SCA Task Group on OCLC Batch Processing

Charge and Membership

In 1998, the Standing Committee on Automation (SCA) OCLC Batch Loading Task Group issued a report recommending that OCLC make several changes to facilitate the batch loading of PCC records. The task group's work had been guided in part by the results of a 1997 survey, which was conducted by the SCA. The results of the SCA's assessment suggested strong and growing interest among PCC libraries in sending new and changed Program records to OCLC via FTP.

For various reasons, the majority of the 1998 task force's recommendations for batch loading enhancements remain unaddressed. At the November 2000 PCC Policy Committee meeting, committee members revisited the task force recommendations and reaffirmed a need for OCLC batch loading enhancements to support PCC record transfer and encourage Program growth. In light of OCLC's plans for moving to a relational database management system for WorldCat, the OCLC member of the Policy Committee encouraged the group to designate a task force to advise OCLC (1) on the PCC's requirements for batch processing of Program records and (2) on batchloading in general, in the context of the PCC's broad interest in fostering cooperative cataloging.

In keeping with the Policy Committee's decision, a new SCA Task Group on OCLC Batch Processing is therefore convened with the following charge:

1. Assess the current environment. Conduct a brief survey of PCC libraries to evaluate their current and near-term interest in FTPing BIBCO and CONSER records to OCLC. Also ask for input on enhancements to existing OCLC batchloading services (i.e., is there interest in new functionality?).
2. Re-evaluate the 1998 Task Group's recommendations. Specifically, what is the relative importance--now and in the next two to three years--to PCC libraries of (a) 24-hour turnaround of batch files; (b) batch maintenance of Program records; (c) batch upgrading/merging of existing WorldCat records with PCC records; (d) acceptance of PCC and non-PCC new and changed records in the same FTP file; (e) equal credits for records input online and via FTP?
3. Propose a small research project to OCLC to predict how many and what types of existing member-contributed WorldCat records would be replaced by PCC records, should batch overlay of member records with incoming PCC records be enabled.
4. Consider changes in the cataloging environment in the next two to three years that would result in additional batch loading requirements to support PCC record transfer, encourage Program growth, and foster cooperative cataloging in general. For example, evaluate the potential impact of PCC contributions and updates of records describing serials and integrating resources.

5. Work with OCLC Users Council representatives to learn about OCLC members' concerns about batch loading of PCC records. Suggest strategies for addressing these concerns.

Time Frame

An interim report is due to the SCA on March 1, 2001. The report should contain a description of progress on the charge and preliminary recommendations as appropriate.

A final report and recommendations are due to the SCA for formal transmittal to the PCC Policy Committee, and thence to OCLC, on May 1, 2001. The final report should contain a prioritized list of the task group's recommendations to OCLC and describe the support required from other appropriate organizations.