discuss some special, limited-time offers for new and current QuestionPoint libraries.

This is a free, live web presentation during which attendees can ask questions of the presenter. Register online at: https://www3.oclc.org/app/request/bin/request.asp?specialCode=QP090121

Are you planning to attend ALA Midwinter? If so, there are many resource sharing meetings, programs, and activities planned. Here is list of some of the sessions that you may wish to attend:

RUSA Stars (Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section) has scheduled a variety of events at ALA Midwinter. These include an all day pre-conference, an ILL discussion group, a hot topics discussion group, a membership social, and meetings on the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative. For a schedule of RUSA Stars activities, go to:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/stars/index.cfm#midwinter

While visiting the exhibits, you may also want to stop by the Atlas Systems booth. Atlas will be in Booth #2514. The Atlas staff would be happy to talk with you about ILLiad, Aeon and Ares. A representative from Nylink will be at the Atlas booth on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00-11:00AM, so stop by and say hello.

In addition, Atlas is hosting the first Atlas Systems Users Meeting on Saturday, January 24 in Room #703 at the Convention Center.

• The Ares Users Meeting will run from 4:00-4:45 PM
• The Aeon Users Meeting will run from 4:45-5:30 PM

Attend these meetings and learn in-depth details about current releases, future release plans, and general product information.

In addition, ILLiad users can learn all about ILLiad 8.0 on Saturday, January 24 from 8:00-10:00AM in Room #108 at the Convention Center

OCLC is scheduling a variety of meetings and information sessions at ALA Midwinter. Topics include:

• ILLiad 8.0: Maximizing the New Interface
• The New Policies Directory and WorldCat Registry Update
• OCLC ILLiad for Prospective Users
• OCLC Resource Sharing Users Group Meeting

For more information, or to register any of these OCLC meetings, please go to: www.oclc.org/info/ala.

Due to a power outage in our building caused by the ice storm on December 12, we did not receive any email from approximately midnight to noon on that day. If you sent us an email during that time and have not received a response, please re-send your email or give us a call. Sorry for any inconvenience!

OCLC has released the new NetLibrary Media Center, a full-featured desktop application that allows library patrons to easily search, manage, transfer and listen to eAudiobooks from their local library. The free software application allows users to connect to NetLibrary, and then download and begin listening to eAudiobooks with just one click.

The Media Center combines familiar user functions available from NetLibrary’s Web-based platform to browse, search and check out materials, and adds enhanced features and functionality—such as a full-feature audio player; seamless download to a portable listening device; and other features designed to improve the patron’s experience with NetLibrary eAudiobooks.

In order to provide users with access to the Media Center, libraries will need to complete a Media Center Activation Request and return to NetLibrary. Activation requests are available at:

http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/media_center/Media_Center_Activation_Request.pdf

OCLC will accept activation request forms through December 31, 2008. As of December 19th, 2008, librarians will be able to turn the NetLibrary Media Center on themselves through the Library Resource Center (LRC). Instructions on how librarians can activate the NetLibrary Media Center through the LRC will be available in the near future.

Additional resources, including an online demo, Media Center brochure and updated eAudiobooks User Guide can be accessed below from the Media Center main page at http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/media_center/default.htm.

Noted on the OCLC-Cat List: New User Guide Available — Authorities: Format and Indexes (Peter Insabella, OCLC)

Authorities: Format and Indexes provides details on selected topics that catalogers need to identify and verify information in bibliographic and/or authority records via the OCLC authority file.

Authorities: Format and Indexes contains detailed authorities-related information
that can assist the following library staff:

• Fully authorized NACO (Name Authority Cooperative Program) participants who lock, edit, and replace master records, and add new records.
• Cataloging users at NACO institutions who lock and edit master records prior to verification by authorized NACO users at their institution.
• Cataloging users at non-NACO institutions who edit and save authority records locally and verify names and titles when updating and/or enhancing WorldCat™ bibliographic records.
• Public services, reference, resource sharing, and acquisitions staff who verify names and titles for local use or for interlibrary loan.

