MULS Blog

Over the summer, OCLC changed their approach to providing support and training to try to make it easier for all their users to work with OCLC products and services. On the training side, this means that all the regional networks (like Minitex) have opened up their training sessions to libraries that want it, including libraries outside their own region. On the OCLC side, they have given trainers a set of objectives that training should meet, so that wherever one gets their training, the same knowledge and skills are taught to all OCLC users.

This has been an interesting experience. On the one hand, It's comforting to know that most of OCLC's objectives were already being addressed by our MULS webinars. On the other hand, it's interesting to see how different networks and trainers have approached the same materials and the process of teaching. Suffice to say, MULS training is getting an upgrade as a result of considering what I've seen.

At the same time, reconsidering our training raises some broader questions for me about what we have been providing to our users in the way of training. I find myself wondering,

• Are we really meeting the needs of staff who work with Local Holdings Records?
• Are there ways we could make our current training more effective?
• Are there alternative ways of delivering the training that would be better suited to the needs of our users?

If you have taken Minitex training on working with LHRs, I'd be happy to hear from you about how well the training helped you do your job. If you worked through the OCLC on-line tutorials to learn about LHR maintenance, tell me what you thought of that experience.

I'd like to incorporate your experience - as the person who gets to work with LHRs - into the changes we make to our training. Comment on this post, or contact me directly at the Minitex MULS office. Your ideas will make a difference!

Posted by linto001 at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amigos Library Services and the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program (SCCTP) are pleased to make available the inaugural facilitated online version of a full SCCTP workshop. The Serial Holdings Workshop is scheduled for May 18 to 29, 2009. In the fifteen-hour course, students will learn to create standards-compliant holdings records, a critical skill in controlling serials in libraries. The instructions and exercises are system-neutral, and the course includes time for discussion of local system implementation.

The course is designed for those who are new to the MARC 21 Holdings Format, including those who have created holdings records using other mechanisms (e.g., OCLC's Local Holdings Record). It is designed primarily for those who will create holdings records but is also useful for managers and system designers wishing to know more about the format and its uses.

Continue reading "Amigos and SCCTP Local holdings workshop" »

Posted by linto001 at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In addition to the regularly scheduled MULS training webinars, staff at participating libraries have other options for learning about Local Holdings Records and how to update them in OCLC. 

OCLC online tutorials and reference materials
OCLC provides access to Local Holdings reference materials and online training materials via their website.  The quick reference guide on Local Holdings and a primer on MARC21 Format for Holdings Data (MFHD) can be used online or printed out from PDF files.  OCLC tutorials on searching for and working with Local Holdings Records are also available.  Links for all these resources can be found under the heading “OCLC Resources” on the MULS section of the MINITEX web site.

Archived MINITEX webinars
Archived versions of the MULS Local Holdings Maintenance webinar series are available online.  While not as useful as taking the sessions live, they still can help staff that wants a refresher of training they took in the past, or who are not able to attend a live webinar session.  Look under the “Local Holdings Maintenance Webinars” section of the MULS Training page for a link to the archived webinar sessions.

Custom training options
The MINITEX MULS unit staff is also available to set up and conduct custom training sessions for our participating libraries.  Custom training could be conducted at the MINITEX office in Minneapolis, at your library, or at another location.  The options range from customized webinar sessions to in-person hands-on training.  To find out more about how MINITEX can meet your training needs, contact Dave Linton in the MULS unit.

Posted by linto001 at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The schedule for Spring 2009 MULS webinars was announced in the recent MINITEX / OCLC mailing.  However, the MULS unit has revised the schedule our first Local Holdings Maintenance webinar series, to allow more time for staff that want training to sign up. 

We apologize for the short lead time between the sessions and our initial announcement, and hope this new schedule will allow more library staff to participate in MULS training.

The revised Spring 2009 schedule of MULS webinars is now:

              Tuesdays, 10:30 AM - noon:        Part 1        2/17/09
                                                                       Part 2        2/24/09
                                                                       Part 3        3/ 3/09

              Thursdays, 1:30 -- 3:00 PM:         Part 1        2/26/09
                                                                       Part 2        3/5/09
                                                                       Part 3        3/12/09

              Mondays, 1:00 -- 2:30 PM:            Part 1        5/4/09
                                                                       Part 2        5/11/09
                                                                       Part 3        5/18/09

As the numbering suggests, these sessions are sequential and are designed to help staff members learn all about maintaining LHRs, from basic editing of existing holdings to creating new holdings and dealing with indexes, numbering changes and other quirks of serial holdings.  Naturally, it is helpful to take the full series together.  However, if your schedule requires you to sign up for different parts at different times, that is possible.  You can get more details about each session and register online at the MINITEX training web page.

Libraries in the MINITEX region with access to OCLC are expected to maintain accurate Local Holdings Records (LHRs) in OCLC as part of their efforts to share resources.  The MINITEX MULS unit provides training to library staff so they can efficiently and effectively access LHRs and add, update or delete Local Holdings information as needed.

