OCLC Connexion
The Online Computer Library Center is usually known by its abbreviation of OCLC. Access to this resource is by membership - about $1,000 per year. Additional prices are charged for usage, i.e. cataloging searching, cataloging downloading records, interlibrary loan access, etc. Membership to OCLC is through a regional service provider. The map in the left column shows the providers and the areas they serve. Arizona is in the AMIGOS service agrea; therefore, libraries that want access to OCLC in Arizona contract through AMIGOS.
OCLC is the most common source for MARC records. The records are found by searching the OCLC Union List. The Union List database is all the MARC records that form WorldCat. Access to the OCLC Union List is through an interface called OCLC Connexion - for those using the Internet.
The Library of Congress provides the majority of the MARC records. Their record creation symbol is DLC which displays in the 040 MARC tag. Any library that creates or modifies a records will have its symbol in the 040 field. The Library of Congress receives copies of most printed materials in the United States - this is related to the national library being a repository for copyrighted materials. The Library is frequently behind in creating MARC records; therefore other major libraries have been selected to help provide MARC records. UKM is the symbol for the national library in Britain. Normally you want to choose DLC or a major US library because that record will have classification numbers used in the US. DLC records will be the best generally. PCC is a symbol for good records also. PCC is discussed in other modules.
See examples on the left to login to OCLC Connexion and find a MARC record. The verso of the title page is shown - giving the ISBN. After login, click on Search. The search is conducted by ISBN. Notice the three fields for keyword/numeric search and search options for each field. Boolean logic words are on the left. Searches can also be restricted by language, publication year, format.
In the last image the MARC record is available to view. Notice in the 040 MARC field there are symbols for which libraries created and modified the record. DLC is for the Library of Congress. 020 field gives the ISBN which is search method we used. From the action bar, the cataloger would click on the arrow and select the action. If our library owned this title and we wanted this record, we would select Update Holdings, then Export. This changes WorldCat to add our library symbol as an owner of the title. To actually export the record (download it), we would have to do 2 other steps. All steps will be explained when you are required to do export a record for the Final Project. Most catalogers will look for MARC records in batches and export all records at one time. An automated library catalog will allow importing the records in a batch. After reviewing a MARC record and taking the necessary actions, continue searching by clicking on Search in top left corner.
To search by ISBN, no hyphens are used in OCLC. When searching by title, ignore the words A, AN, THE if they are the first words in the title
The login for this site is restricted to students in LIB 106 and cannot be used for any other purpose. Be sure to Log Off when finished so that other students can use this tool. The logoff button is in the top right corner.
Assignment: Search for these MARC records and answer the questions. Put the answers in a Word document and upload in the Submit Assignment section.
The Pigman by Paul Zindel Bantam 1968 158 pages ISBN 0553263218 paperback "A Bantam Starfire Book" on front cover. Printing history Harper & Row edition published March 1968, Bantam edition December 1978. Barfire is registered trademark of Bantam Books.
1. Search by title and author only. How many records are found?
Note that you can put in the line number of the record you want to view or click on arrows in View List. If the record you want to view in on the current screen, click on the record number. If you are viewing one record and want to go back to the list of records, click on Search Results button. In the right column labeled L, there are initials referring to national libraries that have input the MARC record. B=British, C=Canadian, D=US Library of Congress.
2. Return to the Search screen. Search by title, author and add the date 1968. How many records appear?
3. Look at each record that appeared - explain why each record is NOT an exact match.
4. Return to the Search screen. Search by ISBN. Several records appear. Use the arrow buttons next to Search Results. Which record # is correct. Use the OCLC # which is listed under the blue bar that says Pigman.
5. List all the options for limiting a search by Format by clicking on the arrow at the end of the Format box.
Be sure to logoff in top right of the screen when you are done. The screen may say "You should complete or save these records before you logoff to guarantee that any changes are not lost." Click on logoff anyway.