The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) has announced a new policy which permits partial use of the OCLC system for libraries which do not catalog on the system and allows full OCLC membership for institutions that wish to contribute their current Roman-alphabet cataloging on tape. The tapeloading option means, in effect, that an institution could be a full member of OCLC while performing online cataloging on another utility or an in-house system. However, in its announcement, OCLC cautions that its tapeloading facilities are limited and there will be some delay before actual loading can start. Tapeload pricing will be on a per- record-processed basis. The price may be $.20-.25 per record.
Under the new policy, three categories of participation are defined. The first, participant, includes any library that contributes all of its Roman-alphabet cataloging online or by tapeloading. The second category, special user, is for libraries that use the online system but do not qualify as participants (e.g., national libraries, library schools). The third category, partial user, is for libraries that elect not to contribute their Roman-alphabet cataloging to the OCLC data base but do use some of OCLC's non-cataloging subsystems, including searching. A library must apply for partial user status and OCLC will, at its discretion, grant or disapprove this application. Online system charges for partial users are somewhat higher than those for participants.
Since dial access to the OCLC system is not available at this time, all searching will have to be done on dedicated OCLC terminals.
