Health Sciences
OCLC Users Group

Issues for OCLC Users Council


 

Background

The HSOCLCUG has a strong past with regard to its relationship both with NLM and OCLC. A major goal of the group was accomplished when NLM records were added into the OCLC OLUC. These issues are the mission of the group. Because the HSOCLCUG president attends the OCLC Users Council twice per year, HSOCLCUG has an excellent opportunity to send a message to OCLC. The next OCLC Uses Council is October 5-7, 1997, and will be attended by the current HSOCLCUG President, Connie Machado.

Current Issues

  1. Presently many health science libraries use two systems for interlibrary services. Recent progress has been made on the bridge between DOCLINE and the OCLC ILL module for generating statistical reports. The OCLC ILL Management System now has a comma delimited output through the OCLC web site. Jay Daly, the DOCLINE developer, also now has comma delimited output. Glenn Patton of OCLC and Jay Daly are communicating before Daly's QuickDOC workshop on September 27, 1997 for Midwest Chapter/MLA in Des Moines. They will discuss the last major glitch which is to map the three character OCLC institutional symbol to the DOCLINE institutional identifier so that data from the two systems can be linked. Lead contact for HSOCLCUG: Carole Francq Gall.

  2. The loading of the MeSH authority file into the OCLC authority file would streamline processing in health science libraries using NLM subject headings. Attendees voiced concerns that loading the MeSH authority file has dropped from OCLC's priority list. It may be important to remind OCLC that our group would not be the sole beneficiaries of MeSH in the authority file. Lead contact for HSOCLCUG: ???

  3. The resolution for OCLC to mount MeSH MARC made at the 1995 HSOCLCUG Boulder conference was not followed up on. (Mary Ann O'Daniel was going to draft a letter for members to send to their networks; she has since left HSOCLCUG.) An OCLC representative had recommended that this as the best way to get OCLC's attention. [The minutes say that Connie agreed to draft a new letter and it will be distributed on the listserv and published in SOM.] Lead contact for HSOCLCUG: Mary Hawks.

Networking Pays

NLM Regional Networks and the MLA Technical Services Section may be other groups who can help to create change at OCLC. It's imperative for HSOCLCUG members to contact the voting members of the OCLC Users Council.

What We Do Best

The objectives of the group from the bylaws: "To establish and maintain at OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. (hereinafter referred to as OCLC) a voice that will be heard and recognized as that of a large group of users with specific needs; to be in close contact with OCLC operations staff. To provide means for the exchange of information among the members of the Group, from the Group to OCLC, and from OCLC to the Group. To establish and to maintain close relations with the National Library of Medicine. To establish and maintain in the Regional Medical Libraries awareness of OCLC and its impact, and to seek their support and participation. To maintain close contact with, and support for, the Technical Services Section of the Medical Library Association." At last year's meeting attendees signed up to contact OCLC Users Council members.

Send your comments and concerns about these issues to:
Connie K. Machado
Rowland Medical Library
University of Mississippi Medical Center
E-mail: ckm@fiona.umsmed.edu

 

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Last updated 25 September 1997, Webaddress changed & images updated 27 March 2001