If you have questions about MULS training, please contact Dave Linton in the MULS office.

Posted by linto001 at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

** IMPORTANT NOTE **

Recently we wrote about our archived webinar sessions :

Archived versions of the webinar handouts and recordings of the webinar sessions are also available.  [snip]  You can use the archived sessions and handouts to review training that you received in the past, or take in the training and watch demonstrations from a webinar session, whenever you have the time.  Click here to visit the MINITEX Archived Training sessions.  (Emphasis added.)

NOTE:  MINITEX webinar sessions are conducted and recorded using Microsoft Live Meeting service.  While you can access the Live Meeting website using any browser, their service is optimized to work with Internet Explorer.  With a non_Explorer browser, you can watch a version of the recorded session, but there have been reports of problems viewing the parts of the webinar where we do demonstrations in OCLC.  A black or gray box appears on the recording that blocks a portion of the display whenever the presenter uses shared applications, making it difficult to see the editing which is being demonstrated.

By contrast, if you connect to Live Meeting through an Internet Explorer browser, you get the option of watching the webinar online through the Live Meeting service or downloading the session to play back using Windows Media Player.  In either case, when using Explorer to view or download the recorded session, there have been no problems seeing the shared screens.

Naturally, we encourage everyone to use Internet Explorer to connect to Live Meeting. 

Posted by linto001 at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everyone understands that keeping our Local Holdings Records in OCLC up-to-date has benefits both for the local library and for other libraries that might wish to borrow  or obtain a copy  from our local resources.  With ILL playing a major role in meeting the needs of our users, and with OCLC making our holdings data available to a global audience, there is a high incentive to maintian our Local Holdings Records in OCLC.

If a member of your library staff needs training on how to maintain LHRs in OCLC, MINITEX provides multiple options to choose from.

1.  The MINITEX MULS unit will present a series of Local Holdings maintenance webinars, to guide staff through the process of updating LHRs via the OCLC Connexion browser.  These 90-minute sessions will cover all of the Local Holdings basics, and you can participate from the comfort of your own desk.  For detailed description of the session contents or to register for a webinar, connect to the MINITEX Training page.

2.  Archived versions of the webinar handouts and recordings of the webinar sessions are also available.  While these sessions don't have the immediate interactive benefits of a live webinar,  They cover the same material.  You can use the archived sessions and handouts to review training that you received in the past, or take in the training and watch demonstrations from a webinar session, whenever you have the time.  Click here to visit the MINITEX Archived Training sessions.

3.  MINITEX MULS staff can also present hands on training to library staff that would prefer to have a more traditional learning experience.  Hands-on sessions can be scheduled either in the Twin Cities or in other areas; all that's needed is a classroom with multiple computers and a sufficiently large group of learners.  If you are interested in this option, contact Dave Linton in the MULS office and we'll see if we can coordinate a session for those who are interested.

Beyond these various training sessions, of course, the MULS office offers ongoing support to libraries as they are working on their holdings.  If you run across a holding that you aren't sure how to represent in a LHR, or if you have other questions about to work with Local Holdings data online, we welcome your questions. 

Or if your staff doesn't have acess to OCLC (or simply lacks the time to do it) the MULS staff could undetake a project to update your holdings in OCLC for you.  To get more info on the MULS Updating Service, contact Dave Linton.

Posted by linto001 at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've now scheduled the Fall 2008 training sessions on Local Holdings Maintenance.  Fall is a busy time for many of us, so we want to be sure library staff can plan for MULS training along with their other conferences, etc.  You can see all the currently scheduled training sessions and register online via the MINITEX Training web pages.

We have scheduled the following MULS webinar sessions for this Fall:

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 1    Tuesday, 9/30/08    1:30 - 3:00 PM 

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 2    Tuesday, 10/7/08    1:30 - 3:00 PM

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 3    Tuesday, 10/14/08    1:30 - 3:00 PM

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 1    Monday, 10/20/08    1:00 - 2:30 PM

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 2    Monday, 10/27/08    1:00 - 2:30 PM

Local Holdings Maintenance Part 3    Monday, 11/4/08    1:00 - 2:30 PM

As we did last Spring, we will be allowing libraries in the Wisconsin (WiLS) library network to participate in these sessions; be sure to register early to assure yourself of a spot and please let us know if for any reason you decide to cancel your registration.  Someone else might be waiting for a spot.

Of course, if you would like LHR maintenance training but can't attend one of our scheduled sessions, please contact Dave Linton.  We'll do our best to help make sure you can get the training you need to keep your Local Holdings Records up-to-date.

Posted by linto001 at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the recent stretch of cold temperatures across the region, it would be easy to think that Spring is far away. But as March begins, we know that the sun is fighting its way back, and soon it will be time for the Spring round of MULS training sessions.

Now is the time, as we begin planning, for staff at all our MULS participating libraries to consider their training needs and let us know how we can best help them keep their Local Holdings Records up-to-date.

Continue reading "Planning for MULS training" »

Posted by linto001 at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)