This message is being widely cross-posted, we appreciate your forbearance.

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The WorldCat Quality Management Division staff thank you all for making use of OCLC email discussion lists and for writing to [log in to unmask] with questions, and for reporting issues on records via the Report Error function in Connexion.

 

We very much appreciate all the questions and reports we receive.  And we encourage you all to share with your colleagues and co-workers the various ways to contact OCLC.

 

Here is a short breakdown (there is a more detailed description at the very end of this message):

 

[log in to unmask] is monitored daily by the WordCat Quality Management staff (Robert Bremer,  Linda Gabel, Luanne Goodson, Laura Ramsey, Jay Weitz, Cynthia Whitacre, and Glenn Patton).

 

[log in to unmask]  is monitored daily by Quality Control staff (Shanna Griffith, Hayley Moreno, Charlene Morrison, Robin Six, Patty Thomas, Hisako Kotaka, and Laura Ramsey).   This is the address the Connexion Report Error function sends to when you open it while viewing a Bibliographic record.

 

[log in to unmask]  is also monitored daily by Quality Control staff (all of whom are fully independent NACO participants).   This is the address the Connexion Report Error function sends to when you open it while viewing an Authority record.

 

[log in to unmask] is monitored daily by the Enhance Program Co-Coordinators (Jay Weitz and Luanne Goodson).

 

[log in to unmask] is monitored daily by WorldCat Quality Management staff (Linda Gabel, Glenn Patton, and Cynthia Whitacre). 

 

 

We are grateful for every report, question, concern and suggestion.  We do our best to respond as quickly as possible.  QC staff receive a tremendous number of change requests so their main focus is in maintaining WorldCat.  So please do not be surprised if you do not hear back from them, but instead check WorldCat to see if your request has been filled.

 

Thank you all, and please, keep ‘em coming!

[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

In-depth: Contacting OCLC

 

There are many ways to contact OCLC about issues with WorldCat, the most common being while viewing a bibliographic record in Connexion and choosing Report Error from under the Action menu.

 

The Report Error window is free-text so questions or concerns can be sent just as easily as a merge request or an error report.  The window also sends us a copy of the record being viewed as it appeared at the time the window was opened, and allows the sender to have a copy sent to a personal email address. 

 

Basically, if you are a cataloger, or working with cataloging data and you need to contact OCLC simply send an email to [log in to unmask] (or use the Report Error function in Connexion which sends to that address).

 

QC staff also provides NACO work for non-participating institutions.  If you are not at a NACO library you can request changes to authority records or report duplicate records while viewing an authority record in Connexion.  In this case the Report Error function sends to [log in to unmask] (or you can email directly).  We also create authority records to resolve existing conflicts.  If you are at a NACO library please see the NACO website for assistance http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/naco/naco.html 

 

[log in to unmask] is an address to help member libraries with more esoteric types of questions.  Typical queries to this address are about cataloging policies, standards, and practices.  This email address is more for asking advice instead of about fixing specific bibliographic information in existing records  

 

If you are interested in OCLC quality programs like Enhance http://www.oclc.org/support/services/worldcat/documentation/records/enhancerequirements.en.html  or are already a participant you can reach the appropriate staff at [log in to unmask].

 

[log in to unmask] is intended for questions regarding OCLC’s policies toward RDA.

 

Contact Support under the Help menu in Connexion opens a form which is also free-text.  However, this form is intended for problems related to how Connexion works (e.g. saving a record results in an error message; the menu bar in Connexion Client disappeared;  how do I ... create a macro.. customize the Toolbar... work offline, etc.).  Questions arising from products other than Connexion should also be sent to [log in to unmask].  For instance, cover art issues are common, but those only arise when using products like FirstSearch or WorldCat.org.   Support takes such queries and helps when it can or forwards to the appropriate area.  If a question comes to them about fixing a record, merging duplicates, validation issues, etc. they will forward to QC staff.

 

 

Documentation can be found here:

       Bibliographic Formats and Standards Ch. 5 http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/quality/default.shtm which includes instructions on what kinds of errors to report, and how and where to do so.

       WorldCat and Cataloging documentation http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/cataloging.en.html  

       Librarian’s Toolbox: http://www.oclc.org/toolbox.en.html

 

 

Email addresses discussed above:

 

[log in to unmask] = ask questions about bibliographic records, report bibliographic errors you cannot correct, report duplicate bibliographic records, cataloging issues in general, etc.

 

               [log in to unmask] = non-NACO libraries: report authority record errors or duplicates, etc. ; NACO libraries: questions about locked authority records, discrepancies between copies of the file, authorization number issues, etc.

 

               [log in to unmask] = cataloging policy, standards, and practices questions

 

[log in to unmask] = all things Enhance (including authorization number issues, National Enhance, etc.)

 

[log in to unmask] = OCLC RDA Policy questions

 

[log in to unmask] = Connexion functionality problems, issues with other products, cover art, anything not listed above.

 

Finally, there is one web form for all types of reports, questions, issues relating to cataloging and authority work: WorldCat and Authority Record Quality Control Request https://www.oclc.org/forms/record-quality.en.html  For requests requiring proof, just print the summary page of the completed form and send it (i.e. fax, scan, or mail) along with the supporting documentation. There is a link on the form for Instructions and Guidelines.

 

 

Luanne Goodson

OCLC, WorldCat Quality & Partner Content Dept.

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