Release Date: February 22, 2023
The following release notes are for the FEBRUARY 22, 2023 release of WorldCat Discovery.
This release of WorldCat Discovery includes the following enhancements as well as several bug fixes:
Many of these changes are a direct result of your feedback.
*= WMS libraries only
When reporting an issue with WorldCat Discovery, it is extremely helpful to include the Request ID. The Request ID is found at the bottom of the screen on which the issue occurred. Including this information allows us to directly trace what happened on the request we are troubleshooting.
WorldCat Discovery libraries using WorldShare ILL are invited to pilot the new WorldShare ILL request form. This new form is highly customizable to support library and patron needs.
For more information on how to configure this new experience, please see the WorldShare ILL release notes, December 2022.
* = WMS libraries only
Previously, WorldCat Discovery used a single table layout to display and sort item availability details for all types of materials — serial item holdings and multipart item holdings as well as single part item holdings.
With this release, WMS libraries and users will have access to new availability tables for serials and multipart items that include an additional column to display and sort enumeration and chronology data independently of loan status. This enhancement will better support users who seek to identify particular volumes or issues of a serial or multipart item.
Single part items will continue to use the existing three-column table with Shelving Location, Call Number, and Status.
With the February release, WMS libraries will be able to separately configure the default sort options for the availability tables for single part, multipart and serials holdings. This will enable libraries to configure a default chronological (ascending) or reverse chronological (descending) sort on volumes and issues for serials and multipart items.
To configure default sort options for the availability table, navigate to Service Configuration > WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat Local > Item Detail Settings > Availability Detail Sort Options.
Libraries can leverage the robust configuration options of the new WorldShare ILL form to enable users to place requests for items without an OCLC number.
To configure this form, navigate to Service Configuration > WorldShare ILL > Patron Request Workforms >WorldShare ILL Request Form.
This new form supports additional configuration options for bibliographic fields, enabling libraries to choose to make a field required/not required, as well as editable/not editable.
Libraries can use the new WorldShare ILL form as a blank form to support users who want to place an ILL request without first finding an item.
To configure a blank form, navigate to Service Configuration > WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat Local > User Interface Options > Custom Links. Create a new custom link, configuring the display text and any custom translations, and then populating the URL field with the registered OpenURL resolver your library created when configuring the new WorldShare ILL form.
Once changes have been saved, the blank form will display in the Resources dropdown menu for users.
Previously, when saving a change in Service Configuration, the changes would save but users would sometimes be prompted with an error message stating otherwise. With this release, changes will save without displaying an error message.
Previously, when performing a search, if the author facet was used to narrow results and the author’s name contained an apostrophe, no search results were returned. With this release, the issue has been resolved.
With this release, for libraries with a third-party integration with Talis Reading Lists, lists will now display in alphabetical order.
Previously, when the “Libraries Worldwide” search facet was selected, the facet display at the top of the results screen did not display the translation for users viewing WorldCat Discovery in languages other than English. With this release, the facets display will honor language selection.
Since the last release of WorldCat Discovery, we have released eight new databases to the OCLC central index. As a reminder, the central index provides content for WorldCat Discovery and WorldCat.org.
You can enable these databases as search options in the Licensed Content and Databases module of the OCLC Service Configuration site. Please remember that your library must have a valid subscription to these databases in order to enable them.
Please find below and in the attached document the database names and providers for reference. The complete list of databases is available here.
More product information can be found here.
Support information for this product and related products can be found at:
If you have additional questions, please contact OCLC Customer Service by calling 1-800-848-5800 or 1-614-793-8682 Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 9p.m. ET, or email support@oclc.org. For support enquiries in the UK and Ireland, please contact the Support Desk by calling +44-(0)114-281 60 42 or e-mailing support-uk@oclc.org. Support is available between the hours of 09:00 and 17:30 (UK Time).