[Original posting on this topic follows the responses.]
(1) From: Ibironke Lawal <ilawal_at_vcu.edu>
We are using OCLC's CA. Actually, a group of libraries in our area is
thinking about using it for the same purpose, cooperative collection
development. OCLC just came to give them a demonstration. In my opinion, it
is the only tool right now that we can use to analyze our collections. It
is new and may not have everything you want to do, but the developers are
quite receptive to suggestions from users and potential users. For example,
when you break the division of Engineering and Technology down to the
granular level, I noticed that the subject category of biomedical
engineering is absent, I suggested this to them, and it will be added. Like
any other tool, it gets better with use and improvements emanating from
feedbacks from users. I think it gets the main job of comparisons done. The
ILL module is very useful as well. The help desk at OCLC is very good with
support. I think you might want to ask for a trial to see for yourself, its
power and potential.
thanks
Ronke
(2) From: l-lyons_at_northwestern.edu
It is my opinion (and that of others) that the product functionality and
product support is poor, the data questionable. If the transportation
libraries have small collections, perhaps you can get some use out of
it--but you will have to look on a title-by-title basis to know what you
are getting after each run (which can very well be different again after
each download).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Maggie Sacco <msacco_at_ctcandassociates.com>
>
>Hello-
>
>Has anyone used OCLC's Collection Analysis Tool? I work with a group of
>transportation libraries who are interested in analyzing their collections
>with the aim of cooperative collection development. We had a demo from
>OCLC last fall and it was quite impressive. Since then I've talked to a
>major university library that was completely dissatisfied with the
>product. I've read the most recent articles I could find, but the CA tool
>is still new and there really isn't much out there.
>
>If anyone would care to share their experiences with the OCLC CA tool (or
>recommend another product), I would really appreciate it! Thank you!
>
>Maggie
>
>Maggie Sacco
>Lead Investigator, Technical Services
>Transportation Library Connectivity Pooled Fund Study
>CTC & Associates LLC
>Ph: 608-215-0272
>Fax: 419-818-1619
>*
>Web:** _http://www.libraryconnectivity.org_
><http://www.libraryconnectivity.org/>_
>_Blog:* *_http://www.ctcandassociates.com/lpfblog_**_
>_*Subscribe to the RSS feeds: _
>http://www.ctcandassociates.com/lpfblog/?feed=rss2__
>_
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ibironke Lawal
Engineering and Science Librarian
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond VA 23284-2033
Phone:(804)828-1112
Fax: (804)828-0151
E-Mail: iolawal_at_vcu.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Received on Thu Mar 01 2007 - 02:29:55 EST