OCLC Connexion System: An Overview

1. Muthuraja S, Librarian, Govt. First Grade College, Bukkapatna, Sira,. Tumkur. infomuthuraj@gmail.com
2. Srinivasa V, Asst. Libarian, University Library, UAS (B) GKVK, Bangalore-65. vsri28@rediffmail.com
3. Boraiah M, Senior Research fellow (e-Granth), University Library, UAS (B) GKVK, Bangalore-65. boresjm@gmail.com

Abstract
This paper covers brief introduction, types of interfaces and some cataloguing functions about OCLC’S full-service online
cataloging tool. It also briefly explains about the NARS Libraries e-Granth project with OCLC Participation.

Keywords: Connexion; Cataloguing; e-Granth; NARS; OCLC; WorldCat.

Introduction
Due to the technological developments, libraries and the information centers are changing their role over the
past couple of years by providing new generation services to the research community to bring new
innovations and effective developments in research performance. New resources, services and technologies
in the libraries make newer opportunities, challenges, dimensions and expectations. Likewise new techniques
and method have been adopted in the library housekeeping operations. The NARS libraries and information
centers has a very large number of collection of agriculture and allied sciences, all over the India and some
initiative taken up the challenge of creating of new union catalogue with the OCLC partnership. Under the
agreement NARS libraries have access to a range of OCLC’s comprehensive bibliographic services and
cataloguing tool. Connexion is a Cataloguing tool that helps the member libraries of OCLC to do online and
offline catalogue with WorldCat. This application helps NARS libraries to catalogue their library records in
to WorldCat in a standard format.

What is Connexion?
According to OCLC connexion is flagship cataloging service developed as its next generation cataloging
system. It’s a powerful, flexible and easy to use suite of tools with built-in access to WorldCat for cataloging
and it lets cataloguers to perform original and copy cataloging with WorldCat. While cataloguing cataloguer
can contribute and receive quality records that help information seekers find what they need quickly.
Libraries uses the connexion to create and edit quality bibliographic and authority records, to help users to
find the required materials faster and share records with the entire OCLC cooperative to the benefit of
libraries around the world. Cataloguing in WorldCat with the OCLC Connexion is to its authorized member
libraries, persons, and agencies only. Jeff Patrick, Library Technical Assistant, Columbus Metropolitan
Library he says that “Connexion has functionality, such as controlling headings, that allows us to do our
work faster and more accurately. This helps us put materials in our users’ hands that much sooner, with the
best possible records to match”.

Types of Connexion interfaces

It’s available in two types 1.Connexion Browser and 2.Connexion Client these two interfaces that best meets
the library needs. The web-based browser is easy to learn and use and the windows-based client interface
provides an additional cataloguing features. Connexion has online documentation; tutorials and MARC field
help option. OCLC connexion is available Monday to Sunday. If any problems arises or if system goes down
OCLC provides customer support through regional service provider or by customer service centers. The
members are able to access to the OCLC Connexion through client/browser software with Authorization ID
and Password.

Connexion Browser
It’s a one type of interface cataloguing tool. This doesn’t require additional software to install and always has
up-to-date features. It can be accessible from any web-enabled workstation. There is no need to learn new
commands to work; most actions have preset keyboard shortcuts and it is maintenance-free and reliable. The
authorized member of the OCLC can directly access the connexion browser through
http://connexion.oclc.org/

Fig. 1 Screen Shot of OCLC Connexion Browser interface.

System requirements
Connexion browser interface supports to some web browsers only. OCLC recommends to use web browsers
like Internet Explorer Version 6.0 and their above versions, MSN Explorer (it’s based on internet Explorer),
and Mozila Firefox Version 3.0.6 or later is strongly recommended due to improved performance and
security. Some of the browsers doesn’t supports the OCLC cataloging system they are Apple Safari for
Macintosh or Safari for Windows, Google Chrome, Opera, AOL (America Online), Lynx.

Connexion Client
Windows-based client interface for powerful, flexible cataloging and it offering macros and greater
customization, the client interface has productivity-boosting enhancements such as macros, complete
keyboard customization, batch processing and offline cataloguing functionality it also handles many resource
formats. The connexion client supports various languages and supports some of the Indian languages also.
We can change the client interface language; it is available in Chinese, English, German, Japanese, Korean
and Spanish. Latest version of Connexion Client software is Version 2.10.The authorized member of the
OCLC can download the connexion client software directly through
http://psw.oclc.org/frames.aspx?right=software.aspx

Fig.2. Screen Shot of OCLC Connexion Client Interface.

System requirements: 1.Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Vista 2.Version 2.0 of .NET
Framework installed on workstation 3.MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Component) version 2.7 or higher
installed on workstation

Connexion searches
WorldCat for the bib
A cataloguer record
logs onto Connexion
If record found the
Connexion Client
cataloguer adds a holding And transfers the
Client or WorldCat
Browser to bib record to their
Connexion local catalogue
Local
find a bib
Browser If not found the Catalogue
record
cataloguer can create a
bib record on WorldCat,
adds the holding

Fig.3. Cataloguing on WorldCat using Connexion

Cataloging functions in both Connexion client and browser interfaces
Some of the common cataloguing functions of both client and Browser’s are as follows

