Hi.  I am the product manager for both the WorldCat knowledge base and
the eSerials Holdings program.  I would be happy to answer any questions
that folks may have about either of the two services (on or off list).

It is true that the WorldCat knowledge base will be able to synchronize
any holdings set there into the WorldCat database in the Fall.  For
libraries that use the WorldCat knowledge base, there will not be a need
to participate in eSerials (after the fall).  The process for setting up
each is somewhat different.  eSerials should be fairly easy to set up
and many of the link resolver systems out there have clear ways to work
with it.

The WorldCat knowledge base requires some additional work to get it
right, because this involves configuring or synchronizing your entire
set of electronic resource holdings (both ejournals and ebooks).  You
also would want to make sure to get dates of coverage correct, which as
many of you know, can be somewhat detailed.  By doing this, your library
gets access to a lot of new features we've been developing such as the
direct links out from WorldCat Local and/or the ability to use
electronic resources in your resource sharing workflows.  Those things
are not possible with eSerials.  All eSerials does is to set holdings in
WorldCat, which most libraries use to influence the ranking of articles
and serial search results in WorldCat Local.

For the moment, the two services are complimentary, but once we've
rolled out the feature to sync knowledge base holdings to WorldCat I
expect most libraries will switch to that exclusively.  eSerials will be
supported for some time for those libraries who have not yet taken up
with the WorldCat knowledge base.  The WorldCat knowledge base is
included with a Cataloging subscription and eSerials is included simply
with OCLC membership, which basically means any OCLC product or service
qualifies you for it.

--
Paul Moss
OCLC
614-761-5230

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
> [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Ann Miller
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:06 PM
> To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SERIALST] OCLC eSerials Holdings service vs. OCLC
WorldCat
> Knowledge base
>
> The question came up in a conversation with my OCLC rep a couple of
weeks
> ago. For now you need both but:
>
> "The team is currently doing development that will eliminate the need
for
> the eSerials Holdings service since setting holdings in the WorldCat
> Knowledge Base will also set holdings in WorldCat-this is scheduled
for
> Fall/2011 at the earliest."
>
> So it sounds as though the eSerials Holdings Service will be
eventually be
> phased out.
>
> Ann
>
> Ann Miller
> Head, Collection Services
> Knight Library
> University of Oregon
> 1501 Kincaid St.
> Eugene, OR  97403-1299
> aemiller@uoregon.edu
> Tel:541.346.3064
>
> On 5/26/2011 6:08 AM, Chris Blackman wrote:
>
> 	It is my understanding that OCLC would like the OCLC WorldCat
> Knowledge Base to eventually replace the need for the eSerials
Holdings
> Service.  I have had many difficulties in the match rate with the
eSerials
> Holdings Service and the response that I have gotten when trying to
figure
> out the problem is that low match rate is a "known issue" that will be
> corrected by using the KB instead.  One answer that I have not gotten
> though is whether the eSerials Holdings Service will continue to be
> supported after the full implementation of the KB.
>
> 	Hope this helps,
>
> 	Chris
>
>
>
> 	Christine Blackman
> 	Catalog Librarian
> 	Williams College Libraries <http://library.williams.edu/>
> 	413-597-4403
>
> 	New Library: Read all about it!
> <http://library.williams.edu/newlibrary>
>
>
> 	On 5/25/2011 2:38 PM, Denise M Branch/FS/VCU wrote:
>
> 		Dear fellow Serialisters,
>
> 		Are there any libraries that have experience or
knowledge of
> OCLC eSerials Holdings service and OCLC WorldCat Knowledge base? If
you
> have OCLC WorldCat Knowledge base, do you need to have OCLC eSerials
> Holdings service too? Do these two resources complement each other?
What
> are the advantages/disadvantages of having both or one or the other?
>
> 		Any information you can share on the differences and
> similarities between these two resources will be greatly appreciated.
>
> 		Best regards,
>
> 		Denise
>
>
************************************************************
>
> 		Denise M. Branch
> 		Assistant Head Acquisitions & Serials Librarian
> 		VCU Libraries
> 		901 Park Ave / PO Box 842033
> 		Richmond, VA 23284-2033
> 		PH: 804-828-6436
> 		Email: dmbranch@vcu.edu
> 		Fax: 804-828-5672