The Internet is now the most widely used access option used by OCLC participants. As of August, 1998, the Internet accounted for 36 percent of OCLC access, edging out multidrop at 35 percent. Multidrop had been the leading access option since 1971. Dedicated TCP/IP ranks third at 13 percent, but is expected to increase as multidrop is phased out and decommissioned in 2001.
OCLC now offers flat fee Internet pricing in the U.S. and Canada as an alternative to the existing connect-time rate. The monthly flat fee is based on the number of concurrent users a library wishes to support.
OCLC has upgraded the minimum workstation configuration to a Pentium-based system with 32 MB of memory, a 1.0 GB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, SVGA or higher resolution display adapter, Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device, Microsoft Windows 95 or higher, Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, PDF viewer software (Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or higher), and OCLC Access suite software.
OCLC has also reported that the number of participating libraries reached 27,451 as of July 1, 1998.
OCLC is accessing the results of a pilot cataloging system for school libraries. The system uses a Web interface. The participants, libraries in 12 Ohio school districts, were able to search WorldCat, do limited editing, set their holdings, and receive MARC records for loading into their local library systems. No decision has been made regarding general release.
OCLC has identified the 100 computer files most widely cataloged on WorldCat. Based on the number of holding symbols attached to a particular bibliographic record, The National Trade Data Bank is the most widely cataloged with 576 holdings. Some 71 titles have been cataloged by more than 200 libraries. Clearly, it is becoming increasingly more common for libraries to catalog electronic products and services.
[Contact: OCLC, Inc., 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017; telephone 614-764-6000; FAX 614-764-6096; URL www.oclc.org]
