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December 6, 2007

Progress in Developing an Offline Product from OCLC

Recently, Myrtle Meyers from OCLC sent out a message to OCLC networks indicating that progress is being made on developing a new Local Holdings Offline Product. While there is still no firm date for release of the new product, we were able to review a sample output file, and OCLC is working on the ordering and production processes that would allow libraries to order and receive files of their Local Holdings data.

The new Local Holdings Offline Product (LHOP) is intended to replace the Serials Union List Offline Products (SULOP) that OCLC used to produce for libraries up to 2005. Many libraries used print and electronic SULOP files from OCLC as the basis for serial holdings lists designed both for internal staff use and for use by patrons. While the printouts had a fair amount of flexibility in their organization and content, SULOP electronic files were standardized and difficult to customize.

As expected, the new Local Holdings Offline Product (LHOP) will be made available as a tab delimited file. This means that libraries will be able to ‘pick it up’ from the OCLC Product Services Web, and will be able to manipulate the data to customize displays or printed versions of their holdings data. The example file was formatted as an Excel spreadsheet, which allows it to be sorted and manipulated with standard MS Excel tools, functions and macros. Libraries could, of course, use other software to access and manipulate the data, which means that the final result could be highly customized for the audience that would use it.

The new files don't replace all aspects of the old SULOP products, and we are hopeful that in time, other flexibility may be added.  At the same time, these developments are encouraging, and we are continuing to make suggestions and give feedback  to OCLC to help them create a useful product for our members.  Keep in touch with the MULS blog or watch for announcements from OCLC for further developments. We hope to hear more – especially a release date – in early 2008.

 If you’d like to know more details about the prototype LHOP file, or if you have other Local Holdings questions, feel free to contact Dave Linton in the MINITEX /MULS office.

Posted by linto001 at 3:01 PM | | Comments (0)