This new 62 page user guide supersedes the former Authorities User Guide. It is available online in both HTML and PDF formats, at:

HTML format: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/authorities/authformat/default.htm

PDF format: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/authorities/authformat/auth_format_and%20_indexes.pdf

Now that OCLC has released the policy, and the associated summary and FAQ, I have had time to fully absorb the changes between this policy and the previous (currently in force) Guidelines for the Use and Transfer of OCLC-Derived Records. The more I think about the policy, the more questions I have. For instance, here are a few issues that I think need further exploration and discussion:

Issue 1. The new policy states that if the library has contributed the record as original cataloging, then the use of that record is not restricted by the terms of the policy (B. Definitions, 3 and 4):

…An OCLC Member or Non-OCLC Member may Use or Transfer the following without complying with this Policy: (i) a WorldCat Record designated in WorldCat as the Original Cataloging of the OCLC Member or Non-OCLC Member; or (ii) a bibliographic record which is not Derived from WorldCat whether or not the OCLC Member or Non-OCLC Member adds the OCLC control number to the record.

A bibliographic record in WorldCat is designated as the “Original Cataloging” of the agency represented in the OCLC MARC 040 field, subfield a (original cataloging agency).

Here are my concerns with this:

1. The 040 subfield a data can be changed during lock & replace by anyone with a Full, CONSER or Enhance authorization while doing work on the record to upgrade it. So – how can a library prove (or even know) if a record’s use is unrestricted. Back in the day, DLC (Library of Congress) records regularly overlaid member-contributed records whenever they were tape loaded into the OLUC/ Online Union Catalog (WorldCat’s original name). Those records displayed with 040 $a DLC once they were overlaid. So retrospectively, how would a library know whether in the current WorldCat database, they appeared to have the right to ignore the policy?

2. The assumption that a library might do different things with subsets of their records based on cataloging source status (original vs copy cataloging) is troubling to me as well. Is it even easy to sort local ILS records this way? I know that Nylink members often ask me to report to them the number of records that they have contributed to WorldCat as original cataloging, which makes me think that this would not be a simple process for them to do in-house. And besides, given that it is possible to do, it is likely that there would be a project where the library would only need to work with the original cataloging subset?

3. As I read this, I keep coming back to the idea of ownership now being ascribed to the symbol in 040 $a. The majority of WorldCat is cataloged originally by member libraries, including national libraries. A quick search in Connexion indicates that only 39,965 WorldCat records have a symbol associated with OCLC itself (OCL, OCLC, OCLCS, etc). Would OCLC be happy following the restrictions of the policy regarding its own records, or are they saying that all records are theirs to do with as they wish, but the same does not apply to you? It does not seem logical.

Issue 2. Libraries have to submit a Proposal for Use and Transfer of WorldCat Records form to get permission from OCLC to use WorldCat derived records in any project deemed to exceed “reasonable use”. What? Here is the definition of reasonable use from the policy:

“Reasonable Use” means Use of WorldCat Records that is reasonable for the intended Non-Commercial Use and consistent with the intent of this Policy. Without limiting the foregoing, the term “Reasonable Use” does not include any Use of WorldCat Records that:

a. discourages the contribution of bibliographic and holdings data to WorldCat, thus damaging OCLC Members’ investment in WorldCat, and/or

b. substantially replicates the function, purpose, and/or size of WorldCat. Please see the FAQ for a discussion of Z39.50 for cataloging using WorldCat-derived bibliographic records.

OK. So if OCLC is not threatened by the proposed usage, they will likely give permission. What if they are threatened because the proposed usage is viewed as a disruptive technology? There is no process for appeal, and in the policy as it stands, OCLC is the sole arbiter of what “reasonable” means. I find this truly troublesome, because I am still in the school of thought that members built this database, and it belongs to them.

Issue 3. Enforcement of the policy:

This policy is scheduled to take effect in February, 2009, but libraries that currently have cataloging subscriptions agreed to Terms & Conditions that are valid until June 30, 2009. The T&C don’t specify limitations on use of WorldCat records, either according to the existing Guidelines or the new Policy. In Section E. “Additional provisions” of the policy, OCLC states:

“The rights to Use and Transfer WorldCat Records afforded by this Policy shall automatically terminate upon any breach of the terms of this Policy”

Isn’t this a conflict? Doesn’t this kind of threat actually push libraries to seek other solutions to avoid the possibility of paying for a service that they could find themselves denied if they are deemed to have breached the terms of the new policy? I think this is counter-productive.

