ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program --------------------------------------------------------------------- February 15, 2000 GP 3.16/3-2:21/04 (Vol. 21, no. 04) --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Handout] Cataloging Branch Update, January 2000 GPO Produced an OCLC Gold Record Monograph cataloger Robert Luoma produced OCLC record number 43 million on December 14, 1999. An experienced cataloger of congressional publications, Robert produced a record for the Federal Royalty Certainty Act: hearing before the Subcommittee on Energy Research, Development, Production, and Regulation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources…" Several years ago, cataloger Eileen Seremeth also earned an OCLC GPO "gold record." Catalogers share in these achievements and appreciate the recognition that "gold records" bring to the Federal depository library community. Participation in OCLC's CORC Project GPO recently signed an agreement with OCLC to become a Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC) participant. We are using CORC software on an experimental basis, along with some 150 other CORC institutions, in assisting OCLC to develop its CORC applications. Our membership in CORC also allows us to evaluate the potential that CORC may have for selected LPS applications, particularly for cataloging resources disseminated to depositories solely in electronic format. At present, we do not anticipate modifications to current operations, policies, standards, or procedures. Experience with using CORC software is essential to developing informed judgements as to the potential that CORC applications may have for LPS operations. As we use CORC, we will confer closely with the depository community regarding any potential suitability that CORC may have for bibliographic control of "online only" resources in online public access catalogs. OCLC will continue to extract data from GPO's OCLC WorldCat records for online resources for inclusion in the CORC database. At present, GPO has contributed approximately 4,000 of its OCLC records for inclusion in CORC. Cataloging Production During calendar year 1999 Cataloging Branch personnel received 33,041 pieces of work and processed 33,255 pieces of work. 23,208 records were produced in OCLC for inclusion in the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications and the electronic Catalog of United States Government Publications on GPO's web site. Cataloging Backlog A backlog count of all pieces of work within the Cataloging Branch indicates that 7,268 pieces of work await review, processing and/or cataloging. Nearly 5,000 pieces of this total consist of serials distributed to depositories in microfiche. Because most works of current interest are published as online or paper versions, our efforts are focused on timely cataloging of as many online or paper serials, maps, and monographs as possible. We continue to reduce the accumulated microfiche serials backlog when additional time for this task is available. PURLs Maintenance One Cataloging Branch librarian works approximately half time on efforts to restore links via the LPS PURLS server. Broken links may be reported to askLPS or directly to Theodore Defosse at . Web Edition of the Catalog As of January 3, 2000, the web edition of the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications contains approximately 136,000 records produced from the beginning of 1994 through the end of 1999. Approximately 10,000 of these records contain hot links. Approximately 4,000 hot linked records are accessible via PURLs. Records are added to the web application within 24 hours after being produced in OCLC. Monthly Catalog Data Distributed via Commercial Vendors Libraries with commercial tape services should be receiving tape loads in accordance with routine schedules. The Cataloging Distribution Service of the Library of Congress receives Monthly Catalog data according to established schedules and makes data available in a timely manner. Scheduled distribution of CD-ROM and paper editions of the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications: o By mid-January, libraries should have received paper and CD-ROM editions of the Monthly Catalog for January through August 1999. As previously reported, priorities associated with Y2K have made it difficult for GPO technical personnel to process data according to established schedules. Congressional Serial Set Catalog Libraries should receive copies of the Congressional Serial Set Catalog for the 103rd Congress during March or April 2000.