Skip to Main Content

WorldCat Local: Complaints, Comments, Questions

We've loaded this guide with searching tips. Read extensive descriptions of WorldCat Local features. Learn what the Working Group is doing.

Feedback contacts

Here is our feedback form.

Here's the form that goes to OCLC (they might give us a copy)

Complaints

  • Print format current serials:  Check-in lines not showing (labelled "Recent issues:").  example
  • I think the new libraries home page is great and a huge improvement over the previous site. Two things I would like to see change :
    < snip >
    2) The super-obvious search bar with the tabs is really useful, but it would be nice if the default option were for InfoKat instead of the Libraries Worldwide. Granted, many items will show up under both searches, but I would bet that the majority of searchers are looking for things that are actually in the UK collection and might be frustrated to "find" an item in the catalog, only to discover it has to be ordered via ILL.
  • If there were to be an improvement made to WorldCat Local, where you had an option to check items on the list screen and email the list to yourself, who would do that?  The reason I ask is that while sometimes the relevancy sorting algorithm of WC produces some nice results, you have to go into individual records to email.
  • When we tried limiting to "Braille only" the resulting list included libraries that did not actually own the Braille copy. So does this limit just not work?
  • Overall, many patrons are confused about what WCL is and what the results include
  • More confusion about UKL holdings – if WCL lists it, then why doesn’t UKL own it?
  • Also, some patrons don’t readily discern the difference between books and book reviews; or any other material with the same title, but different formats
  • Overkill for undergraduates – many prefer the “cleaner” interface of InfoKat
  • When you are constructing a list, results “fall off” as you go from page to page
  • InfoKat uses the same OCLC record twice:  once for the CELT holding, then again for the non-CELT holding(s).  WorldCat connects to only one record (by design) and it seems to connect to the CELT bib.  Why are we using duplicate OCLC records in Voyager?
  • What can we do about Voyager response time?  How long does WorldCat wait for the Voyager response?  Sometimes refreshing the WorldCat screen gets you the Voyager scraped info.
  • InfoKat gives several 856 links, but WorldCat scrapes only the first one.  Perhaps program WorldCat to get only the 856 40 or 856 4_ links?  Or at least one of these?

Questions

 Lexington Public Library has done something apparently with their ILL settings, which has caused a problem in WCL. Their holdings (I think) are no longer available. I think the reasoning is that they don't want to do ILL as much, so they are hiding their holdings, but from a WCL perspective that's bad because someone may want to see if the item is held in any area library so they can go get it. Not sure if there's a way we (or Lex Pub) can alter settings so that will work better.

 

Status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous United States 1986 to 1997 (OCLC46382145, Voyager 1796319) is reported correctly as held by University of Kentucky Libraries. However, when you check for the print copy, you get the message "a physical copy of this item is not in circulation at the University of Kentucky Libraries ..." There is a print copy available but it is in King Storage and to get the copy you would either use Iliad or book express to request it from storage, but the Worldcat display implies that you cannot get the copy. Is this the display for all materials in storage for WorldCat?

  • What is the algorithm for returning results? What determines the order of the items in the result list?
  • How do you order things from storage?

WorldCat Local Working Group

uky.worldcat.org

Working Group members:

  • Lybarger, Kathryn
  • Vickery, Kelly
  • Davis, Frank
  • Jan Carver
  • Laura Whayne
  • Beth Kraemer

"The group is charged to review WorldCat Local’s current configuration for possible enhancements based on OCLC’s continuing product development; to recommend a process for changing settings, adding new resources and for communicating those changes going forward; to research the possibility of participating in the WorldCat knowledge base for improved resource sharing of electronic journals; and to conduct informational sessions focused on the capabilities of the WorldCat Local discovery system."