Issue 4. Many WorldCat records are public documents, as are the local system record databases (or other repositories) of public institutions. Library of Congress, other US national libraries, State libraries, State Universities and Colleges, and public libraries are public agencies, funded (at least in part) by taxpayer dollars. How can OCLC, a non-public entity, limit the usage of public resources via this policy? I am sure that many public entities are scrutinizing the policy, and using valuable time and expertise to determine whether they can agree to these terms. It will remain to be seen if the policy can stand as it is, or whether special provisions will need to made for publicly funded institutions.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose (the more things change, the more they stay the same)

In 2004, I was asked by then OCLC VP of Cataloging and Metadata, Gary Houk (a great guy, whose passing on August 18, 2008 was mourned by many, including me), to participate in some cataloging discussions with a small task force from OCLC Member’s Council to discuss what we were calling “Record Nabbing”. Record nabbing was basically the Z39.50 capture/download of MARC records for cataloging from any Z39.50 host, without explicit permission from the host site, and without the intention of returning holdings to WorldCat. Remember, in those days, returning holdings could cost money. Although members of the task force were concerned about the potential erosion of “the cooperative”, our final conclusion was that any firewall, filter or other software Z39.50 preventative was overkill, and that the solution was to make the presence and visibility of holdings in WorldCat critical to a library’s self interest. One initiative that followed quickly on this insight was WorldCat.org, which has had a positive impact on libraries and OCLC. Now it is 2008, and here we are again. I hope that as libraries examine the new policy they will communicate with each other and with OCLC about their concerns, so that the desire to protect the WorldCat database and collaborative does not become the seeds of its destruction.

PS Elaine Sanchez, from the Texas State University-San Marcos is currently circulating a Petition for OCLC to Collaboratively Re-write the Policy for Use and Transfer of WorldCat Records. If you are interested, please go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/oclc/petition.html

The Copyright Clearance Center now offers colleges and universities an annual copyright license.  The Annual Copyright License allows the reuse of text-based copyrighted content within higher education institutions.  Educational uses include:

• Coursepacks—paper and electronic
• Class handouts
• Library reserves—traditional and e-reserves
• Electronic course content

The annual copyright license does not include documents received through interlibrary loan.

Additional information is available on the Copyright Clearance Center website:

http://www.copyright.com/ccc/viewPage.do?pageCode=ac12

Many ILL offices close during the holiday season both so that materials don’t get lost during a busy period for the mail, and because of special holiday hours and staff vacations.

Libraries may now set their own supplier/non-supplier status using the ILL Policies Directory. Here are instructions:

1. Log into the Policies Directory at http://illpolicies.oclc.org/
2. Click on the My Units link in the black border at upper right.
3. Click the Change Supplier Status button.
4. Click on Change, to the right of the OCLC Supplier field.
5. In the Dates fields, you may either type in the dates or click on the calendar icon to specify the date range.
6. Click on Save after entering the dates.

Changes entered before midnight will be made the following day. Only one date, or date range, can be entered at a time.

Please note that the online form in the ILL Policies Directory may be used only for supplier status requests for periods of up to 184 days. If you are becoming a non-supplier for more than 184 days, please contact Jon Penn at Nylink (pennj@nylink.org).

We are pleased to announce a new LAND (Libraries and Nylink Deliver) participant effective November 17, 2008.  City College of New York (CUNY) has added a second location — the Center for Worker Education Library.

When addressing materials for this library please include the “Center for Worker Education” on the label. This will help the courier distinguish between the two City College Libraries.

CUNY - City College of New York (ZXC)

Center for Worker Education Library

25 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10004

Thanks you for your continued support of the LAND service.

Registration is now open for the FREE “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about ILL” workshop presented by RUSA STARS at ALA Midwinter. This workshop will take place from 8:30-12:30 on Friday, January 23, 2009 at the University of Colorado, Auraria Campus. There is no charge to attend and refreshments will be served.

This system-neutral workshop will cover best practices in resource sharing, address ways you can best serve your users, and provide an excellent overview of the resources and support available to ILL practitioners. Whether you’re new to resource sharing or have been providing services for years, this workshop will help you to reconsider your approaches, make decisions about user services, define best practices, and introduce you to ways you can best contribute to the resource sharing community while reflecting your own library’s mission.

The knowledgeable instructors are Cyril Oberlander (borrowing), Karen Janke (lending), Cindy Kristof (copyright), and Collette Mak (standards and resources).

Please register online at: http://www.bcr.org/STARS-preconference/ by January 16, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Bean at mbean@uoregon.edu.

Thank you to BCR and OCLC for sponsoring this no-charge workshop. We are also grateful to the University of Colorado, Auraria Campus for providing facilities.