[Enhance] OCLC QC Tip of the Month / Aug. 2011: Locked Bibliographic Records in WorldCat

[Goodson,Luanne]

[Cross-posted to multiple lists-- please excuse/ignore duplication]

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Locked Bibliographic Records in WorldCat

 

To everyone's benefit, increasing numbers of catalogers are
participating in the Expert Community in support of cooperative database
quality efforts.  In addition, participation in the previously existing
quality programs (CONSER, BIBCO, Enhance, minimal-level upgrades, and
database enrichment) continues at a high rate.  An unfortunate side
effect of the increase in cooperative efforts is an increased potential
for interrupting other users' workflows if you keep a record locked in
the Cataloging Save File for a long period of time.  Since only one
institution at a time can lock a record, OCLC staff members regularly
receive queries from users who can't lock or replace a record because
another user has locked it.

 

Completing your replace transactions quickly has numerous positive
results.  First, other users will have access to your improved record
right away, thus avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort.  Second,
other users who wish to lock and replace the same record will be able to
do so without repetitive attempts and inconvenience.  Third, OCLC
automated database quality software can work more effectively (for
example, locked records cannot be processed by Duplicate Detection and
Resolution (DDR).

 

Therefore, OCLC staff request that you complete your replace
transactions as expeditiously as possible.   When you save a locked
master record, the system places a long-term (14-day) lock on the master
record in WorldCat.  Other users can retrieve a copy, but cannot change
the master record.  Records can be saved in an online or local save file
to be worked on later without locks being used.  In cases in which
records have been locked longer than two weeks, you may contact OCLC
staff at bibchange at oclc.org <mailto:bibchange at oclc.org>  and notify us
that you need the record unlocked.

 

However, records do not need to be locked in Connexion Client for
editing and replace to occur.  After editing, to replace a master
record, on the Action menu, click Replace Record or Replace and Update
Holdings.  Note: If you did not lock the record before editing, the
system locks it automatically before carrying out the Replace Record or
Replace and Update Holdings action.  If another user locked or replaced
the record after you opened or saved it, the action fails and you get an
error message.  To cancel replacing the record, click No.  If you
cancel, the system redisplays the record for further editing.  For more
information see Connexion Client documentation:
http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/cataloging/bi
bactions/ 

 

 

 

 

If you have questions, please send email to: askqc at oclc.org
<mailto:askqc at oclc.org>  

 

 

Luanne Goodson

Consulting Database Specialist

OCLC Quality Control Section

6565 Kilgour Place    MC 139

Dublin, Ohio, USA 43017-3395

 

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