Search results

After decades of successful, if not always smooth, working relationships with regional library networks in the United States, Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), Inc., with approval of amended articles of incorporation in 2008, it implemented significant changes in how it would price its products and services and how it would govern itself. These changes proved to have profound impact on the networks, precipitating the merger of many and the dissolution of some. This chapter describes the results of many interviews with past and present leaders of OCLC and the regional networks, both existing and defunct, and other knowledgeable individuals. The contrasting opinions on how the changes came about and their consequences offer a perspective on the evolution and then decline of some of the powerful consortial relationships of the last four decades.

Reports on the OCLC Users’ Council meeting of May 19‐21, 1996. Issues under discussion include principles of cooperation, cataloging credits, the president’s report, international plans and opportunities and interest group reports.

For a number of reasons, I have decided to begin this issue of VINE with an editorial. In the first place, as many of you will already know, at the end of June I gave up my post as Information Officer for Library Automation in order to become an Assistant Librarian in the Applied Sciences Library of University College, Cardiff. Since the Information Officer for Library Automation is ex officio editor of VINE, this means that I will also be handing over responsibility for this publication to my successor, when he or she is appointed. Unfortunately, there will be a hiatus before my successor can take over, so that for a short while, I will continue to edit VINE. However, because of my commitments in Cardiff, I will be unable to provide news of recent developments in U.K. library automation as I formerly did. Thus, in this issue of VINE and the next, I will concentrate on descriptions of automated library systems which I visited whilst on a study tour of North America in April and May of this year. Once my successor takes over, VINE will revert to being a source of up‐to‐date information about automation in specifically U.K. libraries.

Part I (in the previous issue of TEL) discussed how the changing library network environment and the trend towards decentralization and local, integrated systems was having an adverse affect on the growth of the bibliographic utilities. In this article, the reasons why the bibliographic utilities no longer dominate the North American library automation scene in quite the same way as before are summarized and their responses to the changing conditions and challenges brought about by microcomputers, integrated library systems and increased knowledge that libraries have about computers are discussed. Their responses can be viewed as a four part thrust: a move to distributed processing systems, participation in the Linked Systems Project; the introduction of new and improved services; and international ventures.

Details the last OCLC Users′ Council meeting which had the theme “Cooperation and competition: OCLC and libraries′ strategies for the next generation”. Reports include: the delegate algorithm task force report; OCLC reference services; OCLC cataloging and resource sharing; the Users′ Council executive committee report on telecommunications; access to OCLC services – trends pricing and the future. Concludes with a summary of the question/answer and old business sessions.

A gateway system guides a user to, or automatically selects, an applicable information source, such as a database or file. Once the selection is made, all other network and log‐on tasks are handled by the gateway system. OCLCs criteria for the selection of an intelligent gateway are described, as are the potential benefits and uses of its new system.

Considers the problems associated with OCLC′s decision to guarantee continued support for the OCLC M300 and M300XT workstations after July 1993. Examines some libraries′ plans to recycle workstations for new non‐OCLC purposes; others′ decision to upgrade. Details steps taken to adapt these machines for use on the PRISM online system.

In the USA, location of material has improved with new automated methods, but delivery of documents is still a problem, and many small libraries cannot participate in the new bibliographic networks. The OCLC interlending subsystem and those of RLIN and UTLAS (in Canada) are giving high satisfaction rates and improved speeds of supply, though they are less favourable to the borrower than interlending through on‐line circulation systems. The National Library of Medicine is planning an automated interlending system, with emphasis on serial requests. UTLAS envisages greater use of local minicomputers in distributed networks. Statistics from New Zealand illustrate growth and patterns of interlending. A survey in India demonstrates the need for an agreed policy on interlending between university libraries. Relative costs of different supply centres are looked at from a Belgian viewpoint. Information on tracing and obtaining conference literature in chemistry is presented in a handbook in the FRG. The possibility of setting up an electronic document delivery system in the European Communities is examined. Finally, the need for improved worldwide provision of publications and some possible solutions are discussed.

OCLC entered the 1990s with a bold marketing move, signalling its expansion beyond the traditional library world and into the competitive end‐user market, with the introduction of FirstSearch. In the spring of 1991, sixteen libraries throughout the United States, among them the University of New Mexico General Library, became test sites for FirstSearch. After numerous changes prompted by test site users, First‐Search (né Maximum Catalog) was officially released in October 1991. It is currently available to OCLC‐member libraries and to library schools. FirstSearch, the end‐user version of OCLC's earlier release, EPIC, inaugurates end‐user access to the largest book database in the world, OCLC's Online Union Catalog or “WorldCat,” as well as selected periodical indexes. On the first day of public release, six databases were available on FirstSearch; that number increased to 23 by August 1992 (see figure 1), and OCLC is negotiating with database producers to add others to the system.

Here are some things to think about if you're planning for system expansion—perhaps for a local area network (LAN)—for non‐OCLC applications. If you expect to use SC350 or ACQ350 software, consult with your network office about hard drives and software for those applications.