• Connexion allows member libraries cataloguers to search WorldCat and Library of Congress (LC)
authority file and search Complete Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO) activities also;
• Cataloguer can create and edit bibliographic records, including constant data and they can use MARC
field help from Bibliographic Formats and Standards for immediate field descriptions while
cataloguing;
• Libraries can use authority records and control headings in bibliographic records and take OCLC
actions on records and on multiple records selected in a list;
• Libraries can conduct peer reviews of WorldCat records and they can use Web Dewey.
• Helps libraries to open a local holdings maintenance browser window to maintain local holdings
records for WorldCat records;
• Connexion displays record in a "Find in a Library" view in WorldCat.org;
• Cataloguer can catalog electronic resources by automatically extracting metadata and creating a
preliminary work form and insert data from cited records automatically;
• Connexion allows option to Export records, Print labels, Import records, Open OCLC system news
etc;
• Cataloguers can select validation options for setting holdings and exporting and export bibliographic
records using either MARC 21 (default) or in Dublin Core record standards to further usage;
• Libraries can access institution records attached to master records for additional cataloging data and
access to the SCIPIO records describing art and rare book sales catalogs for sales from the late
sixteenth century to the present;
• Member libraries can access their library's OCLC usage statistics;

OCLC Connexion in Indian Context or OCLC Connexion and NARS Libraries (e-Granth Project)
Today the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural research, the fugitive nature of literature produced in
agricultural scholarship, the location specific generation of agricultural knowledge, the diversity of treatment
and presentation of agricultural literature and some other distinct character had a unique impact on
agricultural information centers and knowledge management centers. To compete with experimental and
innovative knowledge based world, for organizing, conducting and managing research and education in
agriculture and allied sciences in India, the ICAR acts as a repository of knowledge and it provides
information on agriculture and its allied sciences in India.

NAIP is World’s second biggest World Bank Assisted Agriculture project being executed by National
agricultural research system (NARS). The objective of the National Agricultural Innovation Project is to
facilitate an accelerated and sustainable transformation of the Indian agriculture. Among the NAIP’s 4
components, the component-1 aims at bringing in the organizational changes in the NARS so it becomes a
dynamic innovation system, capable of responding to the present as well as the future needs of Indian
agricultural research development. “Strengthening of Digital Library and Information Management under
NARS (e-Granth)” A Sub Project under Component-1 of NAIP by ICAR. One of the main objectives of this
project is to create Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) under “Indian Agricultural Research Group
Catalogue” of all 12 library resources with Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) partnership.
The purpose of e-Granth project is to provide an integrated cataloging service to its member libraries. Some
of the consortium Partners of this e-Granth project are Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New
Delhi; Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture (ICAR Library) New Delhi; Acharya NG
Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad; University library, Central Institute of Fisheries
Education, Fisheries University, Versova, Mumbai; University library, Ch. Charan Singh Haryana
Agricultural Univ. (CCSHAU), Haryana; CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), HP;
GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUAT) Pantnagar, Uttarakhand; Indian Veterinary
Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP; Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri,
Maharashtra; National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal; Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences
University (TanuVAS), Chennai, Tamilnadu; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

OCLC membership had taken by the e-Granth Project authority. NARS libraries authorized to access and
they are participating to catalogue their records/documents in WorldCat using connexion tool set as a part of
e-Granth project. Several advantages particularly in the present context of cataloguing at NARS libraries
through using connexion are
• NARRS libraries now have accessing to a wider range of bibliographic resources more than 182 million
bibliographic resources available on the OCLC WorldCat database.
• NARRS libraries started the unlimited use of CONNEXION for cataloguing and download from
WorldCat of bibliographic records for local use;
• Ongoing NARRS libraries cataloguing is in MARC 21 format to WorldCat;
• Submitting catalogue to OCLC this will be done by a batch process of electronic files of records to
OCLC which in turn would integrate them with WorldCat. A master record would be returned to the
library for our local data.
• For the retrospective cataloging the library had submitted the list of titles, ISBN's or some identifiers to
OCLC which would check if that record already exists in WorldCat and if so, OCLC will add the library's
symbol to the record in WorldCat and give the library a copy of the record;
• To make library records created so far in the MARC 21 file formats and uploading and updating them to
WorldCat;
• To catalogue the unfinished items in the libraries to meet the world standards and upload them to
WorldCat through connexion;
• Using Connexion updating the incomplete records with the aid of Z39.50 based downloads from
WorldCat;
• Physical Retro conversion of Documents for which Bibliography is not available and Updating the
Records of the Institutes with the final Bibliographic records;
 Fig. 4 Screen Shot of OCLC Connexion Usage Statistics by UAS (B) Library.

The above Screenshot shows the OCLC Connexion Usage statistics of University library, UAS (B) (One of
the participant library of e-Granth Project).

Conclusion
OCLC says that connexion is an Integrated Cataloguing Service and it’s a full service online cataloging tool.
It helps the libraries to access the World’s largest catalogue i.e. OCLC’S WorldCat. Under e-Granth Project
NARS libraries using connexion tool to catalogue their record in WorldCat. It enables library to catalogue
both traditional and digital items, including books, journals, audio materials, photographs, e-journals, e-
books, web resources and more. Connexion would facilitate the e-Granth project libraries to do standard
catalogue entries in WorldCat.

References
1. Jeong-mee Lee, 2004. Usability assessment of integrated cataloging and metadata services: an exploratory study of the oclc
connexion system.
2. Nabi Hasan and P Visaki. 2010. Strengthening of NARS libraries under e-Granth: A NAIP Consortium, AALDI Conference
proceedings. 261:266.
3. http://www.naip.icar.org.in/downloads/Summary/C1_IARI_Egranth.pdf (Accessed on May 10, 2010).
4. http://www.oclc.org/connexion/
5. http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/download/nextspace_002.pdf (Accessed on May 10, 2010).
6. http://psw.oclc.org/frames.aspx?right=software.aspx.
7. http://www.stats.oclc.org/cusp/nav (Accessed on June 7, 2010).