New suggested searches option on WorldCat.org

September 2010 More iPhone apps, graduation ideas and Google gadgets

More WorldCat news

New mobile appsare available that now include WorldCat library listings:

• CampusBooks– find free textbooks, iPhone or Android
• BookMinder– create a personalized list of books that interest you, Android
• iRecommend– get recommendations based on your current title, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad
• iBookshelf– create your personal portable book database, iPhone and iPad
• MyLibrary– organize your personal media collection, iPhone and iPad
• MyBoxOffice– Keep track of your DVD and VHS movies, iPhone and iPad
• DiscTracker– View your CD collection, iPhone and iPad

Also, an experimental version of WorldCat for mobile phones is also now available for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), Android and some Blackberry models at www.worldcatmobile.org. We haven’t tested it on every possible mobile device yet, so we’d love your feedback.

May 2010 New ways to connect to your local library, via WorldCat
What’s the latest from WorldCat.org? Two new iPhone apps:
Pic2shop
 
A barcode scanning app for iPhone called pic2shop now includes local library results thanks to Vision Smarts, a technology company based in Belgium. Pic2shop helps you compare costs at various retailers and now local libraries. A free download through Apple’s iTunes App store, pic2shop works in all countries and they’re working on translations and platforms beyond iPhone. See screen shots and a YouTube video on the WorldCat blog about it ››

Book Bazaar
 
Another free iPhone app is also available now called Book Bazaar. Developed by Bayview Labs in Mountain View, CA, With Book Bazaar, you type in a title, author, keyword or ISBN to compare prices for books at online or local bookstores, and now libraries. Developer Rizwan Virk says, “Book Bazaar is made for book lovers who want to find a specific book right away. The best and easiest way to find a book is at a local library, and so we want to support local libraries as much as possible.” Available for U.S. users at the moment, download Book Bazaar in the iTunes App store.

April 2010 New ways for WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start” users to connect with library resources

Enhancements to WorldCat Local and WorldCat Local “quick start” help users more quickly connect to resources in local library collections and the collections of libraries worldwide.

Easy access to WorldCat Local from WorldCat.org
WorldCat.org now redirects visitors to their local WorldCat Local or WorldCat Local “quick start” site when their IP address is recognized. Library staff can quickly enable this redirect option through the Service Configuration module.

More “get it” options
For WorldCat Local “quick start”

Direct access to availability information in library OPACs

Now if users find a record in WorldCat Local “quick start,” they can link directly to corresponding records in library catalogs for availability information. This new feature increases access to materials for any library with an ILS that does not currently interoperate with WorldCat Local. The new links display in the “Find a copy in the library” section of the detailed record display.

Once a library has configured links to its catalog in the WorldCat Registry , the link to the catalog will display when users view records with WorldCat holdings for their library.

The following image illustrates the new direct link:

More fulfillment options
WorldCat Local “quick start” libraries may now set up a different fulfillment option at each of two levels of relevancy in search results.

Library staff may select from among the following choices to configure a single fulfillment option at each level of relevance:
o    Placehold request. This enables users to place a hold in their library’s catalog.
o    OpenURL resolver. Staff may configure up to two OpenURL resolvers and specify at which level they display.
o    Link to WorldCat Resource Sharing.
o    Link to any other URL, such as the landing page for a locally-used resource sharing service.
For WorldCat Local
   

More fulfillment options
WorldCat Local libraries may now set up a different fulfillment option at each of the four levels of relevance in search results. This gives you the option to present users with “get it” options that are most appropriate for each level of relevance: results for the local library are listed first. Next are results for second and third choices, usually group or consortial catalogs. Finally, results display resources available from libraries worldwide whose collections are represented in WorldCat.

Library staff may select from among the following choices to configure a single fulfillment option at each level of relevance:
o    Placehold request. This enables users to place a hold in their library’s catalog.
o    OpenURL resolver. Staff may configure up to two OpenURL resolvers and specify at which level they display.
o    Link to WorldCat Resource Sharing.
o    Link to any other URL, such as the landing page for a locally-used resource sharing service.
Configuration of fulfillment options, including customizable text that displays to users, is managed in your library’s profile within the Service Configuration module.

March 2010 OCLC makes OAlster records available through WorldCat.org

OAlster, a union catalog of digital resources, provides access to archival collections that feature more than 23 million records from contributed by over 1,100 organizations worldwide.  OAlster is now searchable through WorldCat.org.  For additional information about OAlster check out these links:

OAlster database information http://www.oclc.org/oaister/default.htm

OCLC news release http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/200956.htm

Search the OAlster site   http://oaister.worldcat.org

March 2010 URL updates, genealogy, mobile enhancements and more

WorldCat.org URLs updated to include titles
Now it’s even easier to guess a WorldCat link, because the title of the work is now included in the URL. This change makes WorldCat.org URLs more intuitive, mashable and search engine-friendly. For example, the previous permalink URL for Catcher in the Rye by J.S. Salinger was http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/287628. Now, the permalink URL will be http://www.worldcat.org/title/catcher-in-the-rye/oclc/287628. Title-only URLs, e.g., http://www.worldcat.org/title/catcher-in-the-rye will also work.
 
If you’ve already set up links to your favorite WorldCat.org resources, never fear. All those links will also continue to work.

More WorldCat news
Mobile pilot gains cover art, connects to local catalogs
The WorldCat Mobile pilot was recently enhanced to now include cover art when available. It also now provides a link to your local library catalog—much the same way WorldCat.org does. This additional functionality means you can potentially set a hold, view status and reserve a book or video through your mobile phone, as soon as you discover it in WorldCat.

Genealogists excited about WorldCat.org
Genealogists have been noticing WorldCat.org lately, and its no surprise. There is a bonanza of local historical materials that have been scanned and made available through WorldCat, such as photos, birth and death records, wills, estate papers and more. Get some expert tips on how to use WorldCat for genealogical research in this downloadable PDF guide. Hey, Hollywood stars aren’t the only ones who want to know their heritage!

January 2010 WorldCat Local Web Information Sessions

WorldCat Local is the single search that connects people to all your library’s materials—physical, electronic and digital—as well as to the delivery services that get them what they need. Built on decades of work done by member libraries worldwide, WorldCat Local helps your users discover unique local resources alongside those of the entire OCLC cooperative, delivered in a single, integrated set of results.

With WorldCat Local, your library also gains Web visibility through OCLC’s partnerships with leading search engines (such as Google and Yahoo!), social networking services and other popular sites.

Recent enhancements expand the reach of WorldCat Local searches to include articles indexed in JSTOR, SCOPUS and Science Direct plus remotely indexed resources from a growing number of popular content providers.

Learn how your library can offer single-search access to your print, electronic and digital resources through WorldCat Local at one of the upcoming Web information sessions:

• Single-search access to your library’s collections through WorldCat Local. This program provides an overview of how WorldCat Local addresses common challenges that face today’s libraries.
• WorldCat Local “quick start” introductory webinar. Libraries with holdings in WorldCat and a subscription to WorldCat on FirstSearch can take the first step toward WorldCat Local at no additional charge by implementing WorldCat Local “quick start.”This program provides an overview of WorldCat Local “quick start” and how it can benefit your library.