Assessment of GOBI OCLC Plus service usefulness for various types of materials
Decision summary
Campuses should decide which of their GOBI subaccounts represent a wise use of resources when applying the OCLC Plus cataloging services. Info found in our research indicates that GOBI is doing significant OCLC cataloging on 20-25% of titles received. Comparisons with CZ records show about half of CZ records have no Subject Headings but are otherwise fairly reasonable.
Analyzed data coming in for UCI’s API program, physical and electronic, to assess which titles had full records available up order, which needed GOBI labor, and how available CZ records for e-res compared.
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Recommendation
The OCLC Plus service contract is up for renewal on June 30 of every year. Costs are distributed proportionately to campuses in an annual lump sum (recharged for the first time in September 2021). Now that we have a full year’s record data available, it is recommended that campuses carefully review which kinds of materials they are receiving on various GOBI subaccounts, and apply the new UC’s Systemwide Cataloging Services (GOBI’s OCLC Plus) on those subaccounts they feel are most beneficial. Campuses should be aware that usage/nonusage of this contract can have impacts on our negotiating position as it impacts volume of records received, and they should make sure these decisions include the relevant AULs, especially those involved with SCLG. It also impacts the setting of holdings in OCLC.